Overcome the handicap in a stunning 10km race on the ‘3 Days Trail Ibiza’

They didn’t cross the finish line first on Friday and they didn’t cross the finish line first on Saturday, but they did win. They are Paralympic athletes Paul McCurry, blind runner Maria Petit and her “silent hero” Danny del PuertoWhich has become a symbol of the test that the island of Pitiosa is going through these days.

They represent the power of sport to break down barriers and are ambassadors of the spirit of improvement in an event in which they have won the admiration of all. Moreover, they do it together, and they usually become a specialist Individual and solitary in a shared experience.

Paul is known around the world, and his exploits in hockey and cross-country skiing have made him a symbol of the struggle against Cerebral palsy that affects half the body. Now, the Salomon brand ambassador continues to improve to present his best version of himself in the field of Trail Running that this weekend led him to live a unique side-by-side experience. Maria Betty.

“We’ve known each other for years,” McCurry says. 20 minutes About the moment this special collaboration appeared on “3 Days Trail Ibiza”. “We shared training together and some vertical kilometers where I served as a guide. Suddenly she called me and told me about this race, she told me if I wanted to run with her and I told her I would be happy to do it,” she said. Because I think it’s a very beautiful projectHe explained.

Thus, his experience joined the passion of Maria – who had already given an interview to this medium a few months ago Read on this link– crossed the mountains and led to a weekend where the relationship continues to grow.

The system is the usual one used in this type of specialization with people with visual impairment: use call “Direction bar”a stick of variable lengths that Mary uses to keep up with her companions and respond to obstacles of which she is warned by an agreed-upon set of words.

But there’s not just Paul McQuarrie and Maria Petit, there’s also someone who always enjoys a little more anonymity while running with them, and that’s the runner Danny del Puertoa neighbor of Maria Petit who says he belongs to a large group of “silent heroes” who make these races possible beyond the big names who struggle to achieve victories in them.

“I’m Maria’s neighbour, she can’t run alone and one time I met her I told her I wanted to run with her. Now we have a group of people that I belong to.” And to be her guideDanny says to this medium.

“I only knew Paul through social media, and I met him here. Maria united us in this race“Adds the only non-disabled member of the team, a man who as an amateur is enjoying the company of two professionals in Macquarie and Petit this weekend in Ibiza. “I’m a physiotherapist and I’ve worked with disabled people, but I didn’t even know that you could run with the bar or that you could take part in a test like this while being blind,” admits the man who has been running with Maria for only months.

For him, who always prefers to keep a “low profile like all the ‘silent heroes’ who make this possible,” it’s an “honour,” he says: “It’s like I’m the one who has a disability instead of them, it’s impressive.” I’m learning so much more than I can teach you“, he concludes.

He was a key part of the progress we made this weekend, which started in Dalt Vila with a 10km test which was very demanding for them. The old walled city’s steps and alleyways tested them, however It was the perfect photo shoot before returning to work on Saturday.

After this particular Saturday race, they reported to this newspaper, where they revealed a change in their style. On the first day, Danny was placed in front, Maria was always in the middle and Paul was in the back. He therefore took on the role of directing, while McCurry took charge of “leading” from behind. However, midway through the race, positions were switched, since Paul’s mobility problems made it difficult for him to adapt to Maria’s speed: the result was a resounding success.