After many years going to the pedal, this year I decided to hang up the bike and happen to run on foot. I've always been wanting to do a marathon, but due to the cycling season it was very difficult to reconcile with the run. But this year, after 5 months of training I will run my first marathon. And how could it be otherwise this will be the Marathon Madrid, although not the best for starters, because of its many "chutes."
five months that I have been complicated feelings about the passing of "having control," the bike, other very different, the athletics. After many years practicing cycling, the first train my legs were sticks. Aches, sore legs, knees in the dust, have been common during the first months of training.
and a training plan prepared by Luis Aizpurua which made me very hard at times, but gave the expected result (again, thanks Luis). Four to five days a week in which alternate long runs up to 32 km. short series with a 3 min. 45 sec / km.
Initially the aim is to try to finish the marathon in under 3 hours and 15 minutes, which for my first marathon is quite optimistic. But as they pass the coaches and see that I assimilated quite well, in addition to two half-marathon with good times (1st in 1 hour 27 min. And 2 nd in 1 hour 20 min.) Changed the goal: lose three hours.
So, on April 26, 2009, at 9:00 am ready at the starting line to run the 32nd Marathon of Madrid. I also accompanied my brother Oscar and a group of friends, Josegui, Dani, Vicente and Miguel Angel (burst in the absence of Titus, a pioneer of "happy" idea, with a newly operated knee) for the same challenge: to finish our first marathon.
Ready, Set, yaaaaa.
At 9 o'clock is given out, it rains and the street thermometers mark 7, we, the ideal conditions to get a run. I stood in the front positions and pass under a bridge in a small group Castellana go where I feel comfortable with that many miles will.
as not to run, what lies behind is impressive. Over 10,000 registered eager to end the 42 km. Or what is the same: the world is crazy.
arrived to Plaza Castilla and still raining.
Down the street price to the Puerta del Sol The sensations are very good. I have over 15 km. run under 4 minutes / km. and I feel fine.
A little further down, in sun and with the same companions. Miro in his race and I realize that they are all very low numbers: here are level, so if you can stand there. Every 5 km. there is a refreshment and try to drink at every one of them to prevent the Wall (or man the deck). Drinking from a bottle when you go to that pace is not easy, but drinking a glass Aquarius is impossible. The first glass of Aquarius goes straight to an eye, the second to another, so that the victualling third try.
The first or what is the same: aliens .......... or Kenyans. 8 of the top 10 in the starting line are of this nationality. The first European and English also comes at number 14: Juan Pablo Gomez Moreno.
Run to the strip, but seeing the face, also suffering its own.
And these are the first women who are not just lame.
Third and fourth place.
Over the Royal Palace, still with very good legs and metidito in the group that left. A point to reach the half-marathon and still below the 4 min / km.
My sister gave me a gel to pass through the Royal Palace. The half-marathon is located a little further. The passage in 1 hour, 23 minutes 39 seconds in the 129 since I am going to 3 min. 57 sec / mile, and most importantly, with very good feelings.
30 km
So I go under 4 minutes / km. but the passage by the House starting to feel a strange sensation. The steep slope out of the House did the Paseo de Extremadura was choking me and when I go through the Vicente Calderon took a pajara three pairs of balls. Cojo another gel that gives me my sister but I think it's too late.
In the last 7 km. the hard time but it really happened. I have crashed and the famous wall in front of 35 kilometers. Zoombie I lost the fucking Imp I am placed on the left shoulder and whispers in my ear that I stopped for a while, eat something and keep running after resting a couple of Minutillo. Thankfully, the Angelito quickly tells me not to stop, continue, to suffer.
suffer, suffer and suffer. Not even know how I get to the goal, because more than half of the last 7 km. I make with my eyes closed. The abruptness of the Puerta de Alcalá or feel or suffer, and despite that I carry Pajarón still I have the strength to throw stones and make sure that will be possible under three hours.
Straight arrival in slight decline, thank goodness. There is only one last effort.
arches start to finish to see everywhere, but until you see an orange at the end is the arrival. Looking at my watch and it looks like I will get the goal. That if, in the last 7 km. I have spent almost 100 guys. Al final, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 38 seconds.
Tired, very tired. But also joy, great joy. Passing through the aid stations and grab water, nuts and some juice to replenish the forces.
I finished the marathon, but I still give it some body whiplash. The Tenerife plane leaves at 4 pm, so no time to shower and change me I have to leave the airport.
After the race we were the group at one side of goal. Fucked but happy that the six have finished our first marathon. From left to right, Oscar, Vincent, Dani, Miguel Angel, and I Josegui. The main topic of conversation: what body part hurt?
At four p.m. get the plane to Tenerife. A bottle of water over it, half can of deodorant and a shirt "medium clean" has been everything I could wash up. The small runs to greet me.
In Tenerife airport waiting for me the best fan club in the world with Rachel and Peter Jr. to the front. The welcome banner they forgot at home.
I get home at 8 pm and quite tired. When you take off your shoes and socks, after 13 hours wearing them, this is what you get. Three nails less on the right foot and one on the left.
Diplomilla with you hesitate with your colleagues to see who has dropped three hours, ranked 235 in the general and 50 in your category.
and checkpoints every 5 km. To km. 35 very good times, from there you can see that the Wall was tasty.
And now some pictures of the group. My brother Michael for the Cuesta de San Vicente. Did the whole marathon together and since everyone there was as he could.
Oscar showing his form. When I could look at the camera and gesturing is not going so bad.
Josegui target enters exultant.
And my friend and former neighbor Ramon. Almost two years since we met, and two days before the marathon training I found him in a park close to home. The pity is that on arrival we could not see us to exchange views. On the face he wears in the photo, is also "happy."
this broker will not know, but I was impressed by the outfit. And we must have courage (or eggs) to be 42 km., But on top with a little sword, hat and coat all the way is to give him an award. And on top, I looked out of curiosity in the rankings, made a tiempazo.
Once past the days I am left with the bittersweet feeling of not having fallen more time. Are the days of perhaps. Maybe if I got something more "relaxed", perhaps if I had taken a sports drink, maybe I should have eaten something else. Maybe, maybe, maybe (hell, as the bolero).
Still very happy, first marathon under three hours. Now the worst is that I have got the bug within the body and I'm preparing the next. ¿¿¿¿¿ WHEN ???????
