La Pujada-Montee
Ax-Bonascre
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On Sunday I did my second uphill race within 24 hours. The first Pyrenees stage of this year's Tour de France finished up the much-painted road from Ax-les Thermes to Bonascre but the running race is off-road and on steep narrow tracks that reduce all to walking in places. I didn't notice any runner's name marked in the mud though there were quite a lot of enthusiastic spectators lining the route.
My Harriers vest attracted the attention of several holiday makers some of whom had been persuaded to enter by a description of the event in an English running magazine. In fact the winner was a Brit - ex-fell-running champion, Gary Devine, who now runs a nearby guest house and works in winter as a ski-instructor. I finished some 12 minutes behind Gary in 49:04 for 24th place and a comfortable 1st V3. The post-race meal was in the best traditions of the local après-ski events.
Bob