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Cooperation instead of competition

Gozo’s island character becomes visible as we approach the first nutrition point after eleven kilometres. Located in the south of the island, the village of Sannat features some of the original street layout with grinding cart tracks and impressive remains including temples and dolmen. We continue on stony ground where the national plant of Malta, Cheirolophus crassifolius, can be seen along with one of the rarest plants in Europe, Silene fruticosa also known as Woody Catchfly as well as abundant cacti like prickly pears.

One should be absolutely free from giddiness to have the heart to look down from the Ta´Cenc-Cliff to enjoy the highest bluffs of the island plunge down into the sea. I cannot take my eyes off the awe-inspiring seascape. In the near future a footpath to the cliff will be laid out making the attraction accessible to more visitors.

Perilously the path now heads downwards when unexpectedly the horizon opens with a magnificent panoramic view of the Kantra Valley. We pass a deep gorge that once was a riverbed and fishing harbour. The path leads steeply uphill and below we see the sheer cliffs overlooking the village of Xlendi. At this time of year, peace reigns on the golden beaches where you can find rest and tranquillity. Life takes place underwater. A ladder encased in concrete leads divers down into crystal-clear and cool waters.

For everything which is wreck diving for divers is a really good trail of a trail runner, just as the corpulent men in their tight and black wetsuits dive down we enjoy our ascent. Directly behind the village at the Xlendi Bay are stone steps, imagine a via ferrata rather than stairs, wind upwards.  The sun stabs mercilessly from the sky and the stones seem to glow in the fierce heat. The sheer steps do not want to end when all of the sudden a bare and precarious rock juts out from the stairway. Just like the numerous geckos of the island, we stick vertically on the rock. Practical experience repeatedly shows the importance of good deep-tread soles. Searching for support I carelessly grasp thorns instead and a wave of pain rushes through every single finger. Even Michele seems to suffer and for the next hour Anthony curses distorted with pain against the race director: “Fuck it, Ruben!” Once at the top I could already see him smile again, because we just have reached one of the best vantage points over Xlendi.

Miles 11-20

At this point we are on the western coast of Gozo. With the corrugated soles of my trail running shoes I am entangled in a fine meshed net used for catching birds. As a trail runner, practically the first thing you have to learn is to raise your feet high. Always. After crossing the plateau we reach Gozo’s next fascinating sight. The 65-meter high limestone block, known as “Fungus Rock”, consists of Maltese sponge, which only occurs here and brought the Order of Malta wealth and prosperity. The plant was famous for its healing properties and believed to be an aphrodisiac, too, and the fact that it has no healing effects whatsoever was recognized only later. With the wind at my back the route continues and I feel ready to take on anything.

Small yet distinctive afar I recognize the famous “Azure Window”. With each new step the window grows larger and so do the parking lot battlefields. We reach Dwejra Bay between Mile 13 and 14 and directly at the Dwejra Tower the next aid station awaits us.

Azure Window

Inattentive for a moment, we find ourselves straying off the path in the nicest possible way as we stand directly in front of the Azure Window. The 30-meter high rock formation builds a marvellous framework for the picture-perfect azure sea.

After a steep ascent the wind suddenly pulls so hard from the front as if someone has opened the window too wide. The trail gets barer. Once again, we feel like scouts following the red arrows painted on stone or the red-white striped barrier tape tied to a strain of wild cauliflower. The route is excellently marked but unfortunately some jesters had fun to remove the tape, and also the strong wind serves its purpose. Some Hellfire Ultra-mountain bikers flash by.