Lymington’s Valeria Sesto flies home and seals Maratón del Desierto victory
Lymington-based athlete Valeria Sesto made a happy return to her country of birth, running barefoot and winning the Maratón del Desierto for a second time.
Sesto decided to remove her trainers moments before the start of the 10k desert race, which snakes along the Argentine Sea off the Atlantic coast of Argentina, and she believes the decision was crucial.
“In 2023, I made headlines for running the whole thing barefooted”, said the Argentinian 50k and 100k record holder. “Five minutes before the race, I’m standing there with my shoes on. Then I thought, ‘I never run with trainers on sand. I feel strong, and my feet are all I need’.
“The decision paid off. A fierce runner was pushing me and not letting go. Not having shoes helped me climb the dunes as my toes would grip like fingers, and it also felt easier to me when going down the steep dunes.
“I felt that she could sense those little gains in those moments. It was a case of keeping your head strong and believing that pulling away at those moments would be the right move, more as a mental strategy than physical.
“At the end, the other runners confirmed that my strategy worked. She was looking at my feet and thinking all the time how she should have been barefoot, too, and convinced herself that I was quicker because of it. Possibly, I was.”
The race starts along a mile of compacted sand next to the sea’s edge before competitors climb, descend and balance for miles on top of the thin tops of dunes.
As a previous winner and a double Argentinian endurance record holder, Sesto was invited to race by the organisers, while her victory earned a week’s catered stay at a resort on the Argentinian beach with her husband, Clive.
Sesto’s parents live on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, a few hours away from the coastal town where the race is, and she spent Christmas with them this year.
“Although run by different organisers, this event was already happening in my 20s”, added Sesto. “I used to be the organisers’ right hand, back then, not a runner at all, spending weeks on the coast putting together what was a big show.”
Next Friday, Sesto will host a talk at Lymington Town Sailing Club (LTSC), telling the story of her journey into endurance sports, her time sailing around the world, and much more. To book a ticket, contact LTSC on 01590 674514.