Marathon Challenge – Barcelona 2017
The Marathon Background
Legend has it that the Marathon began in 490 B.C when the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens 26.2 miles. His assignment was to relay news of the Greek victory against the Persians. He uttered the words “We were victorious!” upon arrival. For Pheidippides it was a lonely run but on Sunday 12th March 2017 we got to carry our triumphant message to the end with waves upon waves of supporters clapping and cheering us on. “Vamos Campeones!” this was our training run slogan, “Let’s go champs!”
Our team preparations began some 19 weeks ago. Scattered across London, a variety of characters, personalities and passions made up the group members. Before then, most of us had only seen marathons on TV and some of us knew people who had taken on the mammoth task of completing a Marathon. However living vicariously through someone else’s experience is one thing, actually embarking on your own journey to Marathon success is another story altogether.
On average it takes between 4 to 5 hours to complete a Marathon. Your mind and body are put through immense pressures. The challenge takes you through every emotion conceivable, from excitement to discouragement, ecstasy to despair, and from happiness to torment. Your mood can shift incredibly quickly as your thoughts start to play tricks on you. The voices in your head begin to drown out the loud cheers, the music bands and even the progression updates bellowing through your headphone speakers. You feel as if every injury you’ve ever had in your life comes to the surface, and now seems like a good time to cry.
But one of the beautiful things to note about the Barcelona Marathon was in the efforts of the organisers to ensure varying fitness levels and physical abilities had the opportunity to live out their own life goals. For instance, it was very poignant to see a team on the course working together to get a group of wheelchair users around the course. Their selfless act encompassed the magic that often surrounds such a momentous event. Even amongst the bright colours on show, the razzmatazz and confetti, what touches you more is the beautiful human spirit on display. The genuineness in wanting to see someone other than yourself succeeding is the ultimate show of love and compassion. Yet even though a Marathon is a race of tens of thousands, it’s one that’s ultimately run as an individual.
While alone you have lots of time to think and those voices in your head keep speaking to you. The new energy you can receive at a water station can seem short-lived until you try hard again another 3 miles along the course to find the same enthusiasm to dig deep and keep going. It’s often been said that “the first 20 miles is just a warm-up”. Some have referred to mile 22 as the “Dreaded wall”. You don’t see it coming; it’s not something tangible ahead of you. Although in the back of your mind you anticipate it, it still hits you out of nowhere. At that point there’s still some way to go, so now what?
Right here you are also reminded that the Marathon is no ‘walk in the park’; those who have failed to prepare, prepare to fail. a catastrophe at this point can be soul-destroying. The saying “You get out what you put in” could not have been any truer. “I’m still standing! Yeah yeah yeah!” Who’d have thought that an old Elton John song could be so inspiring? The “Dreaded Wall”? What wall? I’m still standing. And I’m still running. Let’s go champ!
One of the team recalls dedicating the remaining miles to loved ones. We all had our own reason for being there, a personal driving force behind every step and that special something getting us through to the very end. For some, it was a charity close to the heart. One of the team thought of a loving husband waiting with open arms at the finish. For another just to lay down and let the hamstrings rest. What would yours be? And what would carry you to and across the finish line – on Sunday 12th of March in Barcelona we were victorious!
