Cross Nocturno de Navacerrada

The Cross Nocturno de Navacerrada (CNN 11K) is the short race of the Gran Trail Peñalara, the big mountain event the Real Sociedad Española de Alpinismo Peñalara stages every October. It is run on a Friday night by head torch and kicks off a weekend that also features the 104 km GTP and the TP60.

The loop starts on Paseo de los Españoles and drops towards the Navacerrada reservoir and the Dehesa de la Golondrina, where there is a water station around km 6. Then comes a very steep climb to Peña del Sol, the high point at about 1,340 m, before the course plunges back to the reservoir and finishes with a short, punchy climb into the village centre. It mixes stretches of tarmac with non-technical mountain tracks and paths, for roughly 400 m of climbing.

The organisers bill it as the most accessible race of the event: fast and explosive for regulars, and a good first taste of night trail running for newcomers. A head torch, mobile phone and reusable cup are mandatory, as no cups are handed out at the drinks stations. The time limit is 1 h 45 min and the minimum age is 16.

Sold out. Head torch, mobile phone and reusable cup are mandatory; 1 h 45 min time limit. Won by Alberto Agundez (44:52) and Marta Pérez Maroto (53:10).