Let's talk about letters... ABOUT THE HIGH OF LETTERS!
Located in the Andes mountain range at 3,677 meters above sea level, near the city of Manizales, Alto de Letras is considered the longest mountain pass in the world, with an ascent of 80.7 kilometers, where the mind in the first 5 kilometers already tells you: "What are you doing here?"
The Alto de Letras has become the most important challenge for amateur cyclists. A large number of “beetles” train for months to meet the challenge and be on the Olympus of those who have conquered the longest mountain pass in the world.
Letras has also been the stage for the country's main cycling races. In the 2017 Vuelta Colombia, Alto de Letras was the location chosen for stage 3.
The climate at Alto de Letras is either infernal heat or bitter cold, the lush vegetation opens the doors to cyclists, amateurs or professionals (on road or mountain bikes) in the first stretch of ascent where, after just 6 kilometres, they can find the Nevado del Ruiz which - if the weather permits - stands imposingly on one side of the road. Continuing along the route, climbers will pass through paths such as Parroquia, Fresno, Delgaditas and Padua; this last little town could be considered halfway along the route, at approximately 45 kilometres. Then we enter the moorland area.
Just as Everest is emblematic for mountaineers, Alto de Letras is considered the 'Top 1' for cyclists in the world.
Now, it's one thing to climb Alto de Letras by bike, but quite another to run... running? Yes, running.
Who would dare to do such a feat? Running up 80.7 km? Surely somewhere in this country, there is a daring, brave and crazy person who wants to face the longest mountain pass in the world wearing only a pair of tennis shoes.
That daring man is called Felipe, a Majors runner, who after being under 3 hours in the most important marathons in the world, came up with the idea of running up Letras. That brave man, that crazy man, that superhero, that boss, that idol, is an Antioquian, administrative engineer, son, brother, boyfriend and a great human being, who decided to change his life thanks to running.
In the next article, we will tell more details about the person behind the challenge.
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By: ORTEMAN10