Not having run a marathon since April in Madrid, it seemed the drought was going to extend into July as well. For logistical reasons, I decided to skip the Santa Cruz event in Portugal this year, and a possible Santa Cruz/Mélides-Troia double, a madness I could have signed up for.
However, that same weekend, Siete appeared and roped a few of us into repeating the Quinta Park Marathon in Burgos. A marathon in a “petit comite” style, without any fuss, just like the previous year. Without many expectations, I said yes, and a small group of runners was formed. However, with one week to go, Siete himself backed out, and we decided, much to his chagrin, to continue without him, as some had already made plans counting on this race.
Thanks to the altruistic work of one of the runners coming from Zaragoza, Manuel, who offered to watch the bags and keep count of the laps, I found myself at the start line just before 20.00. There was no shortage of drinks or supplies, although I bring my own provisions, trying not to add to the workload of those who had made this race happen.
With a flexible start, some of the slower runners have started earlier and are already a few laps in. There I see familiar faces like Txema, Pepe Caballer, or Dioni, who seems to have been tempted by Phidippides again.
And so, with about a 15-minute head start compared to last year’s start time, and knowing the lights on the Paseo de los Atletas turn off at midnight, I have a chance of not having to use my headlamp as I did last year on the final two laps. I start accompanied by two other runners, with whom I run the first short lap before facing the next 13.
After two laps, it becomes a solo race for me. I simply focused on enjoying the route through the park, which offers a pleasant, tree-lined atmosphere, ideal for a run without great pretensions.
My training leading up to it from Madrid have been quite weak. Between a lack of pace and apathy, or demotivation, I haven’t done any long training runs, and my pace haven’t been good either, which led me to approach this marathon with some fear of facing 42k again. However, the body has memory, and my legs respond, in a way.
Thus, I finish lap after lap as night falls and the park gradually empties. The temperature drops, and it is possible to run without difficulty. This year I donn’t notice the humidity as much as last year, and I hold my pace better on the final laps, finally crossing the finish line in 4:09:29, right around midnight. An optimal time, given how I approached the race, and not far from the 4:13 or 4:06 I ran in my recent challenges in Ibiza or Madrid. It is also better than the 4:38 I ran in 2024, although my race calendar was much busier back then.
We wait for the last runners for a group photo and close this chapter in Burgos, unsure if it will take place again, or if we will opt for similar options in Vitoria, Zaragoza, or who knows, Valladolid.
And with this, also my last marathon in my 40s.
