In the early hours of a morning, and while traveling to the Valdebebas Marathon back in March, the idea arose with Gorriti to organize a double marathon in Valladolid. Looking for available dates, the weekend of June 20th stood out as the most appropriate option (and possibly the only one) to fit such an event into the calendar. For a brief moment, the option of doing a triple marathon was considered —Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning— before settling on a bimarathon: Saturday and Sunday morning.
In Valdebebas, we couldn’t have a better breeding ground to sow the seed of the idea, and although it was left up in the air, several weeks later we confirmed the event. This is how the BiMarathon de La Victoria was born, following a 3.85-kilometer circuit in the La Victoria neighborhood of Valladolid. A circular route following a pedestrian asphalt road on the way out, and returning along the dirt path next to the Canal de Castilla.
From that point on, the logistical work began for an event of these characteristics which, no matter how few runners there are, requires certain minimums: circuit, liquid and solid aid stations, runner’s bag, medal, volunteers, etc. Since 2021, with the Esgueva Marathon, I hadn’t found myself in one of these situations.
We approach the date with those final-days nerves, anxious to have everything allright. Although we closed registration two weeks prior, the trickle of last-minute runners continued, whom it is hard to turn away. To add more tension, the forecast announces a heatwave for the race weekend. We have 18 registered runners for the first day, and 16 repeating on the second. Among them highly experienced ones like Pepe Caballer or Mario, or debutants like Jesús Ángel.
With the start scheduled for 8:00 on Saturday, and given the heat forecast, we agree to bring it forward to 7:00. At a bit past 6:00, while gathering the supplies to load them into the car, a storm breaks out with a heavy downpour. After waiting a few minutes, we put everything in the trunk with the help of Marcos, who volunteers right from the early hours, and head to the start area. Some participants ¡are already there, and we starting handing out their runner’s bags, while waiting for the storm to subside and the last runners to arrive —caught by surprise by the storm and still looking for the location— and the other volunteers: Antonio Aires and Clemente.
At 7:20, still dark but without rain, we start the adventure: 13 laps await us. Only Bassit dropped out among those registered. The first lap ias a reconnaissance run for most, showing the route that we marked with spray the day before at the few turnarounds, and the previous weekend with some arrows that held up well through the week and rain.
In the opening moments, Jaime Nina also join us for a brief warmup, as the next day he faces other marathon commitments abroad. A luxury to run a few kilometers WITH him, and not BEHIND him. With his presence, the only local runners missing are Pepe Turón, registered that same afternoon in a backyard, and Enrique Benito, already an apostate of this type of event.
And so we keep adding laps, with most of the runners facing the race solo, though not too far apart, as it is easy to meet the other runners. Meanwhile, Marc laps us tirelessly every few laps. Just a training run for him, for whom “only” a bimarathon falls short, and this afternoon plans to do another one on his own. Also ahead lapping me several times is Juanpa. Between both and the rest, there is quite a gap.
Controlling my pace, because tomorrow there is more, I cross the finish line in 4:13:40.
Time to rest a bit and wait for the other runners to finish while we enjoy the tortillas, empanadas, ham, cheese… and themed La Victoria beers. With the heat already picking up, and with Marcos’ help, we packe everything up and go to rest, with the satisfaction of the first chapter completed.
