Pedro Pablo Porto, from A Estrada, ran the stretch from Ribadavia to Santiago de Compostela, completing the 102 kilometers in 16 hours
11 dic 2024 . Actualizado a las 11:31 h.Pedro Pablo Porto Taboada, originally from A Estrada, thrives on adventure and enjoys testing his physical limits. When he learned about the Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros, he set himself a personal challenge: to run the route in the shortest time possible.
Pedro Pablo has lived in Ibiza for years, where he runs a successful sneaker business, Ibiza by Porto, which has carried his name and the island's fame across the globe. Despite his business commitments, he finds time to train rigorously and participate in the races and trails that inspire him. He's competed in long-distance events in Switzerland and France, and when he visits Galicia, he combines family time with athletic pursuits.
He first experienced the French Camino de Santiago, completing a 100-kilometer stretch in five days. Last summer, he tackled the Portuguese route, covering 250 kilometers from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in five days. However, Pedro Pablo had never ventured onto one of the four routes that cross his hometown of A Estrada. These include the Vía da Plata—the only one officially recognized in all its routes—the Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros, the Camiño Miñoto Ribeiro, and the Camiño de Ignacio Taverneiro.
To honor his hometown, Pedro Pablo chose the most challenging route: the Camiño da Geira e dos Arrieiros. He added a personal twist to his endeavor by aiming to complete 100 kilometers in a single run. “Since I’m on vacation here, I decided to go for it. I waited for good weather, and when the opportunity came, I jumped in without studying the route too much. If I had, I might not have done it,” he laughs.
Pedro Pablo started in Ribadavia and ran the 102 kilometers to Santiago. “I ran or walked in sections where running wasn’t possible,” he explains. “I’m used to these kinds of challenges, but this path is anything but easy. There’s a lot of elevation gain and trails that turn into rivers with so much water flowing through them. At times, you’re running through streams,” he adds.
Despite the difficulties, Pedro Pablo achieved his goal, completing the route in 16 hours. “I got lost several times after leaving Ribadavia and lost a lot of time. For the final stretch from A Estrada to Santiago, I took the road because night was falling,” he admits.
A Challenging but Beautiful Journey
Pedro Pablo wholeheartedly recommends the experience. “It’s a stunning route. It has 3,000 meters of positive elevation gain and could make for a fantastic trail race. You pass through spectacular places. I think it’s highly recommended,” he says.
His adventure was made even more special by an emotional discovery. After completing the route, he joined a WhatsApp group dedicated to promoting the Camiño da Geira. There, he learned that his father, Pepe Porto Matalobos, was instrumental in the path’s rediscovery. Pepe Porto, a renowned journalist of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, was one of the first to suggest in his articles for La Noche and El Pueblo Gallego the existence of an old Portuguese pilgrimage route to Santiago that passed through A Estrada. Following his lead, the Codeseda Viva association uncovered evidence that helped restore the Camiño da Geira and work toward its official recognition.
“I had no idea about any of this,” Pedro Pablo says, delighted by the revelation. “As soon as I can, I’m going to complete the entire Camiño da Geira,” he announces.