Achaea Klauss - Petroto - Topolova 28k +1300m, Patra 20140720

Long mountain run starting from Achaea Klauss vinery (entrance gate) up to Petroto and Ag Paraskevi (Topolova) and back. Done at a little bit slower tempo due to longer distance and next week's race in Zagorochoria as I did not want to destroy my legs completely (I did destroy them anyway, but not completely :-/). I was also testing new gear: compresion socks and ankle support (due to little twisted ankle problems from last week) - both did great.

0,0k at 130m - Achaea Klauss Gate / Start. Pretty popular starting point among many trail runners in Patra. Morning hours meen You need to jump over small bridge to enter vinery's area as gate opens at 10AM or so. After about 400m on asphalt, route continues straight at the bend with rocky dirt road and pretty demanding ascent all the way up to Petroto (first village to meet). This time I did some cuts with hiking path, two exactly: at 2nd km and at 3rd km. It does cut some distance but introduces more difficulty. Anyway, nice workout before the race.

6,2k at 720m - Petroto / spring. Quick stop at the spring, power bar and lots of really nice cold water and I continued up with smaller paths leaving dirt roads. At about 7th km, there is nice small valley/grassland hidden between surounding hills (see photos). Short downhill from here and back on dirt roads.

8,5k at 880m - Dirt road / spring. As it was getting warmer every minute and sun was about to come out from behind the hills, I was very happy to meet this unexpected spring and refill my bottle. Continued with dirt roads from here all the way to Topolova. After initial climb, the rest (from about 9th km) was rather flat or nearly flat, until last bigger climb just before the church.

13,7k at 1120m - Profiti Ilias Ag Paraskevi (Topolova) / highest point. Last 1k was demanding! with about 15% grade or so, and I enjoyed longer rest on top together with the views (checkout panoramic photo). Ate, drunk and left to begin descent.

15,7k at 935m - Ag Paraskevi (Topolova) / spring. I altered my route back to pass through the village at footstep on the hill to refill my water. I actually met couple of springs which was nice, before findind same road I came with (at 18th km). Back to Petroto with dirt road (not path this time) only with few cuts wherever I noticed them (fast but rather boring section, probably if I'd known I would not chose this route back).

21,9k at 720m - Petroto / spring. Back at the same spring. Again quick stop, lots of water and some energy gel before last descent back to Achaea Klauss. I had to be really tired as I missed one of cuts on the downhill - nevermind, it didnt change much.

28,5k at 130m - Achaea Klauss / Finito :-D

I mark it difficult as I did more distance than usuall and with quite constant moderate tempo. Most of route is dirt roads though and only few paths with some technicals. After the race in Zagori, I will start slowly to get close to full marathon distance to see how it goes...