Race Reports: Barcelona Marathon 2025

Mel Holden

The first race of the season.

After a big, busy racing year last year, I have been apprehensive about what 2025 brings. I knew I had built a lot of fitness and foundations were laid, starting with more self-belief / confidence, but still the goals of achieving events are there.

Mindset & Confidence

A big 2025 goal is to believe in myself and race with more self-confidence, I have been capable of so much yet I still always doubt my abilities.

Even going into this Barcelona Marathon, it was my 5th standalone Marathon, 6th if you include the run at Challenge Roth, I was still unsure how it would go and what I would do. Deep down wanting to PB but building in the self-confidence and self-care. My pre-race attitude was:

It’s okay not to PB.
First marathon abroad (aside from ROTH) so enjoy the experience.
Enjoy running with the gratitude I get to do this and soak it in.

Race Day

Race morning was an early start to get the metro – although we left a bit too early, we wandered near the start / bag drop and the sights, headed for a pre-race coffee at Starbucks as it opened, and used the facilities.

Then off we went to the start. Shane was of course in an earlier wave so we headed to bag drop and off to our starting zones.

I stood patiently, waiting to start chatting to those who would chat to me at the start, I had my caffeine gel around 20mins before my start time, the crowds of Barcelona were buzzing, the start line had a band to see us off.

I told myself stick to the plan, don’t go off too hard (I have a tendency to do this) and build into the race, fuel every 30 minutes or so of a gel / chew.

Already?!

Around 3km I started to need a wee. I thought “already?!” but thought it was maybe just the race adrenaline, but no, at 5km it was getting uncomfy – so the next portaloo I made a dash for it. Back to it, “don’t worry” I told myself, “stick to the pace”.

Taking in the sites, enjoying the new place, there was quite a few turns but lots to see and lots of spectators – ‘Vamos Mel’ ‘Allez Allez Allez’ they shouted as I passed, even a narrow funnel with close crowds, and segments where the course doubles back. I realised the same colour numbers as Shane were on the other side of the course – looking for bright Yellow Adizeros and his red vest – I spotted Shane he shouted “2km to go”, I thought “great … I’ve got a-lot more!” I was on around 27km … but thought still doing well in myself, I carried on, the sun making an appearance, the beach views down the coast were lovely then bit back to the city.

Belief

I had done around 28km in training (I have done a marathon before but knew it is now it gets hard) at this point it was a bit dull and the hard bit started creeping in – 10/12km to go, I told myself “come on Mel, just over 2 park runs”, chunking the distance.

I came to a sign for 25miles, I was in pain but thought “don’t give up now, you’re so close now” … I dug deep, locked in, kept the cadence and with a little message to myself – “believe!”

I was making it, I came round corner, after corner hearing the roars of the crowds, the finish felt soooo far away but then it appeared. The arc de triomph in the distance with the finish banner, I kicked on and gave my all to the end – I looked down at my watch and saw 3:46 … PB! Beat my 3:49 last year 🙌🏻🥳💃🏼

I cheered my way to collect my medal with a huge grin – I was chuffed with the PB but most importantly I had done it, I believed in myself to the end and proved again to myself I am still progressing despite not always feeling like I am.

Great start to the season, trust the process and believe!

Mel’s Marathon Data

	Average Pace (min/k)	Average HR
1st 10k	5.14	168
2nd 10k	5.14	160
3rd 10k	5.19	162
4th 10k	5.29	162
Last Push! (2.7k)	5.10	169
Overall Finish	5.18	164

Race Reports: Barcelona Marathon 2025