I started the Hexatrek on July 20th, finished 34 days later on August 22rd.
It was more challenging than expected, as I prefer adventure over overly preparing. I was often unaware of the technicality of the terrain and was therefore often surprised by how slow the going was. The advantage of this approach was that I was fueled by the curiosity of the beauty of the landscapes, and discovery of new mountain ranges, canyons that I had never heard of.
The heat was an ever-present issue and it was only in the Pyrenees that I was able to eat more or less normally. All 28 days before, I had a hard time getting in the calories and I lost a lot of weight. I mostly managed to run the distance I had in mind, but the days were long and the nights short.
I didn't run for half a day in the Alps after a drinking water infection. After 2 days it was out of my system (with antibiotics) and I was able to continue the run. On day one of this illness I was not able to eat solid food, but could continue on soft drinks and liquid food. On day two I wasn't able to drink anymore and I was completely empty, so I was not able to push on. On day 3 I felt better again.
It was a beautiful, rewarding adventure. My team of 2-3 friends was amazing, and the Hexatrek is one of the most diverse and unique trails in the world.