Running the 101 kilometers of Ronda handcuffed, Pelayo and Jessica's charitable Guinness record

Completing the 101 of the Legion of Ronda is difficult, but doing it while handcuffed seems almost impossible. This is what Pelayo Álvarez and Jessica Muñoz will attempt on the upcoming May 9th. The couple has decided to run handcuffed the entire 101 kilometers of this legendary race to break the current Guinness World Record, which stands at 80 kilometers. It sounds like a crazy idea, but they are very clear about it, and most importantly, they have a beautiful reason for achieving it, as they aim to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation Pequeño Deseo.

Neither of them is from Malaga, or even Andalusian. They have never been to Ronda before. He is from Luarca in Asturias, and she is from Calpe in Alicante. The idea came up casually, as a joke, about five months ago. "We were looking at Guinness records, not thinking about breaking any, just for fun," Pelayo told this newspaper, noting that it was then when they saw the record for a handcuffed couple that everything started to take shape. "We found it amusing," he recalls, excitedly, explaining that he is a Civil Guard officer and she is a Local Police officer, and both are athletes.

From there, everything happened quickly: "We knew about the Ronda race, I have friends who have done it and say it's incredible, we looked at the route and signed up. We started looking to see if we could help a foundation." In that search, they found the Foundation Pequeños Deseos, an organization dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children and teenagers with serious illnesses. "Their work hits close to home," says Pelayo, as neither has a direct link to the NGO, but both are parents.

They contacted the Foundation, named their charity challenge 101khandcuffed, created a website through which donations can be made, and an Instagram profile where they document their progress (@101khandcuffed). The fundraising will go entirely to support emotionally children with serious illnesses. Thus, what seemed like madness has become "a personal challenge of overcoming" and the desire to "help the children." The Guinness is now an excuse, "the least of it," he says. In addition to the money they raise through the website, they are preparing calendars to "sponsor kilometers" and on the day of the race, their parents will be in Ronda to help make their cause visible. They also want someone from the Foundation Pequeños Deseos to travel with them.

They will wear the handcuffs from the start to the finish line, which forces them to coordinate, adapt to each other's pace, and "move forward together even when fatigue and pain appear." They believe this union represents the message they want to convey with their challenge, that "no one should fight alone". "I thought being handcuffed would be more difficult, because of the coordination and stride, and because I am much taller than her, but we have adapted well," he explains. They have been preparing diligently since January when the organization of the 101 confirmed they could participate. They train separately during the week – as he lives in Madrid and she in Alicante – and together on weekends. "The most we have done handcuffed has been four hours, 33 kilometers, around La Graciosa," Pelayo recounts, estimating that in Ronda they will have to endure with the handcuffs "15 or 16 hours."

"We are not professional athletes nor are we seeking the spotlight," Pelayo asserts, insisting that all they want is for their challenge to serve as a loudspeaker and that "every kilometer counts, that each story reaches a bit further, and that the effort has a real impact beyond the record." In fact, he admits that he is a "novice," having never participated in a marathon or anything similar. His partner does have experience with an Ironman and in the African Race of Melilla. "So, it's going to be her carrying me," he laughs.