The athlete's graduation comes loaded with learning, anecdotes and the eternal victory of having managed to cover 42,196 kilometers in one stride. This challenge is for those who decide to spend 3, 4 or more hours giving steps to the asphalt to keep the medal in their soul.

In my case, I made my debut in the Miami Marathon two months after completing the IronMan 70.3 in Cartagena. Here I share the 5 lessons that my first marathon left me with.

1. Running in the negative

This is, in short, running with strategy. Until now, I had always run all kinds of races driven by sensations and the occasional plan to speed up here or there. But this was the first time that I and my coach mapped out a course of paces, intensities and segments that we could call “Negative Running.”

This strategy consists, if we were talking about football, in giving the ball to the opponent and winning the match in the second half when he is tired. Speaking of running, it consists of starting below the expected pace (i.e. slower) and performing different blocks with changes of pace that are above and below the threshold to reach the end of the course with legs to finish and comply with the plan.

2. The crash against the wall

The wall is a common place in conversations about the marathon, and surely everyone has that ghost in their head, in their legs or in their stomach. In my case, after kilometer 30, I started to feel aches and pains that I never had during the training process, my mind began to feel desperate to finish and my legs stopped responding with speed.

This wall, like life itself, must be overcome with the resources we have at hand. In my case, by using maximum concentration, remembering every word of encouragement from my family and carrying the load together with the friend with whom I had the opportunity to walk every meter. The wall must be overcome with legs, with punches, with nails, with kicks or with the heart. Each kilometer, those that are easy and those that are not, must be embraced with love or faced with courage. Every step counts.

3. The important thing is the detail

Short and middle distances do not reveal the importance of details as much as marathons. At some point, the type of fabric you are wearing, your socks, your shoes and even the weight of your watch start to add up, or subtract.

In my case, after kilometer 25, I regretted not having applied creams to some areas where chafing appeared. Yes, there. And also on the inner side of the biceps. Neglecting these details will mean scrapes, burns and even a possible reason to throw in the towel.

4. The food

This step is fundamental, it was fundamental. Planning your diet before and during the race sets the tone for such important issues as performance, stomach ailments and cramps. It is necessary to think in detail about what you are going to eat in the days before and what will go into each moment of the race.

For this, it is good to go to a professional who can help us determine how much salt and carbohydrate we need on this path. In many cases, the image of the athlete arriving at the finish line, stretched out, has to do with a poor diet behind that photo, which for some may seem epic, but in reality is evidence of irresponsibility and excessive damage to the body.

In terms of details, you should also consider clothing and accessories that allow you to carry food. Shorts with pockets on the back and number holders are a good and comfortable option.

5. The marathon calls

Running kilometer 32-33, I thought that perhaps I had asked my body to do so much. 10 kilometers later, the sea of ​​doubts cleared. However, I was certain that this is a distance that must be approached with respect and self-love.

We are talking about asking the legs for many hours of continuous impact, prolonged sun or rain and hundreds of emotions that can range from anger to euphoria.

We have to let the marathon call us, let intuition, experience and the professionals who accompany us give us the endorsement. We have to add kilometers, short races, half marathons and some years to face this challenge. Speeding up this process can mean the debut and farewell of this story that many want to tell.