also this year trail and charity

Contributing in some way to charity is one of the objectives that the Trail del Marganai has always tried to pursue.

In previous editions we gave our contribution by supporting voluntary associations that guarantee us safety during the event, buying and donating portable DVD players with cartoons for their little guests to the pediatric CTO of Iglesias, contributing to the preparation of the inclusive play area in Domusnovas.

In line with what has been done in the past, we have decided that this year two euros for each registered will be allocated to a social project that we will shortly define.

Now it is up to all of you, with your inscriptions, to determine what the amount to be allocated to the next project will be!

ITRA Certification and UTMB Qualifying Race 2019

Also this year we obtained the certification of our routes from ITRA (International Trail Running Association), the international association that collects the organizers of Trail Running competitions.

It is a necessary step for two reasons: the first because it guarantees the quality of the tracks that are submitted and their qualification; athletes who need to register for competitions that require previous participation in qualifying competitions may use ours, provided they have arrived and have been included in the ranking among the finishers.

The second reason why ITRA certification allows you to request the organization of UTMB (Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc) to be included in their own competitions used as qualifiers.

As with previous editions, our request has been accepted so we can proudly display the “UTMB Course Qualifications 2019” stamp.

If there was any doubt, now you just have to sign up!

A Wall Of Beautiful Photos

After three editions our album of memories is full of beautiful images.

Images of concentrated and often smiling athletes who give us the energy to organize a new edition, the 2019 edition!

 

(Italiano) GPS – Mappe – Altimetrie 2019

The GPS tracks, maps and final altimeters are available for the three competitive races of the 2019 Trail del Marganai.

 

The routes are renewed, compared to last year about a third of the race is on a new track. For each of the three!

As anticipated, the nuraghe S’omu e s’orcu will see the start. The basis of all the operations and the arrivals area is pasta party always the tried and tested Cartiera of the Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna.

The last kilometers also change. From Punta San Michele until the arrival the track is new. New descent and new passage through the gallery of Su Passu ‘e su Vagoni, small and narrow tunnel dug along the path that allowed to pass over the Cave of San Giovanni carrying the ore of the mines on small wagons.

All that remains is to sign up to enjoy the trail day with us on March 10th.

Only on our trails: the San Giovanni Cave

Lucky you, athletes: in the first part of the race, you cross the Cave of San Giovanni, a very few km from the starting line…in this way you can get immediately an idea of the natural beauty of this corner of southwest Sardinia. Located in the territory of Domusnovas, nearby Iglesias, the natural cave is a fine example of a karst phenomenon generated by the flow of an underground river and is excavated in the oldest limestone rocks of the island, dated millions of years. The cave was already used in ancient times, as evidenced by the last remains of a megalithic wall, that probably closed the southern entrance during the pre-nuraghic age.

Its uniqueness is due to the presence within its tortuous and sinuous tunnel, of a paved road that extends for all its length of 850 m, making it the longest road-crossed natural cavity in the world! Only two other similar caves exist on the entire planet: one in France (the Grotte du Mas-d’Azil, in the Pyrenees) and one in Australia (in the Grand Arch of the Jenolan Caves, in Oberon).

The road was created in the 19th century in order to facilitate the transport of material from the nearby Sa Duchessa mine. Today it is no longer suitable for vehicles, since it was recognized as a natural monument and subject to restrictions.

Currently the road is used by visitors to admire the beauty of the cave, in which flows a stream, originating from the Oridda valley. Stalactites and stalagmites decorate it remarkably. Large calcareous basins overlapping each other form real rock falls.
Both the North and the South entrances are well-known among the climbers, who chose these walls all year round as an challenging training option!

 

 

 

 

Good to know:
– entering from the south side on the left opens a cavity called “Su stampu de Pireddu” (Pireddu’s cavity), which is the most interesting active branch, consisting of a series of galleries and narrow tunnels for a total development of 2 km, characterized by the presence of underground lakes. The name is due to an ancient bandit (Pireddu is a Sardinian family name) who, it seems, found shelter there.

– The name of the cave of San Giovanni derives from a cavity in the interior used in the past as a rock chapel dedicated to Saint John and demolished when the construction of the road began. Thus the small church of San Giovanni was built in the immediate proximity of the south entrance.

For information:

Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna: 0039.3480553309; Email: consorzionaturaviva@gmail.com

Many flags for the Trail del Marganai

Just a few more days, until March, 1st (midnight) to register for a multi-flag edition of the Trail del Marganai.
For now 9 different countries are going to be present, but there is still time for last days news! This is a record for our competition and we are very happy and proud of this surprising result.
Here is an alphabetical list:

  • Italy
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • UK
  • Lithuania
  • Peru
  • Spain

register