TRAIL RUNNING
Machu Pichu sits high above the Urubamba River
The descent was easy , even though by that point , I had already run a marathon distance with significant elevation , and up to an altitude of over 4000m . Overhanging trees lined the route , and only very occasionally , when the trail opened out , could I see the ruins again . It didn ’ t take me long to complete the last downhill section . I finished in 5 hours 34 minutes , to a deserted and unofficial finish line , as the marshals had not yet arrived to greet and register the finishers . It was the only run in which I ’ ve participated where there was no one at the finish !
It was an excellent run , and I so thoroughly enjoyed it . While waiting for the others to complete their distance , I exited the park entrance to find some water and energy drinks for the others . Eventually , the marshals appeared with their snacks and refreshments . As some of the runners had elected to run / walk , it was expected that they would take up to 10 hours or longer to complete the journey . In the early afternoon , we departed the ruins to return to our hotel , where we could indulge in a few alcoholic beverages , pizzas and other snacks . A post-race dinner was organised that evening , and we were entertained by local dancers , brightly adorned in their traditional costumes . It was a most superb run and eventful day .
Exploring Machu Picchu
The following day , we spent a full morning visiting the ruins and taking in the major temples and structures . We observed the terraced hillsides , irrigation channels and fountains , and the elaborate stonework and chambers of unknown purpose . We wondered how and why that city was built in such a remote place and what its purpose might have been . Fortunately , it was never discovered by the Spaniards and so spared destruction .
Although known locally , Machu Picchu (“ Old Mountain ”) remained unknown to the outside world until an American historian , Hiram Bingham , brought it to international attention in 1911 . Over the centuries , the site had become overgrown with vegetation , and it took a major effort over many years to fully excavate the site . Most archaeologists assume that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor , Pachacuti , around 1450 , to be used as a royal retreat or country palace , and was then abandoned when the Spanish invasion took hold of Cusco . The high quality of the stonework and the abundance of ornamental works leads one to believe that it must also have been an important ceremonial centre . Over 50 burial sites containing more than 100 skeletal remains were discovered over the course of excavations .
Machu Picchu is situated above a bow of the Urubamba River , which surrounds the site on three sides , where cliffs drop vertically for 450m to the river at their base . The area is subject to morning mists rising from the river . The location of the site means that the surrounding deep precipices and steep mountains provided natural defences . It sits in a saddle between two mountains , one of the same name as the ruins , and Huayna Picchu , with a commanding view down two valleys . The hillsides leading to it were terraced , providing more farmland to grow crops , while steepening the slopes against invaders .
The whole area was built in the classic Inca style , with polished dry-stone walls . Most of the outlying buildings have now been reconstructed to give tourists a better idea of how the buildings once appeared . The architecture is adapted to the mountains , and approximately 200 buildings are arranged on wide , parallel terraces around an eastwest central square . The various compounds , called kanchas , are long and narrow to exploit the terrain , while sophisticated channelling systems provide irrigation for the fields . Stone stairways set in the walls allow access to the various levels across the site . The eastern section was residential , while the western , separated by the square , was for religious and ceremonial purposes . This section contains a massive tower that might have been used as an observatory .
Just some of the impressive terracing at Machu Pichu
Scott doing some post-run sightseeing at Machu Pichu
The well-preserved ruins were largely overgrown until the early 1900s
58 ISSUE 155 | www . modernathlete . co . za Scott ’ s first view of Machu Pichu
from the Sun-gate entrance
A few of us undertook an optional climb to the airy summit of Huayna Picchu at 2750m , which offered the opportunity for the classic photo of Machu Picchu that many visitors take , featuring a large protrusion of rock rising in the background . The climb takes about an hour , taking one through a small tunnel , and although it looks steep , it ’ s not technically difficult . The scramble is well worth it , though , for some of the best views of the site and the surrounding mountains . And one can see why , in a worldwide internet poll several years ago , Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World .