048. Andreu Blanes | Sierre-Zinal 2022 winner: one for the books. From orienteering to track and field, road and trail running, with Olympic dreams

Andreu Blanes is a Spanish runner for Club de Atletismo Serrano.

He really is an example of "any surface available", with world class results from the track (7:52 3000m, 8:33 3000st) to the roads (62:40 half marathon) to the trails and even off-trail (orienteering)!

Andreu had the race of his life at Sierre-Zinal 2022, where he ran 2h29' at his debut in this classic alpine race. But at the time when he ran, he didn't know he was the actual winner of the race. His victory only came after the disqualification of Mark Kangogo (KEN), who tested positive for two prohibited substances after in a WADA control after the race. The men's race results were then corrected and Andreu became the second Spanish runner to win Sierre-Zinal after Kilian Jornet, and one of the five men in history to have run under 2h30. 

We talk about how he felt after he learned the news about Kangogo's disqualification, how antidoping controls need to increase and improve in the sport of trail running, and how this whole (sad) situation didn't change the memory of the perfect day he had in Zinal.

We also cover his race strategy and his training leading up to SZ, how he successfully managed to transition from the roads and track to the trails, thanks in part to his orienteering background, how he combines training on flat and in the mountains, how he's preparing to race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship in Thailand (November 6th).

Get inspired!

Follow Andreu on instagram: @andreublanes

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