Almería Half Marathon, 28 Jan 2007

[El Gordo]

Roll up! Roll up! Now in its 3rd great year!

It looks like we're all off to Almería (Southern Spain) again for our AGM at the end of January.

Reasons for going:

• It's a weekend in Spain during January

• Plenty of Guinness and cheap Rioja

• Decent enough race, two laps round the elegant town, always a good size field (about 1000?)

• Excellent finish in the new Almería stadium

• The race is fantastic value for money. For about £4, you get a 3 course pre-race pasta meal, teeshirt, and a whole load of good quality freebies, including, last year, a punnet of tomatoes

• Good company

• Plenty of Guinness and cheap Rioja

• Cheap hotels because it's the off-season (about £50 per night for a 4 star hotel)

• The ever-helpful and charming Antonio, always on hand, as well as his army of sociable friends

• Tapas

• Nice scenery (snow-capped mountains and sea)

• Er, what more do you want?

• Oh yeah, cheap flights. About £40 return from Gatwick at the moment, though this will go up as time goes on.

• Did I mention the Guinness and cheap Rioja?

At the moment it looks like Sweder, Nigel, Suzie, me are the definites with the strong possibility of a Mister Big throwing his hand in.

It would be good to get some fresh blood along this time.

[Seafront Plodder]

with the strong possibility of a Mister Big throwing his hand in.

Who Paul Tergat? Really?

[Antonio247]

Andy, the local council should give you an award for promoting this sports tourism. I really appreciate your words about my home town, half marathon and myself.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much.


Antonio

[Nigel]

Ahem. Not definite, but certainly hopeful.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Who Paul Tergat? Really?

Seafront Plodder ... Paul Tergat ... understandable confusion

[Antonio247]

Let´s hope that you can come again, Nigel.

Won´t you be able to come this year, SP? If you don´t feel fit to do the half, you could do it on bicycle as this year.

John told me in Granada that he will probably come. It would be great if our British runners in northern Spain, Riazor Blue and Bierzo Baggie could also come. By the way, there are now cheap flights from Madrid with Spanair.

Perhaps MLCM could take a break and come to the UK and Almería half next year.

Well, I encourage all the forumites that can come to have a good time here and take part at Almería half marathon.

It will be wonderful to meet you all here in nearly three months´ time.


Regards

Antonio

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Perhaps MLCM could take a break and come to the UK and Almería half next year.

Believe me, there are few things I'd rather do more, but it's not going to happen in 2007

Maybe 2008? I'll start planning (and training!)

[Antonio247]

It´s a pity you can´t come next year, MLCM. Let´s hope you can in 2008.

Best of luck


Saludos desde Almería Greetings from Almería

[Seafront Plodder]

I'll make a deal with you MLC. get your arse over to Almeria for 2008 and I will definitely, definitely run the race with you.


Now that's commitment.

[El Gordo]

So. It looks like we're already booked in for 2008 then.

Ah, what the hell.

Hurrah!

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I'll make a deal with you MLC. get your arse over to Almeria for 2008 and I will definitely, definitely run the race with you.


Now that's commitment.

Admirable committment SP...

...it's on my calendar

[Antonio247]

It´s a pity that you can´t come this year MLCM but let´s hope that next year you will be able to come. What about SP, will you be able to come? I hope so.

I think that Andy RC, Nigel, Suzie and Sweder have already booked. It will be great to meet you here in January. If anybody else feels like coming, they will be very welcome as well.


Greetings from Almería Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

[Riazor Blue]

I'd love to run it, but, alas, it just cannot be done easily or cheaply from here. It looks like my January half marathon falls a week earlier in 2007, which is a pity as my birthday falls on the 28th (perhaps I could manage to get down to Badajoz for their marathon though!!)

[Antonio247]

It´s great to hear from you again, RB, after such a long time. How´s everything?

It´s a pity you can´t come to Almería half.

Best of luck

Antonio

[PaulK]

Hi guys just saying hello from the 'new boy' I tripped over the site when looking for info on the Almeria half marathon, thanks to Andy for all his help. I run for East Cheshire Harriers ( just outside Manchester) but I am strictly vet. Hoping to get an entry into the half marathon in January and Wilmslow in March.

take care

paul

[Sweder]

Howdy Paul, and welcome to RC, the friendliest hangout for humble running junkies on the planet.
Hope to see you in Almería.

[El Gordo]

Welcome Paul. I was wondering if you'd resurface.

At the moment, there are 4 definites from the UK plus 1 from Canada, and of course Antonio, who's local to Almeria. No need to book way in advance. Early Jan should be OK but I'm sure Antonio will advise.

Also, we need to start thinking about accommodation. Both hotels we've previously used have been fine, and I'd be happy with either. Or perhaps Antonio can tell us if there are other options this time around.

Where's SW these days? She's from Wilmslow area.

Stick around Paul, and ask any questions you need.

[PaulK]

Andy, Sweder

Thanks for the messages, we have just come back from Almeria, we have a house out there, but I will still be interested in the hotel because we are about an hour from the city and I would want to stay a bit closer the night before and going drinking after the race does appeal to me, please keep me posted.

thanks again

Paul

[El Gordo]

...... and going drinking after the race does appeal to me.....

Paul

I couldn't possibly endorse such behaviour..... :o

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

... and I would want to stay a bit closer the night before and going drinking after the race does appeal to me...

Welcome Paul, clearly you're going to fit in here very well