For many runners, this is the best place to train for a long run in Caracas. It's a tough road and although it's close to the city, it feels far away. As I started training for Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix in August, and most of it will happen there, I will give a brief description.
Access: There are at least three routes (PGP Chacaíto, Loma del Viento and Loma del Cuño). The climb from La Castellana (PGP Chacaíto) is short, barely 1,000 metres, but you gain altitude quickly. The entrance from San Bernardino (Loma del Viento) is a little longer, about 1,200 metres, but still gentle. The closest climb to the CF, although still high, is via Loma del Cuño (La Florida). It takes about half the way, either in a west-east direction or vice versa. Only one of the three mentioned was formed out of the whole land.
- Distance: Once at the top, the distance is between 4.7 km and 5.5 km each way, and it depends on who you ask, how you make the turns and where you start and don't finish the term. I am guided by Garmin and in most cases it tells me about 4.75 km and never more than 4.9 km. The distance is a topic of debate among the students there. Cuenca: At least three valleys run along the Cortafuegos. If you like to shower and not race against the clock, enjoy it. There is a small tap at PGP Chacaíto, where many people mark the start or the return and it is the best place to fill up thermoses or have a drink. There are two groups, one at Loma del Viento and one at Loma del Cuño, but you have to leave the main road and climb a little. Road: As the name suggests, this road provides light work and allows government vehicles to travel in emergency situations. Therefore, the road is very wide and the steepest part is contented. There are wooded areas and open roads, but you will almost certainly have a spectacular view of the chaotic city. The circuit produces less than 10 breaks, the interesting thing is that 2 or 3 of them are on the first one itself. The first lesson here is not only about the relativity of fatigue and endurance, but also about the need to break with the myth of starting an easy workout and leaving the last effort. In this case it is not about speed (velocity) but about effort, we start from a strong muscular effort, because of the desire for the first 3.
Fatigue stages: No matter how fast you run, you will still face different stages of fatigue (short periods of breathing and desynchronisation disappear as soon as they appear, if you are ready to work through them). When you reach the firebreak you go long (not right) and the path becomes very manageable, curdled but small stairs, short concrete steps, the curves of the path should always be suspect, if it gets, it will. not for aesthetic reasons (but because of the inclination of the body).
In these 2500 metres you will encounter no less than 5 different stops, no matter how strong or fast you are, you will just face them and decide whether you decide to walk fast, fast or slow, but really, once you know something. The average running pattern is to repeat the run, but at a slower pace and hopefully with a 30% longer stride. The head is straight (this way you straighten your back and breathe well) and the arms are exaggerated (from the waist to the cheeks).
Unbeknownst to him, 5 turns later (including 2 assassins) after running something of equal length and almost to the desire of the Devil's ascent, you will go to the Avila Cross and like a rainbow, the cable car will pass by you. Breathing in at about 500 metres, you are greeted by a strange fake plane on a concrete road. Everything gets complicated (like life and exclusion) and you reach a fence, which could perfectly serve as a Led Zeppelin video. On the stairs to the sky, above 400 metres you'll have three consecutive incremental inclines and when you say more, you'll see. . The first antenna and after you say, go to that, they probably put a second antenna near the first one when you get there. Then you'll go down to the camp wondering how you climbed such a steep slope. From the fence to the campfire you descend at a slow trot, enjoying a brief and incredible view of the city. The climb is an excellent strain on the quadriceps and when you start when you get to the firebreak, you have to look inside yourself, to be able to climb at any kind of speed, the idea is to run 5km in the middle. pace (well, marathon plus 45 seconds) and 5km, with a slow attack.
