DistantNews
Support us
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Fátima Romero and Santina Würth: Winning Also Means Learning to Live With Pressure

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Marathon champion Fátima Romero and 10-kilometer winner Santina Würth discussed preparation, pressure and the mental demands of elite competition on ABC Cardinal’s “El Polideportivo.”
  • Romero described an 11-week training block that included two-a-day sessions and 150 to 160 kilometers per week before the Asunción International Marathon.
  • Both athletes said their victories followed months of work, sacrifice, frustration and the need to start again.

Winning a race is only the visible part of the process for Fátima Romero and Santina Würth. The two athletes, who recently triumphed at the Asunción International Marathon, spoke about the preparation, concentration and mental strain behind high-level competition during an appearance on ABC Cardinal’s “El Polideportivo.”

This time my legs were quite battered compared with other marathons. The course was quite hard.

· Fátima RomeroShe described the physical toll of the Asunción International Marathon.

Romero arrived at the marathon after 11 weeks of specific preparation. Her routine included two training sessions a day, between 150 and 160 kilometers each week, and individual runs that could reach 25 or 26 kilometers. The work brought its reward, but the race left her legs more battered than in other marathons because of the demanding course.

“This time my legs were quite battered compared with other marathons. The course was quite hard,” Romero said. The Sunday after the race became almost entirely a recovery day. “I got home, had lunch and went to sleep. I felt tired, but I couldn’t sleep because the adrenaline was still there and wouldn’t let me.”

I got home, had lunch and went to sleep. I felt tired, but I couldn’t sleep because the adrenaline was still there and wouldn’t let me.

· Fátima RomeroShe recalled the recovery period after the race.

Romero, who has completed 12 marathons, said the final kilometers once represented a psychological barrier. Reaching 30 kilometers made her wonder how her body and legs would respond, with a long distance still ahead. Experience gradually changed that fear. “Today I can say that I control it very well. The 35-kilometer mark no longer scares me,” she said.

Today I can say that I control it very well. The 35-kilometer mark no longer scares me.

· Fátima RomeroShe explained how experience reduced her fear of the marathon’s final stages.

Mental preparation became essential. Rather than focusing on the distance remaining, Romero said she tries to distract herself with the scenery or other thoughts. The athletes’ discussion emphasized that behind every result lie months of effort, sacrifices, setbacks and the discipline to begin again.

Many times, when you prepare for long distances, you work a lot mentally. I try not to think too much about the kilometers left, and to distract myself with the scenery or other things.

· Fátima RomeroShe discussed the mental techniques she uses during long races.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog