Yes, we’re going to Spa for some trail running this weekend. It’s only Monday, but I am already looking forward to Saturday to put my running shoes on and run through the Ardennes in Belgium.
Spa is mostly famous for its natural springs. Although, if you’re a Formula 1 (racing) fan, you might know it from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. For me the name is synonymous with mineral water. In the Netherlands you don’t order mineral water, you order Spa. Spa Red is mineral water with gas, Blue is without gas.
Marked trail runs
Most people go for the medicinal baths, we go to run. There are 4 marked trail runs: 5, 10, 22 and 32 kilometers. The cool thing; all of them have altitude. 235, 368, 650 and 1.000 meters. For those who want, you can combine the trail runs in Spa with those in Stoumont, Jalhay, Stavelot and Theux.
It’s going to be our first time in Spa. I went to Houffalize to run, together with my sister. That’s in the Ardennes as well. We had snow that day, we might have snow this weekend.
Spa is closer by than Houffalize. Sara and I will run the 10 kilometers together. After that I will run the 22k on my own. If we feel good, we will do the 5k the next day. But let’s survive day one first.
Run uphill
I’ve talked so many times about going to the Ardennes to run uphill. I think it’s really cool it’s going to happen now. I mean, I can use some altitude training for the ultra run in Sussex, but especially for the one in the Dolomites. And for one more race, but I’ll tell you about that tomorrow. It’s probably not going to happen, but you never know. So stay tuned.
