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Not wanting to run a big marathon like London or Paris, we looked for a mid-range one at around the same time, so we could join in the training. Although Barcelona was a month earlier, it seemed a suitable choice, with a chance of good weather, and another new city for us to explore. It also had a full set of vet (sorry, ‘Masters’) categories, so Alec could enter as a newly-fledged 70-year-old. |
View overlooking marathon start. |
We left Gatwick on a beautiful sunny Friday, and found it still sunny in Spain.
The airport is about 12K from Barcelona, so we jumped on the train, which stopped right outside our hotel. We should have known it was too simple. ‘Sorry’ the receptionist said, you’ve been transferred to a different hotel. Oh, no! ‘It overlooks the start of the race, and we will pay for a taxi to take you there’. Oh, Yes! The hotel seemed to be full of runners, including dozens of Dutchmen and their supporters, all in bright orange team T-shirts and jackets. They seemed to be everywhere, but were very friendly, and spoke good English. |
Marathon start area with our hotel in the background. Just follow the blue line for 26.2 miles. |
Olympic monument. |
Saturday morning, a short jog to loosen up the legs, up the steep hill to Montjuic and the Olympic stadium.
Thank goodness the marathon doesn’t finish here any more. |
Then into sight-seeing mode - a walk into the old town (Barri-Gothic) and a reccy of the last part of the marathon route, up the famous ‘Ramblas’.
Then the clouds began to gather, and by evening it was pouring with rain. Oh, no! |
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Sunday morning - a peep through the curtains - Oh, yes! - the sky is blue again.
Early breakfast - the dining room already a sea of orange-clad runners.
Then it was so easy to just walk across the road to the start - no hassle with bag-storage or loo-queues.
There was not much segregation in the line-up - just a section for faster people at the front.
I had the usual ‘Wonder if I’ve done enough training’ apprehension, then we were away.
It took us about ½ minute to cross the line, and the first few hundred metres were a bit crowded, then we turned west on the main dual-carriageway for about 5K, with plenty of space for all. The whole route was closed to traffic, and caused some chaos, especially as the start/finish was by a major roundabout. A loop to the north, another south, then we rejoined the straight dual-carriageway heading east. It seemed to go on for ever, but after about 8K we turned off again for a couple more loops, then back along the waterfront, and up through the town centre. There were no real hills, but several long drags, where the slight incline seems to soak away your energy. The last 5K was all up, and needed an even bigger effort than usual on a marathon. I seemed to become adopted here by a Spanish guy on a bike, who kept shouting encouragement as he passed me (at least, that’s what I assumed - he could have been being really rude for all I understood of the language). The race was well-organised and marshalled, with plenty of water every 5K, though no energy drinks till halfway. Finishers were rewarded with a medal, T-shirt and goody-bag - first time I’ve had a large box of chocolates included. With the chip timing, they were able to display the results almost as soon as you finished. There were about 3000 runners, with the usual African winners (winning time 2h 10m 53s). |
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Back over the road to the hotel for a lovely laze in the bath, then we were ready for more sight-seeing, and a celebratory dinner. We found so much of interest in the city of Barcelona, and were pleased it has retained its character, despite the tourists. A definite for a further visit. |
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Our marathon results: Rosemarie: Alec: |
3:36:21 4:11:51 | 1st F55 4th M70 |
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