Ultra Trail Vipava Valley (UTVV) - 60K (Gladiator course)

Prologue

After running "la corsa della Bora" race in the Karst plateau (from Trieste) in January this year, I started a a process of healing the pain that I had at the tendon near my right knee. Since October last year, I was feeling this pain. And I was ignoring it for a long time. So, after the race in Trieste, I decided to solve this injury. It was necessary, as I had semi-ambitious plans for this summer. So, for the first time, I started to keep a manual journal of my weekly training plan. 

Along with the journaling process, I planned the races that I wanted to run at. As the first race of the season, I found out that the 60k route of the Ultra Trail Vipava Valley (UTVV) would be the best option. With the healing and recovery process of my tendon, I guessed that I could do it. And also, Slovenia in May, would be a huge pity to miss.

Location

The race starts and finishes in Ajdovščina; a small town (with a population of roughly 19k), located in the Vipava valley, in southwest of Slovenia. Historically, it is an important passage, connecting the northern Italy to central Europe. The climate of the region is Mediterranean.

The highest point of the race is at a plateau, which runners climb to after they come down back to the valley again at km 22. The plateau is called Nanos. This plateau is also the place where the war between anti-fascist Slovene partisans and the Italian army during the second world war (in year 1942) took place.

View of Ajdovščina from top of the Nanos

Pre-race day (May 5, 2023)

I took the bus from Graz to Ljubljana, and from there again with the bus to Ajdovščina. In Ljubljana I had a short time to go visit the main square, and have a coffee.

As I arrived in Ajdovščina, I went directly to hotel, put my stuff in order. After that I headed to the race expo place, and took my bib number etc. The next station was the pizzeria, or in Slovene picerija. I wanted to eat my main meal for lunch, so that I can eat something lighter for dinner. This way I could also fall asleep easily, and sleep better.

In the afternoon and evening, I was just relaxing. Apart from a short walk to the supermarket and the park near my hotel, I stayed in my room. Did my works and watched some series. And eventually slept around 10pm.

Ajdovščina

The pizza before the race

Race location

Race day (May 6, 2023)

I woke up at 6:15am. Ate a small breakfast. My clothes and gear was already done and ready from last night.

The race started at 7am. The weather was still cool. However from yesterday's experience I knew that it was going to get hot. Initial kilometers were flat, first through the town, and later through the farms. As the first uphill started I took out my poles. I had everything under control. I was catching more and more people. We were running on mixed (asphalt/unpaved) roads. The uphills were still quite soft. I had the chance of speaking with a runner from Poland. He told me about his three trips to Iran. As we reached the first long downhill I lost him.

The sun was shining directly on us. It was getting hotter. However I was still feeling quite good.

At km 22 we arrived back to the valley, where there was the third food station. And right after that the 1000 m climb to the top of the Nanos started.

The climb section for me was very enjoyable. We were supposed to run around 9,5 km until the top, with around 1000 m of elevation gain. Before the race, in my imagination I was thinking that this section will be the hardest. However, as I was on this section, I realized that it took me shorter than what I was imagining. As I am climbing, I have to focus on many things. The mind is busy. If I'm lucky and get to the flow, then it feels like I can do it for infinity.

But, in the last meters of the climb I was already very tired. I could see the antenna at the peak but I was quite annoyed that I could not reach it as fast as possible.

At the top I refilled my water bladder. I knew that the next station was after 14 kilometers. The downhill section after Nanos felt great. It was less hot. But this section was shorter than expected; I had to turn right from the main unpaved road and started to climb again.

During this section of the race, I was feeling in equilibrium. I was trying to focus on the current moment, instead of how I am going to feel in 20 kilometers. I was listening to music (which I started to do after km 30). But I knew that at some point the heat is going to make it all harder.

It started to happen in the last kilometers to the last station before finish, where there was a long downhill section. It was very technical. There were big rocks on the single track. Making it impossible for me to run. I was almost screaming out of frustration as I was trying to move as fast as possible without losing my balance.

At the last station I drank as much liquid as possible. However I did not refill my water bladder. It turned out later that it could have been a huge mistake. Some kilometers later I realized how thirsty I am. And I still had 15 kilometers with 350 m elevation gain in front of me. As the last uphill section started, I had to slow down. 

Luckily, the organizers put a water station on the way. This station was not announced before the race. I was very happy. As I drank water I could move fast again.

The last 7 km the way was easy downhill. I could move fast (relatively). I was feeling revived. This happens most of the time to me. The unexpected energy at the end of the race. Pointing to the fact that most of the exhaustion feelings during the race are just mental barriers: our mind trying our body to stop.

Before finish, our route united with that the 30k runners. It became crowded again. After hours of solitude it was nice to see people. People that are smiling, greeting, cheering.

And finally the finish line. I was laughing. But also I needed to sit down, eat and drink.

I finished the race in 6h23m, 8th overall, and 7th within the male runners.

My gear

Start

After finishing. Enjoying my non-alcoholic beer 

At the finish

Epilogue

After the race my stomach was blocked. I knew I had to eat, but it was not possible. In the evening I went to the same "picerija" (pizzeria in Slovene) again. This time I wanted to eat the pizza with minced meat, which is quite typical in Slovenia. Minced meat on pizza was very typical also during my childhood.

Sadly they didn't have it, so I had to go for pizza carbonara. Another seemingly unusual type of pizza. However it was very delicious.

The volunteers were very helpful, supportive. In this sense this organization was one of the best that I have experienced. I would be glad to come here again.

Sunny and beautiful Ljubljana on Sunday