Interview with Cristina Polanco

Who do we have the pleasure of interviewing?

First name, Last name…
Age, City of residence, Marital status ….

Cristina Polanco Cantón, 29 years old. I was born in Tarragona, but I currently live near Madrid with my partner.

Who is @cristina_polanco_92 when she's not wearing a race number?

Well, I'm just a regular girl who loves running, traveling, reading, and cooking
healthy recipes (especially desserts), and sharing things on Instagram
to inspire people to exercise and fight for what they want.

She works as a nurse at the hospital in Fuenlabrada and is preparing for the civil service exam
for a position in the military nursing corps.

“Ever since I was little, I knew exactly what I wanted to do; it’s truly a calling.”

When, how, and why did you start running?

I started 9 years ago to lose weight. I wasn’t obese, but
I was overweight, I didn’t take care of myself at all, I didn’t exercise, I ate
poorly… and that had to change.
My dad encouraged me to start going for runs with him to lose weight, and
in the end I got hooked, even though I hated it at first, hahaha.

Had you played sports before?

When I was little, I competed in cross-country with my school team. I didn’
train formally, but I did end up running in the Catalan championship
.
At school, I played various sports: soccer, rhythmic gymnastics, ping
pong… the usual stuff. My favorite subject was definitely physical education.

Do you combine running with any other sports?

No. I focus solely on track and field. Obviously, I do some
gym workouts, but they’re for strength training aimed at running, not for
fitness or bodybuilding goals.

Do you run with a club? Have you always been a member of this
club?

Yes, I'm currently with AD SPRINT in Madrid.
Before that, I was with SURCO LUCENA, a club in Córdoba, since
I lived in Seville for several years and started out with them.

What was your first race?

A 10K race in Tarragona, which took place on the same day as the half marathon.

What memories and feelings did you have when you crossed the finish line for the first time?

I'm so happy and proud to have managed to finish those 10 km, because
when I first started running, I couldn't even run 1 km straight without dying
hahaha.

Do you have a favorite race?

Phew… that’s a tough choice. Running in Valencia is really special because the locals get so into it
; the Behobia race has an amazing atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else
; the Seville Half Marathon is beautiful and very fast…
If I had to pick a favorite discipline, it would be cross-country.

What's your personal best in a race?

5K: 17:41
10K: 36:04
Half Marathon: 1:21:01

How many days a week do you work out?

I usually train six days a week, but some weeks—
— between work, the gym, and everything else, it’s impossible, so I train five days.

Do you have any goals in mind
for 2024?

Improve my personal best in the 10K and half marathon, have a strong season in cross-
, and then try my hand at the 3000-meter track race.

What would you say to all those people who are just getting started in the world
of running?

Don't give up at the first hurdle. At first, going for a run can
feel like torture—I can attest to that, haha. But you have to keep at it, stick with it, day
after day, and watch yourself improve little by little (in terms of time and
distance).
The best thing is to set a medium- to long-term goal, a race,
for example, and keep that in mind during the toughest moments.

What are your achievements?

The personal bests I mentioned earlier.
I was once the runner-up in the Andalusian Cross Country Championships.
I have competed in three Spanish Club Championships.
I have competed in three Spanish Cross Country Championships representing the
Andalusian team.
I won the Mallorca 10K, placed third in the women’s race in Seville and
in Madrid, and have placed in several other road races.

Do you take supplements for your workouts or on days when you're
competing?

As for supplements, I take creatine during the toughest part of the season.

And then I use caffeine, energy gels, and electrolytes during some workouts and/or competitions.

Maca and turmeric in the morning, and ashwagandha and melatonin at night are my staples, but since they’re natural, I don’t consider them supplements.

Are you very active on social media? Which social media platforms do you use
?

I try to be one, with the little time I have, haha. I love it when people are inspired to exercise because of me; when they message me to tell me that, I feel so proud.

Also, I think that if you use social media the right way, you can teach and learn about a lot of different topics. I only use Instagram.

Is there a race where you've said, "I'm never coming back here"?

The course at Cerro de los Ángeles during the last Spanish Cross-Country Championship I competed in was brutal—we had to climb a hill (five times) that was practically rock climbing, ha ha ha—and I said, “Never again!”
But obviously, if another championship is held there and I have the chance to go, I won’t think twice.

Is there a race you've always thought… "I've got this one
" that you'd run no matter what?

I'd like to run abroad, but I don't have any specific races in mind.

Are you the type of person who works out with or without music?

Usually without music.

I listen to music on easy runs when I'm out alone, but never during high-intensity workouts or when I'm training with others.

If so, what’s the one song that’s always on your
playlist?

Right now, the Quevedo craze—the famous "Quéeeedate"