If there is one race I’ve participated at, in my almost one decade running “career”, I can always speak about in huge terms, that is, without any doubt, 2X2 Race. I’ve written a couple of times about my experiences from there, but I never truly expressed my real feelings experienced in 2024, when I’ve achieved what seemed to me the impossible. Because the registration for 2025 edition where opened on 14th of February, I’ve remember every step of the way of my journey, with the help of a great Strava graphic, which helped me retake, in a blink, the race. This time watching it from above, relaxed, while sitting and sipping a cup of good coffee. I didn’t drink any coffee in the morning of the 24th of August 2024. How could I? At 6 AM I was am about to start one of the biggest adventures of my life.

2X2 Race starts with a huge climb, as you may know!

I am checking my equipment and do a mild warm up, while placing my time spreadsheet carefully in my pocket. The weather is clear, but I expect some sun on the day. Not necessary very warm temperature, as at 2.000 meters that is, anyway, relative, but I am expecting for some good exposure, reason for which I’m fixing properly my headlamp, inside my white cap. So early, the sun didn’t even start shining, let alone causing any heat problems. It is ideal for running, a bit cold, I would say. That disappears quickly, because you can’t be cold when you climb from Bâlea Lake to Capra Lake. It is more than a warm up, a hot up, I would say. I climb that like a robot, I know the drill from two years back, and I know shortly I will witness the sunrise. But I also know the performance from 2022, and my focus is not to enjoy anything, but to be as fast as possible.

What gets measured, gets accomplished!

I recognize almost every inch of the way, I know the next kilometers are mostly downhill, but steep downhill, the kind I hate. I know what to expect of, so I am doing my thing. I know I must arrive in a decent manner at the descent “La Trei Pași de Moarte”, because there it can happen to appear a bottle neck, for real, which can severely endangered my fragile check point time. So then, I am sure to make it and move in time there. It is not a portion of the trail I like too much, or actually at all, but, in the end, the entire path I am following is something that suits me like the sky suits a submarine. In the pictures, it does, in reality, my strong focus, or perhaps self-conservation instinct is switched on at maximum. I push forward, and check, from time to time, my time for each kilometer, to understand how good I’m bound to get to Moldoveanu Peak in three hours and 40 minutes. I am conflicted. But I take a well deserved, and short break, at Șaua Giurgiu, where a hydration point is awaiting us. I have plenty of liquids, but I know to take advantage of whatever I find on the go. The effort is surreal.

Just in time for the picture on Moldoveanu Peak!

The levels of energy are at maximum, I feel so very strong, and confident ahead of the climbs that are about to cross my paths. I have trained for uphill all year, even got on a podium, in a short uphill. I know they are hard, but I need to take them. And I do. Forward, only forward, I feel strong and confident. My heart goes loose when I am attacking the final climb to Viștea Mare. My clock registers 198 bpm. I am not sure if it is accurate, but sure not far. I regain shape, and push. Pushing in my legs. It is only 09:00 AM, so I really feel great because I am sure not too much to go until reaching Moldoveanu. The portion between the two mentioned peaks is not that long, maybe 500 meters, but it is quite challenging, and I need to be careful. I know the path, I just need to focus. I do, I make the pass and go to the tallest peak in Romania: touché! A picture, after I check my watch: 3 hours and 40 minutes! Exactly as planned, 20 minutes before cut off. Who’s laughing now?! I do! But I don’t have time to celebrate standing.

Why is my energy fading away?

I celebrate in my mind and off I take the return road. The good part is that my spirits are higher than at the beginning, and so there is a descending overall portion in front of me, until the same Șaua Giurgiu, and I can savor my success. I feel the drive to push as hard as possible, unlike 2022, when I spent more than six hours on my way back. Now, I wanted to do that in 3 hours 42. Normally, quite decent. The sun starts giving warnings. It is only noon, though, and not a huge problem. I see in front of me a sheep flock, and I’m not sure how to pass it. The rams are looking quite insistent, and I am a bit reluctant. Slowly, they’re left behind and I’m continuing my pursuit of happiness. An endless path seems to reveal in front of me, and many climbs. Managing them still, but I feel the energy slipping away. I try to stay hydrated and in good shape, but hours pass, and my body resents that.

Capra Lake, done. Problems start

13:00 PM, hopping to see Capra Lake. There still is a bit to go, I will miss the objective, as, when I turn left to the second part of the trail, the clock shows 14:03 PM. I am now 18 minutes ahead of the next cut off time, but 20 minutes short of what I wanted to achieve. I don’t feel the same energy, the same hope, the same commitment. People from the short race are coming in waves, and that doesn’t help my moral. I need more water: “in 20 minutes!”, I am told. 20 minutes, my ass… I am cruising for almost 45 minutes and finally hit the hydration point. It is the first time when I am afraid I’ll fail. But being here, it already is a success. I have doubts, but I keep only Negoiu Peak in my mind. The sun’s shine becomes a problem. At almost 15:00 PM you can feel that at full speed. On top of everything, the biggest problem are the blisters developing on my soles. Going forward starts to hurt. I’ve regained some shape while taking some water on board, but now I need to focus. More focus.

Blisters, heat, “encouragement” and autopilot for a successful 2X2 Race

I don’t feel too optimistic. I think, after this small break, is where my autopilot developed. I am not last in line, but I am not doing great. I can see Călțun Lake, the next check point, so I am pushing to reach it. I don’t remember by heart when this happened, but it should have been at around 15:50. 10 minutes before all could have been over. Now, one more hour, and ten minutes, to complete the last major check point. A lot of climb to go and a lots of “you can’t do it”, “there is not enough time”, “you are too late”, “you are too slow”. Seeking encouragement from those who descent already does not turn up as expected, but the pure truth is that… I really don’t care. I just put one foot in front of the other, and just know when I need to be there. I push all my energy drops available in the tank, to achieve it. My feet are growing crazy pain. But I push. Nobody can imagine, I would give up at this point. Why should I? What would be the point. I climb, and climb, and climb. I raise my head, a glance: there it is!

Turning point to the 2X2 Race finish line

One more severe climb and that is it! “Come on! You are only ten minutes away from happiness!”, the only encouragement I got from a descending competitor, exactly what I’ve needed. With my final strengths, I push my limits up and with seven minutes before the cut-off I make it! I will be a 2X2 Race finisher! Full finisher. There is no more doubt on that, because now there is only one way: back to the Paltinu cabin! I feel a huge relief. I am tired, in pain, thirsty, sun struck, but I know I have done it. On top of that, I realize, I am not last in line. Five more fellows arrive later, and a couple more just left. I won’t be alone on my way back. I feel confident I will achieve under the 14 hours mark, but I don’t really care too much. Some guys sprinted because they want to grow their odds. I am moving at a decent pace, I take advantage of the downhill, but my feet are killing me.

The autopilot leaves me

I am realizing that I should used some sole protection, that might avoided this drama. It is a lesson learned, but now I need to take what I have and man up. The descent is pleasant, we get some shadow, thanks to the mountains, and mostly thanks to the fact that the sun started its descent. This is a huge oxygen breath, to help me fight my ongoing agony. My autopilot, which brought me on Negoiu seems to fade away, even if it is still cooperating. I don’t care about the cut-off time that much, as I want this to get over asap. I am pushing, running together with other participants. But when Lăițel Peak appears, the sun also hits my head again, then the autopilot is put on hold. I am on my own. The climb is brutal, I can’t wait to reach the hydration point. At 19:20, finally, I see it, stop and take some refreshing. I realize, for the first time, I won’t make it in 14 hours. I lose all drive, but I feel at peace. Normally, the expectations are linked to a half hour delay.

I refuse to take the short finish path of 2X2 Race

In theory, because in practice the blisters have other plans. I barely move, and reaching a crossroad, I was almost about to take the short way down. It is easier, and perfectly according to the race rules. But I don’t want that. How would I feel doing that? No, I need to go all the way! I remain alone, darkness starts to threaten me. I stop to capture the sunset, as I tend to float. Exactly like the whole race I felt like walking on clouds, at least from time to time. Back to reality, I am searching very insistent the way down. Cannot find it. I became pissed, angry, helpless. In the end, a volunteer, who waited for the last two – yes, there was one guy behind me – waves his hand and shows me the way. I have now only a very, very steep climb and everything is done. Easy to say, not easy to tackle. It is the worst part for my blisters. I am literally crawling.

Final descent and finish

Happy, relieved, but slow. Very slow. The last guy passes me as well. I can’t lie, my frustration was not little. But I can’t do anything. My muscles are strong, my heart is good, I still have stamina, even if I am drained of energy, but my soles can’t take anymore rocky terrain. I feel the pain at every small step. I want it to get over with. It is dark now, I am grumpy, the volunteers encourage me, they are just some kids, who also spent 15 hours guiding us. It is not an easy task whatsoever. I spend, I think, 40 minutes or more on that cursed descent. I am livid, but when I hit the concrete, I am picking up my pace. As said, I can still run, the blisters are not that disturbed of the plain surface. I have an advantage. I can’t call it a sprint, but I am heading for the finish line with dignity. Unfortunately, it was closed, so I need to pass some obstacles to made it pass it. The organizers shut everything – it was one hour after cut-off, though… – but they are kind enough to offer me a medal. The medal for 2X2 Race 2024.

Top hardest race

Small cheering from my friends, and some food spared for me. I take a picture at the end, two minutes after everything is done, and I still look good. My mood is fed by the result, by the achievement. Even if I look in one piece, I am sure that I was split in pieces. I can remember everything, as it was. Drink water, and head for the room. It seems like I was still walking on clouds. With my mind, my spirit and everything. I can tell stories about these 15 hours all my life, because for me this really means an unbelievable challenge achieved. Against all odds, against all logic. Just an obsession, a huge stubbornness. And what for? For nothing, really. Just to brag about it. I guess, just human nature. I feel that my running “career” is complete. I’ve done all kind of races, so this is in my top history pages, for sure. Because of the difficulty. I’ve done something similar, in Andorra, Spartan Ultra, 50 kilometers, with 60 obstacles. I can consider that a massive challenger, but 2X2 Race has some unique components.

2X2 Race, over and over again

I still believe it is very unlikely to tackle this race ever again, because it is not rationale to do it, but you cannot say never, because… who knows? In the end, doing it, will always remain something to tell about. Me, the guy afraid of heights, the guy with poor athletic and mobility qualities completed one of the hardest races in Europe, and for sure the craziest in Romania. At 2.000 meters heigh, 45 kilometers. Me, a guy who lives and breathes in Bucharest, one of the most polluted cities in Europe. I am talking about a tale of will, and determination. For sure you can live without doing this kind of challenge, but I am living after doing it, and that is a different, revelatory, fact. Running on clouds, while talking to God and to your own self for 15 hours is something you don’t do everyday. Or, you can do it, in your imagination. Maybe this is why I am not willing to take the physical challenge again, because I can do it over and over again in my mind, and I can do it even better than I did it on the field. And, of course, much easier and with significant less energy consumption. 🙂