Omplos full trail run 18k +850m, Patra 20140426

Part of my preparation to Metsovo's run in June 2014 (The trails of the bears). I was looking for a route with similar distance and elevation gain and this one is pretty much spot on :-D I was also testing my new gear: Adidas Adizero XT4 shoes and Quachua 10L backpack with hydration system. I can say I am very pleased with both of them :-D

0,0k at 130m - Start from outside of the gate to Achaea Klauss vinery where Icould easily park the car. For next 2k I followed the asphalt road towards Omplos monastery - steady climb.

2,0k at 240m - Shortcuts with hiking path. Instead of following detours with asphalt road I started to cut the turns with hiking path - the main point of using this route was to train steep climbs on rocks and mud. After passing through the asphalt 5 times, route turnsleft with asphalt until leaving it for good to the east with drt road.

3,0k at 390m - Dirt road. First 600m 've done with nice and wide dirt road pretty flat or even downhill. At 3,6k the trail turns right to small (not well vissible) path. The path at that time was not used and full of high grass, loose rocks and difficult to pass in some sections (see photos). But it was great for my training purposes! This part had very minor climb that was almost impossible to understand and I felt like running flat.

5,2k at 480m - end of path and I got a bit confused on how to continue?! I managed to find some very steep climb that frced me to hike (no way to run!) until small grassland with a view to Patras (photos). A bit flat and through some very wet grass I found another steep climb (but this time very well vissible) that led me to asphalt road to Kristalovrysi.

5,9k at 665m - With asphalt road and a bit of flat/descent section I run a bit back until drt road in direction to monastery, where after another 300m I found the spring.

6,7k at 655m - Spring. Even though I was carrying lots of water I decided to take a quick pause and drunk some fresh ice cold water from the spring. Great views to Patra were about to start... After about 900m main dirt road to monastery turns sharp left but I ran straight with some less vissible but still dirt road. This part with very mild and steady ascent.

8,3k at 706m - Panorama view (photos). Just after passing highest point of the run (725m) there is great view in all directions to Patras and the gulf! And long downhill section starts.

11,2k at 435m - Collapsed bridge. There is some destroyed bridge on the dirt road, but not a problem to pass by foot. After long and easy downhill, another small climb start from here with lots of wet grass and loose rocks (it's old not used dirt road). After 800m and reaching 480m altitude, another downhill starts (in some parts quite steep), all the way down to suburbs of Patras (Krini village)

13,7k at 270m - Back at the same spring. After crossing same spring again, trail goes up and down with parts of dirt road and smaller path all the way back to the asphalt road to Omplos.

15,7k at 315m - Back on previous route. After reaching asphalt, descent done with same paths as the beginning of the trail, all the way back to the car at Achaea Klauss vinery.

18,4k at 130m - Finito!

I mark it as difficult trail run as I am pretty new to this kind of activity. The climb where I had to hike was really demanding and I felt the muscles burning. Also descent (when already tired) was not as easy as one would thought. Overall I was running with quite a reserve as I did it for first time and didnt know what to exactly expect of myself. Great fun! I cant wait the race...