Karin Avila Loved the Sound of The Bandit's Race, Until She Started Running

Travel Writers Radio

Karin Avila, our correspondent in the Valencia Province of Spain is a triathlete and thought a local foot race sounded cool - El Camí dels Bandolers (Bandits Road in Valenciano). It was a "thigh burner" not what she expected, but she did discover some amazing local history along the track. Her notes on the event follow: Event: El Camí dels Bandolers (Bandits Road in Valenciano) trail race Location: Race start is in village of Senija in the Marina Alta region (Senija is 10 km from where I live) Route: Merchant trails from 16th-19th centuries, populated by thieves and bandits Distance: 23 km (there is also a half distance of ~13 km) Terrain: Scrub, forest, rocky and steep with 1275 meters elevation (4,183 feet) History: Josep Tomás Garcia ‘Josep de la Tona’ is a notorious bandit from the area who based himself in a cave – ‘Cova de la Garganta’ – on the trail where he could launch his kidnappings and robberies, known for committing a massive kidnapping and robbery in 1874 at a church in local village of Benimossot where ‘hardly any’ violence was carried out by him and his 34 bandits (book about event: El Robatori de Benimassot, Manel Arcos i Martínez) Photo by Karin Avila