Loli Torrecillas: "I get along better running in the mountains".

Our partner in Plameca Loli Torrecillas bet on the running just over three years ago. His legs were already prepared for big challenges, as he had previously been mountain biking for more than eight years. Like runnerShe is proud to have run in a little over 7 hours the race of Valls d'Àneu (45 km with 2,200 meters of positive elevation gain), in the Lleida Pyrenees. Today he explains how he trains for his next challenges.

-How many days a week do you go running?

-I go running between 3 and 5 days a week, depending on the races I'm preparing for. During the week, I can train for an hour and a half at the most. It's at the weekend when I try to run as long as possible, between three and four hours. If I'm preparing for a marathon I need to tire my legs for a while and, when the day of the competition approaches, let them rest more.

-Tell us about your training sessions.

-I usually go running alone. If I go on familiar routes, I try to keep my time down and write down the records. Even so, I prefer to be guided by my own feelings. For me, it's better to run at a pace I feel comfortable with and not be more worn out than I should be. That way I can hold on well for the kilometers I want to do and then I can push the pace in the final part.

-Do you run in the city or in a natural environment?

-I like the mountains best. Since I was a child I have always liked the mountains and I think that's where I perform better. On asphalt, the impact on the joints is worse and it's easier to get injured.

Our Plameca partner Loli Torrecillas has been a runner for more than three years.
Our Plameca partner Loli Torrecillas has been a runner for more than three years.

-What do you do to take care of your joints?

-Stretching after running is very important. I can even stop and stretch during a marathon if I feel a muscle is stiff.

-I guess nutrition is also very important for a runner like you.

-Yes, it is. I usually take a lot of vitamin C (red peppers, kiwis and orange juice), which is very important for the joints, as it helps to absorb collagen better. Also vitamin E: dried fruits such as dates and dried apricots are carbohydrates that give a lot of energy. With wheat germ and brewer's yeast I keep my defenses up. If I am preparing for a marathon, I eat a lot of carbohydrates. After competitions or training sessions, to recover, I eat a lot of protein and glutamine. I don't have any forbidden foods, but I never eat fried foods.

-Do you take any type of food supplement?

-When I go out to run many kilometers and I don't carry water, I take soft energy gels, with carbohydrates, glutamine, sodium, electrolytes... I also take magnesium in liquid form, so as not to suffer from ramps and to prevent the muscles from running out of mineral salts. And as far as collagen is concerned, I take our Curarti Selectium.

The runner Loli Torrecillas in full competition.
The runner Loli Torrecillas in full competition.

-How do you recover after the big efforts?

-Protein and glutamine based, with lots of stretching and physiotherapy.

-What is your next challenge? 

-The Buff Epic Trailwhich takes place on July 20. I will run a 42 km mountain marathon that runs along the Aigüestortes National Park and Saint Mauritius Lakewith an elevation gain of 3,200 meters. The goal is to get down to 8 hours.

We wish you many more successes!