lunes, 4 de noviembre de 2024
miércoles, 30 de octubre de 2024
lunes, 14 de octubre de 2024
Capitulo Maratón Buenos Aires 2024 (42,195)
Bueno ahi vamos, no se dónde terminara esto. aunque pensándolo bien dónde terminara seguramente es en la línea de llegada. Pero para llegar primero hay que entrenar, y para entrenar hay que tener un plan, para que llegado el momento ese plan te lleve a la concreción de eso que buscabas.
Y arranco por el comienzo, porque hace tiempo no escribo y son varias cosas que me hace bien contar. Vengo recargado y con los puños lleno de verdades. Porque que si bien es contar cómo hice para termina mi 5ta maratón. Hay cosas que cambiaron y seguirá cambiando en medio de la preparación.
Y me quiero detener en Tandil donde el año pasado sucedió eso de conocer gente de un grupo, Quizás verlos en compañerismo con el profe, gestó alli el germen de anotarme fuertemente en un grupo de entrenamiento, enfocado a sumar kilómetros de calidad, para mejorar tiempo.
Así fue ya venía en mi cabeza anotarme después de las vacaciones. Busqué un grupo de entrenamiento en internet, creo que en la página de club de corredores. Alguno cercano en parque sarmiento o Saavedra / Coghan, algo que quede cerca de casa. Había uno que quedaba en parque Sarmiento, donde siempre voy a entrenar. Casi a contra turno, porque lunes y miércoles, es raro que se entren y son días que no se entrena. Por lo general el martes y jueves son los que mas gente veo que entrena en los grupos. Asi fue que investigué, me animé a escribir, y cuando para ver cómo es la cosa, estas casi totalmente decidido, Decidido, pero con mucha timidez que me caracteriza, casi como que pidiendo permiso. No me podía demorar mucho mas de Abril Mayo, porque si quería realizar un nuevo maratón, son como mínimo 2 o 4 meses de entrenamiento fuerte. Sabia que me iba a costar ponerme a ritmo, no sabía que tanto iba a costar, porque venia de algo totalmente distinto a lo que venía haciendo. Eso lo vengo repitiendo mucho últimamente, pero es verdad, porque cambio de ser "hacé lo que puedas y el si estas cansado vas mas despacio sino mas rápido y las ganas que tenga" a algo pensado y planificado con actividades cambiantes y productivas para sumar kilómetros de calidad.
Empecé en el grupo en Abril y el cambio fue de 180 grados, en los ejercicios que daban para hacer. Volvía a casa con dolores que antes no tenia. Lo que mas me interesaba era entrenar en Zona cardiaca 3. Porque eso también era una cuestión. En las carreras siempre corría en zona 3 y entrenaba en Zona2 o incluso 1. Entrenar en Zona 3 es como correr 2 o 3 carreras en una semana. Asi lo tomaba, con la seriedad que una maraton implicaba y que un entrenamiento merecía. Todo dolorido diciéndome si esto era lo que quería y me convencía que debía doler para que mejore. Cuanto mas dolor mejor es, “gordo”, es que te estas moviendo. Saliste de tu zona de confort, o empezaba a salir. Fue asi que corrí la Maratana a los 3 días de empezar en el grupo. 21K y allí sentí la molestia, por primera vez, que el pie en los últimos metros se me iba. Pensaba que era normal después de una exigencia. Fue la carrera que hice con amigos que corrían 3K. Es lindo que amigos se sumen a esta locura. Porque para mi levantarse y ya tener un domingo de carrera, algo distinto de contar que no sea trabajo o que comí. Ya cambia la existencia y te cambia el domingo a otros espectros.
Después vino la Maya ya casi con un mes de entrenamiento y pude bajar la hora en los 10k fue un logro fantástico poder bajar esa hora. Sin dudas el gran logro del año, en términos de running. Quizás mas importante que la maraton. No, releo, la maraton es muy importante. Están a la par Maraton y bajar la hora en los 10K son los logros importantes. Comparten medalla de Oro, este año que fue Olimpico.
Con muchos dolores en ese primer mes, que siguieron con otros muchos mas dolores Me fui metiendo en el grupo muy tímidamente, Hablaba poco, costaba mantener el ritmo pero seguía intentando. En primera instancia fui los dias de semana, después en junio, metimos un sábado, Un sábado en el grupo es totalmente distinto a los días de semana. No estamos apurados como los dias de semana. Va la gente de la mañana y tarde, se juntan todos los sábados y se genera la parte social que para mi es nuevo. Aca quiero hacer un paréntesis, también meterme en un grupo implicaba eso, la parte socia, que por mi trabajo, home office y después de la pandemia lo relegué bastante. Uno que siempre fue muy adepto a los After Office lo viernes.
Fui conociendo gente, mas “enfermita” que uno en el running, con mi misma o quizás mas locura por correr. El running es eso, un espiral que te va atrapando. Cuando ves los resultados y te vas sentido mejor mas voluntad le pones, y mas motivado vas a estar. Es claramente un engaño el running y mas cosas te compras y ves y agregas a tu rutina diaria. También es un cambio despertase temprano un sábado para entrenar agregar. Uno que siempre utilizó el sábado a la mañana para aprovechar a dormir y recuperar sueño perdido de la semana. Cansancio acumulado, como le dice. Y un cambio de vida es posible si le pones un poco de ganas.
Sumar un dia mas al entrenamiento. Cambié el sábado a la tarde , salir sólo con auriculares o los domingos temprano a los sábados a la mañana, En principio decía, entreno a la mañana y a la tarde salgo tranqui y hago unos kilómetros mas. Lo destrozado que quedaba después de los sábados, no quedaban energías para nada. Cuando el entrenamiento es exigente es para no sufrirlo en la carrera. y vas conociendo gente quieras o no, el grupo te lleva. Es gente maravillosa, soy poco sociable lo reconozco y cada persona que se me acerca escapo. pero hablando siempre de running , y ves gente que quizás tenga el mismo ritmo que uno y vas tirando kilómetros con esas personas. Y vas conociendo sus historias, y todos estamos ahi para estar un poco mejor o quizás ,en algunos casos, despejar la mente un poco.
Entrenar con frio es duro pero mas dura es la humedad. Los entrenamos, todo el invierno, con frio lluvia, mucho frio. Mii idea siempre fue entrenar los lunes y miércoles y meter algún que otro entrenamiento. Alguna salidita solo los martes, que no tenga que ir a la ofi, jueves o viernes. Pero terminaba tan cansado de los entrenamientos que tenia que dejar un dia de descanso en el medio, sobre todo los martes. y los jueves terminaba liquidado. El viernes venia mi sobri casa y habia que jugarle. Jugar no lo cambio por nada. Son momentos en la vida que que no se recuperan-
Mejor no voy a spoiiar el final, pero una pregunta se me viene a la mente a esta altura, es mejor correr solo o en grupo? ¿Mejorarán los tiempos corriendo en grupo? Vayamos paso a paso, los acontecimientos se fueron suscitando y la experiencia vivida es otra, el proceso vivido para lograr el objetivo es otro. Atrás van quedando los sábados a la tarde corriendo por la colectora de la Panamericana hasta el Unicenter. Y volver por el vial costero.
Avanzaron los entrañamientos, me sentía cada vez peor con los dolores musculares de las intensas estocadas, sentadillas, pasadas, potencia, abdominales etc. Difícil seguir el ritmo, mas el trabajo que no da tregua, sumado el frio intenso que hizo. Por un lado eso, me anoto en la maraton de septiembre para obligarme a salir a entrenar con frio, sino me quedo en casa, increíblemente los días que pensaba que al grupo no iba a ir nadie por el frio, terminaba yendo mucha gente. Me sorprendía eso, que la gente siga yendo a pensar del frio, pero tiene su lógica. Mucha gente tiene como objetivo o bien los 21k o los 42k, o carreras trails. So carreras que se vienen cuando aparecen los primeros calores. La pucha que hizo calor el domingo de la maraton.
Puede ser que algunos del grupo vayan solo para estar bien, no les interesa correr carreras. Y me parece perfecto que quieran estar mejor y no necesiten las carreras. Van y corren, con eso se llenan. Pero algunos los llena medirse, competir con uno mismo, los días de competencia son super especiales desde el domingo anterior.
Pasemos a un tema, que hoy se volvió clave, el calzado, las zapatillas que en esta preparación va ser clave.
Si bien, no termine bien después de los 21k, de Buenos Aires, elegí mal el calzado, las Nike no son para un gordo como yo. Se me iba el pie, Pero pisaba forzado, como haciendo palanca sobre el pie, lo que puede provocar una fucking fractura si piso mal. Con esos miedos estaba. Gran decisión fue comprarme urgentemente unas nuevas zapas. Las mismas con las que estaba entrenando. Las siento cómodas al pie. No son de las mas caras, de hecho, son tercera marca Fila, Las nombro poque son para destacar. Quizás sirva decir que no es necesario comprarse las ultimas Nike o Adidas con placa de carbono para poder correr bien. De hecho es la segunda vez que me pasa, el año pasado compre unas Olimpikus para entrenar y termine corriendo la maraton con esas, de lo cómodas que eran. Hoy se vuelve a repetir con las Fila. y no es un tema de precios porque como dije, tengo las Nike casi nuevas. Nota mental, no es bueno cambiar de zapatillas constantemente sobre todo si el entrenamiento es de exigencia. Correr con las mismas zapatillas permite amoldarlas a la pisada.
Cuando me anote en la maraton a mediados de julio, o junio, tenía dudas sobre el proceso. Sobre todo porque al entrenar solo para una maraton hacía 50 kilómetros por semana aprox y con eso era lo mínimo para llegar a terminar los 42. Esa metodología me resultó en 4 maratones. Con el grupo bajaba a 35k a 40k semanales con trabajos de fuerza. Supuestamente eso seria suficiente, pero nunca estuve convencido de eso. Uno siempre fue un cabezadura. Cambiar cualquier cosa, no digo que sea un problema, pero agarra reminiscencia de entrenar solo, que aun hoy sigo disfrutando. Porque entrenar sin reloj, de vez en cuando también está bueno. Tenia dudas, había que confiar en el proceso. Fue lo que mas costó, cambiar el entrenamiento y confiar y ver si se podía llegar a terminar una nueva maraton con los 40 semanales como proponía el profe. Como todo lo nuevo, uno tiene dudas al comienzo.
Después de la carrera Maya hubo una muy linda carreras de 15 K en MDQ que fuimos con mi hermano y mi papa. Hizo mucho frio esa vez. pero de vuelta sentía forzado con las zapatillas lo hice en casi una hora y media lo cual es casi mi mejor marca. Linda carrera, segunda vez que la hago. Es hermoso correr al lado del Mar, una vista panorámica durante toda la carrera. Mar del Plata esa una gran ciudad todo el año. Correr en invierno también está bueno, Al lado del mar el aire que se respira es otro y para los bichos de ciudad cambiar el aire por un fin de semana se valora.
La semana anterior a la media maraton hicimos un fondo largo de 30K , me sorprendió que siendo una semana antes a la media maratón. Encima el dia después de los 30k tenia una carrea de 10k con amigos en el vial Costero, sumado a que era el dia del niño. Los 30k constaron de la salida 8:15 del Parque Sarmiento, hasta la Facultad de Derecho y volver. Volvimos tipo 12hs pm, la verdad quedé conforme con el tiempo, unas 3 horas y media a un gran ritmo. Con mucha gente del grupo que fui pasando y me fueron pasando, obvio que nunca sigo un ritmo o sea como me voy sintiendo voy corriendo. Llevé barritas de cereal, geles, agua, cosas necesarias para un fondo largo. Llegué, llegamos y fue un logro, fue casi prepararse como para una carrera. Cuando son largas distancias, uno siempre le tiene respeto a la distancia, nunca la puede subestimas. Pero una cosa es hacerla entrenando un otra en la carrera. Sirvieron para probar cosas de la carrera. En realidad, dijeron que eran 28K pero al final terminaron siendo 31K
Los 30k esos me dejaron de cama. Dormí todo el dia después de esa salida. Ese finde fue maratónico. Intenté recuperarme lo mejor que pude, al otro dia tenia una linda carrera de Rexona, que el año pasado había hecho y entregaron en el Kit varios productos y este año por haber corrido la del año anterior dieron el doble de producto. Mas qeu satisfecho, garpó toda la carrera solo eso, sin haberla corrido. La hice muy tranquilo. Sabiendo que no lograría una marca similar a la de la carrera Maya, por el descanso básicamente. Pero era importante hacerla para acompañar a amigo que recién empiezan a correr y había que apoyar. Se disfrutó desde otro lado. No sé si sirvió, pero era una locura. Los kilómetros realizados ese finde eran los que iba a hacer en el mismo dia de la maraton. Por suerte no llovió y pasamos un lindo momento compartido. Una nueva locura que salió bien.
Agotadísimo quede y a la semana tenia que recuperar para los 21k. Había sido el dia del niño e hizo mucho frio, lo festejamos al aire libre y seguramente me bajaron las defensas después de esos 40K. El esfuerzo fue supremo. Pero para la maratón no es suficiente.
El resfrío que duro una semana, no dio tregua. creo que llegue sin entrenamientos previos. Mucho descanso y mucha ansiedad pero un atracón de comer me dio y me dije, nono esto no nos puede pasar la semana previa de la maraton.
21k Buenos Aires
Corrí los 21k de Buenos Aires primera con el gazebo del team, quiera o no es especial. Acostumbrado a ir solo con mi bici ahora estaba acompañado. Corrieron muchos del team, y para muchos eran los primeros 21k. Hay mucha ansiedad, preocupación desmedida casi llegando a la histeria. Te taladran toda semana de tips para la carrera, por redes sociales con recomendaciones, validas pero que llenan de información que a veces termina siendo una carga a la hora de correr. Como un parcial de la facultad, que llegas ves a los otro repitiendo de memoria cosas y decís, no estudié nada.
Me mata ese contraste entre los que corren y creen que esa esa máxima distancia a la que puede aspirar. Expectativas y recaudos como para una maraton de 42 y uno internamente sabe que son 2 horas apx corriendo nomas. Es la distancia que mas disfruto, y corrí con las Nike, una de las mejoras zapas que tengo.
Pero en el 5K yendo para el centro ya sentía sensaciones raras. Por la pisada, quizás por la zapa o algo pero no podía acelerar, dolía y se me iba por momentos el pie. Entonces sabiendo que no es una carrera determinante como lo que puede ser una maraton decidí regular. Ir mas despacio, cuidarme. que la cosa no se agrave que no me “descadere”. Porque esa era la cuestión, el miedo a “descaderarse”.
Fui en Bici, me encanta ir en bici a las carreras, es como una de esas entraditas en calor silenciosa. Me junto con chicos, miro mucho, observo la dinámica de grupo, saludo a la gente. nos vamos al corral. Fue un descontrol la entrada a los corrales, pero la largada en si fue en velocidad, una de las mejores. sin dudas.
¿Había que regular para llegar, manejar ese dolor, se puede administrar el dolor mientras se corre? He corrido con dolores en el alma mochos peores que esos, cómo no iba a poder con una molestia. La verdad mientras que nos se agrave y si vas mas despacio es manejable la cosa. La corrí sabiendo que lo importante era la maraton, en 4 o 3 semanas. Los 21k de Buenos Aires son un escándalo de personas, por lo masivos. Todo el mundo quiere correrla, incluso los que no quieren correrla, la corren. Como que la media maraton es la navidad y la maraton el año nuevo, con un mes de diferencia.
Como dije después de los 21k quedé mal, pude llegar, pero siempre corriendo incómodo. A pesar de correr incómodo desde el 5K, pude mantener al pacer de 6:30 minutos hasta el kilómetro 17. En los últimos 4 kilómetros que decidí ir a conciencia, no exigirme por demás, terminarla entero. Bastante bien tener ese pacer 60 % de la carrera atrás. Es hermoso el recorrido de la media maraton y vas calentado moteres para el plato principal. Corres por el centro, el nuevo recorrido es muy recto y es muy turístico. Largada, Planetario, Facultad de Derecho, misma que una semana antes habíamos pasado en el fondo largo. La flor, la subidita de Pellegrini que va por la 9 de julio, Teatro Colon, Obelisco, calle Corrientes, Diagonal Norte, Cabildo, Casa Rosada, Catedral, bajada por Independencia para pasar otra vez por Obelisco, Teatro Colon, la vuelta por Libertador, Planetario y llegada.
Cuando terminé tenía 2 caminos, el bien o el mal, no mentira. tenía dos caminos 1 ir a gazebo y saludar al team, abrigarse o buscar mi bici. Había demasiada gente, fui por mi bici, que la había dejado del otro lado. En el guarda bicis de la organización, después me dijeron que la deje en gazebo, pero ya era tarde y es a lo que me refiero tambien con la dinámica de grupo. Desde ahí fui a buscar mi bici, lo que tardé en dar toda la vuelta, casi que se habían ido todos.
Tardé banda en llegar 2 horas 24 minutos, 8 minutos mas de lo que había sido mi ultima media maraton. La Maratana, donde empezó la molestia. No fue la carrera que buscaba, no salió, no se pudo. Me reencontré con los pibes del team con alegría saludos y comentarios de como salió todo en la carrera. Hay una sensación de equipo, como de equipo de futbol. Algo similar, pero a decir verdad todos los grupos tienen un comportamiento mas o menos similar. Lindos momentos para compartir con gente que esta en la misma de uno. Que entrenamos juntos vemos dia a dia el esfuerzo y el progreso que tiene cada uno. Acompañar ese crecimiento, ese progreso da satisfacción.
A partir de allí quedaba la recta final de la preparación para la maraton. y allí es donde la cabecita empieza a jugar, porque hiciste 40k y eso te dio la base física de que hasta los 30K puedo hacer, después de ahí veremos que pasa. El profe te asegura de que a los 30k llegas después de allí, empieza tu carrera, y lo que realmente buscas. El motivo por el cual te anotaste a la maraton. A lo que te truje. Ya agotado, todo dolorido, empieza.
La otra semana de los 40k vinieron los 21k con esos 2 fines de semanas maratónicos. La cuestión, de ahi en mas, era descarga, algo de fuerza. pero ya venía con el cuerpo estresado, de varios meses de exigencia. Que los entrenamientos son asi te exige para que exijas y van a ser asi siempre. Por eso una vez finalizado este proceso, seguramente habrá alguna relajación por algunos dias. Bajar la carga, quizás no tan seguido por un tiempo. Ir intermitentemente, depende de cómo nos vamos sintiendo. Si, queremos salir solos, salimos solos y metemos auriculares.
Grande fue mi sorpresa cuando cruce la linea de llegada y en medio de todo ese tumulto de gente me crucé con gente del grupo. Se ve que tenemos el mismo ritmo. ¿Repetiremos en la maratón? Veremos.
Y quede tanta bronca por cómo estuvo mi rendimiento en la media maratón, con ese dolor en cadera que no permita acelerar y las dudas que eso generaba. Al otro dia me levanté con la bronca y amor propio de revertir esa situación. Fui al entrenamiento con las otras zapatillas, FILA y no tuve dolor, Pude sacarme esa espina y me dio confianza 11 kilómetros para distender, y bajar tensiones, elongación y distendido. Hizo bien fue además un clima muy distendido para los que habíamos corrido. Hablando de la carrera pudimos compartir mas en frio lo sucedido el dia anterior. Te vas conociendo con los demás. te vas metiendo en el grupo. Me sorprende que todos sepan la historia de todos. Como una familia o como un club, como el colegio, no se cómo explicarlo.
Se acercaba la fecha de la maraton, compre zapatillas iguales a las que veía entrenado, idénticas, pero nuevas. Las estrené, las probé en todos los entrenamientos previos y las fui amoldando a mi pisada. Una semana antes de la mararon hicimos 16k. fui para el lado de Villa Devoto. Nunca había ido para ese lado, un dia primaveral espectacular tocó. Estimaba que haría para la llegada ese calor de 19 grados al solcito. Pero la salida no fue todo de una tirada, sino que eran 4 minutos corriendo full y 1 de descanso. Raro ejercicio pero que intuía que asi podrían llegar a ser el final de la maraton, corriendo y caminando. Termine cansadísimo después de eso. a veces correr frenar y volver a correr te cansa mucho mas que correr todo seguido. Me pegué a un grupito que venía buen ritmo. Escuchando lo que hablaban, en resumen, fue bastante dinámico y entretenido. Pude probar los geles que había comprado. Los ENA que son mas líquidos y no tan espesos.
En la semana que siguió a ese sábado, hicimos potencia, rampas, un trabajo bastante exigente para la preparación de un maraton, Necesitábamos descarga y estar flama para la carrera. Después trabajos diferenciados y muy livianos para los que corríamos 42k. Como me molesta que para hacer diferenciado nos hagan pasar al frente y nos vean delante de todos, quizás para inspirar a otros lo hace, no lo sé. Me molesta, prefiero el perfil bajo, pasar desapercibido, te hacen pasar al frente como en el colegio. Yo prefiero que nadie sepa que lo hago hasta que lo hago, factor sorpresa siempre a favor.
Me venía cuidando, pero una semana antes me cuide de mas, con yogures, cereales ect. Sentí que había perdido fuerza a causa de l resfrío que debía recuperar esa fuerza, todavía había tiempo.
Venía haciendo movimientos limitados, sin exigencia, mucha ansiedad. Corrí muchas veces la carrera antes de correrla, eso pudo haber generado un stress mental. Pero había que respetar el libreto de memoria. Había que seguirlo a la perfección para eso había que estudiarlo. Pensar en qué momento cambiar el chicle, cuando tomar los geles. donde y a qué hora iba a estar mentalmente.
Mis dudas al ver si respondería la pierna, las piernas. Fui a buscar el kit de la carrera el viernes después del trabajo en bici, cosa no recomendad por el profe. Fue mas rápido que para los 21k, me quede en la conferencia que daban Pitu, el español que la semana siguiente correría Spartatlón y se vino a argentina ha hacer un fondito de 42K, para correr los 246K en Grecia. Una de las ultrasmaratones mas exigentes del mundo, como dije 246K con un límite de tiempo en puestos de Control y un límite de tiempo de 36 horas para hacer toda la carrera. Además me quedé a otra conferencia con otro español que había corrido y ganado varias maratones y medallas. Charlas bastante inspiradoras, ejemplos a seguir. De vez en cuando está bueno escuchar a profesionales de elite.
Muy bien organizado todo, sobre todo para los turistas que se vienen de lejos y muchas veces los ves con las valijas llegando a la expo, ya sean del extranjero o del interior del pais. En las maratones muchas veces lo que hago es comprarme algún recuerdo, el año pasado fue el mate oficial esta vez la gorrita. Después de eso unas vueltas tranquilas en bici para después volver a casa y tomar unos mates.
Quedaba descansar bien del viernes al sábado y esperar el superclásico. que lamentablemente perdimos. que grite ese gol en el ultimo minuto. Lo grite con el alma. el futbolero me va a entender, tu equipo viene de mal en peor, jugamos horrible ultimo minuto gol de Boca lo gritas fuerte pero bien fuerte como hacia tiempo no gritabas un gol, incluso mas que alguno de la selección. Te lo anulan. te sentís un pelotudo con todas las letras. termino el partido me puse a ver los a Los Pumas, la angustia que tenía, no quería ver nada de futbol. Preparé todo para el dia siguiente, geles hidratación, poner el dorsal en el pecho. La verdad estaba confiado, manija pero confiado.
Puse el despertador a las 4:30 para salir a las 5am e ir en bondi hasta Palermo. no pude pegar un ojo en toda la noche. Di vueltas y vueltas sin poder conciliar el sueño. Por suerte la noche anterior me dormí todo el dia. Desayuné, me fui cambiando de a poco, sin olvidarme nada. Cafe, yogurt, y una medialuna, para tener algo sólido. Cada vez estábamos mas cerca de la hora de la verdad. Esta vez no iba a ir en bici, el post es durísimo, eso lo aprendí el año pasado. Tomé el colectivo, llegó rápido y escuchando música para distender tanto estress. Nombré mucho el stress en la previa, como que tenia el cuerpo estresado, pero en el sentido de estresarlo para desestresarlo en la carrera. Para aplicar todo lo entrenado ese dia, en ese momento.
A diferencia de la media maraton esta vez llegué temprano al gazebo, fui al baño, para mi primordial, la carrera se iba armando. El colectivo no tardo nada, y caminé. Como el dia anterior fue el dia de la primavera, no hacia frio, y veias el contraste de que muchos volvían de los boliches tipo 5:30 Am. Nos encontramos con los chicos del team, hablamos, hablamos para descomprimir tensiones. Cuando iba caminado ya sentía el dolor en la pierna. era por la alta humedad. Uno cuando se viene viejo, los días de humedad le duelen los músculos, ya hacían 20 grados a las 7 am una locura, dicen que la temperatura ideal para correr ronda los 11, 12 grados. Estábamos 10 grados mas arriba de lo estimado. Deje las cosas hicimos calentamiento, nos fuimos arrimando al corral. Nos predisponíamos a la tan ansiada largada, Da en ese entonces perdí de vista los del grupo a pesar que estábamos cerca, Juro no los vi a pesar de que estábamos todos muy juntos. Faltaban 15 minutos para largar la pucha esa espera se hizo eterna.
Justo el corral eI donde estaba el Kilometro 42 de ese punto faltarían 195 metros mas a la llegada. Llegando allí estaríamos confirmando la llegada en 5 horas. ¿Tardaría 4:30hs o 5hs? ¿como saldría? ¿llegaría realmente? Era el momento de la verdad: Largamos
Largada 0K a 7K
La maraton es un libro de 42 kilómetros, cada kilómetro es un capítulo y las hojas son cada metro que avanzas. Interpretarlo y saber leerlo depende de quien lo corre.
Por lo general corro por sensaciones y si me siento bien corro suelto, si hay que apretar aprieto. Tenía dudas de correr a ritmo de los del grupo. y decidí salir a mi ritmo, por lo general arranco fuerte para después estabilizarme en velocidad crucero. Debo decir que fue de las mejores largadas, en velocidad, pero luego de 15 minutos de los de elite. Estuvo bien este vez largar por tandas. Salimos para el lado de provincia, hacia calor, la gente alentaba, las zapas estaban bien. En el kilómetro 4 ya pasamos por la cancha de ellos, me dio una bronca a punto del llanto casi, por recordar lo del dia anterior y lo pelotudo que me sentí a gritar ese gol que nos anularon. Ese gol lo grité con el alma, como hacía tiempo no gritaba un gol. Imagínate, jugar horrible ir perdiendo y lo empatas en el ultimo minuto con un gol inmerecido por el trámite de l partido y te lo anulan. Fue durísimo. Grito mas fuerte los goles de Boca que los de la selección. Ya ganaremos otra vez. Dolor en el alma perder ese partido, pero bueno, habrá que bancarlo 4 años mas, pero cuanto pesa este presente.
Pasamos por Obras Sanitarias la ESMA, fuimos por la Autopista General Paz para el retome por la Colectora de la Cantilo, Allí, exactamente, en el kilómetro 7, pidieron ambulancia; uno de los tanto atendidos que tendría la carrera. Estaban atendiendo a un corredor, para mi fue un esguince , se veía al chico de pie.
Esi es cómo pasó el primero sexto de la carrera. 1 / 6 faltaba mas de la mitad. Pero ya estábamos en el baile. Me cruce con gente del grupo adelantaba, bajaban, me adelantaba asi estuvimos algunos kilómetros.
Del 8k a 14k
Subimos el puente Labruna y pasamos nuevamente la cancha fe ellos. En el kilómetro 10 cambie el chicle, por qué importante, para sentir algo dulce constantemente en la boca y tener saliva constante. Nos encaminamos para la vuelta por la recta opuesta la largada. Otra vez que crucé con personas del grupo que con una alegría, felicidad, una sonrisa que llenaba. Lindo cruzarse con gente del grupo. después los fui perdiendo.
En el kilómetro 12 o 13 fue donde tomé el primer gelcito. El dia iba asomando un amanecer espectacular y se fue nublando con las horas. Mucha gente alentando en el kilómetro 12 y empezaba la parte mas linda, la parte mas turístico del recorrido, doblamos en el planetario para el lado de Libertado, para el lado del centro, en el kilómetro 15 hubo otro puesto, lo que vino bien para bajar el gel. Lo fui tomando de poco. Los efectos nunca son inmediatos, Sí, es un golpe fuerte de glucosa. que te metes en el cuerpo, te levanta fuerte. De sensaciones como venia? Bien sin dolor, no quería apretar ni ir mas fuerte para guardar fuerzas para el final, nunca sentí la sensación tan fea como la de los 21k cuando se me iba el pie. El plan iba funcionando as zapatillas respondieron como lo esperaba. Iba bien a buen ritmo. Un ritmo cómodo, todavía suelto Pasamos por museo de Bellas Artes, por distinto tramos de la carrera hubo mucho color y stands que pasaban música, le daba empuje a la carrera.
Dos sextos de carrera, 2 / 6 , y 7K mas y llegábamos a la mitad de la carrera. A veces hasta me olvido de que es cada kilómetro cuanto queda cuanta falta. Sumas restas multiplicaciones divisiones, mitad seguir o no. Al principio en cuando mas rápido pasan los kilómetros.
Desde el kilómetro 8 tome en todos los puestos, mojándome la gorra y sobre todo el pelo.
Que breve fue el resumen de estos kilómetros.
Del 15K a 21k
Veníamos por Libertado, pasamos por el ACA, pasamos el museo de Bellas Artes, llegamos a un punto clave de la carrera y segunda subidita intensa de 200 u 300 metros. La subida de Pellegrini. había que meter fuerza corazón y sabia que llegaría la recompensa del vasito de agua en el puesto de hidratación. Teatro Colon. y relajeaba a ver si veía a mi hermano en algún punto de la carrera. Obelisco. Obvio que es la partes mas turística y pintoresca de la ciudad. Casi que es centro de país, comentario muy de porteño unitario, pero hay tanta historia resumida en menos de 20 cuadras.
Estaban los míticos tangueros en el Obelisco, dando su show que lo hace tan argentino tan particular la carrera. Bajamos por corrientes hasta Alem para la Casa Rosada. En ese puesto repartían bananas, no agarro, porque vengo comiendo chicle. El chicle lo fui cambiando cada 10 k. Pasamos por la Catedral. Y sí, llego un momento especial para mi, Sorprendentemente, un chico con el que había trabajado como hace 10 años me reconocía en el kilómetro casi 21. Él ya volvía, yo recién me dirigía para el retome por Diagonal Norte. Había trabajado con él y me sorprendió que me reconozca y encima en medio de una carrera.
Me pega el grito con el apodo que solo me puede reconocer si trabajaron en la empresa anterior en la que estuve 10 años. Es increíble porque hablábamos de carreras que tenia un amigo que toco la medalla de oro de los olímpico era sobrino o familiar a de Delfo cabrera. pavada de historia. Estuvimos en el proyecto casi 3 meses y siempre hablábamos de running. Después hablando con él me dijo que no corría una maraton desde el 2011, mas de 10 años. Es como la ley de la vida, te volves mas viejo, terminas la facultad, tenes ganas de moverte y la mejor elección es correr. Ante la duda, como dice Dani Arcucci, mejor correr.
Encontrarnos en medio de la carrera fue especial, me dio mucha alegría. Después de la carrera, lo contacté, lo saludé. Me pareció increíble, que a pesar que uno sube cosas de running a las redes sociales y quizás no le reaccionan a uno pero lo ven. No es que sea influencer, lejos estoy de querer serlo, sino que para algunos, quizás ven lo ven a uno, que uno lo hace, y dice, míralo, yo también puedo y van y lo hacen. No soy ejemplo de nada, se los aseguro. Porque algunas, muchas cosas las hago mal, mejor dicho, las hago a mi manera. Por suerte no estaba el relojito de las horas transcurridas del comienzo. Menos mal no estaba, porque me hubiese generado ansiedad. La carrera me hacia acordar mucho a la Maraton del 2018, donde hubo mucha humedad también y pinché en el kilómetro 25 un suplicio llegar, esa carrera fue muy cuesta arriba desde ese punto, y ya había llegado mal, en esa carrera en el Kilómetro 21K.
Ya las energías no eran las mismas, alií casi que empezaba la carrera, o al menos era uno de los primeros objetivos que quería llegar. Las maratones tienen eso, unos mini objetivos que al final se concretan con el gran objetivo.
El ritmo de carrera desde que tome el gel en el k14 hizo efecto según la aplicacion de carrera en el k19 20 21 22 y 23, lo pude mantener. Después empezó la debacle. Lo pude sostener en varios kilómetros. Es donde me empiezo a cuestionar, si hubiese planificado un poquito mejor la carrera, con tanta humedad un gelsito en el k6 o 7k no hubiese estado nada mal, o al menos tomar un gel cada 10 k, también estaría bien para un maraton. Lo pensaremos mejor para la próxima.
Ya quedaban 9k para llegar al punto donde quería estar. Habían pasado ya los 21 primeros kilómetros, que no eran pocos y faltaba la mitad. ¿Cómo venia de las sensaciones? Venia quedándome por el calor cada vez mas intenso pero las sensaciones hasta ese punto eran buenas, Sin dolores fuertes. la molestia era cada vez mas intensa, costaba acelera por eso restringí la velocidad para no empeorarla. Correcta carrera hasta ahora. Esto lo digo en frio, tengo que hacer ver esa molestia
Mitad del viaje, tres sextos de la carrera 3 / 6 y no simplifico denominador, porque básicamente no puedo sacar kilómetros
Del 22K al 28K
Estábamos por el centro, pasando por el cabildo y bajando por avenida de mayo. Por allí ves mucha gente turista que va con las valijas y como los taxis no pueden pasar por los cortes de calle de la carrera. Pienso en esas personas que van allí con las maletas pensado en no perder el avión. La ciudad aviso con anticipación el corte de calles. Algunos, poco pacientes y sin entender lo que es una carrera se mandan, cruzan. Se puede esperar 10 o15 minutos a que pasemos o se genere huecos para cruzar. Se puede tener un poco de tolerancia. Pero un dia va a pasar que un automovilista atropelle en un ataque de nervios a un corredor, ya sucedió en Brasil hace poco. Espero no ser yo. Bajamos por la calle Independencia por Diagonal Sur, para el lado de la Casa Rosada nuevamente, hermosa bajadita. La verdad, es una altura en la que vas disfrutando del recorrido, de lo que hablaban alrededor.
Pero como empezaba la segunda mitad de la carrera, me puse los auriculares. Solo en carreras largas los uso y en partes que sé que van a ser complicadas. Tenia pensado usarlos del k22 al 35K aproximadamente. Asi lo hice en una lista aleatoria. Las canciones son de motivación, la mayoría de Rocky. Tuve alguna que otra complicación técnica. Al roce, y la transpiración que a esa altura era mucha, estaba todo bañado en agua, activaban el celu o se pasaba de canción. Esa complicación o molestias técnicos hicieron, a pesar de todo que por un rato, distraerme del cansancio y del calor. Desee, fuerte, que lloviera.
A la altura del 25k tomé el segundo gel, tomándolo de a poco para expandirlo, de manera de saborearlo, para sentir toda la glucosa.
Tuve la sensación de que hubo mucha mas gente alentando a lo largo de todo el recorrido, mas que otras veces. Alentado y acompañando después a los que pasaban. En realidad, quizás esta vez estuve mas atento que otras veces, antes no le daba bola iba focalizado, concentrado.
¿Y si correo 2 maratones por año? ¿Me dará la nafta? No sé, la exigencia es mucha. Redoblar esfuerzos para eso. Tandil no la cambio por nada y ver cuando es la de Mar del Plata y para hacer esa locura.
Pasamos por el Parque Lezama y doblamos en Almirante Brown ya de lejos venia al Cancha de Boca, Estaba por la mítica Casa Amarilla. Nudo en la garganta, otra vez, y pensaba, esta muy bien pintada, la arreglaron muy bien. Pero solo eso hicieron en 4 años porque no me vengan a decir que el que está de presidente es nuevo. Viene hace 4 años manejando todo lo que es futbol. Si me engancho con este tema no termino mas. Es una recurrencia, todo bajo emoción violenta después de lo que sucedió en el partido de ayer. Pensé que iba a emocionar mas pasando por la cancha nuestra esta hermosa. Guardá veneno me decía cuando pasé por la cancha de ellos, que me entristecía hacía ya como 2 horas antes. Pero la nafta escaseaba y no quedaban ganas ni de emocionarse. Era el k28. La gente por allá nos veía pasar y nos alentaba.
Pero venia la parte mas difícil, el muro.
Cuatro sextos de la carrera, la pucha que era distancia, la pucha que corrimos, lo kilómetro ya no solo se sentían, sino que también pesaban. Era simple, había que volver al punto que partimos. Quedaban solo 14 kilómetros a partir de ese momento y se venía el muro que me hizo bosta. Ya estaba cansado. En los puestos de hidratación se alargaban un poco mas las caminatas para tomar.
Pasamos por la Usina del Arte.
12 hojas escritas, esto va a quedar eterno, como la carrera. Quedaban 2 sextos de carrera. Estábamos mas cerca que al principio.
Del 29K al 35K
Buscando aire, porque la verdad a esa altura la temperatura ya no daba tregua. Se sentía y cada vez que avanzabas era mas duro. Venía pensado en llegar al kilómetro 35, tenia que caminar y correr. Pero ya suelto, no venia, no fluían las zancadas, ya todo venía siendo esforzado. Forzados porque ya eran ganas, huevos lo que te llevaba y te permitía avanzar. Seguía con la música que acompañaba. Por momentos quise poner un programa de radio, pero hubieses sido al pedo ya que no importaba lo que escuchaba, no le iba a prestar atención, porque lo que necesitaba mi cerebro era distraerse.
Esa recta de Puerto Madero, interminable, que después tendría un retome de unos 500 metros. Esta parte de Puerto Madera, donde están los carritos, donde comíamos bondiolitas completas con los de trabajo los viernes para almorzar. Al lado de la reserva ecológica, donde alguna vez corrí un 12 de agosto la carrera del SUTHER. Changos, me acaba de avisar que murió justo el encargado de casi toda una vida. Que en paz descanse.
A esa altura me decía, internamente, en el k35 camino y corro, Ya se podía ver a varias personas en modo de walking dead, caminando en modo Zombi. Lamentablemente al ver eso, tu cerebro te engaña, te dice “dale, no das mas, camina.” Vos que venís débil te contagias, no te quedan opciones, caminas indefectiblemente. Como si cayeras en lo que no querías caer pero no te queda otra, estas completamente resignado. Y cuando caminas, te vez reflejado como Jesus cuando cae por primera vez con la cruz.
No quedó mucha opción de decir que correría hasta el k32. que no era poco y que faltaran 10k para terminar. Pero lo eterno que se hicieron esos últimos 10k , no se dan una idea. Porque una cosa es hacer 10k descansado y otra muy distinta, es hacer 10k habiendo corrido ya 32k. cada metro es un metro ganado.
En el cartel justo 32k empezó el suplicio pagano de correr intermitentemente, pero es tal vez con una ventaja. Entrené esos últimos kilómetros de una manera especial la semana anterior a la carrera. Correr 4 minutos rápido y caminar un minuto. Como hizo el profe. Planificada la vuelta, pero faltaba una eternidad. Paso por puesto de hidratación en el kilómetro 33 y casi en el 35k estaba el próximo puesto.
Volvimos por casi el paseo del bajo altura Buquebus, una locura de autos, por allí en puerto madero ya se empieza a sentir el aroma a asadito de los restoranes de la zona. Que hambre tenia para esa altura!!. Por esos lados es donde alentaba gente y mucha gente acompañando en bicicleta, muy peligros para los corredores, automovilistas y sobre todo para los ciclistas.
La voluntad estaba vencida. Había que seguir. Estábamos en el baile, venía bailando. Buscando motivación en cada paso. Costaba cada vez mas la cabeza decía caminar y descansar en todo momento. Llegar al kilómetro 35 y tomar el ultimo gelsito. No sé cuántas energías podían darme, pero, mas como apoyo moral lo tomaba. No es que estés tomando Nitro que te va a hacer volar.
Terminaba el cinco sextos de la maraton 5 / 6 quedaban, tan solo 7k por delante e iban a ser complicado porque la gente caminaba y corría intermitentemente. Me pasaban. Se van quemando los papeles de cualquier cosa que habías planificado. Desee que lloviera para que baje la temperatura, cosa que nunca sucedió.
Estábamos tan solo a 1 / 6 de la carrera, nada.
Del 36K al 42,195K
Pensaba que esa parte no iba a estar este año, que iba a ser por el puerto, pero no, era misma que el año pasado. Que iba ser por arriba de la autopista y no por abajo. Sino eran 5 k sin nada, con el calor que hacía.
Volvimos para el lado del puerto después de pasar por debajo de la autopista para subir a la Illia donde justo en la mitad estaría el k39. Faltaban 3 kilómetros, una entradita, una interminable entradita en calor. Faltaba el camino que me lleva a casa. quería llegar. La meta estaba cada vez mas cerca.
Es en ese momento en que te pones a pensar por que lo hacer porque estas corriendo. Y vos lo sabes muy claro, que corriste 10 años solos y no pudimos bajar la hora en los 10k y en 1 mes lo lograste. Mi objetivo siempre es a largo plazo y llegar dar el máximo antes de los 50 años. Lo estoy buscando, no se dio hasta ahora. Pero sé de que lo voy a lograr, llegar a dar mi máximo, en plenitud. Sé que después de los 50 el rendimiento por una cuestión física el rendimiento caerá. Y no pienso quedarme con la duda de que no lo dí todo. por eso lo hacía, por eso estaba ahi.
El kilómetro 40 en Aeroparque, último puesto para llegar a la meta. Tomo un poco de agua casi todo lo tomé. Ya me podía visualizar llegando, debo decir que unas mínimas gotas cayeron, mínimas. Bajamos por el viaducto, con una subidita de de menos de 40 metros, pero en ese kilometro es casi devastadora. La tenes que hacer caminando, salvo que veas a algún fotógrafo, ahí tenes que hacer que correr al menos para la cámara.
Entonces vas llegando casi al planetario y girando estabas el k41 y la recta que me haría terminar mi quinta maraton. Grande fue mi sorpresa que el profe nos estaba esperando. Me dio unas palabras de aliento. Siempre se queda hasta que el ultimo del grupo llegue, un crack, gran capitán de barco. Recibí apoyo desde el comienzo, menos mal cai en este grupo. Será que yo elegí el grupo o el grupo me eligió a mi?
En el grupo me sigo sintiendo nuevo, que de apoco voy conociendo. Me gusta correr. Pero una reflexión que hacia era que siempre en los trabajos que tuve los resultados los fui viendo de apoco. Siempre me costó todo. Los resultados los fui viendo con el tiempo. Voy menos de un año en el grupo. Estimo que recién después del año de entrenamiento con el grupo se van a ver los resultados de verdad. Pero eso sí manteniendo el entrenamiento constante.
Me gustó verlo, como sus pupilos van terminando un maraton. No se fue hasta que llegó el ultimo del grupo o sea yo. No me importó ser el último, porque maratones son maraton no perdonan y te pegan. Cada vez cuestan mas y se festeja.
Vas llegando muy a pesar de los dolores que se hacían sentir. Al aliento a esa altura era ensordecedor corres por el aliento de la gente que no te deja caminar. Tenia que correr, con el alma. Caminar no podes y el aliento te tuerce la voluntad de querer caminar. Ese aliento sirve y de mucho sobre todo para esos últimos metros. El ultimo kilometro lo hice al trote, no paré. aceleré y hasta di un saltito de festejo de felicidad.
Esa felicidad que es efímera, que costó un huevo y la mitad del otro terminar esa carrera. Por qué sé que pasado esa línea de llegada vuelvo a mi vida, recupero mi vida de hijo, hermano, tio, empleado, compañero, amigo. Uno a veces relega cosas por proceso. Queda atrás esa burbuja que fue ese proceso de maraton de 4 meses. Es un curso de aprendizaje el proceso. Y se corona con la medalla.
Son esta clase de carreras en las que son tan largas y tan duras que ni importa el tiempo en que lo hagas, sino que la termines sin reprocharte nada porque lo diste todo. Si sabes que lo diste todo incluso un poquito mas de lo que podías y tu conciencia esta tranquila no hay reproche que valga. Podrás analizar en frio, haberlo hecho mejor y mejorar para próxima, pero eso ya es otra historia.
Cruce la meta. feliz de haber terminado. Feliz de haberlo sacado todo, feliz de haberlo dado todo, feliz de estar vacío de running, Feliz de esas, poco mas de 5 horas corriendo, feliz de haberlo disfrutado.. feliz de haberlo dado todo. Feliz de concretar mi 5ta maratón.
Veo a mi hermano que me estaba esperando, lindo sorpresa me dio y me fui acercando al gazebo donde todo había empezado. Fui saludar a los chicos. compartir la experiencia abrazar al profe y los demás. Solo quería tirarme en el pasto a recuperar energías.
Es haber concluido ese desafío que te propusiste algo lo podes lograr. Te da la seguridad de que si te propones lo vas a lograr, va a costar, pero lo vas a conseguir. Porque tenia la seguridad que lo lograría desde que me anoté pero no sabría como iba a ser la cosa, el final lo tenia, El recorrido era una incógnita. Como todo en la vida, todo es un interrogante que con el tiempo se va aclarando el camino.
Algunas reflexiones finales de la carrera
Tengo que resolver ese problemita de la cadera urgentemente. Para poder correr mejor, acaso por eso hacemos esto, para correr mejor. Siento que me hace alentizar un poco, será la pisada o algo, pero solución debería haber.
El año pasado casi lloro, este año no tanta emoción, porque la corrí, mentalmente, tantas veces que no llegué a la emoción. Esta maraton era una pelea mas física que emocional.
Es una de las medallas mas lindas que tengo, brilla como si fuese de oro.
No hay una maraton perfecta, podes planificar todo, pero todo pero si no es el dia, no es dia. Podes estar preparado, pero si el dia no acompaña, si entrenaste siempre con frio en condiciones de cero grados y te toca dia de humedad, te va a partir al medio. Porque es otro el desgaste con frio y con calor.
Lo que tienen las maratones es eso, te vacían para llenarte, ahora estoy vacío sin energías porque lo deje todo ahí. Ese mismo vacío te hace plantearte nuevos objetivos.
Tendría que haber tomado 4 geles en vez de 3, sobre todo por la humedad que hizo. Nunca una maraton vas a tener condiciones favorables. Siempre van a ser adversas hostiles e incomodidad y se va haciendo mas difícil a medida que avanza la carrera.
Fui casi el primero en llegar a la carrera y casi el ultimo en irme.
Correr 42 kilómetros te purifica la piernas, el alma. Te cambia, no sos el mismo.
Como digo siempre llegar, cruzar la linea de llegada no es el final, o sea es el final de la preparación del proceso de maraton de 3 meses. Pero a la vez el comienzo que si se propones algo y pones todas sus energías positivas, con actitud para conseguirlas, siempre el resultado va ser positivo aplica en el running y sobre todo en la vida.
Nunca hay que exteriorizar felicidad, sí podes demostrar actitudes de felicidad. Siempre hay que ser cauto hasta cuando esta feliz.La procesión va por dentro.
Segun Strava, la aplicación de que mide los parciales, en el 30K hice un tiempo de 3 horas 18 minutos, lo cual a esa altura era un tiempo excelente. o sea que de ahi en mas, mas específicamente en el kilómetro 32 fue la debacle. Que de ahi en mas el muro me destrozó, percha me hizo, por humedad, hidratación.... Del kilómetro 30 a la llegada faltaba 12k , si hubiese mantenido el ritmo, hubiera terminada en 4 horas y media. O sea excelentes 30k y muy malos 12K finales, la humedad y el calor pegó fuerte. Tal es asi que hubo mucha gente que fue atendida por los golpes de calor.
Esto y muchas cosas mas son las que pienso mientras corro. Podría titular como: “ en qué pienso mientras corro” pero ese título es muy trillado, quizás tenga menos marketing este titulo: “ De qué escribo mientras corro” y en resumen sería todo lo que puse en este relato, Porque si bien uno correr de hobbie, piensa cosas algunas buenas otras no tanto y las intenta plasmar. Al fin y al cabo las carreras también son excusas, licencias poéticas para poder escribir. Creo que misión cumplida.
Porque las carreras se corren el domingo, pero no terminan hasta que las escribo. Es como correrla 2 veces, rememorando las cosas que me llevaron hasta ahi.. Se disfruta mas, se saborea mas. Para describir y escribir la experiencia. Y este fue el comienzo.
Veo, observo mucho la dinámica de los grupos, miro cómo se comportan. Me acerco a los que mas hablan o los que me dirigen la palabra y me quedo hablando con ellos. Por ahora protagonista no soy o si, pero me aparto ando de costado. Los voy a ir conociendo de poco y ellos me van a ir conociendo de poco. Como dije: apunto largo y no corto. Porque cuando uno tiene objetivos a largo plazo, los cambios son perdurables y los objetivos a la larga van a llegar.
A veces quisiera correr una carrera interminable en la que cueste y terminarla cuando me canse. También me pasa cuando escribo, no termina mas la historia de una carrera. Porque uno no quiere terminar el momento en que la pasó tan bien. Como me pasa con los buenos libros, no los quiero terminar, porque la pasé muy bien leyéndolo.
A dar vuelta la hoja y seguir.
English version
Well there we go, I don't know where this will end. although thinking about it where it will end up is surely at the finish line. But to get there you first have to train, and to train you have to have a plan, so that when the time comes that plan will lead you to the realization of what you were looking for. And I start at the beginning, because I haven't written for a long time and there are several things that I do well to tell. I come loaded and with my fists full of truths. Because although it is to tell how I did to finish my 5th marathon. There are things that changed and will continue to change in the middle of the preparation. The story starts in Tandil analyzing and meditating, how I could improve my times, something I have been thinking about since last year's marathon. Telling me whether or not I sign up for a running team and add quality kilometers. I almost owed it to myself and I delayed it as long as I could. And I want to stop in Tandil where last year it happened to meet people from a group, Maybe seeing them in camaraderie with the teacher, there was the germ of signing up strongly in a training group, focused on adding quality kilometers, to improve time. That's how it was, it was already in my head to sign up after the holidays. I looked for a training group on the internet, I think on the runners' club page. Some nearby in Sarmiento Park or Saavedra / Coghan, something close to home. There was one that was in Sarmiento Park, where I always go to train. Almost against the clock, because Monday and Wednesday, it is rare that they enter and they are days that they do not train. Usually Tuesday and Thursday are the ones that I see more people training in the groups. So I investigated, I was encouraged to write, and when to see how things are, you are almost totally decided, Decided, but with a lot of shyness that characterizes me, almost as if asking permission. I couldn't take much longer than April May, because if I wanted to do a new marathon, it's at least 2 or 4 months of hard training. I knew it was going to be difficult for me to get into a rhythm, I didn't know how much it was going to cost, because I came from something totally different from what I had been doing. I've been repeating that a lot lately, but it's true, because it changed from being "do what you can and if you're tired you go slower but faster and as much as you want" to something thought out and planned with changing and productive activities to add quality kilometers. I started in the group in April and the change was 180 degrees, in the exercises they gave to do. I would come home with pain that I didn't have before. What I was most interested in was training in Heart Zone 3. Because that was also a question. In races I always ran in zone 3 and trained in Zone 2 or even 1. Training in Zone 3 is like running 2 or 3 races in a week. That's how he took it, with the seriousness that a marathon implied and that a training session deserved. All in pain telling me if this was what I wanted and convinced me that it must hurt for me to get better. The more pain the better,
Then came Maya with almost a month of training and I was able to lower the hour in the 10k, it was a fantastic achievement to be able to lower that hour. Without a doubt the great achievement of the year, in terms of running. Perhaps more important than the marathon. No, I reread, the marathon is very important. They are on par with the Marathon and lowering the hour in the 10K are the important achievements. They share a Gold medal, this year that was Olympic. With many pains in that first month, which followed with many more pains I was getting into the group very timidly, I spoke little, it was difficult to keep up the pace but I kept trying. In the first instance I went on weekdays, then in June, we put a Saturday, A Saturday in the group is totally different from weekdays. We are not in a hurry like on weekdays. People go in the morning and afternoon, they get together every Saturday and the social part is generated that is new to me. Here I want to make a parenthesis, also getting into a group implied that, the social part, which due to my work, home office and after the pandemic I relegated it a lot. One who was always very adept at After Office on Fridays. I met people, more "sick" than one in running, with myself or perhaps more madness for running. Running is just that, a spiral that catches you. When you see the results and you leave feeling better, the more will you put into it, and the more motivated you will be. It's clearly a hoax to run and more things you buy and see and add to your daily routine. It's also a change to wake up early on a Saturday to work out, add. One that he always used on Saturday morning to take advantage of sleeping and recover lost sleep from the week. Accumulated tiredness, as he calls it. And a change of life is possible if you put a little effort into it. Add one more day to training. I changed Saturday afternoon, going out only with headphones or early Sundays to Saturday mornings, At first I said, I train in the morning and in the afternoon I go out quietly and do a few more kilometers. How destroyed it was after Saturdays, there was no energy left at all. When training is demanding, it is so as not to suffer it in the race. and you meet people whether you like it or not, the group takes you. They are wonderful people, I am not very sociable, I recognize it and every person who approaches me escapes. but always talking about running, and you see people who maybe have the same pace as you and you go for miles with those people. And you get to know their stories, and we are all there to be a little better or perhaps, in some cases, clear our minds a little. Training in the cold is hard but the humidity is harder. We train them, all winter, in cold rain, very cold. My idea was always to train on Mondays and Wednesdays and put in some training. Some go out only on Tuesdays, so that you don't have to go to the office, Thursday or Friday. But I ended up so tired from training that I had to leave a day of rest in between, especially on Tuesdays. and Thursdays termini
I'd better not spoil the end, but a question comes to mind at this point, is it better to run alone or in a group? Will the times running in a group improve? Let's go step by step, the events were taking place and the experience lived is different, the process lived to achieve the objective is different. Behind them are Saturday afternoons running along the collector of the Pan-American Highway to the Unicenter. And return along the coastal road. The entrails progressed, I felt worse and worse with the muscle pain of the intense lunges, squats, passes, power, abdominals, etc. It was difficult to keep up, but the work that does not give respite, added to the intense cold it was. On the one hand, that, I sign up for the September marathon to force me to go out to train in the cold, if not I stay at home, incredibly on the days when I thought that no one was going to go to the group because of the cold, many people ended up going. I was surprised by that, that people continue to think about the cold, but it has its logic. Many people aim for either the 21k or the 42k, or trail races. So races that are coming when the first heat appears. The pucha that was hot on the Sunday of the marathon. It may be that some of the group go just to be well, they are not interested in running races. And I think it's perfect that they want to be better and don't need the races. They go and run, with that they are filled. But some are filled to measure themselves, to compete with oneself, the days of competition are super special from the previous Sunday. Let's move on to a topic, which today became key, footwear, shoes that in this preparation will be key. Although I didn't finish well after the 21k, from Buenos Aires, I chose the wrong footwear, the Nike is not for a fat person like me. My foot was going away, but I was stomping hard, as if prying over the foot, which can cause a fucking fracture if I step wrong. I was with those fears. A big decision was to urgently buy me some new shoes. The same ones I was training with. I feel them comfortable at the foot. They are not the most expensive, in fact, they are the third brand Fila, I name them because they are to stand out. Perhaps it is worth saying that it is not necessary to buy the latest Nike or Adidas with a carbon plate to be able to run well. In fact it's the second time it's happened to me, last year I bought an Olympic pair to train and I ended up running the marathon with those, how comfortable they were. Today it is repeated again with the Fila. and it's not a price issue because as I said, I have the Nike almost new. Mental note, it is not good to change shoes constantly, especially if the training is demanding. Running with the same shoes allows them to be molded to the footprint. When I signed up for the marathon in mid-July, or June, I had doubts about the process. Especially because by training only for a marathon I did 50 kilometers per week approx. and with that it was the minimum to finish the 42. That methodology resulted in 4 marathons.
After the Mayan race there was a very nice 15K race in MDQ that we went with my brother and my dad. It was very cold that time. But on the way back I felt forced with the shoes, I did it in almost an hour and a half, which is almost my best mark. Nice race, second time I've done it. It is beautiful to run next to the sea, a panoramic view throughout the race. Mar del Plata is a great city all year round. Running in winter is also good, next to the sea the air you breathe is different and for city bugs changing the air for a weekend is valued. The week before the half marathon we did a long distance of 30K, I was surprised that being a week before the half marathon. On top of that, the day after the 30k I had a 10k race with friends on the Coastal road, added to the fact that it was Children's Day. The 30k consisted of the start at 8:15 from Sarmiento Park, to the Faculty of Law and back. We came back around 12 pm, the truth is that I was satisfied with the time, about 3 and a half hours at a great pace. With many people in the group that I passed and were passing me, obviously I never follow a rhythm, that is, how I feel I run. I brought cereal bars, gels, water, things necessary for a long bottom. I arrived, we arrived and it was an achievement, it was almost preparing for a race. When it's long distances, you always have respect for distance, you can never underestimate it. But it's one thing to do it by training someone else in the race. They served to test things from the race. Actually, they said it was 28K but in the end it ended up being 31K The 30k those left me out of bed. I slept all day after that outing. That weekend was marathon. I tried to recover as best I could, the next day I had a nice Rexona race, which last year I had done and they delivered several products in the Kit and this year for having run the previous year they gave twice as much product. But he was satisfied, he took the whole race just that, without having run it. I made it very calm. Knowing that he would not achieve a mark similar to that of the Mayan race, basically because of the rest. But it was important to do it to accompany friends who are just starting to run and we had to support them. It was enjoyed from another side. I don't know if it worked, but it was crazy. The kilometers traveled that weekend were the ones I was going to do on the same day of the marathon. Luckily it didn't rain and we had a nice moment shared. A new madness that went well. I was very exhausted and a week later I had to recover for the 21k. It had been Children's Day and it was very cold, we celebrated it outdoors and surely they lowered my defenses after those 40K. The effort was supreme. But for the marathon it is not enough. The cold that lasted a week did not give a truce. I think I arrived without previous training. A lot of rest and a lot of anxiety but a binge eating gave me and I said to myself, no, this can't happen to us the week before the marathon.
After the Mayan race there was a very nice 15K race in MDQ that we went with my brother and my dad. It was very cold that time. But on the way back I felt forced with the shoes, I did it in almost an hour and a half, which is almost my best mark. Nice race, second time I've done it. It is beautiful to run next to the sea, a panoramic view throughout the race. Mar del Plata is a great city all year round. Running in winter is also good, next to the sea the air you breathe is different and for city bugs changing the air for a weekend is valued. The week before the half marathon we did a long distance of 30K, I was surprised that being a week before the half marathon. On top of that, the day after the 30k I had a 10k race with friends on the Coastal road, added to the fact that it was Children's Day. The 30k consisted of the start at 8:15 from Sarmiento Park, to the Faculty of Law and back. We came back around 12 pm, the truth is that I was satisfied with the time, about 3 and a half hours at a great pace. With many people in the group that I passed and were passing me, obviously I never follow a rhythm, that is, how I feel I run. I brought cereal bars, gels, water, things necessary for a long bottom. I arrived, we arrived and it was an achievement, it was almost preparing for a race. When it's long distances, you always have respect for distance, you can never underestimate it. But it's one thing to do it by training someone else in the race. They served to test things from the race. Actually, they said it was 28K but in the end it ended up being 31K The 30k those left me out of bed. I slept all day after that outing. That weekend was marathon. I tried to recover as best I could, the next day I had a nice Rexona race, which last year I had done and they delivered several products in the Kit and this year for having run the previous year they gave twice as much product. But he was satisfied, he took the whole race just that, without having run it. I made it very calm. Knowing that he would not achieve a mark similar to that of the Mayan race, basically because of the rest. But it was important to do it to accompany friends who are just starting to run and we had to support them. It was enjoyed from another side. I don't know if it worked, but it was crazy. The kilometers traveled that weekend were the ones I was going to do on the same day of the marathon. Luckily it didn't rain and we had a nice moment shared. A new madness that went well. I was very exhausted and a week later I had to recover for the 21k. It had been Children's Day and it was very cold, we celebrated it outdoors and surely they lowered my defenses after those 40K. The effort was supreme. But for the marathon it is not enough. The cold that lasted a week did not give a truce. I think I arrived without previous training. A lot of rest and a lot of anxiety but a binge eating gave me and I said to myself, no, this can't happen to us the week before the marathon.
When I finished I had 2 paths, good or evil, not lies. I had two ways 1 go to Gazebo and say hello to the team, wrap up warm or look for my bike. There were too many people, I went for my bike, which I had left on the other side. At the organization's bike storage, they later told me to leave it in gazebo, but it was too late and that's what I also mean by group dynamics. From there I went to get my bike, which took me all the way around, almost everyone was gone. It took me 2 hours 24 minutes to arrive, 8 minutes longer than my last half marathon. La Maratana, where the discomfort began. It was not the career I was looking for, it did not work, it was not possible. I met again with the kids of the team with joy, greetings and comments on how everything went in the race. There is a feeling of a team, like a football team. Something similar, but to tell the truth all groups have a more or less similar behavior. Nice moments to share with people who are in the same place as you. That we train together we see day by day the effort and progress that each one has. Accompanying that growth, that progress gives satisfaction. From there was the final stretch of preparation for the marathon. and that's where the little head starts to play, because you did 40k and that gave you the physical basis that up to 30K I can do, after that we'll see what happens. The teacher assures you that you get to 30k after there, your career begins, and what you are really looking for. The reason why you signed up for the marathon. Whatever I brought you. Already exhausted, all in pain, he begins. The other week of the 40k came the 21k with those 2 marathon weekends. The question, from then on, was discharge, some force. but he already came with a stressed body, from several months of demand. That training is like this requires you to demand and they will always be like that. That is why once this process is finished, there will surely be some relaxation for a few days. Lowering the load, perhaps not so often for a while. Going intermittently depends on how we are feeling. Yes, we want to go out alone, we go out alone and we put headphones in. Great was my surprise when I crossed the finish line and in the midst of all that tumult of people I crossed paths with people from the group. You can see that we have the same rhythm. Will we repeat in the marathon? See. And I was so angry about how my performance was in the half marathon, with that pain in my hip that did not allow me to accelerate and the doubts that this generated. The next day I woke up with the anger and self-love of reversing that situation. I went to training with the other shoes, FILA and I had no pain, I was able to get rid of that thorn and it gave me confidence 11 kilometers to relax, and lower tension, stretching and relaxing. It was good, it was also a very relaxed atmosphere for those of us who had run. Speaking of the race we were able to share more coldly what happened the day before. You get to know each other. you get into the group.
And I was so angry about how my performance was in the half marathon, with that pain in my hip that didn't let me accelerate and the doubts that this generated in me. The next day I woke up with the rage and self-love of reversing that situation. I went to train with the other shoes, FILA and I had no pain, I was able to get rid of that thorn and it gave me confidence 11 kilometers to relax, and lower the tension, stretch and relax. It was good, it was also a very relaxed atmosphere for those of us who had raced. Speaking of the race, we were able to share more coldly what happened the day before. They get to know each other. You get into the group. I'm surprised that everyone knows each other's stories. As a family or as a club, as a school, I don't know how to explain it. The date of the marathon was approaching, I bought shoes identical to the ones I saw trained, identical, but new. I used them for the first time, tried them in all the previous workouts and molded them in my step. A week before the marathon we did 16k. I went next to Villa Devoto. I had never been on that side, a spectacular spring day was played. I figured it would be that hot 19 degrees in the sun for the finish. But the start was not all at once, but it was 4 minutes running at full throttle and 1 rest. A strange exercise but I sensed that this could be the end of the marathon, running and walking. I ended up very tired after that. Sometimes running, slowing down and running again tires you much more than running all in a row. I stayed in a small group that was coming at a good pace. Listening to what they were talking about, in short, was quite dynamic and entertaining. I was able to try the gels I had bought. ENAs that are more liquid and not as thick. In the week that followed that Saturday, we did power, ramps, a very demanding job for the preparation of a marathon, we needed to unload and be at full strength for the race. Then a differentiated and very light work for those of us who ran 42k. As it bothers me that to make us different they make us come forward and see ourselves in front of everyone, perhaps to inspire others he does it, I don't know. It bothers me, I prefer a low profile, go unnoticed, they make you go to the front like at school. I prefer that no one knows that I do it until I do it, a surprise factor always in my favor. I had been taking care of myself, but a week before I took better care of myself, with yogurts, cereals, etc. I felt that I had lost strength because of the cold that I had to regain that strength, there was still time. I had been making limited movements, without demands, a lot of anxiety. I ran the race many times before I ran it, that could have put me under mental stress. But the script had to be respected by heart. You had to follow it perfectly, for that you had to study it. Think about when to change the gum, when to take the gels. where and at what time he was going to be mentally. My doubts when I saw if the leg, the legs would respond. I went to get the race kit on Friday After the bike work, which is not recommended by the teacher. It was faster than for the 21k, I stayed at the conference given by Pitu, the Spaniard who the following week would run Spartathlon and came to Argentina to do a 42K fundito, to run the 246K in Greece. One of the most demanding ultramarathons in the world, as I said 246K with a time limit at checkpoints and a time limit of 36 hours to do the whole race. I also stayed for another conference with another Spaniard who had run and won several marathons and medals. Quite inspiring talks, examples to follow. From time to time it is good to listen to elite professionals. Everything is very well organized, especially for tourists who come from far away and often see them with their suitcases arriving at the expo, whether they are from abroad or from the interior of the country. In marathons many times what I do is buy a souvenir, last year it was the official mate, this time the cap. After that, a few quiet rides on the bike and then go home and have some mates. It was left to rest well from Friday to Saturday and wait for the superclásico. which we unfortunately lost. that he shouts that goal in the last minute. I shouted it with my soul. the soccer fan will understand me, your team is going from bad to worse, we played horrible last minute Boca goal you shout it loud but very loud as it has been a long time since you shouted a goal, even more than any of the national team. They cancel it. you feel like a fool with all the letters. After the game I started to watch Los Pumas, the anguish I had, I didn't want to watch any football. I prepared everything for the next day, hydration gels, putting the bib on the chest. The truth is that he was confident, handle but confident. I set the alarm clock for 4:30 to leave at 5am and go by bondi to Palermo. I couldn't sleep a wink all night. I tossed and turned without being able to fall asleep. Luckily the night before I slept all day. I had breakfast, I changed little by little, without forgetting anything. Coffee, yogurt, and a croissant, to have something solid. We were getting closer and closer to the moment of truth. This time I wasn't going to ride a bike, the post is very hard, I learned that last year. I took the bus, it arrived quickly and listening to music to relax so much stress. I mentioned a lot of stress in the preview, as if I had a stressed body, but in the sense of stressing it to de-stress it in the race. To apply everything trained that day, at that moment. Unlike the half marathon this time I arrived early at the gazebo, I went to the bathroom, for my main thing, the race was getting ready. The bus didn't take long, and I walked. As the day before was the day of spring, it was not cold, and you saw the contrast that many returned from the clubs at 5:30 Am. We meet with the guys from the team, we talk, we talk to decompress tensions. When I was walking, I already felt the pain in my leg. it was because of the high humidity. One when it comes to see
Just the corral where Kilometer 42 was from that point would be 195 meters more at the arrival. Arriving there we would be confirming the arrival in 5 hours. Would it take 4:30 or 5 hours? How would it come out? Would it really arrive? It was the moment of truth: We started Start 0K to 7K The marathon is a book of 42 kilometers, each kilometer is a chapter and the leaves are each meter you advance. Interpreting it and knowing how to read it depends on who runs it. I usually run for sensations and if I feel good I run loose, if I have to tighten tight. I had doubts about running at the pace of those in the group. and I decided to go out at my own pace, I usually start strong and then stabilize at cruising speed. I must say that it was one of the best starts, in speed, but after 15 minutes of the elite. It was good this time to start in batches. We went out to the provincial side, it was hot, people were encouraging, the shoes were good. At kilometer 4 we already passed by their field, I got angry to the point of crying almost, for remembering what happened the day before and how stupid I felt to shout that goal that was disallowed for us. I shouted that goal with my soul, as I hadn't shouted a goal for a long time. Imagine, playing horrible losing and you tie it in the last minute with an undeserved goal due to the process of the match and they disallow it. It was very hard. Boca's goals shouted louder than those of the national team. We will win again. It is pain in the soul to lose that game, but well, we will have to bench it for 4 more years, but how much weight does this present weigh.
We turned to the Libertador side of the gas station that we passed several times with the team to return to Sarmiento. At kilometer 5 there was already the first hydration station. Which I didn't drink and seeing the heat that I was commenting maybe I should have taken a sip or even a little gel for that kilometer, I mean, because of the heat it was, the wear and tear suffered, I say it already with the race done. The race had just started, the sensations were good, it was a warm up. He kept a good pace. We passed by the ESMA Sanitary Works, we went along the General Paz Highway to resume through the Colectora de la Cantilo, There, exactly, at kilometer 7, they asked for an ambulance; one of the many attended that the career would have. They were attending to a runner, for me it was a sprain, you could see the boy standing. That's how the first sixth of the race passed. 1/6 was missing more than half. But we were already at the dance. I came across people from the group who were overtaking, they were going down, I was overtaking them so we were a few kilometers. From 8k to 14k We went up the Labruna bridge and passed the field again. At kilometer 10 I changed the gum, why important, to feel something sweet constantly in the mouth and have constant saliva. We headed for the return on the opposite straight to the start. Another time I crossed paths with people from the group who with a joy, happiness, a smile that filled. It was nice to cross paths with people from the group. then I lost them. At kilometer 12 or 13 was where I took the first gel. The day was dawning spectacularly and it became cloudy with the hours. Many people cheering at kilometer 12 and the most beautiful part began, the most touristic part of the route, we turned at the planetarium to the Libertado side, to the downtown side, at kilometer 15 there was another post, which came in handy to lower the gel. I took it slowly. The effects are never immediate, yes, it's a strong hit of glucose. that you get into the body, it lifts you up strong. Of sensations as it came? Well without pain, I didn't want to push or go harder to save strength for the end, I never felt the feeling as ugly as the 21k when my foot went away. The plan was working, the shoes responded as expected. It was going well at a good pace. A comfortable pace, still loose We passed by the Museum of Fine Arts, in different sections of the race there was a lot of color and stands that played music, it gave the race a boost. Two sixths of the race, 2/6, and 7K more and we were halfway through the race. Sometimes I even forget that it is every kilometer that is left that is missing. Additions, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, half, follow or not. At the beginning the kilometers go by faster. From kilometer 8 I took all the stalls, wetting my cap and especially my hair. How brief was the summary of these kilometers.
From 15K to 21k
We were coming through Libertado, we passed by the ACA, we passed the Museum of Fine Arts, we arrived at a key point of the race and the second intense climb of 200 or 300 meters. Pellegrini's rise. I had to put my heart into it and I knew that the reward of the glass of water would come at the hydration station. Teatro Colon. and I relaxed to see if I could see my brother at any point in the race. Obelisk. Obviously it is the most touristy and picturesque part of the city. It's almost the center of the country, a very unitary porteño comment, but there is so much history summarized in less than 20 blocks. There were the mythical tango dancers at the Obelisk, giving their show that makes the race so Argentine, so particular. We went down streams to Alem to the Casa Rosada. In that stall they distributed bananas, I don't grab, because I've been eating gum. I changed the gum every 10 k. We pass by the Cathedral. And yes, a special moment came for me, Surprisingly, a guy I had worked with about 10 years ago recognized me at kilometer almost 21. He was already returning, I was just on my way to the resumption on Diagonal Norte. I had worked with him and I was surprised that he recognized me and on top of that in the middle of a career. I scream with the nickname that can only recognize me if they worked in the previous company where I was 10 years. It's incredible because we were talking about races that a friend who touched the gold medal of the Olympic Games had, he was a nephew or relative of Delfo Cabrera. History nonsense. We were in the project for almost 3 months and we always talked about running. Later talking to him he told me that he had not run a marathon since 2011, more than 10 years. It's like the law of life, you get older, you finish college, you want to move and the best choice is to run. When in doubt, as Dani Arcucci says, it is better to run. Meeting in the middle of the race was special, it gave me a lot of joy. After the race, I contacted him, greeted him. I found it incredible, that even though you upload running things to social networks and maybe they don't react to you but they see you. It's not that I'm an influencer, I'm far from wanting to be, but for some, maybe they see you, they see you, that you do it, and you say, look at it, I can too and they go and do it. I am not an example of anything, I assure you. Because some, many things I do wrong, or rather, I do them in my own way. Luckily there was no clock from the hours that had elapsed since the beginning. Thank goodness it wasn't, because it would have generated anxiety. The race reminded me a lot of the 2018 Marathon, where there was also a lot of humidity and I punctured at kilometer 25 an ordeal to arrive, that race was very uphill from that point, and I had already arrived badly, in that race at Kilometer 21K. The energies were no longer the same, I was almost at the beginning of the race, or at least it was one of the first goals I wanted to achieve. Marathons have that, mini objectives that in the end are achieved with the big objective.
The race pace since I took the gel on the k14 took effect according to the race application on the k19 20 21 22 and 23, I was able to maintain it. Then the debacle began. I was able to hold it for several kilometers. That's where I start to wonder, if I had planned the race a little better, with so much humidity a gel in the k6 or 7k would not have been bad at all, or at least take a gel every 10 k, it would also be good for a marathon. We'll think better about it for the next one. There were 9k left to get to the point where I wanted to be. The first 21 kilometers had already passed, which were not few and half was missing. How did you come from the sensations? I had been staying because of the increasingly intense heat but the sensations up to that point were good, without strong pain. The discomfort was more and more intense, it was difficult to accelerate, so I restricted the speed so as not to make it worse. Correct race so far. I say this coldly, I have to show that annoyance Half of the trip, three-sixths of the 3/6 race and I don't simplify the denominator, because basically I can't get kilometers From 22K to 28K We were in the center, passing by the cabildo and going down Avenida de Mayo. There you see many tourists who go with their suitcases and how taxis cannot pass through the street blocks of the race. I think of those people who go there with their suitcases thinking about not missing the plane. The city gave advance notice of the street closure. Some, not very patient and without understanding what a race is, send each other, cross. You can wait 10 or 15 minutes for us to pass or for gaps to be created to cross. You can have a little tolerance. But one day it will happen that a motorist runs over a racer in a nervous breakdown, it already happened in Brazil recently. I hope it's not me. We went down Independencia Street along Diagonal Sur, to the side of the Casa Rosada again, beautiful descent. The truth is, it is a height where you enjoy the route, what they were talking about. But as the second half of the race was starting, I put on my headphones. I only use them on long runs and on parts that I know are going to be tricky. I was planning to use them from k22 to 35K approximately. I did so in a random list. The songs are motivational, most of them Rocky. I had some technical complications. When touched, and the perspiration that at that point was a lot, he was all bathed in water, they activated the cell phone or went too far. That complication or technical discomfort did, despite everything for a while, distract me from the fatigue and the heat. I wished, strongly, that it would rain. At the height of the 25k I took the second gel, taking it little by little to expand it, so that I could taste it, to feel all the glucose. I had the feeling that there were many more people cheering along the whole route, more than other times. Encouraged and then accompanying those who passed by.
What if I mail 2 marathons per year? Will you give me the gas? I don't know, the demand is too much. Redouble efforts for that. Tandil did not change it for anything and see when it is Mar del Plata and to do that madness. We passed through Lezama Park and turned into Almirante Brown and from afar it was coming to the Boca Field, it was by the mythical Casa Amarilla. Lump in the throat, again, and I thought, it's very well painted, they fixed it very well. But that's all they did in 4 years because don't come and tell me that the one who is president is new. He has been managing everything that is soccer for 4 years. If I get hooked on this topic I won't finish anymore. It's a recurrence, all under violent emotion after what happened in yesterday's game. I thought it was going to be more exciting by passing through our field this beautiful one. Keep poison he told me when I passed by their field, which made me sad about 2 hours before. But gasoline was scarce and there was no desire to get excited. It was the k28. People over there watched us pass by and encouraged us. But the most difficult part came, the wall. Four sixths of the race, the pucha that was distance, the pucha that we ran, the kilometer were not only felt, but also heavy. It was simple, we had to go back to where we started. There were only 14 kilometers left from that moment and the wall was coming and made me. He was already tired. At the hydration stations, the walks to take a little longer were a little longer. We passed by the Usina del Arte. 12 pages written, this is going to be eternal, like the race. There were 2 sixths left in the race. We were closer than at the beginning. From 29K to 35K A little more than halfway through the race almost reaching the key point, where I wanted to go and where I wanted to be. I saw a phrase that was sent to the group a day before that said that Kilometer 30 is reached with training. From there, 12 kilometers are run with heart and 195 meters with the same rest left with soul. For now and with the discomfort on my back, my limit is that threshold of bearable pain and that it does not get worse. For now. we passed for that stretch to pass by the Usina del Arte and the Expreso Colonia company, a road that would deposit us in the K30. It is very nice to run around and see the cargo and passenger boats on the river. Port area and above all very changed since my first marathon back in 2016. I remember passing by but what I do remember is passing that entire block of the Bombonera and not a single block, barely touching the stadium. Then we continued, to the port area and I remember passing through small streets and then to Puerto Madero, a very narrow street with several potholes. After the flashback back in 2024, I looked and looked to see if I saw anyone I knew. The key kilometre arrived: the wall. I said to myself here if, at the hydration station, I stop and walk, drink calm water and start. The people around you at that point, are almost the same, less advanced, but they are people already familiar to you. You don't know them,
Looking for air, because the truth is that at that point the temperature no longer gave respite. You could feel it and every time you moved forward it was harder. I was thinking about reaching kilometer 35, I had to walk and run. But now loose, he didn't come, the strides didn't flow, everything was already being strained. Forced because it was already desire, eggs that took you and allowed you to advance. He continued with the music that accompanied him. At times I wanted to put on a radio program, but you would have been farting because no matter what I heard, I wasn't going to pay attention to it, because what my brain needed was to be distracted. That straight of Puerto Madero, endless, which would later have a resumption of about 500 meters. This part of Puerto Madera, where the carts are, where we ate complete bondiolitas with the work ones on Fridays for lunch. Next to the ecological reserve, where I once ran the SUTHER race on August 12. Changos, you just told me that the person in charge of almost a lifetime died. May he rest in peace. At that point I was telling myself, internally, in the k35 I walk and run, You could already see several people in walking dead mode, walking in Zombie mode. Unfortunately when you see that, your brain tricks you, it tells you "come on, don't give more, walk." You who come weak are infected, you have no options, you walk unfailingly. As if you fell into what you did not want to fall into but you have no choice, you are completely resigned. And when you walk, you see yourself reflected as Jesus first falls on the cross. There was not much option left to say that he would race until k32. that it was not little and that there were 10k to finish. But how eternal those last 10k became, you don't get an idea. Because it is one thing to do 10k rested and quite another to do 10k having already run 32k. Each meter is a meter gained. On the 32k poster the pagan ordeal of running intermittently began, but it is perhaps with an advantage. I trained those last kilometers in a special way the week before the race. Run 4 minutes fast and walk for one minute. As did the teacher. The return was planned, but there was an eternity to go. He passed through the hydration station at kilometer 33 and almost at the 35k was the next post. We returned almost along the promenade of the low Buquebus, a madness of cars, there in Puerto Madero you can already feel the aroma of asadito from the restaurants in the area. How hungry I was for that point!. On those sides is where people encouraged and many people accompanying them on bicycles, very dangerous for runners, motorists and especially for cyclists.
The will was defeated. We had to continue. We were at the dance, he was dancing. Looking for motivation at every step. It was more and more difficult for the head, he said, to walk and rest at all times. Arrive at kilometer 35 and take the last gelsito. I don't know how much energy they could give me, but I took it as moral support. It's not like you're taking Nitro that's going to make you fly. The five-sixths of the 5/6 marathon were finished, only 7k ahead and they were going to be complicated because people walked and ran intermittently. They passed me. The papers of anything you had planned are burning. I wished it would rain so that the temperature would drop, which never happened. We were only 1/6 of the way from the race, nothing. From 36K to 42,195K They were about 3k under the highway, in the old circuit that part was through the Illia, above and you didn't have hydration because there can be no highway posts, they found the turn and below. Before it was like 5K without water or anything, crazy, Now a position is possible. My memories are intermittent like my running because I was concentrating on looking at the clock to run for 3 minutes and one minute of walking. I knew that I was not going to make it, that what I had planned was not going to be possible. Finishing it in less than 5 hours was not going to be possible. But I did have to get there anyway, I was already extremely tired, I wanted to finish that. But we were still far away. The roofed part of the race. It was about 11:45 on my watch to keep track of the minutes. To achieve less than 5 hours he had to run the remaining 4 kilometers and finish it in half an hour, which was already impossible. We left at 7 am, it was almost 12pm discounting the 15 or 20 minutes of the start. I would arrive safely at 12:30 or 13 hs. Mentally the time did not add up, but I had to continue, I did not decline more than I already was. Does it matter not to make the weather I was looking for? Not really, they are marathons and there are things like humidity or pain in the hip that you can't plan. They are races, marathons can be treacherous if you mentally ignore what was really important at that point. And the important thing was to arrive, to finish. Perhaps we went to finish that 42 kilometers. I thought that part was not going to be there this year, that it was going to be through the port, but no, it was the same as last year. That it was going to be above the highway and not below. Otherwise, it was 5 k with nothing, with the heat it was. We went back to the port side after going under the motorway to go up to the Illia where right in the middle would be the k39. There were 3 kilometers to go, a little entrance, an endless warm up. The road that takes me home was missing. I wanted to get there. The goal was getting closer and closer. It is at that moment that you start to think why you should do it because you are running. And you know it very clearly, that you ran 10 years alone and we couldn't lower the hour in the 10k and in 1 month you did it. My goal is always long-term and it comes
It is at that moment that you start to think why you should do it because you are running. And you know it very clearly, that you ran 10 years alone and we couldn't lower the hour in the 10k and in 1 month you did it. My goal is always long-term and to reach the maximum before the age of 50. I'm looking for it, it didn't happen until now. But I know that I am going to achieve it, to give my maximum, in fullness. I know that after 50 performance due to a physical issue will fall. And I am not going to be left with the doubt that I did not give it my all. That's why I did it, that's why I was there. Kilometer 40 in Aeroparque, last place to reach the finish line. I drink a little water, almost all of it. I could already visualize myself arriving, I must say that a few minimal drops fell, minimal. We go down the viaduct, with a climb of less than 40 meters, but in that kilometer it is almost devastating. You have to do it walking, unless you see a photographer, then you have to run at least for the camera. Then you almost reach the planetarium and turning you were the k41 and the straight that would make me finish my fifth marathon. Great was my surprise that the teacher was waiting for us. He gave me a few words of encouragement. He always stays until the last of the group arrives, a crack, a great ship captain. I received support from the beginning, thank goodness I fell into this group. Could it be that I chose the group or did the group choose me? In the group I still feel new, which I am getting to know little by little. I like to run. But one reflection I made was that I always saw the results little by little in the works I had. It was always difficult for me. I saw the results over time. I've been in the group for less than a year. I estimate that only after the year of training with the group will we see the real results. But that is while maintaining constant training. I liked watching him, as his pupils are finishing a marathon. He didn't leave until the last one in the group arrived, that is, me. I didn't mind being the last, because marathons are marathons, they don't forgive and they hit you. They cost more and more and we celebrate. You arrive very much in spite of the pain that was felt. At that height it was deafening, you run through the breath of the people who don't let you walk. I had to run, with my soul. You can't walk and your breath twists your will to want to walk. That breath is useful and of great importance, especially for those last meters. The last kilometer I did at a trot, I didn't stop. I accelerated and even jumped up and down in celebration of happiness.
That happiness that is ephemeral, that cost an egg and half of the other to finish that career. Because I know that after that finish line I return to my life, I recover my life as a son, brother, uncle, employee, partner, friend. One sometimes relegates things by process. That bubble that was that 4-month marathon process is left behind. It is a learning process course. And he is crowned with the medal. It's this kind of career where it's so long and so hard that it doesn't matter how long you do it, but that you finish it without reproaching yourself for anything because you gave it your all. If you know that you gave everything, even a little more than you could and your conscience is clear, there is no reproach that is worthwhile. You can analyze coldly, have done better and improve for the next time, but that's another story. Cross the finish line. Happy to be done. Happy to have taken it all, happy to have given it all, happy to be empty of running, Happy of those, just over 5 hours running, happy to have enjoyed it.. happy to have given it my all. Happy to complete my 5th marathon. I see my brother who was waiting for me, he gave me a nice surprise and I approached the gazebo where it had all started. I went to say hello to the boys. Sharing the experience Embracing the teacher and others. I just wanted to lie down on the grass to regain energy. It is having concluded that challenge that you set for yourself, something you can achieve. It gives you the security that if you set your mind to it, it will cost, but you will achieve it. Because I was sure that I would make it since I signed up but I wouldn't know how it was going to be, I had the end, The route was unknown. Like everything in life, everything is a question that over time the path becomes clearer. Some final reflections of the degree I have to solve that little hip problem urgently. To be able to run better, maybe that's why we do this, to run better. I feel that it makes me slow down a little, it will be the footfall or something, but there should be a solution.
Last year I almost cried, this year not so much emotion, because I ran it, mentally, so many times that I didn't get to the emotion. This marathon was more of a physical fight than an emotional one. It's one of the most beautiful medals I have, it shines as if it were gold. There is no perfect marathon, you can plan everything, but everything but if it is not the day, it is not the day. You can be prepared, but if the day is not good, if you always trained in cold conditions of zero degrees and you have a humid day, it will break you in half. Because wear and tear with cold and heat is different. That's what marathons have, they empty you to fill you, now I'm empty without energy because I left everything there. That same emptiness makes you set new goals. I should have taken 4 gels instead of 3, especially because of the humidity it did. You will never have favorable conditions in a marathon. It's always going to be adversaries, hostile and discomfort, and it gets harder as the race progresses. I was almost the first to arrive at the race and almost the last to leave. Running 42 kilometers purifies your legs, your soul. It changes you, you're not the same. As I always say, getting over the finish line is not the end, that is, it is the end of the preparation for the 3-month marathon process. But at the same time, the beginning that if you set your mind to something and put all your positive energies, with the attitude to achieve them, the result will always be positive applies in running and especially in life. You should never externalize happiness, you can show attitudes of happiness. You always have to be cautious even when you are happy. The procession goes inside. According to Strava, the application that measures partials, in the 30K I did a time of 3 hours 18 minutes, which at that point was an excellent time. that is, from then on, more specifically at kilometer 32 was the debacle. That from then on the wall destroyed me, it made me a hanger, due to humidity, hydration.... From kilometer 30 to the finish there was 12k to go, if I had kept the pace, I would have finished in 4 and a half hours. That is, excellent 30k and very bad final 12K, the humidity and heat hit hard. So much so that there were many people who were treated for heat stroke.
This and many more things are what I think about while running. I could headline like: "What do I think about while I run" but that title is very trite, perhaps this title has less marketing: "What I write about while I run" and in summary it would be all I put in this story, Because although one runs as a hobby, thinks things some good others not so much and tries to capture them. After all, careers are also excuses, poetic licenses to be able to write. I think mission accomplished. Because the races are run on Sunday, but they don't end until I write them. It's like running it 2 times, remembering the things that got me there. It is more enjoyable, it is savored more. To describe and write down the experience. And this was the beginning. I see, I observe the dynamics of the groups a lot, I see how they behave. I approach those who talk the most or those who speak to me and I stay talking to them. For now I am not the protagonist or yes, but I move away from the side. I'm going to get to know them little bit and they're going to get to know me little. Like I said: I aim long and not short. Because when you have long-term goals, the changes are lasting and the goals will come in the long run. Sometimes I would like to run an endless race in which it is difficult and finish it when I get tired. It also happens to me when I write, the story of a career no longer ends. Because you don't want to end the moment when you had such a good time. As with good books, I don't want to finish them, because I had a great time reading it. To turn the page and continue.
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Si sabes lo que vales, ve y consigue lo que mereces, pero tendrás que aguantar los golpes. Es tu derecho escuchar a tu destino, nadie tien...
