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Route changes for the 2010 race

This winter’s weather has been unusually bad all over the world. While in our part of Andalucia we have been somewhat fortunate - even so we have had some torrential rain which has destroyed many ancient and even newly created paths.

Those of you who ran in the 2009 Al Andalus will remember the stage 2 ascent through Hell’s Path to the highest point of the race. The surface was rough, and just about passable by 4x4. Two weeks later the really rough sections were repaired and the surface skimmed. It would still be a challenge but not quite as hard on your feet or your 4x4’s tyres.

Winter came and bringing with it a few days of exceptionally heavy rain; we probably had more in a week than the total from the past 5 years. Rain was needed but not this much and all over Andalucia houses and roads were destroyed or flooded with mud.

We monitor the routes every few weeks, and I received a report from our Trailblazer motorcycle marshals that Hell’s Path was ‘damaged’ and would be a major civil engineering project to repair. I went to look thinking it couldn’t be so bad . . . I was in for a shock. As you can see in the photos, nature has reclaimed what for hundreds of years had been a mule trade route linking the coast to the Granada region. It took over 2 hours to scramble and wade 3km and as the Trailblazers reported, the path has been completely destroyed.

In response to this we have created a new challenge for Stage 2. You will now have to traverse a beautiful section of single track, you won’t climb as high but the new route will more than make up for this.

Where other stages of the race have also been affected we will be using new sections of single track which shouldn’t be a problem for our runners. However we will re-organize check points and make sure the new routes are safe and secure. Fingers crossed that unavoidable sections will be repaired.

Whatever happens, be assured, the 2010 race won’t be easier than 2009, the route will just be even better.

Keep checking the website for updates as I re-map and post the new information via the Garmin 305 service.

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