About 3 months ago today I ran my third marathon, among other things, because I like being a long distance runner. One step at a time, a steady pace, good management of your resources, careful planning, ability to overcome frustration and pain, in short, just like in life, running a marathon is an exciting test, full of risks and opportunities.
The first time I went for a jog, about 4 years ago, I ran around the block and was left panting with my heart in my throat, feeling like I couldn’t take another step. I remember the first time I managed a kilometer, because of the way I was dazed and even dizzy from the effort. Later, in the Clínica Bíblica race, I did the first 12 Kms. with a number on my chest, excited because that day I became a runner. Because they say that the difference between those who run and those who jog is that those who run… compete.
Of course, I warn that I don’t run fast and that among my friends, my road companions, I am one of the slow ones. But that doesn’t matter to me, because I compete with me and what I can overcome one year at a time, one outing at a time. In fact, in the first marathon in Chicago I had the scariest cramps in the history of mankind, which knocked me to the ground and almost didn’t let me finish. However, with the support of the people and not a few tears on my face, I made it to the finish line in a pathetic 5 hours and 16 minutes. There were 7 of us from Tribu for this marathon, after a year of hard training, and in my case, back-to-back injuries.
A year later we returned to Chicago to “take the nail out of my head”. And the way I defined that I would do it was very simple: finish the race without suffering. In fact, the goal was achieved after having a great time with my marathon companions that day: Osvaldo Mora, Orlando Soto and Federico Pacheco. They all took a few minutes of advantage of me, to mark my time in 4 hours 56 minutes, without suffering and rather, having lived an unforgettable experience in the company of my fellow marathoners. On this occasion, we traveled with about 40 friends, including runners, wives, sons, daughters and family members of the group we call DSQ.
In the last marathon, which we ran last December 10 in Las Vegas, we were 4 of Tribu in the streets of the Nevada desert, Joaquin Brenes, Giovanni Sanchez and I, running, and Alexandra, my wife, who has not missed these opportunities to be there and support. This time, however, I had a better preparation, less suffered and more planned. Telma Zúñiga guided us in the last months of training, and because of everything added up, I was able to make a time that I did not suspect possible, improving 37 minutes my record of 2005 and finishing in 4 hours 19 minutes. Of my teammates, Giovanni got his wish and reached 3:29, while Quincho also achieved his goal and went under four hours, closing in 3:59.
Marathon running is an exercise in life. It is a test of determination and a clear demonstration of obsessive capacity. You see? It’s hard to think about finishing long distances or achieving goals if there’s nothing more than an idea, because at the end of the day, getting there is a matter of execution, of fulfilling a work quota, of reaching and managing resources. In fact, the only thing I have achieved is to finish three marathons, but I am far from being even the e with which the word example begins. On the contrary, and for this reason, I tell this story for nothing more than to share this new passion in my life, and to ask you, what is your passion? What are you running today and in what direction? Are you sure you have an end in mind? Are we willing to pay the price? Do we know what it takes to reach our goals? Who are we feeding off of? How much are we paying each day to our illusion? Are you putting first things first? Do I understand how much I need others to reach my goals?
For this year I trust God that I will be able to run my fourth marathon. I’ve started the year a little bit apprehensive, but always determined to shave a few minutes off the timer of my own competition with myself. This time, I have turned to look for more help, and for this reason, with Max Brenes we have already discovered important deficiencies in potassium and magnesium, as well as a low physical condition that I have decided to improve. Also, we detected an excessive percentage of fat in my body, yiack, and for this reason, I have chosen to go to the gym and gain lean tissue, which by the way, I use to improve hydration. All in all, maybe I will keep the gorilla Cramp out of my life, who is always looming in the background. With the nutritionist Hannia León, I have been swallowing protein like never before, and trying to improve the eating disaster that I normally have had, and for this reason, I have also decided to balance my diet. Telma Zúñiga is the guide in the preparation for the races themselves, while Natalia Brenes helps with the weights. For the rest, I would not achieve anything without the support at home, and that of my fellow fellow runners in DSQ and Tribu, who are the daily grind and do not allow me to falter. To all of you, always grateful, and to you, who have read this far… if you feel like running, let me know and I’ll connect you to get you started. If you are a runner and want to get up early, let me know and we’ll go to La Sabana. Although most likely your race is another, yours and your own, so I guess you will take your own paths and your own preparation. The important thing is not to give in, not to slacken, not to give up.
In everything that has to be balanced in our lives, and everything that must be taken care of to achieve harmony and a holistic experience of our existence, it is worth saying that I am convinced that there is not a single career that we cannot conclude, and that if we persevere, we will indeed achieve our dreams until we see them in reality.
