Julia's Gone Racing - Archilochos

We Have To Make A Race In The Mountains

6.20am!

A really early start for us since we've been here and become used to a later start to the day...

The night before, Giorgos our friend from Stefanos Place, told us that the organiser of the race had called him to make sure we arrived at 7.50 to get our numbers...

We drove to Piedra del Mar at Barbati; at the top of the steep hill to the beach we saw the organiser of the race putting a banner up... runners were arriving and an air of anticipation was building....

We discovered the man putting up the banner was Nikos; he is the secretary of Corfu runners - www.archilochus-runners.gr

We saw our friends Thanasis, Greg, Nikos and George. Having filled in the race form which we are now familiar with, I went for a bit of a warm up... up the hill and along the road... Anadi wasn't keen on doing any warming ...!

'Why waste my energy - I'm just about to run 13 frigging miles!'

The runners were all congregating around the start area and the black and brown dog that roams along the beach was running in and out of the runners legs.

It was a colourful vibrant scene; and the sun shone brightly...

Soon we were gathered to the start πέντε τέσσερα τρία δύο ένα - the claxon sounded and we were off....

Straight up the steep hill that leads from the beach to the road.....

My Race

The first couple of miles were on the road; albeit uphill! But this played into my hands and I was racing along in the top ten of the field; runners were gradually catching me as we ran; and when we reached the trail bit; I needed to stand aside at times to let the more proficient navigators of rocks and boulders go past; but uphill is good for me; I am strong and it plays to my strength!

I know that I am not as strong going down uneven rocky terrain - although I have been practicing and I have improved...

But, I worked very hard on the up!

And I was leading the women in the race at this time...

After a particularly challenging rocky, along narrow trails, steep bit, we reached 6k and a wider smoother (this is relative!! - still uneven and rocky!) path in the mountain.

I looked back down the hill and saw Anastasia, the next woman, coming up not that far behind.

I calculated that she would likely be a LOT better than me at navigating the rocky descent when we came to turn for home; and her presence inspired me to work harder where I could run more and gain every advantage I could!

We reached the top eventually! After another very steep rocky trail and then a stretch of steep road up to the very top of Mount Pantokrator...

Round a cone we ran and then down the hill...

I raced!!

Another opportunity for me to make up some ground... I saw Anadi not far from the top on my way down - and then Anastasia - we waved and smiled and put our thumbs up to each other 'bravo' - and on we raced....

My descending HAS improved; I was far more fearless - and much more agile....

However, Anastasia caught me up about a kilometre from the end of the rocky terrain before the road section; she went past me like a nimble sure footed dancer!

It was beautiful to watch and inspiring and I tried to mimic her lightness on her foot as I naviagated the last part to the road...

The road for home; I went up a couple of gears and headed down the winding road with renewed energy, back on terrain that plays to my strength.

I overtook runners as I ran and returned to the front of the women field; Anastasia and I  acknowledged one another again on the road with respect - 'bravo' - both having a shared understanding our journey up and down the mountain....

I crossed the line first female in 2.51.15  and 19th in the men's field...

When I finished the race; it was difficult for me to walk for awhile as my thighs kept cramping!

Anadi came in after  a few minutes in 26th place and 2.54.59 and I got up; but they seized up dramatically...!

I got up to speak with Anastasia and Ira too - who was the third woman to cross the line...

'Go into the sea' she advised 'It will take away the cramps'...

There was a wonderful spread of food for the runners; sandwiches and salad; bread and Slouvaki bananas coca cola water juice ...

We walked (slowly!) to the sea.... lots of runners were already there; we dived in and let the healing balm of the Mediterranean soak deep into our being...

Back to the presentation; I loved being amongst our new friends here in Greece and joining together in sport with Anastasia and Ira was very special...

It confirmed for me my philosophy that in a competition we are all striving together and that the very nature of a race allows us to find out that we have more within us than we knew...

Thank you Nikos and all at Corfu Running Club for an amazing event...

Corfu Runners was born in 2011

Nikos and Spiros who established it, are close friends; they work in the same profession, they run together and they both enjoy ultra running too - more of that later...!

There is now a committee of another six members who all work together for the future of the club, which is also know as Archilochos; in honour of the sporting legacy in Greece after the Greek Olympic winner in 544BC who came from Corfu....

Just how far back in history organised athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in Greece almost 3,000 years ago.

By the end of the 6th century BC there were at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called 'classical games' which  had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at Olympia; the Pythian Games held at Delphi; the Nemean Games at Nemea; and the Isthmian Games, which took place near Corinth.

The Olympic Games was perhaps the greatest of all these sporting event - and were held every four years.

All Olympian winners, were highly appreciated among the Greeks.

And as we know - tradition continues to this day... !

And therefore the energy of Archilochos in the Corfu running club honours the long tradition of sport and its value in the community.

The philosophy of the club is that every runner must run free - the races organised provide water, isotonic and a medal - and there is no entry feee to run; unless you want a T shirt or a bag...

Any money that is made from a race is given to charity

The club has 85 members now and they now hold three races a year.

Sunday was the inaugural running of the mountain 21k race ...

67 runners started out (9 of which were women) and 58 finished the challenging event!

The event started on the road - the route wound its way up to Spartilas and then followed a rocky trail up the side of mount Pantokrator; the paths became smoother after a few kilometres on the rocky terrain - followed by a last steep Rocky bit then asphalt to the top; round a cone and back down again; following a different route down the mountain back to the road...

The mens race was won in 2 hours 1 min 50 by Dimitris Drougas  and the second placed runner was Thomas Nikas...

For a more comprehensive list of results go to www.archilochos-runners.gr

Ultra Running

The race that Nikos is passionate about in the calendar is the 63k ultra race in March

it is called the Castles Ultra - he suggested I come and run; and I could feel the part of me that moved towards the idea...!

It is since creating the ultra that the club decided they must have a race in the mountain; 'we have an ultra now and so we thought we have to make a race in the mountains - the mountain is more difficult, more angry, the trees have more stories...'

And so the Corfu half marathon was born ...

The Ultra which started last year is called the 'Castles ultra' because the route starts in Gardiki where there is  fortress and then runs to Corfu town, which sports two fortresses and then finishes at the castle in Kassiopi.

Nikos told us that one of the fortresses in Corfu was built from stones that were already cut in Kassiopi and taken by boat to Corfu town...

The route for the runners is from one fortress to another; it is required to touch the door of each one before running on to the next...

If the thought of 63 kilometres is not for you...! There is also a relay event of 3 x 21k so that teams to be part of the day...

About Nikos

Nikos and Maria came to dinner with us here in Barbati; they brought me a bottle of special wine and a beautiful gold medal from the Ultra race - I have been awarded a gold membership in Corfu running club...

I received the medal and the acclaim with great appreciation and a joyous heart. It is a great honour to receive the medal and to have been embraced by the people of Corfu as I have been....

I asked him to tell me his own running story ...

Nikos ran his first ultra in 2010 following a lifelong career in sport; he was born in Corfu Town in 1974 and was taking part in sports as a child from 11 years old - he played cricket and did athletics in the stadium; as he grew up he turned to running and competed in half marathons and marathons, before moving to the ironman triathlon event...

It was in 2010 he found Ultra running; which he enjoys the most...

Nikos loves the ultra distances - he likes that there is no programme; he feels training for half marathon and marathon the programmes are all the same...

He also observes that in marathons and half marathons you are always watching your watch which can create a stress; or activate one from within...

Whereas in Ultra running it is not like that; there is no need to run intervals to train for an ultra; and he really enjoys running long...

He also likes that there are less runners in the Ultra race - he  commented that in 1982 the Athens marathon had 120 runners and last year it had 12,500.

Nikos spoke of the solitary nature of the Ultra...'Who will go with you on a Sunday for a 6 hour run'? Being an ultra runner is a lot to do with being alone; both in training, but also you often find yourself alone for many kilometres in the race itself'

He observes that running a long long way clears the body and the mind; 'after 50 - 60k you start to see the film of your life go by in front of you and sometimes anger comes out too; and your mind becomes very clear'

Later in the week; Nikos wrote this on Facebook - I am so glad to have taken part in races on this beautiful island and made friends with fellow athletes....

"Julia μας τίμησε με την αγωνιστική της παρουσία στο 1ο ορεινό ημιμαραθωνιο ΠΑΝΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΑ μάλιστα πήρε και την πρώτη θέση!!! Μια τοσο μεγαλη αθλήτρια μας δίδαξε με το χαμόγελο της την αθλητικη της παιδεία και το αθλητικο ήθος!!!! Ευχαριστουμε"

"Julia honored us with her presence in the race first half marathon mountain PANTOKRATORAS even took first place !!! Such a great athlete taught us with the smile of her athletic education and the sports ethos !!!! Thanks"

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