Tell us about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do.
I am Marta, 37 years. I was born in Madrid (Spain) but I´m living in a nice village, Riaza (Segovia) to 120Km from Madrid and 1260 meters over sea level. Winters are more cold than Madrid and summers less hot. There I live with Alberto. He is my partner, my adventure companion (he´s also going to participate in the Norseman), and my coworker. Both we are self-employed architects and work together.When I have free time, I like spend my time traveling, running, hiking, riding, going to a live music concert, better with friends.

What is your background in sports.
I have always done some sport. At first I played basketball in the school. Later in the university besides I began to run. University crosses, 10Km, ½ marathon, even marathon...

But one year I went a cycling on holiday. From that moment I’ve been doing it in summers. My first trip was in 1994 to the “col du Tourmalet” in Pyrenees in France. It was my first great mountain pass with a bad mountain bike… it was an eternity for me… After that I seriously thought buy racing one. This way, several years after, I’ve Known and suffered others mountain passes like Passo Fedaia “marmolada”, Passo dello Stelvio (2758m), Passo di Foppa “Mortirolo” in the Dolomites in Italy and after the Col Galibier (2758m), Col de la Bonette (2802m) this one is the highest road in Europe, Col de L´iseran (2758m), Alpe D´uez , Col d`Agnel (2758m) in the Alps in France, among others.

Then, I discovered the mountain races. In 2002 raced my first mountain marathon in Val d´Aran in Pyrenees (Spain)…and surprisingly I finished in fourth position. I liked so much than I frequently participate in mountain races of Madrid and Segovia. Even sometimes I finish in second or third position in some of them. This really is what I like most.

The triathlon began much later in 2006 ...Thanking Alberto. He began to participate in short triathlon several years before and I´ve always been an spectator even, sometimes I´ve trained with him....many times he encouraged me but I always thought it was not for me. Untill I watch him in the ironman of Lanzarote (Spain). I enjoyed looking at the effort of the runners, the perseverant... It was amazing. I discovered the long distance and finally he convinced me and we registered on Embrunman in Alps in France. It was my “first triathlon” and I was very, very frightened. I tried to concentrate in my running philosophy “spend a good time”... so I started and little by little.... I was a finisher. It was great. I loved the landscape, the hardness of the race, the kind organizers, the untiring spectators.... I liked it so much that we came back three more times and I got finish every time. In spite of something happens each year, one of them I was ill (had a temperature), other it was snowing over Col Izoard, and the last it was a very hot day and I ran the marathon with my head like an pressure cooker. However I always have got finish.
Besides, I race a nice triathlon in Andalucia (Spain) since three years ago. It has an special charm. And now here I am...

Why did you choose to race Norseman and what is your race goal?
After I´ve participated in Embrumman during four consecutive years, Alberto and me were looking for a new and special challenge.
In a race a runner told us about Norseman. He said that it was a hard race, a nice place...We know nothing about Noruega and It seems a good ocasion... So we looked for the website and some videos about others years. In the video I saw the landscapes and spectacular fjords, and thought it would be perfect for us. There is only one thing I don´t like so much, the temperature of water and that marvellous jump to the deep fjord (the first time I saw this pictures I dreamed with them). I think that I am going to freeze me sure.
In spite of all I felt so much emotion that we decided for registering in Norseman. I wish to reach the top of Gaustatoppen and to shout very strong like in the videos and win the black T-shirt. We´ll see...

Asides from Norseman, what is your other plans for the 2010 season?
As in others seasons, I want to run several mountain races and this year, thinking in Norseman, I shall race a mountain marathon.
Besides In June I am going to participate in a cycling “Quebrantahuesos” of 205Km in Huesca (Spain) climbing three long mountain passes in Pyrennes.
Besides I would like run again a nice triathlon in Andalucia (Spain) which it has an special charm and maybe others....

Do you do any special training for Norseman? Riding a lot of hills? Swimming in cold water etc? Or is it basic but intense and hard Ironman training?
In this moment, in winter, I´m doing basic training but always on mountain.
Swimming, I plan to start this month, I´m waiting the weather will be better... here there isn´t indoor swiming pool and I have no choice, I have to train in a nearby lake with ice water. You are thinking that it is good for Norseman but the cold water it´s not for me.... I only have to decide to start and survive. It´s easy.
Later my special training will be to encrease the frecuency and hardness. Even I shall combine the three sports in a day.
In spring or summer I plan to go some mountainous place and stay several days making tourism and training.

What other races would you like to compete in the future?
Shortly I would like to participate in the Transalpine run. Eight stages over mountains of Germany, Austria, Italy....
And of course I´d like to race another adventure.... but at the moment I´m only thinking in the closer challenge “Norseman”.

What are your favorite places to train?
I like to train near where I live. There, I easily can go up and down a mountain or riding a lots of hills.
As soon as I have the oportunity, in spring or summer, I like to go to mountainous places like Pyrennes or Alps where the effort is compensated with an amazing landscape.

And your favourite workout?
I prefer running and riding, no doubt. I like to run up the mountain or a bike route with steep slopes and spend a sunny day.
The only thing I don´t like very much is swimming in a lake. It´s boring because into the water I only hear the sound of the breath and I see nothing.

Regards and see you soon!!!!!!

By Jørgen