Thanks to Mark Beresford and Dave Pearson for organising and encouraging me to join them in their Torremolinos Half Marathon adventure with a group of different local club runners (16 in all) A very friendly and easy going bunch had excellent acommodation close to the town centre and the race start.After a long walk along the sea front in the glorious if not bizarre sunshine (after leaving that morning in freezing hail and rain) we enjoyed the night out before race day .The race preparations were already underway,stageing, ,equipment,barriers etc being put in place and building up the feeling of anticipation for the race particularly as I had no idea what to expect. Excellent organisation and facilities for a race which is free to enter and it did have an atmosphere of a special event. After a urban start the course made its way to the sea front for a warm hike for 4-5 miles along the prom trying to psychologically keep to the pace and judge the water stops to match the warm conditions. Fortunately the sea breeze and patchy cloud just made it bearable( for on a hot day it would be a different race altogether)until the course meandered inland through town gently up towards a bypass which indicated over half way and on the way home.The road at the side of the bypass was the long return leg again 4-5 miles of long long steady gradients which gradually sapped any speed you started with or were trying to keep in reserve. It did change your mindset from trying to get a good time to just trying to finish. Fortunately the twists and turns of the final few miles allowed some distraction but the long return straight had done its damage and it was hard to feel any recovery until the cheers of the crowded town centre spectators drove you on up the mainstreet to the finish. Excellent goody bag ,refreshments and presentation. Huge elevated podium , with trophies the size of washing up bowls down to large plantpot size, enough to make it feel real special for the 3 of our merry band that picked up prizes ,Jackie Redmain,Derek Kay and myself. It was nice to meet and see other uk club groups chilling out and it did turn a few heads afterwards walking in our group with so much glinting silverware (...well chromeware...)A hard race but an enjoyable event if you want to treat yourself to a race away .
Keith Thomas
