On Sunday 6th February, Wayne and Denise Babynec, Paul Bassnett, Barry
Allman and I completed the annual Torremolinos road race.
This year however was a bit different in
that the usual half marathon was cancelled and they made the race a 11.8K instead.
Not to be deterred from this as we had booked our cheap flights and cheapish
accommodation, (£23pp HB per night), months in advance. I also
thought a 10am start as opposed to a 9am start, half the usual distance
glorious blue skies for three days, early finish meant we had more
relaxation time soaking up the sun with more beers!
What I didn't account for was that this
was a seriously tough race. The temperature was 17 degrees at the start
and the first km is always tough. The route was exactly as it’s always been
apart from the organisers took us off the sea front at around 6K
and that's when the fun started.
It was hill after hill with
a lot of runners struggling in the heat. I cannot speak for the rest but I
was seriously dehydrated and I can only blame "Mr. Miguel" for that, which started at around 2pm
the day before.
Sea, sand, beers, (too many before a
race!), football on the beach, running up 250 steps, (mini race), blue
skies, hot sunshine - does not bode well for race preparation which went
completely out of the window.
The field was 789 and the organisation was pretty much the same as previous years
with the event being professionally videoed, TV crew, and large stage
with plenty of trophies. The only difference being the start and finish.
No chip timing and I went over the start line 38 seconds after the gun
went off. We reached the finish where we waited at least 2 minutes to
proceed to the point where an official took our number and it was
recorded. Up to that point no one had read our number.
Finishing times are therefore a little
out but the times posted on the Spanish
web site are:
|
Mark |
53.41 |
242nd |
|
|
57.53 |
388th |
|
Barry |
58.16 |
422nd |
|
Paul |
1.01.53 |
560th |
|
Denise |
1.07.11 |
673rd |
As ever, a brilliant trip and good to
share a few drinks abroad with my fellow team members who were great
company. Another 21 other club runners from various Northwest Running clubs also stayed at
the same hotel. Everyone from all the clubs seemed to get on well and with the
weather being as nice as it was, just capped it off nicely.
It was the fifth time in a row for my
trip here and I do not see that finishing just yet.
Just over two hours flight time
into Malaga’s newly built terminal,
a 200 yard walk to the new train station,4 stops on the train,3
minute walk to the hotel. The best bit is the start of the race is, yes
you've guessed it, 2 minutes away. Happy
days!
A lot easier and much less hassle than
the majority of local races that we all do in the
Pictures of the event on my face
book profile, however, not many race shots I’m afraid! But shots of a different
type.
http://www.astleyrunners.co.uk/PhotoAlbums/Torremolinos/pages/Torremolinos%2007_JPG.htm
Written by: Mark Lysycia from Astley and Tyldesley Running Club
Submitted: 16th
February 2011
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw
WRR Editor