FKT: Chris Andrade - Madeira Coast to Coast (Portugal) - 2024-09-05

It was just past 11am (probably not ideal timing as it was going to be HOT) as I started my watch and headed up hill. I know Madeira quite well, my dad's side of the family are from there, so I was super excited to run this route. The first mile or so is on steep roads and steps before you get to the start of the Levada Nova, one of the islands many Levadas. The gorgeous, narrow track of the Levada continues for 2 miles and is pretty much the only flat bit of running on the route. After leaving the Levada the route passes though some small rural communities before joining a winding dirt track. After checking Strava I saw that some of the gradients on this section reach 36%!

The track continued to take me uphill passing small herds of cows and the burnt out husks of trees from the recent wildfires, and I could hear the scuttling feet of hundreds of lizards. By this point it was really hot and sweat was pretty much pouring off me, I had taken 2 litres of water but I was fast getting through it. I know that the north side of the island tends to be a bit wetter and cooler so I was hoping I wouldn't need as much water when I started to head downhill. The route eventually meets a road and this is the point I knew most of the climbing was done, just a short uphill section on the tarmac. By the time the road flattens out I'd done around 5000ft of vert in 10 miles.

Now for 9 miles of descending. The first section of downhill is on a narrow trail with low hanging trees so it wasn't super fast as I had to keep ducking to navigate under branches. However, the trail soon widens and the trees are not as low hanging so I could start to move a bit quicker, and it was fun!! I did unfortunately take my eyes off the ball for a moment though and kick a rock - sending myself flying! I had several cuts on my legs and the beginnings of a few nasty bruises on my arms. A sat on the floor for a few minutes composing myself before getting up and getting back on my way. Naturally I slowed a little for the next mile or so, not wanting to trip again (and my legs hurt). 

The narrow tree lined trail soon joins a wide track with big zig-zagging switchbacks where you can really open yourself up and move quickly! The switchbacks last for about 3 miles and it was here I could make up a lot of time after largely trudging uphill for the first 10 miles. The dirt track eventually turns into a road which signals the end of the trails as I entered the town of São Vincente on the south coast. A couple of miles on the road took me to the famous church built into a rock that marks the end of the route. 

An incredible route, and an incredible few hours running it!