On Saturday afternoon I picked up my race number and technical T-shirt at Escuela de Artes where there was a photo show about Almería athletics since it was its 90th anniversary. Manuel decided to enter and take part at this race, San Silvestre 2009, to be held on Sunday 27th December.
On Sunday evening Manuel and I went to pick up our chips at a stall near the Escuela de Artes near the Paseo de Almería, the town´s high street. There, I met Mario, who is a former pupil of mine, Antonio L. with his wife, etc. The day was fine. It had been sunny and the temperature was 19ª celsius. We were given a Father Christmas cap amd went to the start just outside Molly Malone´s . The atmosphere was great with a lot of spectators and many runners wearing the white T-shirt and the Father Christmas cap. Others dressed up with different costumes such as Cruzcampo beer men, gipsy woman, etc.
We had to go along a 3m course three times. We went down the paseo, up la Rambla as far as calle Murcia, down la Rambla as far as Rambla de Obispo Orberá, went along that avenue, got to Puerta de Purchena, Almería´s Piccadilly circus, and down again along Paseo de Almería. There were many people at the Paseo and la Rambla cheering.
Manuel decided to keep me company although he could have gone faster. As he felt hot, he took off his T-shirt and ran without it, wearing the race number in his shorts. Some people said : Come on, Tarzan! or some children told their parents : Look, that man is running naked.
The fact that Manuel came with me made me go a little faster than I would have. Every lap took me 16 minutes and a few seconds. So, it took me 48 minutes 40 seconds. The last hill at La Rambla seemed to me tougher but I managed to sprint in the last downhill at el Paseo where we passed a few runners. It looked strange not to be in the last positions like the last year and even see runners going up la Rambla when I was going down.
I think that if I go on training, especially some speed and longer runs on different days I could achieve an under two hour half marathon this year.
Well, I wish you all a very happy year 2010. Let all your aims be fulfilled !
WWW.aqueatacamos.com/sansilvestreALMERIA2009/subindex.htm
II San Silvestre Almería. 27th December 2009
