The Cathar Way

The Cathar Way wends its way from Foix, across beautiful countryside taking in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Aude department before dropping down to the Mediterranean Coast and finishing in Port-la-Nouvelle - a total of 250kms! Today, in beautiful, warm, spring-like sunshine, Andy, Kev and I scratched the mere surface of the route. It started with a steep ascent from Foix up to the beautiful Pech de Foix with its fantastic views down the Ariege Valley towards Mont Fourcat .... ...and then along good paths and forest tracks to the Col de Touron and back. The run totalled 15kms and included 680m of ascent. It was wet with melting snow in several spaces and still icy and snowy on sheltered northern sections but nevertheless, some sustained running on undulating terrain was possible. I felt strong but towards the end, it became clear that more stretching and releasing of tight muscles is required! At some point in the near future, it would be good to extend the run and finish down at Roquefixade, which would involve 1100m of ascent over 16km and then to eventually be able to do the return loop for a total of 32kms and 2200m of ascent. Good training if I am to realise my ambition of completing the Mont Calm marathon at the end of August which covers 46kms and 2900m of ascent! Well, I can dream!