Spain’s reigning World 20km Walk Race silver medallist Francisco Javier ‘Paquillo’ Fernández produced a more than promising first ever 50km attempt to highlight the Spanish Race Walking championships which were held in San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia) last Sunday (1 March).

Fernández, who will turn 32 years of age next Friday, anticipated his birthday celebrations with a brilliant performance over a 2km-long circuit. Right from the start the double (2002 & 2006) European 20km champion Spaniard set a fast pace alongside his occasional training mate Ireland’s Robert Heffernan.

The 31-year-old Irishman, who finished in eighth in Beijing over 20km just behind Fernández, had scheduled a 30km test and to help Fernández in his demanding task. After splits of 44:45 (10k) and 1:29:20, the pair went through the 30km point in 2:12:44 “a bit faster than what I had planned” commented Fernández afterwards.

But once Heffernan pulled out of the race Fernández - who has won medals at any major championships from 2002 to 2007 - increased his rhythm even more in the 30-36km section “but that was a mistake as I suffered a lot in the closing four kilometres due to that change of speed; should I maintain Robert’s tempo I would have lowered one minute my performance” confessed the three-time World 20km silver medallist.

Grateful to Heffernan

In addition to his lack of energy, the thermometer raised to over 20ºC by the end of the event, “I finished with my back burnt” he confirmed. “I’m extremely grateful to Robert (Heffernan), he’s a very close friend of me and he spent five day at home prior to Sunday’s event; Robert didn’t perform exactly as a pacemaker but his help was decisive for my successful outing”.

Overall, Fernández assesses his debut as “very encouraging. I have realised that I have a brilliant future ahead of me over the distance. Prior to my debut I had some fears like to be able to take liquids so many times but the toughest thing in this event is the mental matter as you have to be psychologically ready to suffer very much in the final 10km.”

The Spaniard’s coach who is the living legend of the race walking Poland’s Robert Korzeniowski was present at his pupil’s effort, “Robert said to me that my debut has arguably been one of the fastest ever to add that it’s very complicated to clock 3h41 first time for the event.”

Still hesitating about Berlin

Now the big question mark arises: which event/s do you contest at next August’s World championships in Berlin?

“Right now there is no final decision but it will come shortly. Robert and I have to discuss the issue in the following weeks and we have slightly different approaches at present. One thing is clear: should I win any medal in Beijing I would then opt for the 50k in Berlin definitely but I can’t afford two seasons in a row without getting a medal and from that point of view the shorter event is a safer bet”.

“It’s also true that there’s a seven-day gap between both events at the Worlds and the 20km will be held first so one possibility might be to build-up for the 20km and make the double later but I wouldn’t like to compete without a proper preparation for the demanding 50km event. I still feel more competitive at the 20km,” concluded a doubtful Fernández.

Very keen on 2009 IAAF Walking Race Challenge

An accomplished performer at the IAAF Walking Race Challenge, he won the overall title in 2005 and 2006, Fernández finds the 2009 edition “very exciting and fair in terms of scoring. I am an athlete who likes not only to take part at the major events but also at the IAAF Walking Race Challenge as we (the walkers) must promote our discipline as much as possible to attract more attention in the future.”

“I have already taken twice the Challenge and recorded a fine win at last year’s Final in Murcia so I look forward to competing at three or four permits but the schedule is not decided yet. One thing is for sure: I’ll participate at the (Designated Area Permit Race Walking Meeting, category C, on 28 March) in Santa Eulalia (Spain) over 20km. After that I’ll be travelling to Johannesburg for a 18-day stint (5-23 April). On my back I would like to contest the Sesto San Giovanni permit but it’s not confirmed yet.”

“I’ll spend one week in Krakow at the end of May and will also compete at the 10km permit there on 30 May, which suits me very much since the distance is very affordable and not as tough as the usual 20km in the circuit.”

“Back to Spain I will likely tackle the ‘Gran Premio Cantones’ in La Coruña next 20 June before a 10,000m event on the track on the occasion of the Spanish Championships in Barcelona on 2 August outlines the former World record holder for the 20km (1:17:22 in 2002).

Fourth time lucky at the Worlds?

After successive silver medals in Paris 2003, Helsinki 2005 and Osaka 2007 – always behind Ecuadorian Jefferson Pérez – Fernández is eyeing another medal in Berlin although the absence of his Ecuadorian arch-rival does not guarantee his success.

“Pérez can be retired now but Russia’s Valeriy Borchin is the reigning Olympic champion and has just clocked 1:17:38 last Saturday so winning the gold medal will be as difficult as ever” reflects a cautious Fernández, who forecasts a final training camp before the Worlds “in either St. Moritz or Font Romeu without ruling out Johannesburg.”

London 2012 final stop

The Guadix-born walker targets the London 2012 Olympics “as my farewell from athletics. That would be an ideal occasion to try the always risky 20 and 50km double. I’ll be 35 by then, plan to get off after an Olympics and it’s clear that the 2016 Games are not on my agenda” commented Fernández, who kicked off his successful international career as back as in 1995 when he grabbed the European Junior 10km Walk Race title in the Hungarian city of Niyreghiaza.

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF