Training summary

I'm now one month long to the Madrid's Marathon, and one week long to the Madrid's half marathon race. So I think it's a good moment to do a summary of my whole training in the last 5 months:

Since mid november I have run 725 miles, during this year 488miles, and in March 174 miles.

The week of more mileage, I ran 47 miles, and the longest run was last Sunday running 17,7 miles. I think the most important part of the training for the marathon is already done, and now I have to continue reducing slowly the weekly mileage, and doing two more long distance run on sundays after the half marathon the next one.

I feel OK, maybe a bit tired but with good sensations. Let's see how everything is going on...

Churchs in Portugal...

I think churchs in Portugal are a good exponent of the architecture of the country. Most of them are really beautiful and, as other architectural elements (as the "cruceiros", which I will talk another day), are very tipical from this country.

Every small town and village has it own church, in the middle of the town, as the center of the social life. All are illuminated at night and they are visible far away from the town.

This is one thing that impressed me after some weeks living in these country.

This chuch is from Vila Franca, near Viana do Castelo. 

Don Quixote's land...

This week-end we went all the family to a "Cortijo" (as it's called a rural house in the south of Spain) from my family's friend Ramón. We spent a beautiful week end in the middle of the field, between mountains. During the trip, we had to cross all the towns and villages were Don Quixote , the famous hero of Cervante's novel, lived his adventures.

It has been a week-end plenty of nature, family, a bit of sports and of course, lots of good gastronomy!! Thanks to running, my weight is still on the same numbers!!

Half marathon of Madrid

It's curious, but while I was thinking about my next race, I realized that I've never run this half-marathon: the half-marathon of my city!! Untill now, I have run more than ten or maybe twelve half marathons, but not in my city!!

And I'm sure it will bring me some memories about my time as teenager: the race crosses near my old home in Madrid. And for more details, as I was told, it's the half marathon race with more runners in Spain!! I really want to run this race.

...and four weeks after: the marathon...but that's another story.

 

Running with Chema...

This Sunday,I couldn't go running with the Garabitas Group, my friends. So, I decided to run alone, near my house, my long training. I wanted to do more than half marathon run, preparing the Madrid's marathon.

I did a 2 hours run, and when I was coming back home, I saw in front of me, on the other side of the street, a runner coming straight ahead to me. As I knew that Chema Martínez, one of the best long distance spaniard runners was my neighbor, I thought Maybe it's him!!...and It was him!!
Then, I didn't think it twice, I crossed the street and I told him if I could run a few minutes with him!! He was very kind and I enjoyed those minutes really a lot. It was wonderful!!

At the end I ran 2 hours 6', between 23,5 and 24 km (14,6-14,9 miles) and I was really happy!!

After that, we went all the family to spend the day in Aranjuez. A wonderful day!!

Airports...

Yesterday, when I was running, I thought about the time I spend every week at the airport waiting for the plane. It's really amazing all the lost time that travelers spend at the airports. I think airports are as small towns with their own rules, differents and specials!!

One of the worst problems at airports is the absence of information of what's going on when there's a delay. Normally you are lied and you can't do anything. They try to avoid your complaint doing everything they can, even lying!!
Well, at least, thinking about that made me run faster!!

Here you can see the Madrid Barajas Airport.

 

Mapuche's Culture Course...

This week end, when I was organizing all the papers at home, trying to eliminate as much as possible, I found my knowledge's Certificate of Mapuche's Culture.

This Certificate made me remember five years ago, when we were in Chile, and we had to do a course about the local Indian culture: Mapuche's Culture. This was an obligation of the project that we were executing.

It was an interesting experience, and now it's a beautiful memory of our stay in the south of Chile.

This week end, I have continued with my trainings: on Saturday I ran 1:10 (+/- 13,5 Km), increasing my pace, and on Sunday 1:46 (+/- 21,3 Km) with my Garabitas friends. So, this week I have done 70 Km on the whole week, which is one of my biggest amounts. The next weeks are very important on my marathon preparation. I have to continue increasing slowly the mileage, well, the "kilometerage", well, the distance!! This week I thing I have to be around 75 km. Let's see.

Ah, if you want to know how the Mapuche Indians were, here you have a wood description...memory from Chile.

My home in Portugal

Well, today it's Friday again, in half an hour I have to drive to the airport for flying home. I really appreciate the comment of Leah about Chicago. I think it's normal to be afraid about we don't know. Even if we have lived in several places before, every change is different and with kids it scares more.

I hope that if at the end we go to Chicago we will be able to enjoy our time there. I am sure we will.

At the moment, even if there's nothing official, I think the most probable places to go are Chicago and Texas (maybe Austin), quite different weather and places. But at the moment, I continue in Portugal, leaving in a small house alone, with my family in Madrid. The picture is from my home in Portugal. It wasn't easy for me to get used to live alone in that home without my family.

Today I have rested of running. I have done one 55' mixture between cycling and elliptical in the gymnasium and at lunch time 1,5 km swimming. I think this training helps me a lot avoiding injuries while running.

Could it be Chicago??

The other day, speaking with people from my company, I knew that maybe our next destination could be Chicago. We don't have any knowledge about cities in the United States, but this possible destination made us feeling a bit down. Why?? One special matter: because of the weather.

After living in the south of Chile and the north of Portugal, we are expecting some sun and not so much rain: those two places were specially rainy. So, when we realized the average of temperatures in Chicago, and the general weather conditions of the city, we didn't feel very happy thinking on the possibility of going there. Maybe we are wrong, and it's a good place to live, but for a Spaniard couple, those aren't the ideal weather conditions to live: half a meter of snow the whole winter is not wonderful.

Let's wait for news.

Even that, I enjoyed my last training on the snow, but I liked it because it won't repeat in years!!

Amazing week-end!!

Wow!! This week-end has been wonderful!! First of all because it's been longer than standards because of the holiday until Wednesday. And also because of the time spent with my wife and kids during those days. I have been able to be part of the normal routine of my family during these days, and enjoy this time with them.

Also, even the weather was specially cold the whole week-end, I could have time to continue my trainings, specially last Sunday, running with that funny group called the "Garabitas". I ran with them on the "Casa de Campo", one of the best places to run in Madrid. We had a wonderful time running all together in a snowed "Casa de Campo". The landscape was incredible.It's really exceptional to have this park so snowed!!I ran 20-21 km in 1:55 time and we really enjoyed our training.