Txell Soler gives us the keys to marathon success

Txell Soler (32 years old, 2h24’57) received Runedia (Sports World) at the headquarters of Cougar in Spain (Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona) to share his secrets as a marathoner. In Paris 2024 Games He fulfilled a lifelong dream that “is the most alive of any athlete and the driving force in my daily work. Coming to Paris cost me a lot of effort and what I experienced in its streets was a great feeling that I will never forget,” he said, still with the memory in his memory. The Catalan placed 25th in the Games marathon with a time of 2h29’56. “Here, the course is difficult, but there is a very good atmosphere on the streets and I ran with so much emotion that I did not suffer. On the contrary, it seemed short and the slopes were less tough than I expected,” he confessed with a smile .

The Games in Paris They noted the good atmosphere that the city breathed for two weeks, a party that was not complete for Soler. “The only thing I regret about my Olympic debut is that the experience could not be complete. Besides being the last to compete on the last day, we only arrived in Paris three days before the match. In Olympic Village There are many athletes who have finished competing and those who are left are full or tired,” he laments. “We don’t get to see other sports live and I’m left wanting to meet stars from other sports that aren’t there anymore,” he said.

“I hope I can get in Los Angeles 2028 and repeat the experience,” he said. “Of course, being in another Games is something I’m not obsessed with. I’ll come with 36 years and pushed hard by young people. I will do my best, but I have fulfilled my dream in Paris,” confessed Soler, who combined his career as a professional athlete with his profession as a dentist in Manresa. “I could just dedicate myself to run and make a living from it, but I like being a dentist and it fulfills me. I don’t want to leave my job. I combine both things and it works well for me,” he explains, while making sure that he doesn’t spend all the time on his feet and that he doesn’t work a whole day to complete the training.

Soler He is one of the few long-distance runners who is not tried never practice on altitude and don’t know the benefits that can give you. “In order to go to the competitions I have to ask for a vacation from work. If I have to do four weeks of concentration at altitude, it will be too much vacation and affect my work. I don’t know if I will be able to, but for now not I’m still thinking,” he says.

when Txell Soler debuted in the marathon on Seville in 2023 With a time of 2h26’37 he discovered that at this distance he could offer his best version as an athlete. “I don’t have any special featuresbut I’ve always stood out as a runner with a lot of depth. When I debuted in the marathon, I confirmed what many people had told me, that I was far. In Seville everything was perfect, my legs they lasted a long time without any problemsthe refreshment stations suit me and the test is not difficult for me. What’s more, I really enjoyed it and I made a good score,” he said, recalling the beautiful morning that allowed him to dream about the Games.

Txell Soler’s 10 essential tips for running a marathon

1) Strength: Our training work needs to include the workforce. This is often forgotten among famous runners and we should know that it is not just about running. If we gain strength, we will run faster and take less damage. We will get better with each step and the result of our marathon will be better.

2) Avoid comparisons: All marathoners are different and unique. You should not compare yourself to anyone or imitate things without knowledge. We can have references, but we don’t need to evaluate ourselves by the parameters of other runners.

3) Respect the gentle sun: There is no point in trying to train if we don’t give our body enough time to recover and think about the work done. It is very important to respect the days when it is time to run properly and not to run faster than necessary. This excessive wear and tear will punish us in the long run and lead to injuries.

4) Hydration: You have to drink, even if you’re not thirsty or in the mood. In a marathon, I recommend drinking a little at all the aid stations from the first kilometers. Being well hydrated will help us reach the final stretch in better shape and allow us to better assimilate the gels we take.

5) Carbohydrates, yes: We don’t need to be afraid of carbohydrates, they will give us the necessary energy to face training and competition. How fattening they are more or less always depends on the way they are cooked and the sauces they go with.

6) Recovery is important: A very important part of training is rest. We need to listen to the signals our body is giving us and rest when it’s time. ‘Invisible training’ is essential to meet the burden of our planning and perform better. We don’t have to worry about resting and not going out for a run.

7) Stretch: Another one of the great forgotten things in our daily lives is taking care of our body by stretching. There are people who, because of their work, spend a lot of time sitting and it is important to move every hour to keep the body active and stretch contraction or shorten the muscles. In my case, I do dynamic stretching when I run and static stretching if I don’t do sports.

8) Run alone and accompanied: I highly recommend combining solo exercises with group exercises. Running alone will help us be less dependent and learn how to better cope with the difficult moments of marathons. Training in the company is also important to know how to run in a group during the competition and take advantage of the advantages of following hares or rivals with good speed.

9) Physiotherapy: You need to go to the physio no matter what. Physiotherapists will help us take care of our body and unload the muscles after many accumulated loads. The popular belief is that we should go to the physio when something hurts, but in reality we need to go to prevent the occurrence of injuries and discomfort. If we go regularly, we can avoid overloads and problems. In my case, I do a treatment -at least- once every 15 days.

10) Seek professional help: If we want to do things right, we need to put ourselves in the hands of qualified professionals who know how to plan our training and guide us in our daily lives. Training templates found on the internet are not the best choice. Custom work is the key to success.

In-depth testing of Txell Soler:

1. Shoes to compete in: Puma Nitro Deviate Elite 3
2. Training shoes: Puma Speed ​​3
3. clock: Pace 3 Choirs
4. T-shirt: Top (sleeveless)
5. Nutrition: 226ers
6. Most used products: 226ers Recovery Drink, 226ers Isotonic Drink, 226ers Isotonic Gel
7. How many gels do you take in a marathon? In total 3: a 226ers Isotonic with caffeine 30 minutes before the run, a normal 226ers Isotonic at km 15 and another normal Isotonic at km 30.
8. How many kilometers per week can you do when you are preparing for a marathon? My maximum is 185
9. Favorite place to do a long time? Aiguamoll de la Bòbila in Santpedor (Barcelona)
10. What marathon would you like to run sometime in your life? Tokyo
11. What brand do you think you can reach? I have the legs to go under 2h25′