Ultra Race Romania: The Hardest Race I've Done! - Nicky C.
Stage 1: 1236m vert and 32km
Stage 2: 37.5 km and 1926m of vert!
Such a tough day. 2 huge mountains. Weather in the morning was horrendous. Torrential rain and high wind. Hands so cold it was difficult to zip up back pack. My buddy Cheryl was a superstar and dragged my sorry arse around this day. I spoke about DNF’ing as couldn’t face another day of mountains! Of course a decent nights sleep sorted that thought out!
Stage 3: 46.6 km and 1800m vert!
Another tough day they were all tough). The blue dots (painted onto a toadstool) and blue tape are the course markers we needed to follow. We still went wrong a few times due to not concentrating. It’s awful when you realise a mistake as it inevitably means a long hard climb up a hill!
Rest Day
A long day yesterday so today was a welcome rest. Time to eat, sleep, wash stinky clothes socialise! Some of the competitors came in at 4am and 3 chose to sleep at CP5 and arrived in at around 10am on the rest day! The organisers spoilt us today. First with a local dessert: Papanash (like a huge donut topped with sour cherry compot and cream cheese - very yummy! Later on plates of bread, cheese and cornichons and COLD BEER!!! Never had that before on a staged race. Very welcome!
Stage 5: 43.6km and 1630m vert!
Very pretty and fairly diverse route today. Rock formations, villages, more fields and the mountains have become more “foot hills” - still steep and long though! Finished the day in a beautiful spot overlooking rolling hills.
Stage 6: 16km and 363m of vert - FINISH!
The fun run! Really enjoyed today. Still fairly tough on tired swollen and sore feet and very hot. We set off at 7am so missed some of the heat. Nice rolling hills (with 3 short sharp climbs). Through a small village and up to some mud pools (looked like volcanos). Very enjoyable - then the few hundred meters or so to the finish where Alf was waiting. Unlimited ice cold beers followed by a huge lunch before driving to Brasov. Brasov is beautiful. Headed out after a long cool shower for a Romanian evening and awards ceremony. What a fabulous group of runners, volunteers and organisers. Cannot recommend this enough to anyone who loves stage races and mountains!
And that’s a wrap! After six grueling stages, countless climbs, and a few close encounters with the wild side of Romania, I’ve crossed the finish line of the Ultra Race Romania. What an incredible journey it’s been—each stage brought its own set of challenges, from navigating steep, rutted trails to battling the elements and, of course, keeping one eye out for the local wildlife! The camaraderie of the runners and the unwavering support from Cheryl kept me going, especially when I was on the verge of calling it quits.
The rest day was a much-needed break, and those little local treats like Papanash and cold beer were just the fuel we needed to push through the final stages. By the time I reached the finish line, with Alf and an ice-cold beer waiting, I knew it was all worth it.
Brasov was the perfect place to celebrate our achievements with new friends, and as I look back on this experience, I’m filled with pride, exhaustion, and a sense of wonder. If you’ve got a love for the mountains and a taste for adventure, put this race on your list—it’s a wild ride you’ll never forget!
