The next step

Day 3, Wednesday, September 11, 2024

In the meantime I have figured out that from my bed I look out on the, this morning still hidden behind the clouds, 2160 meters high Paljevine. Behind it lies Bobotov Kuk, with 2523 meters the highest peak of the Durmitor massif. Between both peaks runs the 14 km long section of the route of the BlackLake xtri marathon that must be completed with a buddy. With Boy that is. Today a reconnaissance of the ascending part of this section up to and including the highest point at about 2300 m was on the program. After we had congratulated our youngest family member Jack on his 15th birthday we set off around noon.

With the Dacia Duster rental car we drove through Zabljak and along T2, the transition zone from cycling to running, to the pass at Sedlo at 1900 m altitude. Also the 10 km point in the marathon. Those who arrive here before 15:00 on Saturday afternoon can take the black course, which leads through the mountains and right past Bobotov Kuk. Those who arrive later must follow the white course of the marathon. Both finish at Black Lake where the swimming starts in the early morning at 4:30. That is 10:30 to get to Sedlo. A nice finishing time for a normal full distance triathlon. But with 3,500 vertical meters during the cycling and 400 in the first 10 km of the marathon, that is a different story. Apart from the weather and the fact that Xtri's are self-supporting. But I do like a bit of ambition, so every reason to explore the challenging black course.

Bobotov Kuk in the middle above. The route goes straight up through the middle of the photo.

After parking the car at Sedlo, another park ranger appeared. This time from a VW golf that was hopelessly rickety and unfit for the MOT test. After paying 2 times 5,- entrance fee for the Durmitor National Park, it immediately went steeply uphill. A single track with treacherously protruding rock points. So watch where you go, and stand still if you want to enjoy the surroundings. We regularly stopped to admire the rough and brutal landscape and perhaps also to catch our breath. The thin air was clearly noticeable. Via a few tough passages secured with a steel cable, we reached the highest point of the race after 2 hours. We had covered 4.5 km with 800 meters of altitude. According to komoot it should have only taken 1:15 hours. I can write a whole story about it, and show you a ton of photos. But you have to experience and see this for yourself.

After the first passage with steep drops I started to worry. This was not a mountain hike or trail like I am used to in Austria or Switzerland. As a 'flachland tiroler' you don't often look into a deep drop next to your little toe. We often couldn't imagine how the path would continue and thought it had to be a dead end. I was also worried about Boy, after all I was the reason he was here. But step by step we continued, calmly and steadily. And my occasionally fatal thoughts made way for concentration and focus. Focus on the next step, with a sharp and scanning look at the single track. The next step, the most important step, the only step that really matters!

After 4 hours we were back at our Dacia. The doubts from the outward journey, whether I should go for the black course on Saturday, had made way for calm and resignation. We'll see. There are still so many steps to go. This afternoon has made it clear to me again what is really important. Being focused and sharp on the next step...