Barcelona corre (Barcelona Runner)

Routes for seeing the city on the go

‘If I couldn’t go running I’d lose my mind’.

Domingo Catalán ‘If you want to win something, run 100 meters.

If you want to experience something, run a marathon.’

Emil Zatopek ‘Ideas come to me when I’m running.’

Arcadi Alibés ‘With good running shoes, I don’t need a psychologist.’

Abderraman Ait Khamouch

Pere Bosch Grané and Núria Blanco Vilanova Photographs by César Lucadamo 9 788498 504309

routes for seeing the city on the go

Pere Bosch Grané and Núria Blanco Vilanova Photographs by César Lucadamo

Published by Barcelona City Council Barcelona City Council Publications Council: Jaume Ciurana i Llevadot, Jordi Martí i Galbis, Jordi Joly i Lena, Vicente Guallart i Furió, Àngel Miret i Serra, Marta Clari i Padrós, Miquel Guiot i Rocamora, Marc Puig i Guàrdia, Josep Lluís Alay i Rodríguez, José Pérez i Freijo, Pilar Roca i Viola, Albert Ortas.

Director of Communication and Citizen Attention: Marc Puig

Graphic design and layout: MALAIDEA, Andy Nogueron Photographs: César Lucadamo Promotional Quickmovies: ITANITAN: Toni Roura, Àngels Torrent, David Muntaner

Editor in chief: Oriol Guiu

Editing and production: Images Department and Municipal Publishing Services Direcció d’Imatge i Serveis Editorials Municipals Passeig de la Zona Franca, 66 08038 Barcelona Tel. 93 402 31 31 www.bcn.cat/publicacions

Production: Maribel Baños

D.L: B-1.900-2013 ISBN: 978-84-9850-430-9

Original idea and development: DOING BOOKS by Martina Ros Solé

Copyright of the photographs: Cesar Lucadamo Copyright of the text: Pere Bosch and Núria Blanco Copyright of this edition: Barcelona City Council

Director of Image and Publishing Services: José Pérez Freijo

Editorial direction: Martina Ros i Solé Translation into English: Tau Traduccions Authors: Pere Bosch Grané Núria Blanco Vilanova

Copyright of the works cited: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, © Haruki Murakami. Originally published in English by Knopf, New York, 2008.

Córrer o morir, © Kilian Jornet, 2011. Originally published in Catalan by Ara Llibres, Barcelona, 2011.

Córrer per ser feliç, © Arcadi Alibés, 2010. Originally published in Catalan by Ara Llibres, Barcelona, 2010.

Presentació La pràctica de l’atletisme urbà no és pas cap novetat a Barcelona. No en va s’hi celebra la cursa Jean Bouin de manera quasi ininterrompuda des de fa més de noranta anys, juntament amb proves ja consolidades i d’alt reconeixement internacional com són la Marató, la Mitja Marató o la mateixa Cursa de Bombers, entre d’altres.

Però quan parlem de la pràctica de l’atletisme a la ciutat no només hem de fer referència als esdeveniments organitzats per l’Ajuntament o amb la seva col·laboració. Any rere any, l’augment de la participació en les curses populars ens indica clarament l’entusiasme que, com a ciutadans, sentim per la pràctica d’aquest esport, fins al punt que la imatge d’un corredor de fons barrejat amb la resta de vianants ja forma part del paisatge natural de la ciutat.

Barcelona corre ens engresca a córrer, a fer salut per mitjà de l’esport pels carrers de la nostra ciutat tot participant en una activitat símbol indiscutible de societat avançada i cosmopolita. De manera concisa i amb clara vocació divulgativa, hi trobarem detallades totes les competicions populars on podrem participar i, paral·lelament, tot un seguit de propostes molt ben definides d’on practicar l’atletisme, districte per districte, amb tot tipus de circuits que ben segur s’adaptaran a la diversitat de gustos i necessitats que una activitat de masses com aquesta comporta. És un llibre útil per als iniciats i persuasiu per als que encara no s’hi han llançat. Engrescador, com deia. Comproveu-ho vosaltres mateixos.

Xavier Trias Alcalde de Barcelona

Foreword Urban athletics is no novelty in Barcelona. The Jean Bouin race has been held here for more than 90 years without a break. To this we can now add established events of internationally renown such as the Marathon, the Half Marathon and even the Firemen’s Race, amongst others.

But when we talk about athletics in the city we mustn’t limit ourselves to events organised by the City Council or with its collaboration. The increase in turnout for popular races year after year clearly indicates the enthusiasm this sport stirs up with the public, to the extent that the image of a long-distance runner in amongst the rest of the people in the street has come to form part of the city’s natural landscape.

Barcelona Runner is an encouragement to take up running, to look after our health by practising sport in the city streets and, at the same time, to take part in an activity which has become a definite hallmark of an advanced and cosmopolitan society. Concisely, and with a clear informative intent, this book lists all the amateur events we can take part in and, at the same time, it provides a wide range of well-defined suggestions for places for athletics activities, district by district, with all sorts of circuits which will no doubt be adapted to the range of tastes and needs a popular activity like this one involves.

This book will be of use to initiates and will convince those who have not yet made their minds up. Encouraging, as I say. See for yourselves.

Xavier Trias Mayor of Barcelona

Introduction Have you noticed your neighbour in the flat next door? The one who always wears a suit and tie and then suddenly goes out in a sweatshirt and shorts after his day at the office. Your best friend has been insisting for months that you and she go together. Why, even your father, who always complains about everything as a matter of course, has found a hobby that keeps him cheerful.

You see so many people out running every day that you can’t help wondering what they feel when they go out at all hours practising sport (‘suffering’, you think as you watch them). If you’re leafing through this book, you’ve obviously begun to look for an answer. Or perhaps you’re a habitual runner and you want to find new routes and share experiences with other urban athletes. Whatever the case, welcome. In this book you’ll find where to practise this sport in Barcelona’s ten districts and we’ll set you some challenges for when you know the city from top to bottom. The routes have been planned with the broadest possible criteria, for all tastes and levels, from the beginner to the most hardened runner. In these pages we’ll be running beside the sea and up in the mountains and discovering green zones that give a new meaning to the urban jungle.

The main thing, though, is that this book should not be just a compendium of routes. We want it to be dynamic. To begin with, it should motivate anyone who at some time has considered taking up running but hasn’t found where or how or the right companions.

And we also want this book to be a point of departure. Taking these pages as a reference, discuss and imagine new routes, change them to suit your taste.

This book is just the beginning, the push for the first of many steps.

If you come with us, we’ll start exploring Barcelona and burning trainers.

Núria Blanco Vilanova Pere Bosch Grané

Contents ROUTES BY DISTRICTS Route 1 Past, present and future of the Olympic Mountain

PAGES 10-11

Plaça d'Espanya – Olympic Stadium – Montjuïc Castle

Route 2

page 12

San Andreu full steam ahead Plaça d'Orfila – La Maquinista – Ronda del Litoral – Plaça d'Orfila

Route 3

Parc de la Maternitat – Parc de Cervantes – Palau de Pedralbes

Route 4

page 24

Fly over the ring road Horta Cycle Track – Parc del Castell de l’Oreneta – Parc de Cervantes

Route 5

page 36

Winding up to the Cycle Track El Congrés neighbourhood – Turó de la Peira – Horta Cycle Track

Route 7

page 42

Running is Modernista Sagrada Família – Hospital de Sant Pau – Parc del Guinardó

Route 8

page 48

Going up to the Font del Gat Parc de les Cascades – Moll de la Fusta – Miramar – Font del Gat

Route 9

page 30

The athletes' Fòrum Rambla de Prim – Fòrum – Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes

Route 6

page 18

Les Corts, red and blue (blaugrana) and green

page 54

A first category climb Via Favència – Torre Baró – Via Júlia – Parc de la Guineueta

page 60

Route 10 The three hills Turó del Putget – Parc Güell – Turó del Carmel – Parc del Guinardó

THEMED ROUTES Route 11 Parks and gardens

page 66

PAGES 72-73

Diagonal Mar – Carles I – Ciutadella

page 74

Route 12 Cold days Hotel Vela – Nova Icària – Fòrum

page 80

Route 13 City block interiors Palau Robert – Calàbria – Plaça de la Universitat

page 86

Route 14 Feast days Plaça de Catalunya – Plaça de Sant Jaume – Estació de França

page 92

Route 15 Beginners Can Dragó – Plaça de les Glòries – Arc de Triomf

page 98

Route 16 The athlete's Montjuïc Parc de Joan Miró – Joan Serrahima stadium – Mirador del Migdia

page 104

Route 17 The all-time classic: Carretera de les Aigües Pla dels Maduixers – Vallvidrera – Sant Pere Màrtir

page 110

Route 18 The old municipalities Sarrià – Parc de Joan Raventós – Vallvidrera

page 118

ROUTES WITH A CHALLENGE Route 19 Hill running

PAGES 124-125

Vallvidrera – La Budellera – Vallvidrera reservoir

page 126

Route 20 From the shoreline to Sarrià Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies – Entença – Sarrià

page 132

Route 21 Going upriver Bon Pastor – Besòs – Vallbona

page 138

Route 22 Just one street Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes – Passeig de Gràcia – Plaça de Cerdà

page 144

Route 23 Running by night Travessera de les Corts – Travessera de Gràcia – Plaça d'En Joanic

page 150

RACES IN THE CITY

PAGES 156-157

PRACTICAL ADVICE Training advice Nutritional advice Equipment Directory

PAGES 168-186 p. 170 p. 175 p. 177 p. 181

ROUTES BY

DISTRICTS

Route 1 Past, present and future of the Olympic Mountain Plaça d’Espanya – Olympic Stadium – Montjuïc Castle Long before the Olympic Games made it the Magic Mountain, Montjuïc had already made a profound mark on the life of the city. On this route we’ll be reviewing the history of one of the great points of reference for Barcelona’s urban athletes.

We set off from under the Venetian towers in Plaça d’Espanya, a symbol linked to another historic event featuring Montjuïc, the 1929 Universal Exhibition, which was also when the monumental FOUNTAIN by Josep Maria Jujol was built in the centre of the square.

THE FIRST STRETCH OF MOUNTAIN Km 1 – Follow Avinguda de Maria Cristina, with a gentler 6-metre slope, where you can start getting ready for the first real uphill stretch. You come to it after turning right along Carrer de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia (formerly Marquès de Comillas).

Once past CaixaForum the route gets interesting, with a 23-metre hill to get to the Poble Espanyol.

12

DISTRICTS

When you get to the next junction, turn left (avoid the temptation to go down the slope on your right, which you’ll be able to enjoy on Route 16). You’ll come to Plaça de Sant Jordi bordering the grounds of the little-known Pompeia, a centenarian tennis club with courts also built for the 1929 Exhibition. Keep on the same path and you’ll see another historic site beneath you, the La Foixarda rugby pitch.

By now you’ll have covered the first kilometre of the route. At the next junction turn left onto Avinguda de l’Estadi.

A 100-METRE LET-UP Km 2 – At this point the good news is that you’ve got two large, wide sidewalks, the bad news is that the hill gets very steep at the INEFC, with gradients of more than 6%.

In the region of the paddle courts and the Bernat Picornell swimming pools, it lets up for 100 metres, but the going gets tough again when you reach the Jardí d’Aclimatació (Acclimatisation Garden). If you cross it, after the entrance gate to the Olympic Ring, you can cool off at the first DRINKING FOUNTAIN on the route.

THE LONGEST BREAK OF THE DAY Having got to the Olympic Stadium, you’ll be around 100 metres above sea level. At this point you’ll be able to enjoy the longest break of the day. Let’s be honest: it’s come at the right moment, with 200 metres of flat ground and a good downhill slope. Make the most of the straight Carretera de Montjuïc, which leads to Plaça Dante. And from there on, my friend, we come to the final climb.

Set off to the right, along Carrer dels Tarongers. You’ll pass the Jardins de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, with a DRINKING FOUNTAIN by the entrance, past the steps. Running in the park isn’t advisable as the route is plagued with slopes of up to 20 metres in a short distance.

13

BARCELONA RUNNER

THE OLD AMUSEMENT PARK If you were to keep going along Carrer dels Tarongers you’d come to the castle. Easy, eh?

But that way you’d have to deal with slopes of more than 10%, which is why we recommend you take the long way round via the Jardins de Joan Brossa. You wouldn’t believe it in view of its present state, but you’ll be entering what from 1966 to 1988 was the Amusements Park.

Remember that, as you cool off at the DRINKING FOUNTAIN a few steps from the entrance. Be careful, not the one with the handle.

The right one is just next to it. A few metres away, you’ll be greeted by Charlie Rivel with his wooden chair.

THE CABLE CAR STOP When you’ve crossed the park, you’ll come out into Plaça de la Sardana, the route’s halfway point. If you turn right, you can once again head straight for the castle, but we suggest you make a more gradual ascent. Get past the first 20-metre slope and turn right again to tackle one of the favourite stretches with veteran runners, the car park, which is ideal for doing series of about 300 metres as you climb almost without noticing. You’ll end up at the cable car stop, from which, at last, the castle rock is just a step away.

THE CASTLE AND THE SANTA EULÀLIA MOAT On this site, 170 metres above sea level, there are records of an early military fortress built in 1640. Today it’s still a magnificent place from which to look out over the city and the sea. Head from here to another point with historical resonances, the Avinguda del Castell, above the Santa Eulàlia moat, where Lluís Companys was executed by firing squad. Two very pleasant routes start from here. One is 1,340 metres long and the other is longer and to be recommended, because it also passes the castle’s maritime wall, above the lighthouse. And since everything on this route has referred to the history of Montjuïc, we’ll think about it until the last stretch. The complete lap of the castle exterior, stride by stride, is 1,992 metres long.

14

RUNNING with

‘If I couldn’t go running I’d lose my mind’.

Domingo Catalán 63 years old. Owns a shop selling sportswear in Sants. Took up running when no-one else was doing it..

The phone in the Atleta’s shop doesn’t stop ringing. Domingo’s organising an outing for a group run next day. ‘I’m 64 and I still go every day’, he says proudly as he serves three customers at once. It seems people come more to chat with Domingo than to shop. ‘I give them good advice!’

He could ask a good price for his advice on athletics. He’s spent 47 years running all over the world. ‘To be honest, I couldn’t tell you how many races I’ve run... maybe thousands. When I was in my prime I could run anything I wanted.’ He beams as he remembers those days. ‘That was a great time, but very tough, because I had two jobs: I was a professional athlete and at the same time I had to work, because in those days running didn’t fill your belly.’

‘Come on, doctor. Don’t try and get out of it, tomorrow at seven...’

Domingo barks at one of those convened. ‘Nowadays I like running with other people, but when I was training to improve my results I always went alone. That way no-one could copy my strategy. And what the heck... because nobody tells me what to do. I’m from Aragon and you know how stubborn they say we are!’, he says categorically as he laughs.

‘Yes, right. We’ll start from Montjuïc.’ Last call to tie up the details of the course. Domingo knows the routes in the city better than almost anyone else. ‘But if I had to choose a place for training I’d go for Montjuïc castle. Because it’s quiet and there are no slopes. It’s a great place for running.’

It’s difficult to imagine Domingo’s life without athletics.. ‘If I couldn’t go running I’d lose my mind’, he says as he begins to shut up shop. It’s getting late. ‘Shall we go home? I’ve got a running appointment first thing tomorrow!’

15

START

FINISH

DISTRICTS

Data sheet Plaça d’Espanya - Olympic Stadium - Montjuïc Castle Distance: 4,800 metres Signposting: Montjuïc Castle sports circuit Surface: asphalt and gravel Day/night: day Net ascent: 149 metres Total cumulative ascent: 168 metres Green zones: Drinking fountains: Time: 50 minutes Difficulty: HIGH

Sports circuit

C

The route Past, present and future of the Olympic mountain includes this circuit.

Itinerary: Castle perimeter, Courtyard, Military Museum, cable car and moats, on Montjuïc.

Distance: Itinerary 1, 1,992 m.

PG

250 m

500 m

FOS S

CASTELL DE MONTJUÏC 750 m 1,000 m

DE L

MIG DIA

1,992 mAV DEL C A ST AT ELL 0m

TELEFÈRIC MUSEU MILITAR

1,750 m 1,500 m

1,250 m

© Karmentxu Buldain 17