It is almost one year since I’ve clocked a good 3:13:37 at the Valencia Marathon. Now, with the latest events in one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, I felt saddened, and I was also expecting for the marathon, from 2024, to be cancelled. Hundreds of deaths in the region, after historic floods, followed by riots, painful tears, protests and a general estate of grief. Valencia became different. After weeks of silence, the organizers of the marathon, announced, though, that the event will move forward, As a symbol of resilience, of unity, of power to pass the huge misfortune. I am not sure how the general population will react. What I do know is that Spanish people have a very high social conscience, they jump to help the one next to them, and in the end they could embrace this decision.  I am pretty sure the organizers of the event did a very deep due diligence to pulse the spirits of the locals. Otherwise this event, I am sure, wouldn’t be held.

Part of Valencia, only one year ago

While I was sure it won’t be organized, and I was a bit upset about the decision, in such a sensitive moment, after analyzing the output, and remembering how Valencia and Spain are really like, I can say that from the outside it looks to be the best decision possible. The event not only can help financially and empathetically the city, but it is prone to boost significantly the morals, the hope. Valencia is one of the main marathon events in the world. Running is a sport reachable by everybody. So, in this way, the energies, all positive, can contribute to heal the sadness provoked by the natural tragedies, at a great pace. When writing this, I almost relive the moments when I was struggling with the sun beating my head just 12 months before. For sure, I would like to return to the event at some point in life. I don’t know if it will happen. What I do know is that I do not want to hear news regarding Valencia, like the ones at the end of October. Valencia really deserves the best it can get!