The course starts in 9.30 am from Loutraki’s beach and for
the next 700 meters goes along the road and crosses the city’s central square.
After a small uphill part, the course is headed outside the city and crosses
the peripheral road where the first trail of the course is met. This has no
technical difficulties and is spreading in between pine trees in the reforested
part of the mountain. The incline remains quite subtle and its length is 1000m.
We are now at the altitude of 260 meters, under the main
volume of the mountain. Crossing the first few meters is quite easy as the race
goes through the forest trail. From that point on, the more demanding part of
the ascent begins, as the trail is more delicate and harder to cross, yet clear
and with low vegetation. At this part of the trail the incline increases
drastically to the extend that the last 500 meters of the positive altitude
gain is 200 meters! The course meets the road again a few meters away from
Saint Patapios Monastery. This is the middle of the course not only length wise
(2,9km) but also with regards to the positive altitude gain (500m).
From here on, the second and most interesting part of the
course begins. The scenery becomes more interesting along with the trail that
is clear and without stones. In a few spots the trail is slightly loose but
this will not cause any problems on ascent. The view of the Corinthian Sea and
Iraion Lake is unique. Due to the sudden ascent and as the course goes higher
by crossing the mountain, the view towards NE Peloponese is breathtaking. These
first few meters after the first half of the course are very demanding. After
climbing the monastery’s steps we find ourselves in a trail that quickly gains
height with continuous turns. Another 1,500 meters left until we reach 300
meters of positive elevation. Soon we reach 800m altitude, as well as 4.3km of
the race’s length. At this point the incline changes begin to evenly diminish
and the terrain become smoother especially after the 5th km there is only 65
meters of altitude change till we reach the finishing line.
We are now at 1,000m altitude after 5.8km of painful
uphill!!!
You’ve just reached the end of the unique Vertical Kilometer
in Greece!
Source and information about the race: http://www.verticalkilometer.gr/
Hotel Segas
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