Transylvania - Finishing 5th in a 50KM race

In May 2025, I ran the 50KM Transylvania race in Bran, Romania. The race starts in the village and does a loop through the Bucegi mountains. Known for their rugged steep climbs and ample wildlife (including bears), these mountains were equal parts beautiful and tough. With over 3000 meters of ascent and descent this was my most challenging middle distance mountain race yet. Despite a foot injury that had hampered my training I managed to put in a performance good enough for a 5th place finish. Link to Strava activity:   / strava