A monster day gorge and coastal running and walking - Wednesday



When I am in Crete I normally have at least one day in the mountains - it is generally hot and sunny, the highest peaks go up to 2,500m and the ground is generally very dry and rugged.  Even so when you go to the high mountain you have to take a fleece with you as it can feel cool with strong winds.  One of the famous tourist walks in Crete is to walk down the Samaria Gorge and to walk through the Iron Gates (see photo).  I have walked down it twice and run down it before.  This year I decided I would run down it 1,300m descent in 16km, its Europe's deepest/longets gorge and good fun but full of tourists when walking, with the run you are at thee xit before the tavernas have opened - less than 2 hours.
Normally from the bottom you sit on beach for a few hours, have a few beers and wait for the boat out to Sfakia where you get the bus.  It is waste time so I decided that I would follow the E4 coastel path to Sfakia - the guide books says this takes moe than 7 hours, but to make it interesting I added another 1,000+m ascent gorge walk/climb on the way back.

All in all a long day, nearly 35 miles and over 5,000m of ascent/descent taking nearly 11 hours including taverna stops. I walked most of the way once I had left the Samaria Gorge as it was sandy beach for the first few miles and then rouh limestone, the gorge was uphill with some ladders and ropes to climb buit once I got onto the Anapoli plateau and onto some gravel and then tarmac roads I ran/walked as I was being creful not to miss the bus back to my car.

I was shattered but my biggest problem was the blisters than came on my feet later in the day,the sand rubbed them and I also trashed my running shoes!  The day has led to a halt to my holiday training so only some relaxed swimming until  get back home.  I may have  a few more beers in the evening!

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