We had signed up for the Bilbao Night Marathon to support Gorriti in his 100th marathon, but at the end of summer he got the chance to celebrate his 100th in Velliza, a small village near Valladolid, thanks to his friendship with the mayor. From this idea, the ‘Maragorri’ event was born, allowing him to celebrate this milestone in a more intimate setting, giving friends and family the chance to participate in some way, whether as volunteers or runners.
So, there we were, gathered in front of the town hall shortly before dawn, ready to take on the 42 kilometres, with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. The course would consist of a small loop through the village, followed by a (very steep) climb up to the plateau, where we would do four laps on a roughly 5-kilometer diamond-shaped circuit. All of this would be repeated twice.
With good weather and right on time, about 20 runners set off from the church entrance. Being a small group, I have the option to stay in group, though it’s always challenging for me to match other paces. Trying to find my own one, I end up alone already on the first lap.
The route follows dirt and gravel paths that have absorbed well the recent rains. There are no trees or shade, though the temperature is mild with no expectation of becoming too hot. The landscape is typical of Montes Torozos, with fields on either side of the path, barren at this time of year, occasionally dotted with enormous wind turbines that give a sense of the distances on the long, straight stretches. Still, it doesn’t become boring, with refreshments and encouragement at each lap. The kilometres go by, never giving a sense of isolation, as runners could spot each other in the distance with each lap.
After spending nearly the entire race solo, I cross the finish line in fourth place, with a net time of 4:24:35. But the focus isn’t on the timing but on what we celebrate. After Gorriti arrives, he is presented with a few commemorative gifts in honour of his 100 marathons, as we wait for the last runners to join us before heading to the meal and celebration.
With his 100th marathon in the bag, the next one is Bilbao, just as initially planned, in only six days.
