Zurich Marató de Barcelona , km 37 some culture to soothe the pain

Last 5 km of any marathon used to be the hardest part of race, needless to say that you feel tired , anxious to reach the finish line and most important you need to be mentally ready to provide your body good source of extra metivation .

Here below you can find out some  information about  good views  to soothe the pain .

whole route

Detail about the last 5 -k

Arc del Triomf 

After leave the seafront and have been running the streets which goes along the edge of zoo and the lovely "Parc de la Ciutadella" ,  the course turn right and after 100 meters  left head to Arc del Triomf , very emotional , here you are close to be in the 37 km  part I want to talk about.

Ronda de Sant Pere

Here you are indeed  running towards to the city center,  after the 37 k you will cross "Plaça Urquinaona " and less than 200 meters later  you are reaching  the junction of "Passeig de Gracia" with  "Plaça de Catalunya " also very crowded place .

Apple Store 

Just in the junction ,   righ side  you can see the biggest apple store of  the south of Europe opened last month,  left side "El Corte Inglés "one of most important department store .

El Core Inglés

Portal del Angel

Race now turn left head to "Portal del Angel " where  the race profile change  providing runners some minutes of recovering  now marathon route returns to sea .

Architects ´School 

  Portal del Angel is driving us to the junction with carrer dels arcs where just around the corner we can see the Architecs ´ School , notice the facade on the left  was design and done by the famous Pablo Picasso.

Catedral de Barcelona 

Marathoners now enter a stretch  of the  "Barri Gotic" what a better setting to endure , pain and fatigue ? . First site the Cathedral of Barcelona (1298-1420) very nice place surronded of ancient buildings holding some of the ministry of la Generalitat de Catalunya , very recomendable place to walk after the race.

Via Laietana

Race is now crossing the cathedral front square towards to via Laietania, we could make out Mercat de Santa Cateriana in the distance , once in Via Laitana we will run aproximately 300 meters to reach carrer Jaume I  where the marathon turns right to up to Plaça de Sant Jaume where both .

Mercat de Santa Caterina

Generalitat de Catalunya 

City Hall 

 City hall on the left and  and Generalitat of Catalunya on the right share this square , once in the square the route head las ramblas through carrer Ferran , little relax (slope street ) till las ramblas at the end of Carrer Ferran we turn left and you will see the most famous street of Barcelona "Las Ramblas " where people worldwide meet this street to get fun , enjoy and savour the street live of Barcelona .

Las Rambles 

Liceu de Barcelona

Now  you will run for more than 500 meters  among people,  tasting tapas , stalls where you can buy almost everything , artist , vax museum  an  many people given you support,  finally we are  reaching  the columbus memorial  in the middle of the roundabout , make out the Marina in the distance , Museu del Mar on the right and the sign of 40-k in front of you .

Columbus memorial close to 40 -k sign 

El Molino

 Now we are enter on the theaters area very lively in nights called " El Parallel " here in that point you ar in front of you the last 2.195 -k long straight street where among others you could see " El Molino" replica of the Moulin Rouge in Paris , on the distance you can already feel the finish line where  some runners  are  trying to boost the path some others maintain and many trying to endure to reach the target , now we are close to enter to Plaça de Espanya where the marathon turns left , advertising in both sides let you now you ´re close to your target , people accumulate in both side of the protection fence cheering and encouraging to is taking you to the finish line , and now the most incredible feeling , the two Venecian towers  just 195 

Finish Line 

meters away from your target is like the heaven , turn the left and now the sprint and the glory , this marathon is very nice , very recomendable and the route  provide you good feeling . I look seeing your in the Zurich Barelona Marathon next year . 

If you need help, information about accomodation , streets , tryinings , spots etc.... feel free contact me .

Me close to finish line  2011