Valencia’s sun-kissed streets still hold the echoes of over thirty-thousand runners’s pounding feet, a week after the 2023 marathon. It wasn’t a PB-crushing victory I’d dreamt of, clocking in at 3:55:03. But reflecting on the memories, Valencia will go down as one special race for me.
For the first time, Emily showed up not only at the finish line, but also at the soul-crushing 30km mark. She spotted me from the crowd, shouted my name, and ran ahead a short distance to capture a moment of me in action. A marathon isn’t just a physical feat, it’s a testament to the unseen support network that carries you. Seeing her – at that particular moment just before the infamous wall – brought tears to my eyes.
The start was electric. Tens of thousands of runners, pumped up by high tempo catchy club music, all buzzing with anticipation. I stood among them, holding out my phone trying to capture the moment, breathing in the cool 10°C air filled with nervous excitement. We were more than just participants; but dreamers, united by the hope of conquering those 42 grueling kilometers.
With similar paces within our start pen, a thousand people with different backgrounds all became one with similar rhythm pounding on the street. We’d trained in solitude, fueled by silent dreams and solitary miles. Here, we were a chorus, pounding the pavement with a shared heartbeat, cheering each other on.
The infamous wall – the sudden loss of energy in the long race – as it always does, creeped up shortly after the 30km mark. It was disappointing to see all the surplus accumulated in the first 30km gradually eroded. With both 3:40 and PR goal out of the window and sub-4 a certainty, I’m no longer bounded by the tyranny of reaching the clock and free to truly enjoy the surrounding and atmosphere during those 6-7km of slow walk-jog.
The final kilometers were a beautiful concoctions of emotions. The path narrowed, flanked by a thickening flow of supporters. “Vamos!” they roared, each cheer lessening the lactic acid build up and quickening my cadence. Children offered high fives, their smiles sunshine in my weary eyes. The blue carpet in sight, last few hundred meters to the finish line. People were hugging, crying, faces turned skyward in silent thanks. Was it over? Could it last longer? Could I do it all over again?
Practical Tips:
- The race entries sell out quickly – so buy it early. They offer full refund for a small insurance fee.
- It’s a huge race. Plan to get to your start pen early – like an hour before at least.
- Race weekend in Valencia does feel a little crowded, but not insane. Spanish lunch and dinner hours are very late. So if you eat normal hours, you should be able to get tables at restaurants
- I got in to Spain from Singapore via Madrid on Wed, took train to Valencia on Friday for race on Sunday. It was sufficient to acclimatize to cooler temperature and time zone difference.
- I carried 8 gels (1 for every 5km, including one consumed at the start). Water and sport drinks every 5km, on both side of the course.
Keane Nguyen 