Race Around the Rock 2016
Publikováno:
2016-06-20 10:53:48
Kategorie:
Races
Gabriele Frascona'
Nationality: Italian
Lives in: Malcesine, VR, Italy
Experience: Age group endurance athlete, personal trainer and instructor of triathlon and calisthenics.
Race Around the Rock 2016
The fact that Lake Garda lends itself to playing sports is certainly not new, but to organize a multisport raid where the first test is to sail with SUP (Standing up paddling) was definitely a very risky but fascinating idea!
Race Around the Rock is a multisport raid which blends the most beautiful endurance disciplines practiced in nature: trail running and mountain biking, enriched by two special tests: sup and rifle shooting. The event draws in athletes to the shores of Lake Garda through this circuitous route, to the conquest of the Fortress of Lonato, crossing the finish line in a magnificent, medieval setting.
The start time is staggered, one athlete every 30 seconds, instead of diving into all together into the chilly waters of the lake, like a traditional triathlon. There is a 1000m sup, where athletes cover long distances while standing in balance and rowing with a long paddle. The goal is not to get wet falling into the water and of course to get to the beach as soon as possible ready to lace up their shoes and face the trail.
The great success of the event attracted several athletes from the triathlon world. In the morning they looked puzzled and seemed surprised that they didn’t fall into the water. Virtually all athletes have walked the village without much difficulty after the SUP. Some did it on their kneed, the more daring stood.
Once the athletes complete the rectangle-shaped path, they have to circumnavigate the two buoys on the other side of the shore for the first phase of transition. Once athletes get their shoes on, they’re immediately make their way to travel the verdant 8 km trail running between forest and olive groves - an undulating course with occasional steep climbs, especially in the final part, where you are running among roots and stones near the historical Rock of Lonato. 
Waiting for them is a beautiful view of the valley to mitigate the efforts of the second test, but with very little time available. Afterwards the athletes reach a charming old town where they find themselves at the foot of a steep hill; they proceed straight uphill to the first link of the fortress walls.
Here the T2 is situated on a green lawn, just behind the high inner walls. There is a small beautiful doorway between the walls. The athletes have but few seconds here and then they’re off like a rocket as the race continues in the biking portion.
Here, too, an undulating and fast path makes for a fun but bumpy descent. The total distance is about 20km. Halfway down, the path winds along footpaths in the nearby forests of the shooting range which is where the rifle shooting portion will take place. The heat begins to be felt. Between stones and earth path passing quickly under our mountain bike wheels and the sounds of nature and the promptings of the volunteers deployed on the route, we finally arrive at the shooting range, where the attentive gun safety assistant will give some simple instructions on how to load the rifle and shoot the five shots provided.
There are five targets ranging from 3 x 3 centimeters to ten meters. Arriving out of breath, it is not easy for the athletes to score the first shots! Shooting from 10 meters away is nothing to athletes like us, but when the question becomes about technique and precision, every mistake costs the athlete a penalty loop in a circuit inside the polygon, a green ring is drawn between the trees and grass. They lose approximately two minutes per lap, and after serving the penalty for shooting errors, there is a fast reboot to finish the mountain bike circuit through the last few kilometers suffered on the end of the final steep ramp just below the castle. The entrance is the same as the previous transition, but this time the speed is doubled on two wheels and in a moment they skirt the walls.
They don’t have much time to get off the bike; they’re already thinking about the first left-hander to go down in the village below. The Rock is very close now, at 90 degrees to the left the athletes pass the drawbridge. The slope here is deadly as they ride on pavement through the original gate entrance.
Once they pass the fortress of Lonato, they go through the inner corridor and pass under the finishline through the wide doorway that leads to a beautiful interior courtyard and with a lush green lawn between the walls of this ancient fortress.
The organizers, athletes, volunteers, and caregivers all look like they’re having so much fun supporting or testing this fantastic first edition of the Race Around the Rock!
Fun and challenge guaranteed! In 2017, I will definitely be ready with sup in hand to go for this adventure again. Will you be there? Want to learn more? Visit the official race website www.racearoundtherock.com
Gabriele Frascona'
Tri Fun Fit team
