We all met up at the Golf bar in Malaga airport on Sunday 12th July at 2pm. I looked around at the other competitors and felt very nervous; they all looked like very fit athletes. I felt a bit out of place but they were all very friendly. We were then driven to Loja where the race was due to start the following day. We checked into the Manzanil hotel, my room mate was a chap called Joakim Jonsson a Swede. A very nice guy that had taken part in The Namibia Challenge just a few months before. Like me his aim was just to complete the race and not do it in any particular time.
We had a briefing from the race director and the medical team telling us all the information needed. For the next five days, this covered things like dehydration and other problems that may occur. Dinner was served at 8pm and that gave everyone a chance to meet and get to know each other. Also it gave me the chance to ask other competitors about tactics and how they planned to run the event. I took bits of knowledge from everyone and adjusted it to suite me. That night I looked at my kit again for about the 10th time that day, still thinking that I may have left something out.
I did not sleep at all well that night thinking about the race. The next morning breakfast was at 7am, I brought my own porridge from London and just added hot water, I also had a slice of toast with my favourite melacaton (apricot) washed down with half a cup of coffee. I spent fifteen minutes in the loo just trying to relax and compose myself. I was constantly sipping water, at 9am we were all outside the hotel where we posed for pictures for the local press; I felt quite good in all my running gear, I looked just like the others.
The local police then led the procession to the Natura Water company plant; they were our biggest sponsor and supplied all of the water for the event.
Stage 1 – Loja to Alhama de Granada 58km
At 9.30 the gun went off and that was the start of the race for us 55 runners. Everyone got off to a quick start accept for me, I was one of the stragglers’; it was my plan to finish last. The terrain was clay for around 2km, as you started to climb the surface became loose rocks and stones, we had 1480m to climb and I was not going to rush. The first check point was on top of the mountain, it was a very welcome sight, I sat down for a few minutes and filled my Camelback and off I went again, heading south towards Zafferya and the next checkpoint, to my surprise I was told that people had dropped out already due the heat.
Lizzie my wife, an ultra runner with desert experience told me to make sure that I took one salt tablet every hour and to drink at regular intervals and make sure that I had enough trail mix to keep me going, this consisted of Haribo sweets and nuts coated with honey and salt. When I reached Zaffaya I headed east towards Al Hamer de Granada. I could see the town from way off, as it is on top of a beautiful gorge, this was to be the last climb of the day, It was high but I was nearly at the end of the first stage, I ran into the town plaza. I had made it; I covered 58km in just over 10 hours and as planned finished last!
Stage 2 – Alhama de Granada to Jatar 47km
After a good nights sleep and double Bombay Bad Boy ‘Pot Noodle’ I was feeling quite good except for my feet, I found it hard to get my shoes on, it felt like I was standing on glass and thought ‘Dear God what am I going to do’ I looked outside my tent only to see everyone walking round like Al Andalus Zombies. I loosened off the laces and tried again. I made some porridge and a cup of coffee and felt a bit better. At 9am we had the race briefing for the day ahead of us, today we were to climb to the highest point of the whole race, 1650m it was very high we were also told about one section of the route called ‘Hells Path’ this is a narrow path in a valley between two mountains, temperatures here can reach 55c. Already I was telling myself not to rush through this section. At 9.30 sharp the gun went off for the start of stage 2, we followed the gorge for a few Kilometres. Then made our accent to the top of the mountain and down the other side to the check point 1. After refilling my Camelback, the medical team asked how I was feeling, and told them I felt fine. They said that they had told all runners to take it very easy through Hells Path because logistically. It would be very difficult to get someone out of there if there were any problems. After just a couple of kilometres it felt like I was breathing in air from a hot hair dryer, I have never experienced anything like this before, I took a mouthful of water and spat it out into my buff, I pulled it up over my nose and mouth and the moisture of the water was cooling and breathing becamemuch easier, this was a tip I was given by Steve Partridge known as ‘The
Captain’ feeling ok I ran on the flat surface for 2 km, then as I rounded a bend at the end of Hells Path I saw a heard of wild horses with foals in a forest, just then there must have been 20 or 30 different coloured butterflies flying just in front of me. This was amazing, I felt so privileged to be in such a beautiful place, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven, it was surreal. I can’t remember much else about stage 2 except that there was a long climb up to the village of Jatar,the stage ended at the town hall plaza, where all the local people applauded. I had some water and some melon, it was great! This night we stayed at a camp site, it had a stream running through it, it was beautiful and very peaceful. I had a massage on my legs, had some pot noodle and went to sleep. I awoke around 2 in the morning to find a stray dog, a bit like a hairy Jack Russell sleeping on my sleeping bag.I went back to sleep and saw him in the morning begging for food from the army guys. I had a good sleep and for some reason I felt raring to go, it was the best I felt since the race started. This was Wednesday the half way stage.
Stage 3 – Jatar to Jayena 48km
This was a great morning, 48km from Jatar to Jayena. We were given our race briefing as per usual and as per usual I was at the back when the gun went off. To my surprise after just 1km I could see everyone in the distance stopping, they had all taken the wrong turn and promptly turned round to run towards me, so I did the same. For about half a kilometre I was the leading runner, just behind me was Joakim, I heard him shout ‘go Joe you are in the lead’ then everyone passed me. The first few kilomitres were on Tarmac to Lake Bermejales , then onto Fornes before you reach a steep dirt climb to the mountain top where there is an airstrip that the fire services use. I stopped at the first check point to fill up and off I went. The scenery here was fabulous. This was best day so far, I felt great, I met one of the six Paras at the next checkpoint and we ran together to the finish, his name was Mark, he was 22 and came from Castleford in Yorkshire, I asked him what made him join the army, he was telling me that before he joined up he and his mates would sit in the local park drinking cider, he wanted to make more of his life and had to get away from Castleford, so he and his mates agreed that the following day they would go into town and sign up for the army. Mark waited outside the army recruitment office the next morning but his friends did not appear, so he went in and joined up. I said how much I admired him for doing what he did and that he must be very proud of himself. I am he said, that was four years ago, I have never looked back. The final stage was very tough, on a Tarmac road for around 4kilomitres the road surface was boiling, I could feel the heat coming through my trainers, there was no shade We tried to get to the town hall plaza as quick as possible, my feet were killing me. Then it was just a short distance into town, we made it to the town hall and the finish. it was the best day so far.
Stage 4 – Jayena Santa Cruz del Comercio 50 km
I wasn’t feeling that great this morning after a very good day yesterday, my feet were killing me, I had lost another toe nail along with all the skin and flesh around it, I should have been more careful taking off the tape. I had shin splints on both legs and found it hard to walk, never mind run, I was feeling very down. How can I run like this, I had some breakfast washed down with coffee and two 600ml of Ibuprofen. An hour later I was on the start line feeling numb, if I get through today, tomorrow is only 37km. You can do it I said to myself. Again I took my time as the morning gun went off to start the race. The first 3km we were running through Poplar trees along the side of a river, the scenery was fabulous and helped take my mind off the pain. Next came a very hard climb, at the top was a checkpoint, I filled up with water, the medical team asked me how I was feeling, I told them I felt great, as I started the decent I took some more pain killers. At the last check point I met up with Mark the para from yesterday, he was also feeling rough, so we hobbled on together towards Santa Cruz. As we got to the bottom of the mountain we went through a field of beautiful giant sun flowers, I said to him look at those flowers they are all facing the same way, they look like soldiers lining up.’ Yeah he said the farmer plants them that way so when he cuts them down they all lay in the same direction’ how does he know what way to plant the seed then, I asked, ‘well he said sun flower seeds have a pointed end, so all the little pointed ends must be facing the same way’ Then he said’ look over there, see them olive trees, they are also spaced in the same way so he can his little truck up there to pick the olives’ I was tinking about this for a while, wondering if he was being serious, then we started chatting again, before we knew it, we were at Santa Cruz. The last few kilometres were on Tarmac right into the town. We finished at the town plaza, I had some water and some melon, I noticed one of the front runners who came in a good two hours before us eating a burger from a little tapas bar. He said Joe you need to get one of these only 4 euros, it’s got egg bacon chips and onion in this burger, I had been so good with my food so far, and tomorrow is only 37km. so I treated myself to one, it was the best burger I have ever had. Got myself back to the camp site where we were staying, had a freezing cold shower and a massage, I was telling the massage lady about the beautiful field of sun flowers, I told her what Mark had told me about the way the farmer planted them, she killed herself laughing and said ‘they are called sun flowers because the follow the direction of the sun’ Oh well you live and learn I said. I went to bed giggling to myself. Tomorrow is Friday, the last day. Bring it on!
Stage 5 – Santa Cruz Del Comercio to Loja 37Km
Feeling good today and in high spirits, just 37Km to go, I was telling myself not to be complacent, not to do anything stupid, just keep running at a steady speed. The first few kilometres were along the riverbank I stopped at the first checkpoint to top up with water then ran on to a village called Valenzuela, I almost ran past the last check point as it was set back off the road, some other runners called out to me, I didn’t bother topping up, got my card swiped and ran on, after about 20 minutes I was running up a steep hill and I could see a long shadow at the side of me, it was Jack and eventually he nodded and over took me, I then knew that there were still 3 people behind me, when I got down into the valley I turned round to see if I could see them, they were still out of sight, I must have at least 2 km on them, this inspired me to keep this pace. Eventually I could see Loja some 10Km in the distance, just down the side of the mountain and onto the dirt road for a few more kilomitres to the Natura water factory and I’m home. When I got closer to the factory there was nobody there, so I carried on towards town, Dougie the motorcycle support guy came roaring up to me and said that the finish is town and that he would lead me in to the finish. It was getting on for lunch time and the town was buzzing, I kept expecting the finish to come up at any moment, but it was another 3km on the other side of town, this was the longest 3km of my life. Dougie was going ahead and shouting ‘it’s just around the corner’ At last as I turned the corner I could see the finish line about 200m away. For a few moments I felt so strange, real mixed emotions, I was happy, then in the next second I felt so sad as I saw the finish line approaching. I took off my hat and glasses to wipe my eyes, Dougie shouted across and said ‘don’t do that you will start me off’ with that he promptly pulled the visor down over his crash helmet as I crossed the finish line, it was over, Paul Bateson the race director put the medal around my neck, the support team put an ice cold towel round my neck, while others sat me down and gave me Coca Cola and a big slice of water melon.
That night there was a gala dinner hosted by the Mayor of Loja, we had prize giving and I was awarded a shield with a horse shoe and a flying zebra on it. When Paul Bateson was making the presentation he was saying ‘ this award goes to the person who never gave up, he was stubborn and determined as a mule, I would like to present this award to Joe ‘the animal’ Evangelista’. I could not believe it, I went up to collect the award and almost started crying. I loved the whole 250Km. Out of 55 starters I came 33rd. Recovering nicely now in Balham and looking back it all seems like a dream.
But what a fantastic dream.
