Views from the City: The Madrid Marathon

Although all Fulbrighters come to Spain to teach English or conduct research, we have found different ways to translate our interests and talents into new means to integrate ourselves into Spanish society. In my case, volunteerism and guitar lessons have offered new insights into the dynamics of the rhythms that mark professional life and the performance of jazz music in Madrid. Other Fulbrighters have taken to language classes, dance lessons, church groups, and, in one case, capoeira classes to meet similar goals.

One individual, however, took it upon herself to prepare for her first marathon in Madrid. Seeing that I have never been to a Marathon, much less one in Spain, and wanted to support a friend and fellow runner, I took the chance to hang out around the Atocha Train Station in the south east area of downtown Madrid to cheer her on and make some observations about the 2009 Madrid Marathon.


A few things: there were 1800 total runners with only 500 women participating in the race. I cannot state a concrete reason for the lack of female runners in the event other than it seems that Spanish schools do not emphasize sports as a viable extra curricular activity for girls throughout their childhood and adolescence. As a result, it was impressive to see women of different ages pass by me on their way to the finish line. Age did not seem to be much of a factor in the demographics; people of all ages were running the race.


As for the observers, it was obvious that many people were enthusiastic about supporting their friends and the runners in general. In addition to a percussion band blasting out beats before the crowd and runners at my part of the race, it was common to hear people shouting 'animo' - literally cheer up/liven up - or 'venga,' which is a distinctly Spanish phrase used as an affirmation along the lines of 'yeah' in the States. My friend said she heard these phrases over and over during the race, which travelled throughout the center of Madrid. Needless to say, she appreciated hearing our cheers in another language aside from Spanish.

It was also touching to see the reactions of the family and friends of the runners at the end of the race in Parque de Buen Retiro. Some people were posing for photos, other people were carrying food for their loved ones, while a few individuals were standing next to their friends as they stretched out. Although I am quite sure these sights are quite typical at the end of a marathon, I will not forget one runner who, in true Spanish style, walked out of the participant's tent with a cup of Mahou beer. (Apparently a keg was set up for the runners at the end of the race; no word if a table of tapas was set up nearby.)

In our case, we simply greeted our friend with cheers and feliciations over accomplishing an incredible feat of endurance and discipline. So my hats off to Kristen, a job well done!