Salomon Ultra Pirineu 100K

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1900m gain. Control your HR at altitude.
• 1313m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Final 771m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Steep 29% wall. Control your pace and stay focused.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 43.2km, then run your race pace, and start the final descent from 48.1km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–2.1km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.1km–16.0km · Climb of 1901m, high point 2516m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
• Work · 16.0km–30.1km · Descent of 1313m averaging 9%. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. 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 · 30.1km–48.1km · Descent of 1037m averaging 10%, climb of 671m. Plus 1 more climb. 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. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 48.1km–57.3km · Descent of 771m averaging 8%. 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. Hike the steepest pitches.

Course

The course climbs 6600m+. With 66m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 44% of the distance is uphill, 45% downhill and 10% flat. The longest climb runs 16.0km at an average 11.9% grade (1901m of vertical). The longest descent runs 14.2km at an average 9.3% grade (1313m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 38.0% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 29.0% over 0.5km. Surface: 70% trail, 14% technical, 9% road, and 7% smooth.