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MARATHON 118: MARTÍN FIZ VITORIA-GASTEIZ MARATHON (14/05/2023)

oneKmore 30/05/2023 No Comments

Being near Vitoria and having run its marathon in 2004, for one reason or another, it’s a race I hadn’t returned to. Usually, it coincided with the Eco-Lisbon Marathon. However, this year I took the opportunity to revisit a race of which I barely had any memories.

Arriving on Saturday around lunchtime, we have some time to kill before heading to El Boulevard Shopping Center to pick up the race bib. For some reason, bib collection isn’t done continuously, and I’m not sure why because there was no race expo or anything similar, just a small booth on the second floor of the mall.

With the race bag and bib in hand, and with rain in the forecast, it’s time to take the opportunity to visit the historic city center before retiring early to rest.

On race day, with rainiy overcast and a few drops already falling, I head to the Mendizorroza area, where the start and finish lines are located. Alongside the marathon, there will also be a half marathon and a 10k race taking place simultaneously. I leave my backpack at the last moment to avoid getting cold. It’s about 10°C.

Without any corrals or separation between the different races, around 2,500 runners set off at 9:00. These first moments are not easy, not only due to the crowds but also because the route at this point doesn’t follow wide streets.

Shortly after starting, I have to make a brief stop to tie a shoelace. A rookie mistake not to have checked that it was properly tied. It’s not much of an inconvenience, though, and I quickly get back to my pace.

Not far from the times of my previous marathons, I manage to reach the half marathon mark in 1.53.04. It’s time to go for the second lap, which largely follows the same route of the first.

Amid intermittent downpours that make difficult to run as comfortably as one could, especially for those of us who perform better in milder temperatures, I slowly see the kilometers go by. With fewer runners on the course, I try to overtake as many as possible.

Finally, I reach the finish line at a good pace, with a net time of 3.47.58.

The worst part is not the exhaustion from the race or finishing soaked, but rather finding out after collecting the clothes that most of them are wet, because the backpacks weren’t adequately protected outside.

Things shouldn’t be done like this, Martín Fiz. In a marathon that has reached its twentieth edition, these details could have been taken into account, especially when there is no shortage of sports facilities or more iconic locations for bib collection.

We’ll consider whether it’s worth repeating next year.

MARATHON 117: MADRID POPULAR MARATHON (04/23/2023)

oneKmore 20/05/2023 No Comments

Madrid has always been one of the most classic marathons at the national level. It’s the place where I made my debut in 2000 and crossed the threshold of 100 marathons in 2021. This was going to be my seventh participation. This year, I chose it after reading that the route had been slightly modified to pass through the most emblematic places in Madrid, such as Puerta del Sol.

You can tell it’s a marathon with extensive experience, and its expo, held in one of the pavilions of IFEMA, doesn’t disappoint, offering a wide variety of stalls, both for sales and other races. I visit it late in the morning, with a large crowd, although it doesn’t take us much time to collect the bib and race bag and go sightseeing in the city.

Race day dawns with good weather forecast. Alongside the marathon, there’s also a 10K race, starting at 8.30. I walk from my accommodation near Atocha to the start area. The marathon starts in waves, every 5 minutes, with mine scheduled for 9:20. I arrive just in time after dropping off my baggage at the gear area, and feeling a bit confused, I can no longer enter the 9.20 box. I move to the next one, at 9.25, where I move near the front. The return train is shortly after 15 and I already feel that I don’t have much room for unexpected events if I want to make it on time.

The start on Paseo de la Castellana reminds me of the 2021 edition, which was one of the first large-scale races after Covid, where despite the numerous runners, there was an almost sepulchral silence during those first kilometers, straight and slightly uphill. It has always been an area with few spectators, a place to become aware of oneself and what lies ahead.

From there, and away from the pace groups, I try to follow the strategy from previous races, adjusting my splits to 16 minutes every 3 kilometers, aiming for a final time around 3 hours and 45 minutes. In the early kilometers, I try not to get carried away, even though my legs are asking for more, but I already know that it usually takes a toll on me in the second half of the race.

Fortunately, it seems that the Clarete Marathon from the previous week hasn’t had much impact on my legs, and I can maintain a steady pace without much trouble. Just as methodical as with the paces, I manage to be with gels. Maybe it’s excessive for some, but I find that 5 is a good number, both for logistical reasons (carrying more would be challenging in the waist belt) and in terms of kilometers, as I take one every 6 kilometers starting from kilometer 12 (then 18, 24, 30, and 36).

I reach the halfway point with a time of 1.53.01. Not far from the goal. The heat is starting to be noticeable, and I try to drink isotonic beverages at every aid station where they are available. As we have mentioned in some of our blog posts, in hot conditions, one must be careful with hydration, obviously, but also avoid dangerous hyponatremia in case of excessive water intake. Therefore, in hot weather, and when drinking in large quantities, it is more advisable to turn to isotonic drinks to maintain the concentration of electrolytes in the blood.

Anyone who has run Madrid knows that reaching Casa de Campo means entering the last quarter of the race, but also encountering the “wall” and some of the toughest inclines of this marathon. Fortunately, it also offers shaded areas, welcomed at this hour, as the heat is already punishing us relentlessly.

After overcoming this part, it’s time to head back towards the center of Madrid, where the crowd pushes us when our legs can’t. Memories come to mind of past editions, from the sounds of the “caceroladas” from the balconies to the music zones, like the one with “Chariots of Fire” on Avenida de Valladolid. Glimpses of what it was like to run in bygone eras…

Pushing in the final kilometers, I manage to cross the finish line in 3.51.51, which, although far from my PB on this course, is still 3 minutes better than my 2021 time. Satisfied with the result, I don’t have time to waste in collecting my bag, changing clothes hurriedly on a bench, and head towards Chamartín.

Thus, we consider our participation in Mapoma concluded, certain that we will be back for future occasions. Thank you for making it this far.

MARATHON 116: MARATÓN DEL CLARETE (16/04/2023)

oneKmore 07/05/2023 No Comments

Looking for routes for clandestine marathons during the pandemic, I saw in Santovenia de Pisuerga the beginning of a new long-distance path, the GR-296, which stuck in my head to try to do it in its entirety, or at least in part, in another moment. With its 93 kilometres in length, it covers, mostly on paths, some of the closest villages to Valladolid, various places where I have trained regularly. When I read the first news that a marathon was being planned taking advantage of part of this route, I was hopeful for a new opportunity to have a marathon in Valladolid.

As the months went by, things became more specific until they took shape in this 1st Clarete Marathon, which, starting in Santovenia de Pisuerga, runs through Cigales, Mucientes, Fuensaldaña, the Fuente el Sol Park and Canal de Castilla to end in Santovenia.

Along with the marathon modality, a relay marathon is also offered. Being a first edition, and being “in tests”, not being competitive in the strict sense of the word, it is neutralized at each control/drinks station. Thus, we regroup in each village where we arrive to wait for the last runner, and again together start the next section.

At the start we gathered about 30 participants for the “solo” edition and approximately a dozen of the first relay in the team modality. Among the attendees some familiar faces, true marathon collectors who could not miss a first edition.

A little late, we leave for the first stop, which will be in Cigales, at the foot of its impressive church, and from there towards Mucientes. From this point the course is very recognizable to me.

All in all, an opportunity to enjoy the fields of Castilla, with their brown colours and vineyards. Next stop Fuensaldaña, at the foot of its castle. It is from there where we approach Valladolid, entering through the Fuente el Sol Park, which has seen better days. Regrouped next to the Canal de Castilla, all that remains is to take its channel for a couple of kilometres, turn right and take the road that leads back to Santovenia. Perhaps the least attractive segment, following the lateral of the Cementerio del Carmen.

Despite the numerous stops, in the end this marathon also ends up being hard, due to the constant changes in pace and the roughness of the route in some sections. After all, they are still 42 kilometres to run.

Even so, I manage to finish in 3.57.50. Happy to finish a marathon in Pucela lands, and with the hope that the race manages to settle on the calendar, it was time to rest for the Mapoma the following week.

See you.

MARATHON 115: BARCELONA MARATHON (19/03/2023)

oneKmore 17/04/2023 No Comments

When I ran the marathon in Barcelona in 2018 I told myself that it would surely take a long time to return. The political situation with the independence movement was palpable in the air, and the atmosphere was not good in the city.

When I was planning the 2023 marathon season, I found a direct flight from my city for only 5 euros, which made me decide to give the city a chance again. Fortunately, the situation was much calmer, and the experience has been as positive as I would have expected.

With more than 10,000 runners in the streets and excellent weather, I turned to face its 42 kilometres, with staggered starts from 8:30.

This time, unlike Murcia the month before, I decided to keep the pace away from the 3h45m group. Mentally it is not difficult to plan 16-minute partials every 3 kilometres.

This being the case, I practically nailed the splits until kilometre 28, which I crossed with a small margin to my goal. At this point the temperature was considerably higher than at the start, requiring more hydration at the aid stations, preferably isotonic, to avoid dehydration and the much more dangerous hyponatremia.

Although slightly slowing down in the port area with less public and coinciding with the “wall”, I still manage to overcome runners as we enter the centre of Barcelona again. There the public turns to cheer on the needy runners.

I face the finish line, knowing that this marathon is already mine. I finish with a net time of 3.45.43. Marathon 73 sub 4h, 57 in Spain and 115 of the total.

After Easter we are expected to have the Clarete Marathon, a new marathon in the province of Valladolid, and again, for the seventh time, the Madrid Marathon.

Greetings, and until the next starting line.

MARATHONS 111 TO 114: LOGROÑO, LLEIDA, SAN SEBASTIÁN AND MURCIA

oneKmore 17/03/2023 No Comments

Writing this entry has taken time, a lot… but some things take precedence over others, and sometimes one is unable to dedicate time to everything.

After the Vienna marathon in April, I had planned that the next one would be the Poitiers-Futuroscope in May, which I finally couldn’t run. And there began a long summer period of marathon drought that I did not break until the Logroño marathon, just started October. Thus, I repeated the marathon that I had already visited the previous year with the incentive that the registration fee was reimbursed by the organization. I finished in 3.52.57 in 150th position out of 243 runners.

At the end of October, I run the newly organised Lleida Marathon, taking advantage of the All-Saints’ long weekend. A course with a round trip, not very attractive, although a race with potential for improvement and growth in the coming years. I finished in 3.55.29 and position 164 out of 263.

And I closed the marathon year once again in the San Sebastián Marathon, in what was my fifth participation and my worst time to date, narrowly ending another sub 4h marathon, in 3.58.38 and ranked 1,497 out of 1,982 participants, continuing an increasing path in terms of times.

To end the year, I also participated in the San Silvestre El Corte Inglés in Lisbon, on a 10k route.

In marathon terms, the year was summed up in 10 marathons, 8 of them under 4 hours, and a season best of 3.42.41.

Starting in 2023, the only marathon I had signed up for was Murcia, on February 5th, which was the last pre-pandemic marathon I ran in 2020. After missing a solidarity marathon in Burgos, between a cold and the snow, the Murcia Marathon offered 3 years later an ideal weather to run a marathon in winter.

With more modest pretensions than on previous occasions, I got hooked almost from the start to the 3h45m group, after having deliberately lost 1 minute in crossing the starting arc. Certainly, I feel energized to attempt the breakaway, although I decide to reserve my strength and continue with the pack.

After the half marathon in 1.51.14, Lola easily surpasses me. With a cadence that seems to require no effort, I am unable to keep up with her. Shortly afterwards Carlos also goes ahead. After the 30k I start falling off the group, although keeping them in sight.

Catching a glimpse of Carlos, I manage to reconnect, running with him for the last few kilometres. Maintaining a good pace, I cross the finish line in 3.45.58 (net time), 303 out of 507 finishers.

First marathon of 2023 and 114th of the total.

Still undecided about which will be my next stop, we continue…

COMPRESSION GARMENTS: OF ANY USE?

oneKmore 23/11/2022 No Comments

Many athletes usually train and compete on consecutive days, recurring to different post-exercise strategies to fasten recovery, such as cryotherapy, low-intensity sessions or tissue compression, among others.

The soreness after intense exercise, is a sign for the body to learn how to endure an overload. The aim of most training plans is ultimately to get better, or faster, in the case of runners.

Compression garments (CG) are form-fitted elastic garments that mechanically compress a body area for stability or support of the underlying tissue. They are usually socks, shorts, or short- and long-sleeve tops, used during and, more often, after exercise.

Supposedly compression garments work differently depending on when are used.

During exercise:

Increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues, so exercise is less tiring and more efficient.
Increasing proprioception, and therefore improving posture and movement.

After exercise:

Acting like a massage on muscles to minimize delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Raising the temperature of skin and tissues to increase blood flow and induce healing.

The study

A recent meta-analysis has tried to elucidate if wearing CGs during or after physical exercise facilitate the recovery of muscular strength outcomes. Thus, 19 studies complied with the inclusion criteria and were used in the meta-analysis.

Main findings

Contrary to expectations, wearing a CG during or after exercise training did not seem to facilitate muscle strength recovery, independently of the type of exercise or the body area and timing of CG application.
Athletes, coaches, and therapists should reconsider the use of CG and look for alternative methods to reduce the adverse effects of physical exercise on muscle strength.

Although somehow surprising we would like to know your thoughts and experience in using compression garments.

Bibliography

Can Compression Garments Reduce the Deleterious Effects of Physical Exercise on Muscle Strength? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Négyesi, J., Hortobágyi, T., Hill, J. et al. Sports Med (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01681-4

TRAIL RUNNING INJURY RISK FACTORS

oneKmore 28/07/2022 No Comments

Trail running is an outdoor sport, with an estimated 20 million runners every year, where runners confront off-road terrains, important elevation changes and distances ranging from a few kilometres to ultramarathons.

The health benefits of running are well documented, although trail running presents a high risk of injury. And even though most of trail running injuries are minor, in rare cases, they can be severe.

Identifying trail runners at risk before training and competition, may prevent injuries and ensure access to the health benefits associated with running.

A recent systematic review as tried to identify and summarise the evidence on factors associated with injury in trail running. It included 19 studies, with a total of 9 763 participants (80.6% males, 15.8% females, unidentified 3.6%) with a mean age ranging between 33 and 46 years.

Main findings

► The foot/toe, followed by the ankle, and hip/groin are the most injured body areas.

► Blisters, followed by joint sprains, and tendinopathies are the most common pathologies.

► There are a total of 17 statistically significant injury risk factors, among them:

Higher injury risk: neglecting a warm-up before running, not using a specialised running plan, regular training on asphalt, double training sessions per day, higher running experience and physical labour occupations.
Higher risk of sunburn: more than 3 hours of training per day, younger age, low skin phototypes (I and II, or clear skin) and single relationship status.
Higher risk of muscle cramping: prior history of cramping, higher levels of postrace blood urea nitrogen and creatine kinase and a slower race finishing time.

► Experienced trail runners seem to suffer less from blister injuries.

► There is a lack of literature on risk factors among female runners.

Use this information to prevent injuries and run healthier and safer

Bibliography

Trail running injury risk factors: a living systematic review. Viljoen C, Janse van Rensburg DC, van Mechelen W, et al. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2022;56:577-587.

THE MARATHON OF THE WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS OREGON 22

oneKmore 15/07/2022 No Comments

WHEN

Men’s marathon Sunday July 17

Women’s marathon Monday July 18

6.15 Pacific Daylight Time / 8.15 Mexico / 10.15 Argentina /

15.15 Central European Time (Spain, France, Italy, Germany)

THE COURSE

The marathon will follow a mostly flat 14-kilometer looped course through Eugene and Springfield, starting and finishing in front of the University of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.

It will follow long sections of the marathon course of the 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials, trying to showcase the beauty and history of Oregon through the landmarks and landscapes.

THE QUALIFICATION

By achieving the Entry Standard in the 18 months from 30 November 2020 to 29 May 2022.

*Qualifying Time, QT

For men: 2.11.30

For women: 2.29.30

By the Finishing Position: the top 10 finishers at the Platinum Label Marathons during the qualification period.

By Wild Card for defending World Champions of Doha 2019.

Note: the maximum quota per country is 3 athletes (or 4 in case of a Wild Card).

THE MEN

70 runners from 34 countries.

Full teams (3 or more present runners): Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, Morocco, Uganda and US.

Most powerful team: Ethiopia, with most of the best QTs and Mosinet Geremew, silver medallist from the World Championships of Doha 2019, with a PB of 2.02.55.

Absent Eliud Kipchoge, from Kenya, more focused on completing his winning streak of World Marathon Majors, it is also worth to mention the Japanese and Moroccan teams (three runners each with QTs sub 2.08), the young Brazilian Daniel Do Nascimento (third best QT and South American record holder with 2.04.51) or the US team, with the experienced Galen Rupp (QT 2.06.35). A note also for the Mongolian team, a nation with no much history in the marathon distance, which will presumably have 3 runners in the start line.

THE WOMEN

48 runners from 26 countries.

Full teams (3 or more present runners): Canada, Ethiopia, UK, Japan, Kenya, Peru and US.

Most powerful team: Kenya, which includes the defending World Champion from Doha 2019 Ruth Chepngetich, and the Olympic gold medallist of Tokyo 2021 Peres Jepchirchir, both of them with PBs below 2.18.

Other top contenders for the victory could be Ashete Bekere (QT 2.17.58) and Gotytom Gebreslase (QT 2.18.18) for Ethiopia or Keira D´Amato (QT 2.19.12) for the US.

#Oregon22 #WorldAthleticsChampionships

MUSIC, RUNNING STRIDE FREQUENCY AND INJURY RISK

oneKmore 05/07/2022 No Comments

Participants in popular races has continuously increased in the last decade. Most of these runners are amateur, with a reported 46.3% suffering from injuries during one year of follow-up.

Although running injuries can be caused by multiple factors, a correct support is essential to absorb the impact with the ground. The most repeated injuries in runners are knee (20.9%), calf (16.3%), Achilles’ tendon (12.2%), feet (9.2%), and hip (8.8%).

Stride frequency is defined as the total number of running steps per minute. The frequency with the minimal metabolic cost is known as optimal stride frequency (OSF), that usually coincides with the frequency that runners choose, or preferred stride frequency (PSF).

Nevertheless, when runners are tired, the stride frequency changes, causing an increase in the metabolic cost of running.

At the same speed an increase in stride frequency (SF) can reduce the risk of injury: the metatarsal is supported while the knee, ankle, and hip joints absorb less mechanical energy due to the lower impact of limbs against the ground.

It has been shown that music is a useful tool to modify stride frequency. Musical rhythm produces a synchronous effect in physical activities with cyclical movements (running, cycling, rowing, and others) due to the synchronization of bodily movement to the beats. Additionally, it offers additional benefits such as decreased perception of fatigue, improved emotional regulation and improved aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance, among others.

A recent study tested if popular runners training with music feedback at a controlled pace (+10% PSF) improved SF even in the absence of sound stimuli.

The study

Included 12 active runners (8 males, 4 females) with an average age of 36.7 years, who run more than 15 km per week and not having suffered any injury or illness in the previous 6 months.

The initial test was a dynamic warm-up (5–10 min) and subsequently, a music rhythm test to assess the participants’ ability to keep the rhythm of the music while running.

Afterwards a test to measure the PSF (using video capture analysis) was performed, running for 20 min at moderate intensity on a course of 450 m straight, 0% gradient asphalt road.

The experimental group received an individualized music track with a beat, in bpm, that matched an OSF speed a 10% higher than their PSF and instructed to use it while following their usual training plans.

The running tests to measure PSF were repeated after 15 days and 30 days.

Results

There was an improvement in stride frequency in the group which used music feedback during their running training sessions.
Due to the increase in SF the risk of injury could be reduced.
Music also works as a stimulus to learn the running technique.

Conclusions

Despite the reduced size of the sample of this study, it seems that music playlists with a preset speed (in bpm) may help to increase stride frequency and reduce the risk of injury (by improving the running technique), while being also motivational for recreational runners.

Bibliography

Sellés-Pérez, S.; Eza-Casajús, L.; Fernández-Sáez, J.; Martínez-Moreno, M.; Cejuela, R. Using Musical Feedback Increases Stride Frequency in Recreational Runners. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 3870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073870

MARATHON OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (XXXV) – London 2012: STEPHEN KIPROTICH (1989-)

oneKmore 13/06/2022 No Comments

The conditions were hot and humid but they were the same for everyone. Determination is what matters.

Stephen Kiprotich

The marathon of London 2012 was run on the last day of the Olympics over a course of one small lap of a short circuit and 3 loops of a longer 13k circuit.

Among the favourites was the powerful Kenyan team, and especially Wilson Kipsang, who had won the London Marathon in April and had a PB of 2.03.42, second fastest marathon ever, obtained in Lake Biwa in 2011. His other teammates were Abel Kirui, who had won the 2009 and 2011 World Championships, and Emmanuel Mutai, winner of the 2011 London Marathon. Besides them was also returning the 2004 silver medallist Meb Keflezighi of the United States.

Stephen Kiprotich was the youngest children in a family of farmers from the Kapchorwa District, in Uganda. At 17 he quit school and moved to train to Eldoret, in Kenya, training ground of Eliud Kipchoge too. His previous experiences in the marathon were few. He debuted with 2.07.20 at the Enschede Marathon (Netherlands) in 2011, setting a new Ugandan record in the distance. In 2012 he had finished third in the Tokyo Marathon with 2.07.50.

Back in London, weather conditions offered for the day the highest temperatures of the 2012 Olympic Games: 23°C at the start and sunny skies. Because of this, runners decided to take easily those first few stages. Brazilian runner Franck Caldeira tried his luck and crossed the 10k in 30.38 after opening a small gap of 8s from a large pack with more than 30 runners.

On getting to the kilometre 12 Wilson Kipsang moved to the front, increasing the pace and breaking up the group into a small one, most of them East Africans. Thus, he crossed the 20k in 59.57 with an advantage of 14s on his closest chasers.

Nevertheless Kipsang was unable of breaking completely the race. His gap decreased until Abel Kirui and Stephen Kiprotich made contact. The trio crossed the 30k in 1.30.15.

Kiprotich seemed to fall slightly behind, but soon recovered and getting to the 37k he made a move, sprinting to the front. Looking relaxed and in control he started to increase his lead, unanswered by the Kenyan runners. At 40k (2.01.12) he had opened a 20s gap with Kirui, while Kipsang was a further 32s behind.

That advantage would be enough for Kipotrich, who carrying a Ugandan flag crossed the finish line in 2.08.01, claiming the first medal for his country in Olympic Games since 1996. Second entered Kirui in 2.08.27 and third Kipsang in 2.09.37.

Also worth to mention the US runner Keflezighi, who being 17^th at the 20k run a strong second half to finish 4^th in 2.11.06. The Brazilian team was capable of having his 3 runners in the top-15. On the contrary it was a failure for Ethiopia: none managed to reach the finish line.

As for Kipotrich he claimed the victory in the World Championships of Moscow 2013. The next year he won the New York Marathon with 2.10.59. In 2015 he finished second the Tokyo Marathon, improving his PB to 2.06.33. At Olympic level he was unable to repeat his success in Rio de Janeiro 2016 or Tokyo 2021, which was his last marathon to date.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_marathon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Kiprotich

https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/news/london-2012-event-report-mens-marathon