Esther Guerrero had decided that she would try to win the Spanish championship in both 800 meters and 1,500 before knowing that there would only be a 10 minute margin between one final and the next. Let it be? No, heads to the pool. And it is that Esther Guerrero has lived a spectacular boundlessness starting with the record of Spain of 2,000 meters in his tracks of Olot, to lower his best marks in 800 and 1,500 and to shine in the Diamond League next to the best of the world until finishing with the double of titles of Sunday in the state of Madrid. And all without ever losing your smile. “I dedicate myself to athletics because I like it, because it’s my sport and my hobby even though it’s now totally professional because my results have brought me this far,” says Esther Guerrero, who doesn’t see the 4: 03.13 with which he ran in Stockholm on August 23 as his limit at 1,500. The proof that, if all goes well, he should run next summer at the Tokyo Olympics.
In a great moment
“I am noticing a very important change in myself. I run every day and therefore I know myself better than anyone and I know perfectly well that now I run more than years ago, months ago and weeks ago, but I didn’t expect this summer’s performance because I had never had the feeling of running so light and easy as I am doing now. Yes, it is true that since we decided to change to 1,500 meters in 2018, the training has changed a lot and every time the aerobic part of the test, the endurance that was the one that cost me the most, I am improving a lot. For example, it has nothing to do with what I can get in a 5 mile that like I ran two years ago. That’s what is giving me that impetus to run like I’m doing. And also, this year, it is added that during the confinement I could not run fast and I have been training on a treadmill for two months doing endurance work that has allowed me to come out even stronger ”.
Without setting limits
“I have room for improvement, because I lack a lot of experience at 1,500. When I decided to change, I saw that in the 800 there was a part that was very limited, which is the top speed, and although I have improved it, the margin I have in the 800 to be able to be competitive internationally is very short. I want to load myself with experience at 1,500, because here I am not at my maximum. In fact, when I ran at 4:03 I didn’t feel like I was going to the limit. I think I can improve it if I get the chance and especially if the injuries respect me. I don’t set any limits, in the 800 I think I can do a 1:59, but I would never do a 1:57 while in the 1,500 I still haven’t got the feeling that I’ve reached a mark that I don’t know what will happen from here. Maybe I’ll never run faster than 4:03, but I think I still have a lot to discover in the 1,500 and I don’t see it as my limit.
The challenges
“Looking for challenges is key. As much as we enjoy our job, and take care of ourselves, what moves us on a day-to-day basis is having day-to-day external challenges. With Joan (Lleonart) and the people who train with me we talk a lot about our hopes and what we would like to do. The challenge of setting the 2,000-meter record did come out more for Joan because he saw that I was training very well from above and that I could achieve it while I was more afraid of the 2,000; while that of doing the double at 800 and 1,500 has come out more from within me because I’m really in a moment with a lot of confidence. We decided to run the two tests before we knew the schedules, and that there would only be a 10 minute difference between the two finals; and when we saw them we hesitated for a few days but we ended up throwing ourselves into the pool ”.
A historic double
«The comparison with Carme Valero? I am very sorry to say this, but I always say that I have very little knowledge of the history of athletics. I was very surprised by the great impact that the double had, just as it happened with the record of 2,000 meters, because I did not do it to compare myself with whoever it is. I did it for myself, to outdo myself as an athlete and as a personal challenge. I know Carme Valero now, but I guess when time goes by I will value more what I did this summer.
La diamond league
“Going to high-level international competitions had never been a dream for me. I dedicate myself to athletics because I like it, because it is my sport and my hobby even though it is now totally professional because my results have brought me this far. What really matters to me is to enjoy the day to day that I have and, on top of that, if I’m lucky enough to find myself in a very sweet moment doing what I love most, I can’t complain. “
The Olympic Games
“At the moment I don’t think much about the Olympics, because we don’t know what will happen and I don’t want to have any illusions. I have a competition left in two weeks in Doha, then I guess I will rest for a few days and then prepare the indoor track, which is European and World Cup, which are two competitions that should be the last push towards the Games. But first I will focus on the other competitions and then we will see how I am to think of Tokyo. Of course, running the 1,500 meters. Now he doesn’t look back.
The future
“I’m thirty. How do I look? I do not know. I’m focused on what’s ahead of me and I don’t think much about whether I’ll run four more years or not. The day I have an injury or I don’t enjoy it, I may think about it, but right now I’m very excited and athletics is my job and as long as I can keep it I will continue to do it.
Banyoles and Olot
“I was very lucky because we managed with Joan Lleonart a kind of high performance group on the slopes of Olot, which is where I do all the quality training, and where he is very much for me. I have a doctor, a physical trainer who is for me and, little by little, we have been gathering people in our project who were excited to be with us. In Banyoles I go out to run with the people from the athletics club of the Swimming Club, who adapt to my training needs ”.
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