XX Medio maratón de Almería 20th Almería half marathon

[El Gordo]

WHAT HAPPENS
Traditionally we get in, grab a coffee, stroll off to the race HQ to collect numbers and dine on pasta somewhere on Saturday night. Race on Sunday morning, shower and beer back the hotel then off to a restaurant that Antonio has recommended/ set up a set menu meal deal (always excellent, always very reasonable)......

.....Sunday evening some of us hit Molly Malone's (not called that for several years but hey).
Monday is stroll about, hit the seafront, recovery jog or for the more adventurous perhaps a trip to Cabo de Gata National Park for a very gentle run along some wild coastline. Monday evening is open, some will probably head our for some R & R.

ADVISORY NOTICE
None of the above is compulsory or indeed recommended as being especially good for you.
Some take a different course, such as necking bottles of Rioja on Saturday night and blowing out the whole thing. We're each an experiment of one. Hope to see you there.

Mustn't forget the legendary photo calls at the airport on arrival, and (particularly) the post-race Ramblas snaps with everyone proudly sporting their race teeshirts. Takes ages while everyone takes a turn with their camera. Mmm, that post-race beer at the hotel. Being eventually thrown out of the restaurant because the staff run out of patience with these beery English. Probably a bit of Brexit joshing on the cards this time, perhaps. Chaotic scenes at Molly's, no doubt.

Best one ever for me was the Sweder/SP/me all-day Monday drinking session. We sat outside Molly's from about midday, smoking roll-ups and drinking Guinness, before moving on to some pleasant bistro in late afternoon where we made a thorough nuisance of ourselves. When Antonio eventually arrived in the early evening, we were literally falling off our chairs and sending bottles of wine tumbling. I think I managed to drag a table on top of me as I lay on the floor. As ever, Antonio somehow had to play the supreme diplomat to get us out of trouble that time. Ah, Almeria.