Chronicle of MAMUCA 2016
MAMUCA 2016 Race Report
Written by its winner. Our colleague David Miró Albero and coach of the Urban Runners of Alcoy.
The MAMUCA is a mountain marathon
A 42km trail running race with 2,200m of positive elevation gain. It circles the entire Sierra del Benicadell, passing through the towns surrounding the massif: Carricola, Beniarrés, Albaida… After three months of tough training, focused, taking care of my diet, resting, attending some races where I wasn't entirely happy, I am satisfied with my performance in the competition.
Especially in the FEDMECV (VALENCIAN MOUNTAIN FEDERATION) Mountain Race Cup events. And my first victory of the 2016 season has arrived. It had been 10 months since I stood on the top of the podium, and I really needed a joy like the one experienced on Sunday at MAMUCA.
It wasn't one of my season goals. Furthermore, it was a bib I got thanks to a friend of mine from all the races who had given it to me as a thoughtful gesture for my help with his sporting goals, training, etc.
For me, it's something curious, really…
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The start
I started the race without pressure, with enthusiasm and a desire to have a good time and find positive sensations throughout the 42 km. My coach knew my goal, and we planned it as a load and volume training in preparation for the season starting with strong goals in May, such as the MONTSERRAT MARATHON or the NATIONAL SERIES ISF skyrace (International Skyrunning Federation). And if we get a bib, the possibility of going to ZEGAMA MARATOIA, etc.
At km 15, I started to feel good without pushing myself too hard; my position in the race was fluctuating between 3rd and 4th overall. At 20k, I moved into 2nd place, and with good legs, eating and drinking to regain strength, hydrating my body adequately…
I'm doing well
At 25k, things changed; I began to see the possibility of achieving a podium finish, and I started to believe that I could do well, securing a satisfactory position for myself. Km 27 arrived, and after climbing a wall of almost 1,000m positive in 2.5km and tackling the last part of the race, I saw the chance to attack the first position.
We reached the highest point of the race, at 1,050m altitude, the peak of Benicadell. I ate, drank again, slowed down a bit on the first descents, and started to see the possibility of catching the leader. At km 36, I was 10 seconds behind, and at 38km, I managed to catch him.
I decided to see how his energy was and attacked without thinking twice. I saw that he wasn't following me, and I ran faster and faster and faster…
The finish line is approaching
Knowing you're 2km from the finish line and knowing you can win is the most amazing feeling you can experience after all the effort, determination, and willpower you put into improving as a mountain runner.
You feel like you're flying, you feel happy, gratified, and primarily grateful to your girlfriend, your coach, your family, and you thank them for all they put up with for you to be what you are: a mountain runner and a passionate devourer of kilometers and kilometers, climbs and more climbs, peaks and more peaks…
Now, it's time to rest, enjoy the victory, and keep thinking about new sporting challenges. I want to beat myself day by day… I want to be better…
I feel like a mountain runner; I live it with passion, I live for it, but I know that without my partner, my family, and my friends, it wouldn't make sense to be there…
– David Miró Albero "Jimmy"
