I see the sign for kilometer 39. Practically all that remains is to go up Paral·lel and face the final stretch. I have been suffering since 32 with various signs of cramp. It is my fourth marathon and in all the left calf is manifested. But I had never stopped. Until that moment. The pain is unbearable. I lean on a lamppost for 45 seconds, stretch and continue. Works. Miriam López is attentive to everything I do. Who is Miriam? My training partner at Fondiesteam. Every Tuesday and many Saturdays first thing in the morning, she is the one who squeezes me, she demands me and makes me improve because she is better than me. She offered to hare me between kilometer 26 and the end and without her I would not have been able to overcome the wall of the marathon. Surrender is prohibited. “Come on JB, you have to finish otherwise Mr. Adolf will tell me that I haven’t done a good job of hare”. I get going again and, while I am already very touched, I manage to finish with dignity and very happy.
Like last year I want to improve. Now the goal is to get below three and a half hours. As always I start at too good a pace. Ramón is the voice of my conscience and he keeps telling me to loosen up, that I have to regulate, that I can then explode. At his side, Yolanda and Alfred are very cool while Francesc, a titan, resists as he can. Yolanda and Alfred will hold that speed until the end. I will not do it. At 24 I got off the hook and went from going at 4m35s per kilometer to marching at 4m45s. But I only go alone for a few minutes because Miriam arrives. Running as a team is a joy. The water, the gels, the isotonic drink reach me. I tell him the rhythms I need and he complies like clockwork. In 2022 I managed to go relatively well until 30. This time until 32. The temperature is pressing. The day is wonderful… especially for the public. When you cross the Arc del Triomf and turn left the corridor becomes very narrow. Hundreds of people crowd to cheer on the stream of runners. You feel inside a mountain stage of the Tour de France. The high is inevitable but I only pay attention to what my hare and the twin tell me. I have room to lower my record but it is no longer the most important thing. The essential thing is to finish.
When you reach Plaza Espanya there are about 200 meters left. You already have it on hand. And then it doesn’t matter. You accelerate and cross the finish line. At 35 you tell yourself that you are not going to return to a marathon. On arrival you are already waiting for the next one. And yes, I made a personal mark. 3h27m. But the best is the experience.
