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I don't know what it is right now but everything goes just fine. I feel so happy with everything I am doing. Although my week has been very busy it was fun to be back home and at work. Training has been quite ok but still I felt not that sure how my shape would be seven days after going down from altitude. I remembered that my friend Jefferson Perez competed quite a few times seven days after altitude. I have been so many times to altitude but this time I competed for the first time seven days after coming home. Stephan and I left home Friday afternoon and stayed in Barcelona for the night before going to Ibiza next morning. This was just perfect for me! The trip to Spain went well and I got enough rest before the race.

The race went well, too. Beatrice Pascal (ESP) took the lead from the first meters and she made sure we walked faster then most of us had thought we would do in this race. Vera Santos (POR) and I walked side by side and Claudia Stef (ROM) followed just behind. Although Beatrice had a lead of 10m at around 600m we were all together again after one lap of 1km. I felt fine and continued in the same pace we had put up to catch Beatrice. I soon understood that I had a good day after altitude and decided to go on in the same pace at least until 5km. Then I had a safe lead. I had two choices, to secure the lead and win the race or to continue walking 1km lap's between 4.20 and 4.24 to go for the competition record. Since I felt good I decided to go for the record. It's a long time since I have walked for a fast time and it was nice to have this focus again :-)I won the race in 43:21, four seconds faster then the previous record.
Susana Feitor (POR) walked a very smart race. She started in her own tempo and walked faster the last 5km than the first. This gave her a third place in the race just five seconds behind Claudia Stef who became second in 44:03. Vera Santos followed in 4th and Beatrice Pascal in 5th place.

Paquillo Fernandez (ESP) controlled the Men's race from the beginning and won the 20km race in 1.21.42 He looked very relaxed and well recovered after his 50km debut three weeks ago.

It's always nice to compete in Spain. There they bring the walking to the people, by having the competitions in the center of the cities. That way, always many spectators are following the event and make sure we have a good atmosphere.

It was also nice to get some ekstra points for the Overall Challenge. Top three women after this race are:
1) Kjersti Plätzer NOR 18p
2) Ines Henriques POR 10p
3) Susana Feitor POR 10p

Next week my farewell tour goes on, this time in Rio Maior, Portugal...

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Results

European Athletics

Susana Feitor

 

2009-03-29