Seville Half Marathon 2025
How I smashed all of my PRs.
Spoiler Alert / TL;DR:
For the past couple of months, I’ve been documenting my training block and preparation for my first Half Marathon in years, which took place this past Sunday. Throughout this journey, I carefully structured my training, followed a plan, and put in the effort - but there was always the hanging question: would it actually work?
Well, I finally put it to the test. And the result? I absolutely smashed all my previous personal records - not just by a few seconds, not even by my planned limits, but by far more than I expected. It was a huge success, and I couldn’t be happier.
Now, I want to share the full story with you - all the key details, insights, and lessons learned. Everything that compliments my previous posts about the plan and structure that I’ve used to achieve this gol. So this race marks the conclusion of one training block and the exciting beginning of the next one.
Here’s the full plan and training structure I followed. Now, let’s break down how the final test went and how I approached it to achieve success.
That said, it’s worth mentioning that this was my first time going through this exact process. There might be areas for improvement, and who knows—next time, I might try something different, for better or worse. Let’s dive in and find out!
The week before …
The final week, as it was a taper one, it was a week of my preparation involved resting and getting my body ready for the race. I spent a lot of time tracking weather forecasts, hoping for good temperatures and sunny skies on the day of the event. However, that week in Portugal, turned out to be an especially wet one. Monday through Thursday saw constant downpours, even with occasional thunderstorms. This proved to be an unfortunate omen for the race ahead. I was crossing my fingers for a good weather in Seville, but as I was approaching to the final weekend the announcements were not so great.
Starting on Thursday, I began increasing my carb intake, focusing on simple sources like pasta, white bread, and my go-to PowerBar cookie bars. However, I didn’t want to overdo it - more carbs mean more calories, and ultimately, potential weight gain, which wasn’t exactly part of the plan.
It's important to note that during the first couple of days this week, my performance metrics were not as strong as expected. Specifically, my recovery period saw an average heart rate variability (HRV) of approximately 80 ms, which did not improve or even slightly decrease, making it a less positive indicator prior to the final test. Was a bit scared, but let’s wait I said…
Saturday
My trip to Seville was pretty straightforward. I caught a bus from Faro around 10:30 AM and arrived in Seville just after 2 PM (different time zones). From there, I grabbed an Uber and headed straight to the Expo at the San Pablo Pavilion. I was in a bit of a hurry since the organizers had sent a message a few days earlier, advising to pick up race packs on Friday to avoid the long Saturday queues. So, I braced myself for a wait - but to my surprise, there was none. Picking up my race number, T-shirt, and goodie bag was quick and effortless. The goodie bag itself wasn’t anything special, just the usual race-day freebies. I took a quick lap around the Expo, which was set up like most others - some booths with running gear, gadgets, and nutrition products, but nothing particularly exciting. After about 30 minutes, I left and made my way to my hotel. It was sunny and warm so I decided to walk, about 2.5K, eventually a great shakeout for my legs before the race.
I booked a room at Hotel Giralda Center through Booking.com, aiming for something close to the race venue without spending a fortune for just one night (around 150 EUR, breakfast included). A major plus was the late checkout at 12 AM, which gave me plenty of time to get back after the race - set to start at 9 AM - take a quick shower, pack up, and head out without rushing.
Upon arrival, I was greeted by a cheerful receptionist who informed me that, due to the race, breakfast would be served from 6:30 AM instead of the usual 7 AM - a thoughtful touch for runners. My room was on the third floor, overlooking the street. It was spacious, modern, perfectly clean, and equipped with everything I needed for a comfortable stay. After unpacking, I made myself a quick coffee and relaxed for a bit, watching some Spanish reality show - not that I had any idea what was going on! 😅
It was time for a proper pre-race dinner. I had my mind set on something Italian - pasta or maybe a light pizza. But before that, I took a quick walk to the city center to check out the race venue, my entrance zone, and the famous María Luisa Park. I did a short loop, snapped a few photos, and checked the stunning surroundings of Plaza de España. The weather was warm and sunny - ideal for sightseeing, and for race day you would say. Unfortunately, after checking multiple weather apps, I saw a consistent forecast: rain, though at least it might be relatively warm.
Back to my dinner plans - I searched for nearby Italian restaurants and headed to one, only to find it fully booked. No big deal, I thought, and walked to another spot close by. Fully booked as well. Suddenly, my pasta plan was looking questionable.
In the end, I settled for a marinara pizza to go from one of the places and took it back to my hotel room. Not quite what I originally envisioned, but it did the job. I ate slowly, mentally preparing myself for the big day ahead.
I gathered all my gear for race day - a pre-race ritual I swear by. Trust me, you'll be grateful in the morning when you're not frantically searching for socks, gels, or your bib. Do it every time before a race; it saves you from unnecessary stress.
Now, about the gear itself. I was a bit unsure about running in a singlet since the forecast predicted temperatures around 13-15°C. But I took the risk and went with it, this time well tested Ultraspun from Puma. As for the rest of my outfit, I wore my go-to Under Armour tights - hands down the best-performing shorts I’ve ever used. I've heard great things about others, but getting my hands on Lululemon or Soar gear is really hard. Maybe someday…
I also packed my race essentials: my cap (Nike Club Cap), gels with a hip belt, a soft flask for my race drink, socks, and, of course, my shoes - but more on those in a moment.
I checked my stats for the last time - it was around 120 HRV and 38 bpm of my RHR, which was a good indicator to race on the next day. Finally, went to bed.
Sunday - The Race Day
All right. I woke up around 6 AM after about six hours of sleep - not perfect, but decent quality at around 92%. I took a quick shower and headed down for breakfast.
The dining room was already buzzing with runners - you could tell immediately by the gear everyone was wearing. The breakfast spread was impressive - huge variety, well-balanced, and packed with everything you’d need to fuel up for the race. I stuck to my usual: toast with jam, some pastries, water, and coffee.
By 7 AM, I was back in my room, ready for my final race-day preparations. I filled up my soft flask with PowerBar electrolyte/carbohydrate drink for the race, and downed a full another bottle of it, hoping to… 💩 you know, take care of business. No luck tho. 😅 😜
With that, I geared up and started making my way to the venue. As I walked, I noticed more and more peps heading in the same direction, the race-day atmosphere building with every step. My excitement kept growing. ☺️
After about 20 minutes, I reached my assigned zone - the green corral. It’s worth mentioning that the stewards were checking everyone at the entrance to prevent overcrowding, which helped keep things organized. My initial plan was to enter the sub-1:50 zone, but as you probably already know, I had something else in mind. After dropping my backpack at the designated “tent”, I made my way into the sub-1:40 zone instead - no issues getting in.
There, I started a proper warm-up while more and more runners filled the area. Soon, it was getting packed. That’s when I realized two things:
I really needed to pee. 😓
I left my soft flask in the wardrobe area… not ideal.
The first problem was easy to solve - I found the nearest wall (yeah, not glamorous, but necessary). Huge criticism for the organizers here - there were no toilets in sight. I even saw some runners shitting behind trash bins, which was… not great (least said).
As for the second issue, going back to retrieve my soft flask was out of the question. I’d have to rely solely on my gels - thankfully, they were caffeinated, helping with carb absorption. Still, having water with electrolytes and extra carbs would have been the smarter choice - the best glycogen transfer you can imagine. Lesson learned.
The countdown had begun. 10 minutes!, the announcer called out.
Around me, runners were bouncing on their toes, shaking out their legs, squeezing in those last warm-up moves to stay loose. The energy was electric - excitement, nerves, focus.
5 minutes!
I did one final gear check - watch set, gels secured, shoelaces tight, nose strip in place, glasses on. Everything was good. I was ready. Then - right on cue - it started to rain. Perfect, I thought with a smirk. Just like that, the final shot rang out, and we were off!
The first 200 meters were chaotic, as expected. In races like this, everyone scrambles to find space, weaving through the crowd, dodging elbows, and carving out a lane. But after just a few seconds - right past the starting line - I locked into my pace.
At first, I thought it was too fast. I was hovering around 4:30/km, and a voice in my head warned, You're gonna burn out. But I ignored it and kept going.
The rain was relentless - not heavy, but constant. My glasses were a nightmare, alternating between fogging up and being splattered with raindrops. From moment to moment my vision was completely blurred, but I pushed forward.
4K in, still holding pace. Faster than expected. Thoughts raced through my head: Will I hit the wall? Or could I push even harder? 😅 Right at the 4K mark, I took my first gel - perfect timing with the upcoming water station, helping the carbs hit my muscles faster.
6K. 8K. 10K. I grabbed another gel, still locked into 4:30/km, sometimes even dipping into 4:20/km - what the hell?! I was flying! Gel at 12K. Gel at 16K. The rain never stopped. My vision was a mess, but at that point, I didn’t care.
Fuck that. Just run.
I skipped my final gel and went all in to the finish. Holding steady at 4:30/km, I crossed the line in 1:38. With final result of 1:35 on the HM distance.
😨 😲 😦 😧 🤭
FUCK. YEAH. What. A. Race.
I had trained to hit 1:45. Before the race, I thought 1:40 was possible. But this? A massive PR. I was so happy, thrilled, euphoric at once. That feelings and emotions were remarkable, hard to explain in wards. Seriously!
The Conditions
They were nothing like I had expected. But somehow, they turned out to be perfect.
The combination of moderate temperatures, near 99% humidity, and a completely overcast sky created an environment that allowed me to push my body to its absolute limits. No scorching sun, no brutal heat—just a raw, damp atmosphere that worked in my favor.
What’s even crazier? I wasn’t struggling at all. And what’s even more interesting I saw many people running just ahead of me stepping down from the route, struggling, cramping maybe? Maybe they overcounted their strengths? It was noticeable, never saw that many participants stepping out, well …
There were no dark moments, no walls to break through. I held my fastest pace ever, and yet my heart rate hovered at a steady 165 BPM - right at my threshold, but never beyond. I was on that fine line between maximum performance and total burnout (really?), floating effortlessly without crashing.
From start to finish, everything felt controlled, smooth, and perfectly in sync. It was one of those rare days when everything just clicks. Great!
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 – What a Name. What a Shoe.
Last but not least, the shoes… I had spent hours watching reviews, reading recommendations, and diving deep into the world of super shoes. I knew I needed a pair. At first, I stumbled upon a sale for the Puma Fast-R, a carbon-plated shoe at a ridiculously low price. I took the gamble, and honestly? Great choice. They delivered solid performance without breaking the bank.
But I wanted more. I needed more. I knew I had to stick with Adidas or Nike, and after much deliberation, I landed on the Adizero Adios Pro 3. The problem? The new Pro 4 had just launched, making any Pro 3 pairs insanely hard to find. So, I locked in my decision and went for the 3s.
First purchase? A total fail. The store sent me a completely different shoe - just a basic running model at half the price. Frustrating. But finally, I got my hands on the right pair - in the exact color I wanted.
I took them for a track session and a long run before race day, and the verdict? Phenomenal. Some YouTube reviews warned that the midsole was too firm, the upper wasn’t soft enough, and after long mileage, they might feel harsh. Not for me. They felt perfect - light, springy, and incredibly responsive. On race day, they just delivered. The bounce, energy return, and stability were unreal. The grip? Insanely good - especially on the wet tarmac we ran on. With the laces dialed in perfectly, I felt zero pressure, no chafing, nothing. Just pure speed.
And now? I’m already thinking about buying another pair for the future. Some might laugh - It’s just a shoe. No, no, no. This is way more than just a carbon-plated shoe. You have to try them to understand.
That’s a Wrap!
That’s it - thanks for reading, thanks for sharing!
Now, it’s time to shift gears and start preparing for the next challenge: the Lisbon Half Marathon on March 9th. This one will be different. Stay with me as I break down how I’m adjusting my training plan and diet to chase a new goal - sub-1:35 in the half marathon.
Let’s go! 🚀🏃♂️