We had a great time there last weekend. We stayed at a hotel near Málaga, at hotel Spa Cala Bahía at Cala del Moral just 9 km away from Málaga. The hotel is very new with large bedrooms, the meals are all right and the spa is relaxing. http://WWW.hotelcalabahia.com
On Saturday morning we picked up the race number, chip, an Adidas technical T-shirt and some other things such as Bimbo bread rolls, deodorant, etc.
Although the weather forecast predicted rainy weather, it just rained on Saturday afternoon when we went to Picasso´s museum. We enjoyed the visit and the building is fine. http://WWW.museopicassomalaga.org
On sunday morning I went to the Carranque sports pavilion where the half marathon started. It was a sunny day. There were nearly 3000 participants there. I met Manolo B from Almería with his wife and later Manolo F, also from Almería. Before the start I jogged a little and did some stretching. There were people from many parts of Andalusia but also from the rest of Spain and abroad, especially the UK. The race started at 10 am. Although we had a chip there was no mat at the start. I managed to go at a 5´30´´ pace for the first five kilometres which were in the outskirts but I couldn´t keep that pace so I reached kilometre 10 , near the port, in 59 minutes. I went on my own most of the race overtaking and being overtaken. We reached Málaga´s sea front with little wind and got back to the city centre. A bus driver asked me how many kilometres the race was. In this race there is a lane which the cars can use. The last two kilometres are uphill to get at the stadium and do a lap at the track. I felt strong enough to overtake a woman and then a man. By the way, I saw a runner lying on the grass who apparently had had a heart attack when he was getting to the finish and was helped by a doctor and a nurse. I finished in 2 hours 11 minutes 40 seconds according to my watch. When I got to the finish I was given a bottle of water, a bottle of Powerade. I could have had a glass of beer but I didn´t feel like it. I missed a sweatshirt like the one I was given six years ago at this race. When I was going to my car, I met Adolfo, a colleague from a secondary school in Almería who did the half in one hour 42 minutes.
I felt better than at Almería half, with very little discomfort. I should lose a few kilos and train better to do a half marathon under two hours.
Congratulations Antonio! You ran a good race. Nice that the weather cooperated for you. One day the 'under two hour' half marathon will happen (for you and me!).
Congratulations Antonio. A decent time in what sounds like a good race. I hope the guy who had the heart attack survived. I'm sure you're right about the possibility of a sub-2 half. Maybe you should join SP and I in running a sub-2 at Almeria in 2010.
Hope you enjoyed the Picasso museum. M and I are big admirers of the man's work. I didn't realise he was from Malaga. When we were in the Basque region a few years ago, we opted to drive through Gernika, inspiration for Picasso's great anti-war painting, Guernica, on our way from Bilbao to San Sebastian. We arrived there (24 November 2003) during siesta. Everything was quiet, which gave the chaos of the painting extra potency. Would love to see the original work, which I believe is in Madrid.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Nice race Antonio. I'm looking forward to Almeria 2010 when it seems there will be a triumph of RC Personal Bests. I would love to be there to see that
Shayne and I visited the incredible Dali museum in Figueres last year, a dazzling collection of fantastical works offering a glimpse into the tumultuous mind of a wild and crazy genius. I had no idea of the sheer scope of his work. We also went to the Casa-Museu Castell Gala-Dali in Púbol, between Figuere and Barcelona. Here amongst the medieval stone walls of the village the Great Man housed and doted on Gala, his beloved Muse. The small, well-kept gardens are stalked by nightmare sculptures of stilt-legged pachyderms, the tranquil ornamental pond adorned with 12 carved busts of Wagner, Dali's favourite composer.
Without doubt one of the most remarkable places I've ever spent time in. I felt sure I caught a flicker of a moustachio'd spirit flitting across the gravel courtyard. He was grinning like a loon, eyes wide with creative lust, dashing off to bring yet another impossible vision into the world.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Gracias, amig@s. It would be great if all of us who haven´t done a half marathon under 2 hours in the last five years could do it between this season and the next one.
EG, you´re right "Guernica" is in Madrid now at Museo Reina Sofía. Although Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, he moved with his family to Coruña when he was 10 and Barcelona when he was 14.
S, I´m glad you enjoyed Dali´s paintings. I think he was a really amazing man with a surrealistic mind.
Best of luck with your challenges, which are close. Take them easy!
XIX Medio maratón de Málaga 29th March 2009
-- er, sorry, I meant 
