My adventure in the fantastic village of LA PARRA (Extremadura region, Spain), which began in 2022, seems like a never-ending story. Each year a new chapter is written, even more beautiful and intense than the previous ones.

Words are too small and too few to describe what happened at this year’s edition. I returned to La Parra first and foremost to be meet again this wonderful community, my friends, my “family” from Extremadura.

And they placed me right in the middle of the story, from beginning to end. Admittedly, I also struggled to stay on my feet until the end of the race. And I succeeded!

For myself, but also for the joy of my people (especially the children) in La Parra, I became once again the LAST MAN STANDING (out of 83 competitors at the start) in LA PARRA BACKYARD ULTRA! I managed to win the race in La Parra for the second time, adding another seven hours to my 2023 result.

There were 31 hours and 207 km ran and lived to the fullest; physically, mentally and mostly emotionally!

The story of my 2025 race began just like in all the other editions. On Friday (the day before the race) my good friend Marcos picked me up by car. This time from Madrid airport. On the way, we enjoyed the famous potato pie.

I found La Parra in a state of calm that did not foreshadow the fiery “atmosphere” that was to come. Although it started to rain heavily and it was cold, I already felt the warmth of my dear friends in La Parra as I met them again and recognized them. Ariadna greeted me with a few words in English, which made me very happy.

Fatigue overcame me right on the point when the atmosphere from the competition area seemed to be heating up. I had the great honor of being Emilio’s guest. Exhausted after the trip, I managed to get some sleep (less than an hour). The day before the race ended with a “Pasta Party” (pasta, olives, and lots of vegetables): a true Mediterranean feast.

I didn’t manage to sleep as much as I would have liked before the competition. However, seven hours were enough. I arrived at the start just 10 minutes before the race. The school gym in La Parra was really packed. I had managed to prepare my place the night before, including a mattress. I was right at the opposite end of the hall (a narrow corridor).

And I set off again, for the fourth year in a row, on the nice route through and around the village. I already knew the area by heart. It started raining right from the beginning and the “highlight” was the muddy section at Km 2. I didn’t feel like I was wasting my time there even though one of my shoes got stuck in the mud a few times. I was forced to concentrate more in that area, which dispelled the usual boredom in such an ultra.

Between endless bouts of rain and wind the sun managed to break through. So did my face, when I started talking to my “old” friends from La Parra, such as Maria, Francis, and many others. I also met new people who were participating in LA PARRA BACKYARD ULTRA for the first time.

As expected, the biggest problem was wet clothes and shoes. But my dear friends from La Parra saved me. Mrs. Valentina returned within a single lap with a pair of washed and dried shoes, as well as a few T-shirts that looked like new. Moreover, I received three pairs of socks, as a gift, from little Cristina’s family. What a brilliant idea!

I had decided to push myself for another ten hours after the point where I felt I couldn’t go on “much” longer. And that point came after 23 hours. I felt a little better on lap 25, after eating some roasted potatoes made by Luky! Gracias hermano!

With daylight there came the rain and wind again. During one of the last loops I no longer had a dry jacket, so I turned to Marcos. The hood of his jacket saved me from the fierce wind, as I had forgotten my cap.

Before reaching 200 km (30 hours) on the race, only three competitors were left. We ran like this for four or five hours. I was already feeling very dizzy. I could barely articulate words. This time, Maria saved me. She had returned to the gym hall determined to offer me support. She helped me with translation, dry clothes and food/hydration during the the 3-4 minutes left before a new start.

My head was spinning. I had to ask to the wonderful people of La Parra, who were cheering me on frantically as I arrived in the hall, to stop. The noise was killing me mentally. But they didn’t get upset. I hope.

After 30 hours of running the other two competitors withdrew. I needed to complete one more lap on my own which would have meant winning the 2025 edition of LA PARRA BACKYARD ULTRA. It was only during this last lap that I realized the weather had completely changed. The sun was strong and there was no wind. That’s when I started to cheer up. The last few hours had been very difficult, a matter of survival, I would say.

The quietness along the route suddenly changed once I reached the road leading to the finish line. And the end of the race, at the sports hall, made me feel like on a stadium. Cheers, applause and lots of smiles. I high-fived everyone there. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was happy and the people of La Parra seemed happy too.

Marcos asked me, and I gladly agreed, to give a closing speech. I felt like a local “hero.” I tried to show my gratitude for everything I had received from the organizers, runners, supporters and locals: the physical and the mental support and lots of love.

It was an epic ending to an epic race!

Throughout LA PARRA BACKYARD ULTRA 2025 I received encouragement, support, help, food, surprises, and gifts. Above all I was offered trust from hundreds of people in La Parra. And I tried to give it my all. And I would have given even more if necessary. I cannot thank everyone enough for the warmth with which they welcomed and supported me!

The energy and vitality I felt before and especially during the race were the “work” of therapist Ioan “Nelu” Solcan. He was not physically present in Spain. The pre-race preparation therapy and his good thoughts during the event gave me strength even when I was starting to lose my balance.

Special thanks to Marcos, Fernando, Emilio, Maria, Francis, Luky, Mrs. Valentina, little Cristina’s family, and the mayor.

My heroes were the two special girls who supported me unconditionally and made drawings for me: Ariadna and Cristina. Ariadna, being able to communicate in English made me extremely happy! Cristina\s litte byt very inspired gift, three pairs of socks, saved me!

This was my 16th Backyard Ultra race. I finished 6 of them as the LAST MAN STANDING!