Pirin Ultra 66K

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1.6km gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• 1312m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 1711m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 40.0km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 48.4km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.8km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.8km–14.9km · Climb of 1566m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
• Work · 14.9km–34.7km · Descent of 1312m averaging 12%, climb of 1392m, high point 2655m. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Fade · 34.7km–48.4km · Descent of 971m averaging 18%, climb of 1012m. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 48.4km–67.7km · Descent of 1711m averaging 9%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.

Course

The course climbs 4200m+. With 64m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 46% downhill and 10% flat. The longest climb runs 14.9km at an average 10.5% grade (1566m of vertical). The longest descent runs 19.4km at an average 8.8% grade (1711m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 40.1% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 37.5% over 0.3km. Surface: 78% trail, 14% road, and 6% technical. Flat-equivalent effort: 113.1 FlatKM.

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 8.5km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 49 of 100), with 32% of the load in the first half: 2 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 40.0km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 48.4km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• #1 · 14.9–26.2 km · 1312 m D−, -11.5% · 41.5 km ahead → control
• #2 · 34.7–40.0 km · 971 m D−, -18.2% · 27.8 km ahead → control
• 48.4–67.7 km · 1711 m D−, -8.8% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 12°C to 21°C, with around 11°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 25%.