Santiago Sanz

Santi race yesterday in the Boilermaker and his perfomance was outstanding in the same day as Spain won the World Cup.

Santi race in the Boilermaker 15K in Utica (USA) and finished in second place in a race where the strategy was the key to get such a great second place if we consider that in this event there´s only on wheelchair division class and Santi race against racer with no affection in their arms.

The event was leaded from the start till the end by the southafrican who live´s in the US Krige Schabort, behind him and facing for third place the americans Chad Jhonson and Gary Brendel and Santi. Our racer just keep the perfect pace for this event and he climbed in third pace the main hill of the course, located in the 5K mark.

I took off in the steep hills from Chad and right at the top my advantage was close to fifteen seconds which was almost abouth the same one as Gary put to me so no other chance than make a crazy downhill in the golf course and finally I cathed Gary three ks later.

By the eleven Km in the Boilermaker there´s a really tough bridge where thousand people see the race and cheers loud to all runners. The ascent is shorter than 800m but due to the fatigue caused by the previos part of the course this part of the race can be letal.

Chad contact again with Gary and Santi but our racer didn´t let rest to the americans and he increased the pace who let him took off from the group. From the top of the bridge begin´s a big downhill where Santi catched almost 60Km/h and turn so fast in the last right turn of the race whe begin´s a long mile straight slightly uphill before take last 300m downhill to arrive to the finish line.

Santi kept the advantage who got in the top of the bridge and finished second eleven seconds ahead of Chad Jhonson and Gary Brendel, also he set a new personal best in this event of 32´29´´, improving in 24 seconds his best ever time done in 2007 (39´53´´) and he arrived to finish line exhausted.

I push as Fast as I Could in last mile. When I was by 600m to finish the race I´ve seen I kept that gap and really enjoyed this part of the race. That was a great race to finish my american tour.

The racer back tonight to Spain after stay in the US for about six weeks and where he got two victories in New Jersey and Atlanta and a second place yesterday in the Boilermaker of 15K, celebrated in Utica (New York) and a sixth place in the Grandma´s marathon de Duluth (Minessota). With Atlanta´s victory Santi reached the fiftieth in his road event career.

I really enjoy watching spain game in Syracuse´s airport. With Nadal, Contador, La Roja (spanish team),… spanish sport seems to be in shape, also congratulation to women´s national rugby team who get the European tittle in Moscow.

The racer is gonna take a Holiday break before restart his training program focus in netx fall international events and the World Championships to be celebrated next January in New Zeland.