Spartan Trail World Championship S2 - Transgrancanaria, Race Report.

Written By shona stephenson

Wow! 🤩 What a fantastic start to Season Two of the

Spartan Trail World Championship🌏🏆!

The 20th edition of the iconic Transgrancanaria, 3000+ Runners, was as epic a course that lives up to all the hype! Transgrancanaria has it all.

Fantastic location, stunning views, adrenaline-pumping descents, and a world-class field of elite athletes and friendly Spanish locals ensure your trail running event is the ultimate trail running party. I jumped in the Marathon (STWC Trail Event) 700+ Runners instead of the Classic (120km STWC Ultra event), deciding to focus on having fun rather than racing. I even held back at the start, staying out of the way of the front-pack runners. The conditions were foul but exciting. The wind was gusting up to 90km per hour, trees were coming down on the course, it was raining, or were we were in the clouds? The start of the race sat at 1700+ above sea level and in sleeting rain, but I was assured by the British race directors this was just drizzle. It felt like ice to me!

Transgrancanaria, Spartan Trail World Championship Marathon Start with Shona Stephenson, race director Brisbane Trail Ultra.

The race started, and I was freezing! My legs were so cold my quads were pink with blood, trying to heat up my skin. The ground was slippery, like running on ice. Within the first muddy 1km I was on my butt. I'd fallen over, being squeezed by a bloke twice my size across a set of slippery rocks and fell, but quickly bounced back up again. I was caught in the middle of the front pack and wasn't use to this. The safest place is right up the front, with a clean run, not in the middle of the pack. I decided to start overtaking, but at the same time remaining calm. Picking my spots so I didn’t cause an accident.

On the descents I was picking the dirt patches on the rocks, realising the dirt had more grip. As soon as the climb came, I chilled out, knowing the first 8km were challenging. I chose not to have poles but regretted this decision as the surfaces were tractionless, and I had trouble obtaining purchase on the rocks. I just couldn’t find the sweet spot in my shoes, I think my toes were numb. On some of the surfaces I was climbing, I had to use my hands. I was on all fours, just trying to grip onto the smooth rocks.

I was running through the clouds with the wind pumping behind me. It was one of those experiences that makes you feel so alive. When I hit the ridge, I extended my arms like wings and allowed the wind to blow me along the trail. I was having a ball, all rugged up in my La Sportiva T-shirt, Wet Weather Jacket, Headskinz, and Gloves. I even wore the Transgrancanaria face mask for the first 5km, as the air temperature was so cold. It was below zero at the top of the Volcanic island. I followed the ridge, through a misty forest and then finally ducked under the clouds and was able to see the jaw-dropping view out to the sea! I’d made it through the storm, and onto the descent. I went straight through Check Point 1 about 8km into the event.

This is a descent that you have to go for! I took place after place, bombing it down the mountain on the Stoney dry trail. I had traction, I had my ankles strapped and I was having fun on the countless switchbacks, barely daring to look up at the view, focusing on the trail intensely. The course was an ankle killer. I managed to keep my feet. At the bottom of the descent, I took more Ventolin and started the climb, running and walking, just enjoying myself, taking in the views, and chatting to people along the way. I made it to CP2, 17km, and topped up my water, and grabbed a banana, not trusting the sports drinks or gels at the aid station, happy with how I was feeling with Hammer Tropical Gel, Endurolytes, and Race Caps. I was gutted that I’d left the Hammer Anti-fatigue caps at home along with my Suunto Watch 😭. Leaving Brisbane in the middle of the floods was a bit stressfull. I really was back to basics, using the time on my cheap watch to tell me when to eat and drink, a small profile map with distances on it, and the checkpoints and the terrain to tell me how far and fast I was moving. I spotted a 20km sign, thinking I was moving really slow, then after another 5km realised the previous sign was 20km to go! Now I have only 15km to go. The checkpoint was then a further 1km away from the 15km to go sign and only one more climb.

I ran in and walked out of the checkpoint discovering one of my water bottles had sprung a leak and had to swap it over with another bottle, I filled up a full 1.5L here, a lot for just 14km but it was getting warm and ran short on fluid into the final checkpoint. This descent was extremely rugged, incredibly hectic, so technical that was causing a few accidents. I passed a few blokes with gashes on their limbs. It was much like the most challenging sections of the Bardon Trails on the BTU Course, 4km in length. I ran and walked up the last climb, staying within myself and making sure I was eating, drinking, and taking my electrolytes. I descended the last descent that was again extremely technical, rocks eroded across the trails, but a whole load of fun to pick a course through, my La Sportiva Lycan 11 were brilliant. Once at the bottom, I had a quick pee, happy I was hydrated then started the 3km creek run. Imagine running through a rugged creek for 3km, I also noticed that the elevation profile was lying to me. It suggested that it was all downhill for the last 10km. No, it was rolling little rises through the creek bed. If the course had not claimed the weak before this section, it was claiming the lame now. I ran along passing runners cramping, needing water, suffering from not enough electrolytes. I did my best to help them as I went along, handing out Hammer Endurolytes, showing my thanks to the trail running gods for looking after me on the descents, I believe in Karma while trail running. We ran along together, some staying with me, others passing, all keen for a chat to take their mind off the pain.

My hip started to get tight, I was starting to feel tired, one then two runners were flying past me. I noticed they had a different colour bib on, they must be the Classic 120km men finishing. The way they moved across the rocks was like they had the ability to run on air. With about 1km more of the stones to traverse across I was happy to see a water stop. I filled up again, the temperature was rising and I was finally warm. I was told I then only had 3km to go with one more kilometer of creek stones. I ran along counting, counting, then popped out on the gravel paths, ducked back onto the creek, and then heard the finish line, seeing more spectators on the trail, also guessing I was 1km to go.

I heard the music, spotted the finish line chute, and summoned enough energy to lift my legs for a solid tempo finish. Yay! That would be the first race I have ever done that I didn’t push myself. It’s so nice, to find a balance between racing and enjoyment of the sport. Yes, I puffed, but stayed within myself, not wanting to wreck my lungs. Even so I am sick with asthma post-event. I was happy with how I pushed the descents, letting my body take over, and enjoyed the feeling of being free on the trails in a stunning new location.

Race Results

Transgrancanaria Classic (120km) Spartan Trail World Championship

RESULTS
1 - Pablo VILLA GONZÁLEZ
2 - Pau CAPELL GIL
3 - Pere AURELL BOVE

WOMEN RESULTS
1 - Ragna DEBATS
2 - Abby HALL
3 - Claudia TREMPS

Transgrancanaria Marathon - Spartan Trail World Championship

RESULTS
1 - Sebastian LJUNGDAHL
2 - Marten BOSTROM
3 - Antonio MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ

WOMEN RESULTS
1 - Sara ALONSO MARTINEZ
2 - Toni MCCANN
3 - Anna COMET PASCUA

I hung around at the finish line, enjoyed the post-race meal they gave us, watched the Marathon, Classic Runners, and Advance Runners finish their races. I then headed back to the pool and enjoyed Cava on the deck watching the sunset over the sand dunes in the west. I managed to catch many of the elite runners and let them know about the Brisbane Trail Ultra 2022, 2023 and we hope to entice a few runners down-under this year. The female winner, Gran Canaria local and absolute weapon, Sara Alonso Martinez is keen!

Logistics for the Transgrancanaria.

Brisbane - Dubai - Madrid - Gran Canaria - 28 Hours (depending on connecting flights)

Gran Canaria - Barcelona - Dubai - Brisbane - 30 Hours (depending on connecting flights)

What did I need to do to meet the Spanish Health Guidelines?

  • Fully Vaccinated with an International Vaccination Certificate saved in my Digital Wallet

  • Obtain Spain Travel Health Pass Online - Saved to my Digital Wallet

  • Covid PCR Test at Brisbane Airport - 3 hours Before your flight - Saved as a PDF to my Home Screen

The Transgrancanaria Expo and Finish Line, Parque del Sur in Maspalomas on the Southern End of Gran Canaria. I stayed at the Vital Suites overlooking the Maspalomas Golf Course, which was extremely clean and the staff followed the COVID safe rules. Constantly cleaning the common areas, I was impressed. At no time did I feel like Covid wasn’t taken seriously at the hotels, restaurants, shops. The location of the hotel was central to a Spar Supermarket, cafes, just a small jog away from the stunning Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve , a protected site and well worth a visit. Be prepared to see a few nudists whilst exploring the dunes 😂.

Maspalomas was an easy, super fast taxi from the Gran Canaria Airport to my hotel, let’s say about 30 minutes $69 Australian Dollars.

The Transgrancanaria Expo area was about 4km from my hotel, I walked to it from my hotel there and back. This was where I collected my race pack and GPS tracker. I had to return the GPS tracker on the Sunday post-event before 1pm from this location.

When I registered for my event I booked my bus from the finish line to the Startline of the TGC Marathon which was at Parque del Sur. This was about a 2km walk from my hotel.

There was a finish line bag service at my start line so I could stash my fleece in the bag.

Once at the finish line, I grabbed my recovery food and walked back to my hotel only 2km away.

The day before my flight I jumped in a Taxi and grabbed a RAT test from the hospital, about 5min Taxi away about $9.00 Australian. The RAT Test was $62.25 Australian (40EURO) to have the full certificate that the airlines would accept. I grabbed a RAT test because it was a Sunday and there are no PCR Tests available in Gran Canaria Island. Emirates accepted this Negative RAT TEST Certificate PDF that I had in my Text Messages. Check your airline to see what their Covid Testing requirements are.

Returning back to Australia I needed to fill out my Digital Passenger Declaration. I recommend doing this the day before your flight as the airlines were attempting to contact me confirming that I met the requirements. When boarding your plane make sure you have the right vaccine and test for the airline and Australian Border Control. They now have an app for this instead of saving it to your photos.

Covid Test 24 Hours of Landing. I then had to take another Covid Test within 24 Hours of Landing. This I did at the local respiratory clinic.

I was happy to have negative tests all the way through my journey, especially as I was at a conference on the Sunshine Coast pre-trip then in contact with many people whilst at the event. It proves that the Covid Safe measures that the airlines and countries are using are working and it is now safe to travel again which is exciting. I was diligent with my mask-wearing and changing as well as my own personal hygiene. The European planes were full, business as usual. The Australian planes were at 50-70% capacity. I am keen to head back next year to do it all again the race was fantastic, the Spanish people are fun, high-energy, and positive. Spain boasts the largest number of trail runners in the globe, the depth of strength pays tribute to how popular this sport is in Spain. Transgrancanaria is one of the oldest ultramarathons in Europe founded in October 2003 only by two months to the oldest founded in August. Many of the Spanish spoke a bit of English, I highly recommend that you learn a bit of Spanish before you go so you know the basics. I had an interesting conversation with some locals at the base of the vertical Km, as I was attempting to find a public toilet 😂.

Race Set Up

  • La Sportiva Lycan 11 - Brilliant, considering the 3000+ descent - I kept my toenails.

  • Injinji Trail Socks - My go-to socks since 2011

  • Lululemon Shorts

  • La Sportiva Move Running T-Shirt - This T-shirt I was extremely impressed with, no sweating, extremely breathable, no stink, but still kept me warm in freezing conditions. Massive Thumbs up from me.

  • Casttelli Arm Warmers

  • Liner Gloves

  • Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta 6.0 2022 - Amazing

  • Hammer Nutrition Australian Visor

  • Brisbane Trail Ultra Headskinz

  • Transgrancanaria Face Mask.

  • Ventolin and sports spacer

Race Day Nutrition

What would I have done differently?

Taken Hammer Heed ( I decided not to put it in my suitcase, then regretted it during the race) or Red Bull (I should have picked one up at the supermarket and saved it until 20km into the race), I was missing the top-end fast-absorbing energy. I also missed my Hammer Anti-Fatigue Caps. I just felt a bit flat and needed a bit more zip, zip. I also missed my coffee in the morning as I discovered the Nestle Pods had dairy in them. I’d also usually have x2 expressos before a race. Next time I will make sure I have a pre-race coffee source 😂.

I’ve pulled up well and can’t wait until the next event on the Spartan Trail World Championship for me to discover.

Stay Safe

Shona

shona stephenson
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