STAIRS TO INFINITY

Happy Thursday!

Do you ever have the feeling when you get so frustrated about failing on something that you return by putting all the effort on that one thing to make it happen? I'm talking about sports obviously but this also happens in everyday life. It's called strenght or in Finnish we have a word for it: SISU (which means "never give up")!

This happened to me when I found stairs I couldn't defeat!

Barcelona is such a nice city for runners, who love the variety of routes. The city is surrounded by mountains, hills and parks. Therefore you can easily find the route that suits for you. Here some examples!

Uphill city tracks:

Parc Güell 
One of the most well known landmarks in Barcelona. On weekends busy with tourists so prefer early morning or evening on the week days.
You can find some great stairs and off road tracks within the hills.

Parc Guinardó
Just on the side of Parc Güell so it's easy to combine these two routes. There also appears many tourist due Bunkers del Carmel. It also includes some of my favourites routes. There are many to choose from. You can take stairs, run uphill or take a steep sprint on top of the hill. Besides you get some amazing views. Just before the Parc there is some great stairs in Can Baró.


Flat routes:

Barceloneta
If you wish to run something easier head to the beach!
There is a route from the Port Vell to the beach along the shore.

Parc De La Ciutadella
Daily a busy park full of tourists, yogis and just people relaxing or exercising. It's a nice lace to run. Take a run all the way from Arc de Triumph to the Barceloneta and have a dip in the ocean if you dare!

Tibidabo/Les Planes/Collserola 
If you prefer nature and offroad tracks choose the nearby natural parcs Les Planes or Collserola. You'll find them nearby Tibidabo.
There are plenty to choose from for every taste! Here you don't meet that many tourists but many locals having a bike ride, run a walk.
Be aware of boars which there are plenty!!
Encountered one eye to eye today while in Collserola

I love steep hills, stairs and off road tracks. I love to ge my heart pumping. 

This manner has stayed from my days of track and field. I'm still not a fan of long distances so you never see me running a marathon. I love running alone in a peacfull place within the nature. There is and always will be a Finnish heart in me that loves silence and nature.

When I moved here I aimed to find all the best stairs to run to. I started with the stairs oh Parc Güell until I got fed up with the crowds of tourists.

Then I stepped into the parc nearby, Parc del Guinardó, which I still love. Eventually I found the gem of all stairs! Called "Escales de la Font del Mont" up to Parc de Collserola. First time I saw these I thought I need to come back! One Monday evening we came here with a friend to try if we could run all the way up. The stairs won the first round. I've been back twice after alone. 

Yet been able to run the stairs only with some pauses.

Therefore I decided that it will be my personal challenge! I want to conquer the steepest and longest stairs that I've ran without stops! Not an easy one but doable with dedication and "SISU" like everything in life!

I will be posting my updates of my progress here on my blog along with the posts.

Until next time bbs!

xxx -millamartta