Interview with Felipe Gutiérrez, Technical Director of the Madrid Triathlon KM 0

Arriving in the center of Spain, doing something that had an international look for the future, that people knew that it was going to reach the center of Madrid, to the starting point of all roads in Spain, THIS WAS FUNDAMENTAL!

 

Three premises are what led Felipe Gutiérrez to turn a dream into a reality:

- Bring the triathlon closer to the public

- Unite the Community of Madrid and Madrid in the same event

- Create an international benchmark triathlon

 

 

But who is this Felipe Gutiérrez?

Many will know him for his collaboration with Triathlon News and his 'Nap Time', a section in which "no hairs on the tongue" debate, criticism and exposes his vision of that sports world that he knows so well. But Felipe, that restless mind that thinks everything he says and says everything he thinks, has a broad and successful track record in organizing and directing sports projects. It was for many years Technical Director of FEDDI (Spanish Federation of Sports for Disabled Intellectuals) and for more than 20 years has been organizing a host of Spanish Championships of various sports. 

In this triathlon, he began his journey to the 88 and was 11 years in the FETRI (Spanish Triathlon Federation.) Currently, he is dedicated to train at Real Canoe NC, a club that has always been part of its history. This is Felipe, a versatile man with the very clear ideas that he presents to us today KM0, an ambitious, meticulous and strategically designed project that will give a lot to talk about.

How did the idea of ​​Madrid KM0 arise?

The idea was born from a proposal made by my friend Javier Sánchez-Toril, partner-director of Annapurna Sport and world champion of Waterpolo. He asked me to present him with an important project, different, new ... not the typical one of going around the Casa de Campo. Then I sat down with a notebook (with which I fell to the pool, but this is another story hehe) and began to shape what today has become MADRID KM0.

Why Madrid KM0?

One of the keys with which I began to think about this project was to unite the Community of Madrid and Madrid, recovering the old and famous Tour of the Ports Cyclist, that had been lost and was a very hard test although very beautiful; to end up at the most important meeting point, not only locally or nationally but also internationally, the KM0 of the Puerta del Sol. To reach the center of Spain, to do something that had an international look for the future, that people I knew I was going to get to the center of Madrid, to the starting point of all the roads in Spain, THIS WAS FUNDAMENTAL!

Another of the important points that led me to the design of this project was to bring the triathlon to the public and not the public to triathlon. Let it reach the center of the city and let people say: "What is here today? Is there a triathlon, and what is it? I think it's one of the things that triathlon lacks in this, to bring it closer to the public, to take it to the city, to places where people can see it, where someone who does not know it sees it, THIS IS THE IDEA!

What was also clear, is that I did not want to do a traditional spin around the Casa de Campo.

When does it begin to take shape and how are the beginnings and design of the circuits?

I like to start by taking a notebook, as I mentioned before, and start to shape each of the ideas that I already have well defined in my head. I HAVE THE PROJECT ALWAYS CLEAR! This workbook is where I'm writing everything that interests me, part by part, sketching each area and marking the needs of it: registration, cost of registration, estimated number of participation, awards, schedules, distribution ... maps and plans where I wanted to enter and upload and the kilometer, which I did with my car ... It's like writing a book: you write, you cross out, drawing your story with sketches and words until you get to the last page and close it for others Open and make it beautiful.

It was necessary to make a distance traditionally known by the passionate of the long distance: 3.800-180-42.195. There were several options to get to the KM0: the main square, the Debod temple, the park of the West ... little by little they tell you where you can or can not do it and, thus, you redesign the route to one side or the other.

From the beginning, I was very clear about the idea, to do the 180 km to Madrid. So I started thinking about a swim site that I knew and that could take me to Madrid, and in this way I got to Buitrago (where the test starts) and made a tour with the car to make a first time control and adjustment and travel difficulties. Once the project is approved, I go back to do the route marking exactly the kilometric points and their needs.

Any organizational reference of other sporting events?

The truth that none in particular, there are so many. Although I must admit that I love the Nice Triathlon because it is in the middle of the city, since it has a beach, its people are involved in it, you live the atmosphere of the day and of the previous ones, nobody complains. Here, in Spain, everyone complains about everything, sports education is different. But I do not take it as a reference, the referent I want this to be, MADRID KM0, and I think there is none like this.

Tell us a little about how each of the sections will be developed

Madrid KM0 will give the "kick-off" at the Pantano de Riosequillo, in Buitrago de Lozoya, where the 3.800 meters of swimming will be played. For the cyclist stage, of 180 km, the mythical ports of Canencia, Morcuera and Cotos will go up arriving at Navacerrada on the 90 Km. From there, down to El Escorial and entrance to Madrid. The last section, the race on foot, a marathon of 42.195 km, will be developed in a circuit that will start in Madrid Río, to finish climbing up the main street and crossing the famous KM0. When the 12 chimes on the Puerta del Sol clock, the goal control will be closed.

And at a logistical level, how is it prepared?

The deployment is huge, we have to organize many things. There will be area managers who together with a powerful team of collaborators and volunteers will be in charge of supervising each assigned section of the route, solving any problems that may arise. Apart from assembly people, staff and security forces.

Will there also be bikes?

Yes, although we will try to be the minimum, only judges and someone in the press.

Is it open to traffic? 

There are some areas that are completely closed and others that are controlled, but in principle there is no part open and no one is going to be able to follow the test because there is enough control to stop them.

In addition to the Director of Competitions, you are a Real Canoe NC coach, what advice would you give to the triathletes who are going to compete in this test?

Do not take it seriously! You can not say I go and I do it in the plan "coña marinera". It's a tough test and YOU HAVE TO TRAIN IT! I would never advise doing it for doing it and without putting yourself in the hands of a coach, you have to program everything. I do not know can say, I go by bike on Sundays, I run or swim and with that I'm fine. You have to train with someone who can technically correct you, because sometimes people will swim and it is thought that this is enough, but you have to swim properly. If in each stroke you lose 10 cm, because you do it badly, in 3.800 meters you will lose almost half a kilometer. I have people in the club training here who will participate in this competition, but previously they are doing other tests in order to get there and each one has a different and personalized work plan.

It will be a hard test, an effort between 9 (for the first one I arrived) and 17 hours (the last) approximately, in which logically you will have to suffer but enjoying. So, the hardness is that you have to suffer training to enjoy competing, THAT'S THE THEORY! If you have not suffered training, do not worry, you will not enjoy and if you only suffer ... bad.

It has been more than clear to us that a correct training is fundamental to arrive with a good background and enjoy the test, but what is the physical, mental and nutritional part of it?

There has to be a balance between the three parties, but it is clear that each athlete is different and that we can not "prepare" a global program for everyone. You have to study each person individually. The coach has to know his athlete, train him, correct him and if he sees any problems send him to the relevant specialist.

I don't know if you believe in these things but an urban legend says that whoever steps on the KM0 returns to Madrid, do you think that this myth can become a significant point for there to be a second edition?

All this depends on the authorities, to realize the economic impact that, touristy, can have for Madrid to do a test of this type internationally ... if they do not see it, it is that they will not see many more things. I think this could be a test that internationally can be very interesting. As I have told you before, with this triathlon I wanted to bring the triathlon to the public, not the other way around.

KM0 is a triathlon for people who are looking for:

TRIATHLON. The important thing is that it runs through Madrid and the Community of Madrid, that there are villages that no one would ever pass through, villages in the mountains that are practically forgotten. An area as important as the Sierra de Madrid where you get to Navacerrada that borders Segovia and then the arrival in Madrid, Puerta del Sol, the epicenter from which all Spanish roads flow, which at that time is on a continuum go and come from its people and its tourists enjoying the authenticity. IT IS A PAST!

Veronica del Valle