agrdecemos 
"The wall does not exist," said a fellow asphalt bike with him when a section of the Seville Marathon, to get to mile 35 and I asked how he felt. He, like so many of us refused to stop running despite a knee injury ...
Because of the long rainy season in Spain, the fear of slipping on a wet sidewalk or street and getting hurt, I began to think, train up and down stairs. The idea seemed perfect, as well as cardio training, muscle strength could work. But do not expect that the sudden change of motion exercise and injury leave me (still undiagnosed) in my right knee. Since my arrival in Europe, I have had to face a number of drawbacks, and me unable to walk for a month and 2 months to train, made my whole world collapses. Among my sporting goals for this year, had planned to run the marathon in Seville in February and Rome in March under 4 hours, but the sudden break made me rethink my plans. In Seville I did no more than 3 kilometers patojo and Rome was to be seen (had to wait for a miracle).
I had it all paid and armed the trip, at least wanted to attend the party held in Rome for his famous marathon and go to the peloton and is to open up a few kilometers later. A friend traveled to Warsaw and we are in Rome for some sightseeing 2 days before, the evening before the race, knee bothered to walk again. Each time I felt more impossible the idea of \u200b\u200bcrossing the finish line with an injury and 2 months without training.
The moments before the race were moments of anxiety and excitement as thousands of athletes, attendants, reporters, cameramen, artists, etc all around the Roman Coliseum. People of all ages, abilities and colors waiting for the time 0. I can not describe choked with emotion he had to see the famous coliseum behind me and being surrounded by all those who call us "finishers" with the illusion to the surface. My knee is bothering me a lot and it cost me believe that even before the marathon, had to cross the famous "wall." I had to see who was ahead of me, I had written on his shirt the phrase "There is no wall" and I suddenly remembered that "The wall does not exist" in Seville. Deep breath and started to walk among the sea of \u200b\u200bpeople ...
The first 21 miles tried to keep going, 3 km from knee hurt all the time. I focused on the beer-and breathing but every time we had to go through the stretches of pavement had to focus on where to step and the pain became more intense. I noticed that there were other poor mortals off with an injury and maliciously that gave me more encouragement. Little by little I saw how they went from my pacers, 4:00, 4:15 and 4:30 ... my idea of \u200b\u200blosing 4am and it was impossible but I maintained the illusion complete. The scenery was amazing, people shouting in the streets, bands playing, ruins and landmarks in each section go on and make me a moment. Definitely go through the Vatican listening to "forced donna" and encouragement of other runners filled me with a lot of energy to continue after midnight. By mile 25 my legs were charged lactic acid and I weighed more and more. Upon arriving at 35 and re-enter the stretch of pavement made me lose a lot of pace despite knowing there was but little. When I thought myself to walk out of the blue, a pair of Italian riders began to encourage me, one had fatigue for more than 20 marathons in his life and the other a foot injury. The 3 were talking and laughing about my Italian twist, when you declined, there were 2 that encouraged other. Definitely the "piano, piano" (soft, smooth), we passed the Plaza Spain, the Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Venezia to finally see our ultimate goal, the Roman Colosseum where we started and where the race ended. View 42 km would have seemed impossible a few days ago, even hours ago but there we were in the final push, the 3 holding hands across the line with the same lump in my throat that I started the race and recalling the same sentence beginning: "The wall does not exist!".
Thanks for sharing these moments in the distance.
wants and thinks,
- Veronica Vargas
