Vanicatte in Reto del Indio: ‘The best race of my life’

French Maximilien Vanicatte, managed to overcome the frustration he had after not reaching his goals in the first two editions Indian challenge; sets a new record in the competition that was held between the areas last weekend Atlantic coast in Colon and Pacific Ocean in the province coclé from a distance of 160 kilometers.

ultramarathon runner Maximilien Vanicatte, In 2022, he finished third in the 160 kilometer test with a time of 25:51:44. Jose Varcasia and his compatriot Damien Bontemps. On this occasion, he traveled at 18:43:00, while varcasia He was second with 21:30:17, and for his part, he reached third place Nestor Mendoza with 22:00:00, and Bontemps finished fourth with 26:37:51.

While in the women’s category, the best was: Dora Lajos with a time of 29:06:08, followed by Raquel Lemos with 32:33:27 and Andrea Bascone with 32:33:35.

vanicatte, He assures that it is not important for him to get on the podium, but to get the time he wants and feel comfortable during the competition, and he succeeded in doing that on this occasion. “The first two editions, the results were not so good,” he said.

“In 2022, the first months of the year are very frustrating and by May I started preparing for this competition and I did three long distance races in Colombia and Argentina. I also trained a lot more kilometers and on bumps. By January this year, I did I made my own intensive training plan and asked for a script omar park and metropolitan parkToday I also ran with a low heart rate, to go in search of that comfort zone during the course The Indian Challenge”.

Maximilien Vanicatte, ensures that his strategy worked, because he even planned to run harder during the night for a maximum of 5 minutes per kilometer and heart rate between 130 and 140, he feels comfortable there. “I could go very far and calmly at this speed. I had all the conditions including a good lamp for the road. Arriving in El Valle, I ate and changed my shoes and I went faster because I knew I was going downhill. I ran the last 30 more easily with the sun!

“I thought I could do less than 20 hours and I did it, I was even surprised that it was 18 hours 43. Not only did I improve, but José Varcasia had a better time than last year”.

During his journey from the region of Salud to Colon to El Decameron beach in Cliff, there are funny anecdotes, among which is the one that at the 27th kilometer on the downhill he met three cows that won by running. Later he had visions, first he saw something similar to a bear, but it was actually the shadow of some leaves, then he thought he saw a snake, but it was horse dung.

A runner of French origin and a resident of Panama, ensures that his Saucony shoes were also essential for running the long journey of 100 miles. “At the stations, the goal was to fill your bottles with hydration and not stop for long. In Tres Hermanas, I stayed for 5 mi-
utes and in El Valle 8 minutes. I changed my clothes, ate something and continued to keep my body cool.”

Maximilien Vanicatte, describes that from the 85th to the 95th kilometer he had severe pains in his kidneys and stomach. He could not run downhill, he had to be patient and try to keep up the pace by walking.

But leaving the station Valley I felt like I was flying. After spending the whole night alone, seeing the light of day and meeting the competitors at 55 km lifted his spirits. He went full speed until he reached Stavra’s stage crown House of Bennett-Cabuya.

“The rest of the race was a series of walking and running, and I did the last 8 kilometers at a pace of 5:45, in the end I crossed the finish line in 18:43. Perfect ride. The best race of my life.”

The winners of the 105 kilometer race were: Carlos Correa, Jaime Javier Lasso and Enmanuel Sánchez, while Isabela Nellos, Monica Costarangos and Georgette Cianca stood out in the women’s category.

At 55 kilometers, the winner’s podium was won by: Luis Felipe Solano Méndez, José Alonzo and Fermin Gutierrez, and among the ladies, María Andreina Sequera stood out the most