Nahuel Huapi 33K

Race strategy

Run easy on the first mountain, then go all out on the second.

• 270m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 695m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 7.1km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 26.3km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–2.3km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.3km–7.1km · Descent of 270m averaging 12%. Plus 1 more climb. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. 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.
• Work · 7.1km–26.3km · Climb of 598m, high point 1418m. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Home · 26.3km–34.8km · Descent of 695m averaging 8%. Build to the finish: leave whatever you have left out on the course. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end.

Course

By gradient, 29% of the distance is uphill, 35% downhill and 36% flat. The longest climb runs 4.8km at an average 5.5% grade (267m of vertical). The longest descent runs 8.6km at an average 8.1% grade (695m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 37.5% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 24.2% over 0.4km. Surface: 70% trail, 17% smooth, and 8% road.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 4.5km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is low (index 19 of 100): a few descents worth noting, none of them decisive.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the way down from it until 7.1km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 26.3km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• #1 · 4.8–7.1 km · 270 m D−, -11.7% · 27.7 km ahead → control
• 26.3–34.8 km · 695 m D−, -8.1% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end