| Bojan_A15. 08. 2010 17:17:25 |
REPORT:
In the absence of the Grintovec Run, the Ratitovec Run this year counted as the national championship in uphill mountain running. No, I'm not claiming at all that this run doesn't deserve such honor. Quite the contrary, due to its exceptional difficulty it requires a serious approach from the athlete and plenty of perseverance. The course is so nasty that many excellent Slovenian athletes withdrew from the start. However, the vast majority still showed up at the start – fighting for the national champion / women's champion title.
The first four kilometers were the hardest for me, as the race course goes along gentle asphalt to Podlonka. That was a game for my psyche or patience. I felt strong enough to run much faster, but I preferred to save my strength for the “mountain” part that's just coming. Patiently running in the strong chasing group behind the leading three (Alič, Zarnik, Lamovec). Asphalt is finally over and now I see my chance. Slowly gaining both on time and positions. I'm not rushing attacks at all, just slowly waiting for competitors to exhaust themselves.
On top of everything, the very humid and (for August) cold weather suits me. If the weather was ideal, it doesn't apply to the (already tough) course. It was completely devastated by heavy rains, streams running on it, waterfalls beside it,… not to mention the sticky mud. However, the shoes still gripped and it was possible to run.
I arrive at the final two kilometers still relatively fresh and motivated. Easily I manage to run over the most demanding section of the course through slippery rocks. In the final meters, such dense fog with strong wind descended that I thought I got lost. No, I reached the finish, with mild muscle cramps. Unbelievable, but the cramps appeared exactly in the same place as on this course last year. From other races I don't know them at all! I was satisfied with my performance since I was fifth. Fifth in the country isn't so bad, right? Even more satisfied because I finally managed to put together a tactically successful race. The flop at Velika Planina taught me.
The national champion title went to Simon Alič, the women's national champion title to Mojca Šušteršič. Congratulations!
Nice mountain running greetings,
Bojan Ambrožič
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