Once again with Javi “Siete” involved —and few can beat him when it comes to persistence—this marathon was planned for a third edition. Always looking for runners in his city, Burgos, without success, this time we stand at the starting line: Pepe Caballer and Txema, who along with me are repeating the race for the third time, and the debutants to this event coming from Toledo, Elisabeth and Ballitono.
With a rock festival going on nearby, and the possibility of crowds on the Paseo de los Atletas, a small variation is made to the route, avoiding said path. For the marathon distance, 1 short and 13 long laps are required. With a 7:30 PM start, we bring headlamps, knowing that the park lighting was turned off at midnight in previous years. In the heat, as every year, given the date, we set off. It is a pleasant course, with wide wooded areas, similar in style to Almagro or La Victoria.
After last week’s backyard ultra, which left my quadriceps sore for days, I face the race with the idea of not staying too far off from my times of previous years. Being so few of us, we immediately space out, although at each pass through the finish line, Javi is always attentive to our needs (in addition to handling lap-counting duties).
During these first few laps, there are quite a few families and groups walking around, but as the sun goes down and night set in, there are fewer people. I keep adding laps bit by bit, taking advantage of the fact that the temperatures give us a breather, although I can see that my lap times are not very promising for getting close to last year’s 4h09m.
Midnight arrives as I head into the final lap, and this year the lights do not turn off. Perhaps due to the music festival being held nearby. It almost seems like we will have to look for this date for future editions, instead of trying to avoid it.
Finally, I cross the finish line of another 42 kilometers in 4:42:35. My worst time in this event, which proves that my legs, after the intensity of these last few weeks, are in need of a break.
However, it is not time yet, because in the end, I have registered for another marathon for next Saturday: the UTRSC Santa Cruz in Portugal, which I have already run on three other occasions.
Marathon 165 completed, and going on to number 166.