The Mallorca running season gets under way

The 2012 running season is well under way in Mallorca, with the popular Cursa de Muntanya trail race series moving on to its second race, the daunting Mancor Extrem on Sunday 11th March (see the EliteChip website for details).

This is a trail race around and up Puig Massanella, Majorca’s highest accessible peak at 1367m above sea level. From the north of the island there is no mistaking the distinct double top peak of Massanella, until recently covered in a deep coating of snow!

The 26km trail race begins (and ends) in the picturesque village of Mancor de la Vall and follows the Comellar des Bosc to the Coll de sa Lirda and round Comafreda to the Coll des Prat (a great stop off point with stunning 360 degree views of the island). The course has changed somewhat this year and, rather than descending via Font de Prat (on the GR221 toward Tossals Verds), the return is via Comellar des Bosc for a total climb of 1500m.

The race begins at 9.30am and there are plenty of places along the route to view the runners as they grind up or fly down the course. The leading runners will complete the course in just over two hours, and it’s always interesting to watch the winners cross the tape and enjoy the congratulations of friends and family who have patiently waited for the runners to return home.

Runners will be hoping that conditions are more benign than the first race of the 2012 season (Sa Talaia Alcudia) - snowfall down to sea level meant competitors had to battle through 5 inches of snow at the 450m peak. The tough conditions did not keep people away from the race as 240 runners plus a host of hardy volunteers and spectators combined to make the day a real success. The men’s race was won by Miquel Capo who completed the 19km course (943m total ascent) in 1hr:39m:18s. Cati Llado (Sa Milana, Alaro) won the ladies race in a time of 2hr:03m:57s. The race was well covered in the local press with a three page centre page spread in the Diario de Mallorca on 14th Feb.

From Massanella, the race series moves on to Valldemossa and the stunning run up and along the ArchDukes path to La Teix on Sunday March 31st. The Cursa de Muntanya series is becoming more and more popular and most races are sold out within days of the event opening online. See the SeeMallorca Events Calendar for provisional dates for all Cursa de Muntanya races. And keep a close eye on the EliteChip website and the RunMallorca Facebook page for further information and the posting of running news on the island.

Anthony Cassidy operates RunMallorca, the first dedicated guided trail running company in Mallorca.