DAY 5 - MADRID

The Madrid leg has an interesting course, the Jarama F1 Circuit. But instead of fast cars, we would be on our feet going around eleven times on the course. The number of loops seemed daunting to me. I was already imagining myself slugging through at the tail end. I wanted to shake this off.  Having negative emotions and thoughts early in the game is not good. It messes with your mind and body. 

I was looking forward to this course because some friends said they would be there. Erica and Kristine are two of my good friends who now live in Madrid. I couldn’t wait to hug them and have them be with me at the finish line. 

The course has various elevations that I chunked and labeled in my mind. The first part is the steady work phase. Here I just kept a steady pace using my work mode breathing. Then there was an ascent that I treated as the recovery phase where I can take a bit of a breather. Then we moved to another steady work phase that led into the breathing zone. This part is a mild downhill one with stronger wind. Here I tried to let go and just do belly breathing. At several points I even closed my eyes and just breathed deeply. Then another ascent for “recovery” leading to a short steady work zone. The last part is the ease zone where I go gently and start to slow down my pace and breathing in preparation for yet another start. Dividing the course this way helped me go through the multiple loops as well as reframe the difficult uphill as a recovery zone. 

A run with several loops is a lesson on beginning again. You have several chances to begin again, to start anew. It is a positive spin to a repetitive cycle. But for someone who is exhausted, the thought of starting over is a little too much. The loops started to get to me.

Good thing that my friend Erica brought her immense and infectious energy as she showed up with red pom-poms at the end of  round five. Her sheer presence and tight hug gave me the boost of energy that I needed. Plus she brought real food- empanada, hamon and post race Pinoy food of adobo, mongo with white rice and ube cake. The thought of having these instead of the usual race snacks and after-race pizza did wonders to my psyche. 

Despite this though, I could not will myself to go faster. I was worried that if I put extra pressure on my already vulnerable leg muscles these would cramp up and I would have a much harder time . But maybe because I was also getting mentally tired and the thought of driving a little harder was too much for my weary mind. 

So I called Gabby and asked him to be with me till the end of the run. To just be there from loops 8 to 11. I needed company as I tackled the last stretch of those uphills and downhills. He just spoke about how the kids were this past week and how lucky we were to have such good kids. He shared some work stuff that he is sorting out in his head. We spoke about how important it is to have someone to be with, someone to anchor you when you are going through something hard or when you are tackling a big challenge. A few times he just listened to my laboured breathing. 

Then on the tenth loop I see another person waiting for me. My friend Kristine made it. It was a bit of a trip for her but she was there waiting for me because she promised she would see me. And maybe because I also mentioned to her this dream of a run even before she moved to Madrid. Such joy to see Kristine who I met at a retreat almost a decade ago. 

Then another person welcomed me as he introduced himself. He says “Hi I am Marc, your physio” I think my smile said it all. He is just what I needed after the run. Gillian once again found a way to help and support me from where she was, pulling through a challenging task. She worked hard to ensure that Marc said yes to have a session with me at the race finish. Good thing that he just lived fifteen minutes away. Thanks too to my fellow runner and Spanish influencer Esteffi for making this race so popular all over Spain media that he caught wind of it. I was already looking forward to the end of the race with my two good friends and a physio. 

The last loop was an energetic one, boosted by the people who I will be with at the finish line. I ended my chat with Gabby and told him how grateful I am for all his support. I wanted him to feel my heartfelt thanks even as he already knows how I appreciate him so much. I straighten myself up and ease into a joyful jog to the finish line. 

I was happily welcomed by my “crew” and then Immediately ushered to my treatment area. Marc set up his physio table and equipment and strapped me on fancy boots with icy water circulating to help my legs relax. It felt good. Then my friends helped me get some food and sort through my stuff. We chatted and laughed, tried to do a bit of catch up while all the activity was happening around us. I was happy to be surrounded by friends who are like family. I hope that I can be that kind of friend to them too when they need me. 

Now the mad scramble to shower and pack starts. I get a quick wash and go back to my friends aiming to at least have a bit more of precious catch up time with them. They help me get my things in order and see me off on the bus. My heart is full having spent this fifth race with Erica and Kristine. Short but priceless. 

By now the process of going through the boarding counter to security to immigration is carried out in autopilot. I am in such a daze, constantly hungry and tired, that this part of the journey passes by in a blur. Our group goes through this motion after the race in quiet solidarity, with just the slightest of murmurs. I do wonder what goes through their minds. Perhaps similar to what goes on in mine- done with another one, now let’s move on to the next. Let’s keep going. Same as in life.