Nestled near Barcelona, on the coast of the Balearic Sea, is the seaside town of Vilanova i la Geltrú. A fishing port with sandy beaches that stretch on for miles, there aren’t any mountain ranges in this area of Catalonia, Spain. And yet, it’s the home of an accomplished, young trail runner who thrives at altitude and excels on technical terrain- 29-year-old Lidia Ramos Palacios.
By day, Lidia is a lawyer, but her true passion lies outside the courtroom, on the peaks of the Pyrenees and the mountains of Montserrat. In 2018, Lidia did her first trail race. Over the course of just a few seasons, she’s achieved a UTMB index of 575 and broken the tape at 10 races.
“Except for the pandemic, where I was forced to run indoors, in the subway parking, do workouts at home, or walk on the terrace, my body has told me that it wants to run and feel the adrenaline of racing,” Lidia says. “I have four marathons and no less than 40 half marathons in my legs since I started trail running.”
On July 1st, Lidia set out from Barruera for the start of the Garmin Epic Trail Vall de Boí, a 42km run with total elevation gain of 2,800m in the Catalonia high-mountains. It was her fourth marathon.
“I have a lot of respect for long distance and, for me, it’s a real challenge,” she says. “I faced up to the race knowing it presented a hard elevation profile with technical areas such as two sustained climbs, crests, and peaks over 2,500m altitude on the spectacular Pyrenees.”
Lidia placed seventh overall and third in her age group, which secured her a spot for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.
“Immediately after crossing the finish line, I was already thinking about the next marathon, and I began to prepare well in advance."
Over the last few months, Lidia has “lived very sweet moments,” having broken the tape at four races: Cros de Sant Pau 23K, Sitges Rock Trail 25.7K, Night Trail Duesaigues 24.6k, and Sobrepuny Trail 21K. However, this qualification for the XTERRA World Championship is a very special achievement.
“XTERRA has been a glimmer of light and my little American dream,” she says. “Immediately after crossing the finish line, I was already thinking about the next marathon, and I began to prepare well in advance. So, Sugarloaf isn’t just a World Championship, but a great manifestation that a marathon isn’t just 42km, but a long, intense road, made of perseverance and will.”
Lidia admits that she’s facing some challenges on the road to Sugarloaf. She will need to travel halfway across the globe to get to Maine, and it will be her first time in the United States.
“Given the complex logistics and lack of financial support from sponsors, I tried to convince myself not to go, and I wanted to settle for the result obtained and recognition of my modest career,” she says. “But you want me to tell you the truth? I started knocking on doors. Some of them haven’t opened, it’s true, but I’ve not given up. The real hard part is already done and Sugarloaf means just crossing the Atlantic.”
"The real hard part is already done and Sugarloaf just means crossing the Atlantic.”
Part of being a trail runner is having the ability to meet challenges as they come, with composure, grit, and a tireless sense of determination. In a way, the act of scrambling up boulders and navigating technical terrain can teach us about the need to adapt and overcome in life, as well.
“I think it's on the hardest days, when you think you haven’t done enough, that makes the difference,” Lidia says. “You get to the point of thinking that you will never get to where you want, because you know you have limitations, but limits are there to be challenged. There’s something that has hooked me beyond this, and that is the illogical purpose of running without any purpose.”
Why do we run? For some, it’s the adrenaline rush that comes from pushing boundaries and surpassing limits. For others, it’s the peace that can be found by exploring nature. Although the act of running can be brutal, the reward is complexly satisfying and has so many different faces.
“Magic mountains and wild paths discovered at a much higher pulse than when I’m lying on the sofa have hooked me on trails. You connect with the earth, leaves, trees, bushes, and stones at every step, feeling that each season has its own colors,” Lidia says.
There’s something poetic in the way Lidia talks about trail running. Perhaps it’s because, for her, being a trail runner is about much more than achieving a top race result or specific time. The kilometers she spends traversing trails are about sacrifice, dedication, passion, and discipline.
“One of my tips to keep on training on those days when I’m not so motivated is to remember that suffering is momentary. Satisfaction is forever,” she says. “It's not always about giving 100%, but just never giving up. My way to enjoy a course is to do my best, and yes, that means to suffer a little bit, but I don't hesitate. Trail running can teach us to keep following our dreams and learn to overcome difficulties.”
"Sugarloaf isn’t just a World Championship, but a great manifestation that a marathon isn’t just 42km, but a long, intense road, made of perseverance and will.”
For Lidia, it’s an honor to have qualified for the XTERRA World Championship Trail Run, and although she’s more of a half-marathon specialist, she is going to give it her very best.
“It’s an honor for me to be part of a big event like this,” she says. “The marathon is not the distance I have prepared the most, but I’m so used to the volume of kilometers that I strongly believe that training speed, endurance, strength, and mental preparation may lead me to a result on the top position of marathon women XTERRA qualifiers. At least, I will try!”
