Caballo Blanco 42K

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• 908m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 25.1km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–2.0km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 2.0km–14.8km · Climb of 806m, high point 1399m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Work · 14.8km–25.1km · Descent of 908m 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.
• Home · 25.1km–43.0km · 17.9km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

By gradient, 34% of the distance is uphill, 35% downhill and 31% flat. The longest climb runs 6.5km at an average 12.5% grade (806m of vertical). The longest descent runs 10.4km at an average 8.8% grade (908m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 33.8% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 18.3% over 0.4km.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 5.1km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 21 of 100), with 75% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 25.1km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 14.8–25.1 km · 908 m D−, -8.8% · 18.0 km ahead → control