Cortisone shot

and now three days no walking and no standing. This is the last chance I give to my fasciitis plantar after 3 months trying different treatment. If this works, I might be running next week and blogging weekly!

Sorry for the long absence!
Love to all of you.

Acupuncture does runners good

Or so they say.

As many of you already know, I am dealing with my first running-related injure since I started this sport. What I found out being injured is that there are as many option on how to treat the problem as different doctors are. The only advice they all share is one: stop running until I recover. Something that we, runners, hate to listen to.

The Sport Doctor I first visited recommended me some pills for the inflammation and rest. He also added "If this treatment do not alleviate the symptoms, a cortisone injection can be considered. I followed his instruction for long enough until I decided that pills won't work and after reading online and getting some other advices, I decided not to get the injection and find about other solutions.

I bumped into a friend who is teaching at Suomen Urheiluhierojaopisto (Finnish Sports Massage Academy) and checked my foot (we were in a party). He recommended me to go to his clinic and get some sports medicine acupuncture. As I always do, checked online and read that "the acupuncturist places fine hair-like, sterile needles at specific acupuncture points and motor points in the body. The safe and pailess insertion of needles can help to release muscle tension, relieve pain and help maintain a healthy running body." I was excited to try this option and positive it might help to solve my problem and I went to the appointment (I just came back from there).

The true is that "painless" is not what I exactly would call it. For me, the feeling was weird and couldn't relax enough because there was something going on on my legs: needles. I was sweating and uncomfortable (let's say I don't like needles). Although not painful, it's neither painless. Right now I have some tape covering my foot to protect the injured muscle which I have to keep for 3 days and a new appointment for next week. I will let you know as soon as I feel some improvement but I will have to stop training for a while.

There are a couple of races coming in the new future (including Helsinki Midnight Run) I feel positive that I will be injure-free by then and be able to run.

Social Media Runner

As you could read/see in my last post, I will be visiting a few countries for my next holidays which start next Sunday.

I am taking 3 weeks off from work and will pass by France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Istanbul. I didn't want to stop training so I planned ahead the routes I could run in the different cities I will be staying. For that reason, I created an account at walkjogrun.net and found routes around the areas I am visiting. In this sense, I just need to log in on my account and put my running shoes on every time I want to go for a run. I love sharing my experiences on running and social media is a great tool to do so.

I have been updating my profile with different routes and I will continue to do so. If you want to see where I am running, you just need to visit my routes here:

http://www.walkjogrun.net/members/EFESOR

I was in Paris some months ago and I can do the same routes I did then, but here you have screenshots of the routes I already created for the other cities:

1. Munich (it doesn't look like a very nice area, but good enough):

2. Budapest (this one is my favorite one):

3. Istanbul I (this route is around the first apartment we are renting and meant for a long run):

4. Istanbul II (for our second location and for a shorter run):

I just hope I get fully recover soon and can enjoy the opportunity to run in so many countries! I will let you know if I managed to follow the routes or if I got lost and will take as many pictures as possible. Wish me luck!

PS: At the left column of this blog I added three polls you can answer to while I am on my holidays. In case I won't be able to update anything, you can still interact with the blog by answering. The poll will be open till 10.08 at 9pm.

Plantar fasciitis and holidays

The true is that I was getting ready a much nicer post about a new training plan I prepared 2 weeks ago. The idea was to train for the Amsterdam Marathon which will take place on 17th October. But I have two problems now:

1. Plantar fasciitis won't let me follow the training program for 1 week and I will have to take it easier when I start running again. The doctor recommended to stop running for a whole 1 week, also stretching the area and put ice. I also got a prescription for anti-inflammatory pills.

2. Three weeks holidays, traveling around Europe on a train, making very difficult to follow any training.

Nonetheless I created routes around the cities I am going to visit on my holidays (Paris, Munich, Budapest, Vienna, Bucharest and Istanbul) and I will try to run as much as possible. If after my holidays I feel strong enough, I will register to the Amsterdam Marathon and train for my first full marathon!

Running for SPAIN

Midnight Run

One month working from this desert island was too much for my running routines. I was missing a lot the feeling of running outdoors and my workouts at the gym did not satisfied me enough. Last night, I decided to give it a try and had a short run around the area I am staying. The idea was to check if my body could cope with the high temperatures here (even at night) and how I would react in general. I left my hotel room at midnight and came back having one of the most beautiful experiences I had during my time here.

It was only 6.5km and found very interesting places around the area. What is more important, the heat wasn't that painful and I would have stay longer if I would have taken some water with me! I enjoyed so much (only you runners know what I am talking about) that I already decided to run a new route tonight.

I will take the car after work and go to try what it is recommended in the map. It looks like big fun. Here I am, running in this warm island!

http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=C04F9FF6-96AC-1178-A9E8C4EF5876C863

I will be back in Helsinki during the weekend!

La soledad del corredor (en el gym también)

Unfortunately, I have to extend for 2 more weeks my stay in Bahrain. It is actually very good for my job; not for my running. I work long hours and I don't even think about going for a walk outdoor; it's just too hot in here.

I decided to change some routines and visit the gym as much as I can. Today I spent one hour and used the treadmill. It felt as usually: I hate it! Here are the numbers:

When I arrived to my workplace I found out that we have a new desk at the Zain Football Zone. They have a body composition analyzer for free! The guy promoting this service does not have much idea about it so I didn't care much of his recommendation. Nonetheless, I would appreciate your comments. Here we go:

Body Type: Standard
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Height: 167cm
Weight: 68.3kg
BMI: 25
BMR: 7390 kJ // 1786 kcal
Fat % 11.8
Fat Mass 8.2kg
FFM 61.4kg
TBW 44.8kg
Visceral fat rating 2


IMPEDANCE
Whole Body 492
Right Leg 215
Left Leg 222
Right Arm 249
Left Arm 253

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Right Leg
  Fat % 11.7
  Fat Mass 1.4kg
  FFM 10.8kg
  Predicted Muscle Mass 10.3kg

Left Leg
  Fat % 13.1
  Fat Mass 1.6kg
  FFM 10.3kg
  Predicted Muscle Mass 9.8kg

Right Arm
  Fat % 12.9
  Fat Mass 0.6kg
  FFM 3.7kg
  Predicted Muscle Mass 3.5kg
Left Arm
  Fat % 13.3
  Fat Mass 0.6kg
  FFM 3.7kg
  Predicted Muscle Mass 3.5kg

Trunk
  Fat %11.8
  Fat Mass 4.4kg
  FFM 32.9kg
  Predicted Muscle Mass 31.6kg

DESIRABLE RANGE
FAT% 8-20
FAT MASS 5.4-15.4kg

I think it looks pretty good. Considering that 2 years ago, when I started running, I was 78.5kg :-)
Any comments?

From Bahrain with love

It has been over a month since I last posted on this blog. There are always good excuses, but I could have also sat down and write what was going on. After the great experience at the Helsinki City Run I spent two weeks in Spain. The first week in Madrid I went for a run three times, in three different places. The meeting with other bloggers was a fantastic experience that I hope you have again. Thank you guys, I loved it!

The following week I visited the family in Algeciras. I also run three days and realize how much pollution is in the area. It was very hard to breath properly and didn't enjoy the running as I usually do. One day, I visited the outdoor track and trained with my cousin who has been running since... always! He helped me with my technique and gave me very good tips.

Back in Helsinki I only had 4 days before going to deliver a service to Manama (Bahrain) where I am right now. I loved running again in Helsinki, perfect temperature and clean air. Here in Bahrain, I try to go to the gym as much as I can, but I work around 12 hours everyday and is not really possible. Running outside is not really gonna happen: the temperature here is around 40 to 45 ° C even at night time. Who would dare?

I will have more time to train for longer and better in Helsinki. Also for the planing for the races I want to join for the autumn.

Thaks for reading, habibis!

Helsinki City Run 2010: A journey to a new Personal Best

The last long run I logged before the HCR was on the 2nd of May. A 12km beautiful route with Nicole and Javi.

I didn't feel very well during the workout but managed to finish the run at a pace I would be happy to do on the Race Day! On the week of the race, I was thinking I won't manage to do a PB (Personal Best) considering my performance the days before but I was hoping to go under 2 hours. At least, better than last year for the same race.

All these feelings changed on the race day. I was really excited @ the Starting Line with Nicole and Javi, and became really ambitious. I started the race very fast, at a pace under 5'/km leaving Javi behind after 3km and Nicole a little bit later: I had to continue alone the rest of the race. After an hour I realized that I have done 12km and, if I continue this way, I would have a new PB. But the problems came after km14 when my pace was around 5'30''/km and didn't feel strong enough to continue as fast as at the beginning. Nonetheless, I knew that if I would keep this way, I would still do a good job. The pain and headache didn't go away but I was an "experience" runner who has logged more than 2000km and won't give up: At km18 I found some more energy (I don't know where it came from) and my pace came back to around and under 5'/km arriving at the Finishing Line better than I ever expected!

the Official results as follow:

Place: 1888
Race Number: 4039
Runner Name: Jose M. Sánchez
Club: Spain
Class: Miehet yleinen (Place on my class: 1136)
Official Time: 1h49'21''
Chip Time: 1h48'58''
Out of 14 000 runners!

This was my third half marathon, and we can compare the results with the previous one:

Helsinki City Run (HCR): May, 2009:  2h 03' 13' 

Stockholm Half Marathon (SHM): September, 2009: 1h 53' 02'

Helsinki City Run (HCR): May, 2010:  1h49'21'

When I did my first Half Marathon I thought I won't be a very fast runner and my times would be around 2 hours. For some reason, I thought it was not possible to improve your time much more. After these results, I feel I can reach whichever place I want to take my body to. As I read in your blogs: No soy un hombe, soy una puta máquina.

And in 2 days, to Madrid. ¿Sigue adelante la quedada?

This picture was taken from my home. The race pictures by Tero Tikkanen. The first picture by me.

8.4.2010

¡Me cago en la lluvia, en la nieve y en to' lo que se menea!

Four days to the Helsinki City Run and this is the weather in Helsinki:

This picture was taken 30 minutes ago from my kitchen window. Who can think of a PB (personal best) next Saturday when most-probably is going to be raining?

My training have been pretty OK with a major problem: I was ill for 3 days with 38.5° fever. I am also working a lot nowadays so I am constantly tired. I will try my best, I know I can arrive to the finish line but not confident enough for a PB.

Just glad that I will be in Spain soon, where no snow or rain will prevent me from having a beer in a terrace!

Visita a Madrid

Este es mi primer post en español. Y el motivo es mi visita a Madrid.
El próximo martes, 11 de Mayo llego a Madrid donde pienso pasar una semana (la siguiente la paso con la familia en el pueblo). La razón de este viaje es la siguiente:

Se trata del documental que hemos realizados en los campamentos de refugiados saharauis, grabado el pasado Otoño. Hemos tardado un poco, pero ya podemos estrenarlo. Un estreno del que estamos muy orgulloso, ya que es bajo el fantástico Documenta Madrid 2010, el próximo 14 de Mayo a las 6pm en la Academia de Cine. Por supuesto, estáis más que invitados. El problema con la quedada del 15 de Mayo es el cómo acabaré esa noche, pero intentaré portarme bien.

Entiendo que este post es no sobre la razón de ser de este blog, el running, pero este documental es como un hijo mío y creo que necesito dar pocas razones por las que lo quiero compartir. Un adelanto del documental es la sinopsis:

Bubisher, además de ser “un pájaro que trae la suerte”, es un camión cargado de literatura en español en los campamentos de refugiados saharauis de Tindouf. Puede resultar paradógico ver cómo dialogan dos culturas a través de pequeñas historias y cuentos, pero también el contraste entre el esfuerzo de superación de una joven generación de mujeres y la realidad del desierto.

Fotografías y más datos en la página de facebook que creé hace unas semanas y que ya tiene más de 350 seguidores: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Lucia-del-Sahara/103721283000143

Nos vemos pronto, muy pronto.

Helsinki City Run 2010

For the Helsinki City Run 2010 (HCR) I decided to do 3 key workouts in the 4 weeks I had left. I am in the second week and things are looking good.

The Key Workouts are:

One Tempo Run: 5 to 7 km @ 5.05 min/Km with 2km warming up and cooling down.

One Quality Workout: Intervals on a track or Hills @ 5KM pace (on average)

One Long Run: From 15 to 22 KM @ 6 to 6.20 min/Km

Last week and this one are the hardest one: longer tempo runs, longer runs and more intervals but from next week, I will start to reduce for the race day. Apart from these Key Workouts, I do some easy runs or swim (last week I logged more than 45km!)My plan is to go finish under 2hours, trying to be on a pace around 5.30 - 5.40 min /Km during the whole race. I think I can make it (if everything goes fine)

So far, I have done a good work and I feel great. Considering my long shifts at work and these workouts I am loosing a lot of weight! This week, my "long run" should be between 20 to 22km. If I manage to do it, it will be my longest run on 2010, let's see what happen.

Here you can see my Registration Card for the HCR:

International Running

There are many reasons why somebody start running and also, many that keeps them running for years. For the second, what keeps me running is the opportunity to run in different places in the world. This include to participate in races internationally. So far, my running experience has taken me to:

Finland: Helsinki, Sonkajärvi and Orivesi. Races: Helsinki City Run
Sweden: Stockholm. Races: Stockholm Half Marathon
Denmark: Copenhagen
Spain: Madrid and Algeciras
France: Paris

In this picture taken last week, I am running in the Parc des Buttes Chaumon, Paris and I was able to log 8.30km in a sunny and warm day. We only spent 4 days in Paris and most of the time cycling and walking around the city so I could only go for one workout.

Nonetheless, last week I logged more than 30km on my nike+ but it was this week when I started the "counting-down training" for the Helsini City Run (HCR). Not being able to follow any program so far, I just decided to at least, practice three "quality" workouts per week until the HCR. I can tell you what this program is about in another post, but I would like to share the experience we had last Wednesday in the outdoor track in  Eläintarhan kenttä (Helsinki). 

They finally cleared the snow from this track and I invited some people to join me to a workout through facebook. We were four guys this time and had a great experience. The program we followed was similar to the one I did in the indoor track with the girls. The guys enjoyed it a lot and were talking about creating an International Running Club in Helsinki. Note that we were from different nationalities: two from Spain, one from South Africa and the other one from Holland! Here I introduce you the guys!

I will let you know how I am training for the Helsinki City Run soon as it will take place in 3 weeks!
And soon, I will let you know more about my trip to Madrid in May.

About Performance Enhancement

Performance Enhancement from Kenichi on Vimeo.

Demotivation or "How to become a Coach"

If there is something that can define my running during 2010 so far is DESMOTIVATION. There are many reasons to explain it:

A very cold winter
Running alone (most of the times)
Lack of a training plan
Pain on my legs and back
...and what can be more important; there is no running event coming that I feel excited about. I was supposed to register for the Marathon du Médoc but my friends decided not to join me on this and I didn't feel strong enough to go by myself.

This didn't mean I stopped reading about running, so I still buy Runner's World magazine and read a lot of blogs (in Spanish and English) and it was one of this blogs (Dirty Running) that gave me the idea of going back to the tracks! Reading it latest post, I learnt new exercises I can do on a track workout and challenged myself to create an event on facebook to invite my friends to join me.

So last Wednesday I went to a 200m indoor track (Liikuntamylly; Myllypuro) with Belinda and Elena, two beginners and we enjoyed a lot!

It was my duty to “coach” them and we did a great job:

Warm up and core work: lunges, twists, pillar bridge, push ups...
Running drills: High knees, Butt kicks and Grapevine
Main set: 1600; 1200; 800; 400; 400; 200 (in this case, the girls cheated a little bit)

Finally, Belinda and I had some strides and the three of us cooled down.

 

After the workout they were so happy that dared to promise to run with me at the Stockholm Half Marathon next September.

On Thursday (yesterday) Belinda asked for another training day and we went to Töölölahti to do some hills. I heard today Belinda is not doing so well with her hips and legs, but that pain must feel good! In my case, I am very happy to bring new elements to my workouts and hopefully the girls will come around some other time.

On Sunday I will be traveling to Paris, where I am going to be for 4 days (running shoes included!) so I will let you know my route and experiences there when I get back.

Para los lectores que se encuentren en Madrid, que sepan que estoy prepandando una visita a la capital en Mayo, si es posible después del HCR. Ya os iré informando!

because it suits me

After I ran the HCR 09 I went to the swimming pool where I was able to have a shower and sauna. When I was getting my clothes from my bag I found this book as a present for finishing my first half marathon. A wonderful surprise which became my first reading on running. Highly recommend!

"When I tell people I run every day, some are quiet impressed. "You really must have a strong will," they sometimes tell me. Of course, it's nice to be praised like this. A lot better than being disparaged, that's for sure. But I don't think it's merely willpower that makes you able to do something. The world isn't that simple. To tell the truth, I don't even think there's that much correlation between my running every day and whether or not I have a strong will. I think I've been able to run for more than twelve years for a simple reason: It suits me. Or at least because I don't find it all that painful." Haruki Murakami.

Aussie Football

No much running this week for two main reason: work deadlines and muscle contracture (cramp) on my back. Nonetheless, I have a project -work again- with the Helsinki Australian Football team and went to meet them on their Sunday training, so played for the first time.



I told them I am coming back again. It was real fun!

Have a good start of the week. I will try to run more often!

Run Jose Run'09 (or what I listen to when I run)

One important thing (at least for many of us) is what we listen to while we are running. Music helps us to focus on the running and take our minds to other places. I have even seen myself changing the pace with the music beat. I have crazy experience on running with music, but right now, I will share what I listen the most when I go on running. This playlist was created by Tero Tikkanen for me, thinking on Stockholm Half Marathon. That was September' 09 so I should be getting a new playlist soon. By the way, I have to put together my last training week and share it with you! Meanwhile, enjoy the music!!

(song – artist – album) Running time: 56.8minutes

1.Sick With It (feat Dellé aka Eased from Seeed) – Moderat - Moderat (Basic Version)   
2.Two Weeks (Fred Falke Radio Mix) - Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks   
3.Zodiac Rising - Dollskabeat - Zodiac Rising   
4.Cities Burning Down - Howling Bells - Radio Wars   
5.Rusty Nails - Moderat - Moderat (Basic Version)   
6. Clive And The Lyre - The Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - When Sweet Sleep Returned
7.Velvet - The Big Pink - Velvet
8.Fate To Fatal - The Breeders - Fate To Fatal   
9.Widths and Heights (Magic Arm Remix) – Magic Arm - Make Lists, Do Something   
10.Feltham (The Borstal Beat) - Duke Dumont - The Dominion Dubs Ep   
11.The Future Will Come - The Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come   
12.Outlaw (Timo & Yngve mix) - Real Ones - Outlaw   
13.Elävä ihmisjumala - Risto - Sähköhäiriöön   
14.Bible Thumper - Solid Gold - Bodies of Water

You can listen to some of these songs on Spotify. I tried to create the same playlist but I haven't found all the artists or remixes on this list. Here you have 10 of these songs: Run Jose Run 2009

My longest run...

... of 2010! 

(so far)

Distance: 17.50km

Pace: 5.35min/km

Time: 1:37'59''

Calories: 1411

HeartRate: 159

Weather: sunny, -7°C

This is my satisfied face

and here is the reason:

(view from my house window)

Finally a real sunny day!!!

Un rayo de sol, uh oh oh,

me trajo tu amor, uh oh oh,

un rayo de sol, uh oh oh,

a mi corazón!

Training Log: week 8

...or the week I started to go to the gym again!

First of all, I would like to say sorry because I haven't spent the time to write an article about anything else but my weekly training. This blog was supposed to be about something else but my runs. I will have to fix that soon.

Regarding my training this week; last Monday, I pushed myself into the gym. The excuse was the bad weather, but I really needed to workout at the gym as I was doing before Christmas. Overall, I am very proud of all my workouts this week, but lets see the table first:

     *the weather does not really matter when training inside, right?
   ** this was a series session: 5x1200km + 1x2000km (pace: 5:00; 4:50; 4:45; 4:45; 4:50 and 5:00)

One thing I wanted to let you know is that the table is made out of the data taken from my Nike+ receiver and suunto t4c watch; meaning that distance, pace and time is taken from Nike+ and Calories and HR from the watch.  This is not important when I just go for a run, but sometimes it is more complicated than what is mentioned on the table. 

As an example, Tuesday and Sunday workouts; both at the gym. On Tuesday, I ran in a easy pace on the treadmill at 7% elevation for 2km which wasn't recorded on the Nike+. Today, I ran for 10km on the treadmill but I would pause the Nike+ receiver after every lap so it didn't record when recovering at easy pace. Other examples are Monday and Saturday when I went to the gym but didn't use the Nike+ on my a(na)erobic exercises (bike or cross trainer). My workouts at the gym looked like this:

Monday (1hour): 35min on cross trainer and 25min biceps and triceps
Tuesday (1h30m):  weight lifting for legs and back + treadmill
Saturday (1hour): 35min bike and 25min pectoral and abs
Sunday (1h30m): abs and treadmill

I was supposed to write an article about SaharaMarathon last week but I didn't, I also had in mind a post about winter runs but is not ready yet. Hopefully, you will be able to read something else than my training here. 

If you want to follow me on any of the Social Networks for runner, you can do it here:

http://my.nike.com/EFESOR
http://www.strands.com/EFESOR
http://www.runnerplus.com/people/efesor
you can also follow me on twitter, but it's not all about sports there, just find efesor!



I almost forgot it! Today, I registered to the Helsinki City Run (HCR), a half marathon that will take place on 8th May 2010. 

The day I became...

an AVANTO lover!

This week I only trained 2 days; on Monday and Thursday. The weather hasn't been helpful, neither was the work-shifts. Nonetheless, today I enjoyed of a great experience: the Finnish sauna and avanto. You all know what a sauna is but probably don't know what avanto means. 

I read some translation and I came up with this one “the hole in ice where you can practice winter-swimming” For somebody who uses his legs as much as I do, the experience can be defined as healing. Icy cold water helps blood circulation and healing tired muscles. 

Lately I was feeling difficulties on running and pain on my heels and knees so I took this opportunity as a good way to "re-boot" my legs on running and get them ready for a marathon training! Yes, you read it right, I am planning to participate in the great experience of a Marathon this year. Right know, I am searching to create a great training plan. At the same time, I am talking with Javier which is going to be: So far, we have talked about San Petersburg (ERGO White Nights Marathon) and Copenhagen (Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon), the idea is to go somewhere near Helsinki. Any suggestion?

I will let you know when the training program is ready and where is going to take place my first marathon experience! Meanwhile, I let you enjoy my face of.... pain? fun? pleasure?

Training Log: Week 7

There are many excuses I can use to explain why I haven't been running much lately: bad weather, working shifts, deadlines... The true is that I have been quiet lazy these days, and 2010 looks a good year for everything else but running. Nonetheless, I am trying to change it and this week is a good example. Considering my plans for the year, I better get back on track and focus on a training program I haven't managed to create just yet. Following, you can see my runs on week 7:

It can be better, but I can't complain. Overall, it felt great and I am very happy with my pace. It is also true that I have been feeling some pain on Thursday and today but I hope I don't have to worry much about it.

What about you? Did you have a good training week? Let's see if I can show you better results next Sunday!

My races experience!

During the last year, I participated in two races:
Helsinki City Run (HCR): May, 2009
Stockholm Half Marathon (SHM): September, 2009

For my first race, HCR, I didn't follow any training program but ran mostly with Javier who was following for the Stockholm Marathon. Needless to say, I went on running with him but followed him with my limits. I would run less or shorter  intervals depending what his program said. I think the reason I developed the endurance needed for the HCR was running outdoor from the end of February in Helsinki: the ice-cold weather and snowy/icy paths made this possible. By spring, my legs were stronger and faster because of the conditions I ran during the winter, and my Heart Rate (HR) drop down considerably. I was very proud to be able to finish the race and didn't care much about the time: 2h 03' 13'

When it was time to get ready for the SHM, I decided to follow a training program from Runner's World to get faster. Considering my lack of experience, I re-wrote the program taking into account my limits (for example, my longest runs were around 23km). I followed the program during the summer in Helsinki, and it was a great experience. Javier was away so I had to learn to run by myself and was able to log 40 to 50 km/week with my Nike +. For what it worth, I completed with a Personal Best (PB) and felt great during the race! My time was 1h 53' 02'' and learned a good lesson: protect my nipples from rubbing against the t-shirt; the bleeding was real pain after km 16, and it took times to recover from it (scabs included!)

If I have to compare both experience, I have to say that I enjoyed SHM better than HCR. The water points were well-organized and larger than in Helsinki, there was a larger selection of food, in Stockholm, bands playing all around the course and the possibility to have a massage at the finishing line!

The day I became a runner

It was the end of November 2008 when I decided to join a gym with a friend. To say it straight: I am 168cm and weighted 78.5kg. I felt overweight and was scared this would get worst considering Christmas was behind the corner. My friend Javier Valiente Webster has been running for a while and was totally fit compared to my life style till them. My plan wasn't to keep on his training but get fit on my own way, nonetheless, I enjoyed his company enough to walk the treadmill while his running workouts. It didn't take long to realize that fast-walking on the treadmill was paying nicely back on the scale; I was loosing weight and it didn't feel that bad... Not at all.

I still remember the day that changed my routines and became a runner. After the Christmas holidays, I was going to the gym without my skilled friend around and I decided to change my pace at the treadmill and surprised myself with a run for longer than 30 minutes at a pace of  7 m/km. For my condition, it was a great achievement and never came back on walking while training; nor in the treadmill, nor on the road. Since then, I have logged more than 1000km in my Nike+ profile, drop down my personal pace for more than a 1 m/km and lost 10 kg.