Macias, a professor of Theory and Methodology for sports training at the Cuban Sports University, was in the city to deliver a lecture as a precursor to the Vodafone 22nd Pune International Marathon. Macias laid stress on the preparation methodology , strategy, and tactics to be applied. “To reach the goal, long distance athletes need to have a concrete project plan and need to apply a strategy during the race according to the situation,” he explained.

For Macias strategy meant each athlete taking into account the physical and psychological level him/herself, which includes weather, time, food that play major roles. Macia enthusiastically said, “ I have come to India to help the athletes,” and touched on issues like food, liquid intake before-during and after the race and the carboyaderates intake days before the event.