With her 2014 The North Face Transgrancanaria win, Núria Picas starts off her participation in the Ultra-Trail World Tour on a high note. In the following interview, Núria talks about her race’s high and low points, what shoes she raced in, and what she thinks of her Buff teammates.
For more on the race, you can read our 2014 TNF Transgrancanaria results article.
[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]
Núria Picas, 2014 TNF Transgrancanaria Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Núria Picas after her win at the 2014 TNF Transgrancanaria. Núria, congratulations.
Núria Picas: Thank you very much.
iRunFar: You ran a very strong race yesterday.
Picas: Yes, it was very difficult because there were so many kilometers—125 at the beginning of the season, but I’m okay. I’m happy. I feel good after the race, and that’s the most important thing.
iRunFar: I talked to Francesca Canepa earlier and she said that a few of you women were together for maybe an hour or two?
Picas: Yes, maybe an hour or an hour and a half. I started in the fourth position slowly with the other women, but I felt strong. Then on the first uphill, I felt very, very fast and I was the first woman.
iRunFar: Were there any points during the race when you didn’t feel very strong?
Picas: No. During the night I felt strong, but kilometer 80, maybe, when the sun was shining and it was very, very warm, I felt just a little bit slow. Everybody had the same feelings.
iRunFar: As the race went on, your lead got bigger and bigger. Did you start feeling comfortable in terms of you were going to win? When where you confident that you were going to win?
Picas: Before the race. [laughs]
iRunFar: Really?
Picas: No, no, but I was training very hard for this race. So when I passed Francesca Canepa I was very confident of myself and thought that if I did the things well like drink, eat, and be calm during the race, maybe I would be the winner.
iRunFar: What shoes did you run in this weekend? You can choose from all sorts of different shoes. What shoes did you race in?
Picas: Salomon S-Lab Ultra Soft Ground. I’m very happy. I’m really happy with Soft Ground because it’s a minimalist shoe but it’s not too thin. The Soft Ground is very comfortable. I’m very happy.
iRunFar: The lugs provide protection.
Picas: Yes, I’m very happy.
iRunFar: One thing I learned this weekend is just how much a team Buff is. Do you guys feel like a family?
Picas: Yeah, we are a family.
iRunFar: Some brands are a logo on a shirt, but Buff seems like a family.
Picas: Yes because we know each other very, very well. I have my coach inside Buff.
iRunFar: Your coach is within Buff?
Picas: Yes. Pau Bartoló. He won the [Transgrancanaria] Advanced race. I’m very happy to be there. It’s a very good team and family.
iRunFar: Where else this season? Where will you be running next?
Picas: Mt. Fuji in Japan [UTMF]—100 miles.
iRunFar: Mt. Fuji? Another 100? You did not learn after UTMB. You want more.
Picas: Yes. I know it will be a hard race—100 miles. But it’s Japan and I’d like to go there.
iRunFar: Transgrancanaria, Mt. Fuji—sounds like you’re going to run the Ultra-Trail World Tour?
Picas: Yes.
iRunFar: What other races in the Tour?
Picas: Maybe Lavaredo or Diagonale des Fous depending on my body and my mind at the end of the season. I don’t know because Diagonale des Fous is very, very hard race. I’m running Mt. Fuji, Lavaredo, UTMB, and Diagonale des Fous the best. Otherwise, I’ll stay at home.
iRunFar: Congratulations on your run this weekend, and I’ll see you at Fuji.
Picas: See you at Fuji.
iRunFar: One bonus question for you. I see that you like beer.
Picas: Yes. Beer. It’s my secret to recover.
iRunFar: What’s your favorite beer?
Picas: Estrella. It’s a Catalan-style.
iRunFar: From…
Picas: Barcelona. Here it’s Tropical.
iRunFar: Cheers.
Picas: Thank you very much.
