Interview with Carlos Rodriguez

Today we have the pleasure of chatting with a very humble and fast runner, Carlos Rodriguez, who recently came 3rd in the 2019 edition of the famous race «Jean Bouin».

How old are you?
I am 27 years old. I was born in 1992, the year of the Olympic Games in Barcelona and the Universal Exhibition in Seville.

How and when did you start running?

I started running 10 years ago, in 2009, when I was in the «youth» category. Back then you could still run with a cotton shirt, there were no chips on the numbers, but bar codes.

Although I had been doing sports for a few years now , I used to go out with the bicycle and I practiced «parkour», a sport that began to become popular in the late 2000s. In the first years I have competed especially in popular and cross-country races.

Do you remember the first race you ran?
My first race and for which I started running was the 2009 Santa Catalina de Alejandría Race, organized by the institute where I was studying. At the end of the race, as tradition dictates, a dish of migas and sardines are distributed to celebrate the day of the co-patron Saint of Jaén. I did not see the trophy ceremony and it was only a few days later that I learned that I had finished in 3rd position in my category.

And the last one?
The last race was the Jean Bouin Open 2019, last Sunday, November 24. I was especially excited to be 3rd overall in this famous race in Barcelona. Although this was not my personal best (32:45), it was my best position. This race is special for me as it was the first one I did in Barcelona and because every year my countrymen come from Jaén to compete.

How did you decide that this would be your sport?
I didn’t decide it at any time, I just liked the feeling of running and the bug of competing. There is a greenway that connects Jaén with Puente Genil next to the house and this is where I went out 3 times a week to run with the club that hosted the «Alcazaba-Jaén Clima». They engaged me in this sport, for which I will always be grateful.

Your Personal Best?

    15:17 5km
    31:53 10km
    1:10:32 Half Marathon

Goals for the future?
Last year I started competing on the track to try new experiences. I felt like a rookie again and I loved it, especially the 3,000 m flat and hurdles competitions. In the short term, I’m aiming for the Catalan Field Championship through the night of San Antón 2020. Later, I will think about the track competitions.

How and when do you train normally?
During the season I usually train about 6 days a week interspersing stronger workouts (fartlek, series, slopes …) with softer sessions of about 30 or 40 minutes.

What club do you run for?
I have run with the club «l’Hospitalet Atletisme» since 2018. Previously I ran with «La Sansi» (2017) and «Alcazaba Jaén-Clima» (2010-2016).

Do you go out with any other group?
On running days I like to go out with other people and thanks to that I have met many people in Barcelona. When I arrived in 2016, I met «Wednesdays are Sunday», a group of people who liked to run and then have a good time in the great Domingo Catalan sports store. Later I met the «Casual Runners» that run every Monday through Montjuic. It is a very dynamic and international group in which you meet many interesting people from different countries while enjoying some sport.

What advice would you give an amateur runner?
To run for themselves and to not show up to others, to not be obsessed with times and be aware of their own limits at all times. A marathon is something that most people could do, but only with enough prior training that can be 6 months or several years. Do not be influenced by fashion – to run you only need some shoes and sometimes not even that. But above all, always enjoy this sport because the most important thing is consistency.

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