Thanks a lot, Nigel, Andy and Brian. Although I dreamt about doing around four hours thirty, I´m glad because I managed to arrive without any injuries feeling not too bad. Yesterday, I learnt about a man who got to km 42 and fainted due to dehydratation and had to be taken to hospital. It must be terrible.
Nigel, I´m glad you had a good time in Sicily. It´s wonderful to be able to relax after a marathon. On Monday, when I was at school I felt exhausted after the marathon and the whole trip.
Yes, Andy, I knew it wouldn´t be very wise to spend Friday night travelling by coach. I´d preferred going by train sleeping on a couchette but there´s no night train any more. Anyway, I think that on Saturday night I slept very well making up the time lost. As far as cava is concerned, it was just a little glass and I had a lot of time to assimilate it. I felt all right after it even though I´m not used to drinking alcohol but as I had eaten a lot before it was al right. By the way, I´ve got to get Carlsberg beer to celebrate your success in Copenhagen.
I´ve been resting these days but this morning I went jogging for thirty minutes doing the same course than last Thursday, along the port and I felt better than I´d expected. I was also at my physiotherapist to have a discharge massage. Now, my goal is to run a half marathon under two hours. I may go to Almansa in the province of Albacete on 22nd May or if I´m not all right yet, I´d wait to 20th June in Albacete.
I think I should do more speed and more hills to be a little faster.
I was thinking of doing another marathon in autumn. I had in mind San Sebastián, which is very flat but Dublin sounds great. I liked Ireland a lot when I travelled on bicycle nearly twenty years ago. I went from Dublin to Limerick, Killarney- I loved the ring of Killarney, Cork and back to Dublin. The people were very friendly. However, I don´t know if I´ll be able to go abroad at the end of October. I want to apply for London marathon next year. I´ve heard through Nigel, Andy and more people that it is wonderful. Besides, it´s easier to get an entry for overseas runners. That way we all could meet in Lonodn.
Thanks for the photos, Brian. I look a bit tired at the one you took me after picking up my bag at the tent. It was great to meet you in Madrid. It´s really wonderful that you decided to help as a volunteer when you realised that you weren´t in good conditions to run. It must be interesting to see the marathon from another side. I´m looking forward to going to Galicia and doing "Camino de Santiago" on bicycle, not running
. If we go this summer, we´ll have a "Torta de Santiago", for instance. You can also come to the south although it is hotter here. You´ll be welcome here. Good luck with everything.
Best wishes, everybody.
Antonio
PS. By the way, Andy. Do you know how Suzie did Stratford marathon?
Madrid marathon. Second part.
