Why change the support system?
Tariku Novales Inexhaustible. He pushed through fatigue in every form, delivering a stunning performance at the Valencia Marathon by dipping under the two-hour, six-minute mark with a Spanish record of 2 hours 5:48. This moment highlighted his resilience and his ongoing search for roots in Ethiopia, where he was adopted by Galician teachers when he was six. He faced the wounds of the recent epidemic and the ongoing struggle to secure proper support, even as he seemed to reach the sky with his achievement. His record now stands as a catalyst to reevaluate the current aid approach that has sometimes felt unfair to athletes like him.
Crossing the Valencia finish, he displayed relish and elation, soaked with sweat and full of energy, yet he spoke candidly about the obstacles he faced while preparing for the event. The situation at hand revealed a gap between the athlete’s needs and the federation’s response. “If you saw my bank account, you would laugh. I was ignored and left waiting for months to hear back, and the federation told me I didn’t meet the criteria. People freak out when I tell them I have no help.” He urged the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation to act quickly and decisively.
Spain’s aid system under scrutiny
The federation’s president, Raúl Chapado, spoke with Novales after the incident, acknowledging the issue and stressing a desire for a better future not just for one discipline, but for all athletics, including the marathon. It is worth noting that Majida Maayouf also broke the women’s record in Valencia, clocking 2 hours 21:27. Novales questioned the fairness of the benefits system, arguing it fails to account for the challenges and conditions faced by marathon runners. His comments were shared with El Periódico de España, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, underscoring the urgency for reform.
The current system tends to reward performance with access to national team support. Novales was sidelined from 2019 to 2023 due to injuries and other issues, and a 21st-place finish at the Budapest World Marathon did little to bring scholarship opportunities. “Marathons occur multiple times a year. Competing in diverse events increases the likelihood of receiving grants, not only for financial support but also to cover travel and training expenses for Olympic preparation,” he explained. He added that early conversations about improving the support system have already begun and show promise.
Novales represents Spain in Paris 2024 with anticipation, acknowledging that the event will shape his goals and training plan. He looks forward to a demanding course with climbs, which could become a decisive factor for those who do not hit two-hour targets and still wish to compete at a high level. While the pricing system remains unresolved, Adidas will continue supporting him with gear and equipment.
Adidas’ Adizero Pro Evo 1 and the “magic shoes”
Novales first connected with Adidas in 2020, during a challenging period marked by injuries and a difficult pandemic stretch. The brand stood by him with steady support, recognizing that the long-term value lay beyond immediate results. In the words of the athlete, Adidas remains his sole source of financial backing in a sport where sponsorship can be unpredictable.
The Spaniard’s Spanish marathon record comes with emotional highs and a personal reckoning. His comeback involved a tight circle of family, coaches, and staff who helped him navigate a difficult stretch and refocus his ambitions. He recalls early signs of talent in the half marathon in 2019, with the pandemic briefly stalling development. Yet returning to the marathon felt like the right call, a decision he credits to a supportive, patient network.
On November 23, the runner announced the new Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, a model touted for helping athletes close the gap to the two-hour barrier in the marathon. With a limited production run of 521 pairs, the footwear has attracted attention as a cutting-edge tool in elite training. Berlin’s women’s record and Chicago’s men’s record are cited as contemporary benchmarks, highlighting how high‑end shoes are part of the conversation about rapid improvement in distance running.
Valencia’s rabbits and the race narrative
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, weighing 138 grams, represents a major evolution over the 2017 model, though Novales stresses that shoes alone do not do the work. The result is earned through discipline, sustained effort, and the sacrifices of training partners. He notes that others who used the Evo 1 did not achieve the same outcomes, underscoring the human element in performance. Even with this advance, Valencia’s race presented challenges. The intended pacing helpers did not deliver as planned, demanding a revised strategy kept the goal in sight through deliberate, intensified effort. Finishing strong held greater meaning than merely hitting a time.
The journey behind Novales’ record is a story of redemption and resilience, built alongside two coaches and a seasoned manager. Training took place at high altitude in the Sierra Nevada and in Ethiopia, the country of his birth. The Spaniard often describes the path as straightforward: talent plus hard work equals progress, though real life adds twists that require steady resolve.
“Spain is not racist; there are many racists”
Novales has spoken about the nuances of identity and reception in Spain. A journalist’s misrepresentation prompted him to address age verification and the process he underwent after arriving in Spain at age six. He described the medical assessments used to determine age and the long arc of adaptation that followed. He says being identified with the 1998 cohort felt natural after years of study and work, and he marks his birthday on March 8, the date his family chose symbolically for International Women’s Day.
In January 2021, he traveled to Ethiopia in search of roots and connections, hoping to understand his life before age six. The trip yielded clarity and a strengthened sense of belonging. He now trains with some of the world’s best distance runners and maintains pride in his heritage and future in both Spain and Ethiopia. On social media, he has shared experiences of xenophobia alongside supportive messages from people who understand his journey. His stance remains clear: Spain is not a racist country, though racism exists and must be addressed. As the face of Spanish marathon, his ambition is to provoke a broader, fairer approach to discipline and support for all athletes, respecting their diverse backgrounds and journeys.