Corra! Taco! Andele!: Running a 5k in Madrid

To say our friend Pauley is an avid runner is an understatement. So, we weren't surprised that he suggested running a 5k while we were in Madrid. I said I would run the 5k with him, but Brandon passionately refused (also not a surprise). Instead, Brandon was our race photographer. This race was not the running of the bulls, but besides normal race photos he also took pictures with a toy bull pretending to chase people. Keep an eye out for an eventual post that puts those pictures into a pictorial story for everyone. 

As Pauley is recovering from a major knee surgery, I thought I might actually get to run with him, not just in the same race as him. But, when a couple weeks out from the race he stated that he was already running close to 7 minute miles, I knew we would not be running partners. Alas. But, I was excited for him; I would rather have him running that well than be my lowly running partner. Not that I'm that terrible of a runner myself...a pace somewhere between 8 and 8.5 minute miles is more than reasonable. 

Despite the jet lag we dragged ourselves out of bed (well, I dragged...Pauley was pumped up on Andrew W.K. music for the race) and left the house around 8 am for the 9 am race start. We navigated the metro system to Retiro Park and followed other runners to the race start line and toward the sound of amped-up American pop music that always greets runners. There Pauley warmed up for the race, and Brandon helped me duct tape my running bib on. Note to others: safety pins do not appear to be provided to race runners in Madrid. I guess people must bring their own. Good thing Brandon can nearly always be counted on for good old, versatile duct tape. 

Pre-race photo

Pauley doing his pre-race warm up. The duct tape is holding up well.  

After standing a few more minutes in the queue to the start line surrounded by throngs of native Spanish speakers and blaring American pop music, the 5k finally began. Away we went. 

Where's Pauley? Standing in a sea of people at the start line. 

There he is! 

The 5k begins

Along the course, we each saw Brandon three times photographing us and cheering us on with phrases such as "go, go, go", "taco, taco, taco", and "run, run, run". That was the best part of the 5k. Especially since around the 3 km mark of the course there was a grueling hill to contend with that made me swear multiple times inside my head. 

Pauley moving forward through the crowd

Can you find me in the crowd? It was a slow start. I should have squeezed my way more forward in the start area. 

Running and smiling due to Brandon's encouraging cries of "taco!" 

Pauley looking like he's going to run over the guy in front of him 

Me in action in the same area a little bit later

Pauley nearing the finish

He's almost done!

Working hard to run after that horrible hill 

Rounding the final turn 

Almost done. Hallelujah. 

But, we persevered to the end and completed the race. Our final times were 20:30 for Pauley and 25:19 for me. Pauley placed 19th for men in his age group, and I placed 14th for women in my age group. Not too shabby, especially with that horrible hill to contend with. We also succeeded in finding each other after the race. Hurrah! We slowly ambled through Retiro Park back to the apartment working our legs out a little rather than take the metro back. 

We look a bit more bedraggled, but we finished the 5k. 

The lovely Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) in Retiro Park that we saw as we walked home

Our photographer posing with the toy bull and sipping on a juice box he got from my post-race running bag