Cursa dels Bombers - 10k

Of the Barcelona 10k Challenge 10 races of 10k are done, 2 more to go!!! After a busy week and sensitive hamstrings and therefore less optimal training (recovering from a marathon takes its time) today I ran the Cursa dels Bombers. Around a quarter to nine we left home with the whole family and around a quarter past nine, nicely on time we arrived at the start area and I started my warm up. 27000 runners is a whole lot and it was crowded everywhere. I entered my box on time and before being shot away we kept one minute of silence in memory of the victims of the attack during the Boston Marathon. Strength and love for family and survivors and may the victims rest in peace!

This year there was no big show. We were shot away and the first meters were chaotic. I hope nobody tripped! Still the first k went ok in 3m38 and the second k was nicely on schedule too, eventhough I felt I was going too fast. Until the 5k mark we were mostly going slightly up and passing just behind schedule in 18m34 was good, but I already was struggling to keep pace and in the coming kilometers slowly but surely the pacer with the 37 minutes balloon disappeared out of sight. Around the 8k I was running near the 38 minutes schedule but when passing the 9k mark in 34:34 I knew that finishing within 38 minutes would be impossible today. Soon after turning onto the last straigth to the finishline I saw Montse and Jordi and waved and more closer to the finishline I heard Emma shout out loud. Without really sprinting I pushed for the last meters and I am still happy with 38m25!

Cursa del Corte Ingles - 10k

Toady we had a first day of good weather in a long time and also the first race only three weeks after the marathon. Since training was far from perfect including a fall in the mountains a week ago and a stiff bruised knee as a result, I was just very happy to be able to join the party of well over 60.000 people running today. One of them was my daughter Emma who made a late decision to join in.

Eventhough it was sunny today it was still chilly when we left home at a quarter to nine. We walked up to the subway station and there Emma went underground and I started my warmup, since the start is rather nearby. My left knee was still stiff so I took it easy with the warmup movements like high-knees and butt kicks. On my way down I felt it might be important to have a good stop at a toilet and I am glad I did so! This did mean I had to really hurry and push my way through the multitude and enter my box just on time. I pushed myself to the 4th row or so and soon it was 9h30 and we were shot away. As always people joined the race higher up Paseo de Gracia and Carrer de Aragò, so I started with a really high pace to try and avoid the traffic jam that those slower runners cause. This made me run a 6m50 on the first 2k, which is very fast, but at least now I could run at my own pace. Soon we entered Plaça España and Av. Maria Cristina were the first uphill starts. I missed the 3k and 4k markers so a first indication of how I was holding out came at the 5k where I passed in 18m54s. On the second steep climb up to the Olympic Stadium I slowed down and just did the best I could to go up. After going around in the stadium there were still a few meters to climb and then the long downhill back to the city center started. I was really tired from the climb and also the downhill was a bit hard on my recovering knee so I did not go down full speed. I no longer remember the other passage times but I am happy with finishing the 10776 meters in 44m11s!

This was an excellent training to get back into rythm for the next race in two weeks from now, la Cursa dels Bombers where I do want to perform very well, if possible a time below 38 minutes!

After picking up my Coca Cola I looked for a good place to wait for Emma, who was just about half-way. The last people left Plaça Catalunya when the fastest runners were arriving already!!! After a good wait and seeing thousands and thousands of runners come by I spotted Emma in the crowd. In spite of having fever she made it and had a good time!!!

 Emma (on the right in blue T-shirt) near the finish