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Betanzos
A couple of months ago I wrote that a new target would be to run the half marathon in Betanzos in under 85 minutes.
What I didn't take into account was that the circuit is all hills. OK, so I wasn't trying for the 85 minutes after all, I'm all signed up for a marathon on 4th July in a place called Toral de lis Vados. It's in the middle of nowhere, between Galicia and Castilla Leon. Today was a fast training run with a 5km race tagged onto the end. Bearing in mind what happened in Vigo, I didn't want to push too hard.
I finished in 1hour 34 minutes which was quite respectable given the hills and the heat. No sun, just heat, which is even worse. Once I finished I had to run back to the car to collect my 'flyers' for the shop to hand out. I was pleased with the response from the runners there. It's probably a shock for them to see some Brit opening up a running shop in the back-end of Spain. We'll see on Tuesday when I open.
I 'raced' last Sunday aswell. There was a 9km 'fun run' in a village called Arteixo - not a well known place except that the fashion shop Zara has it's headquarters there. As I haven't had much time to train, beforehand I told the girlfriend that 42 minutes would be good, over 44 not so good, under 40 bloody excellent. When I stopped the watch on 37'46" I could only think that it was a short course. But who knows, the officials told me it was 9km.
Next Sunday there is a 19km race, Galicia has many wierd distances. I quite fancied this one, but it coincides with a 4.5km fun run in the city centre. I have promised to do this with the girlfriend and another two non-running friends. It'll be good for handing out publicity aswell.
Finally, commiserations to Nigel. I was at Wembly in 96 to see Palace lose in the play-off final ( in the last minute of extra time against Leicester) so I know how it feels. On the brighter side YAY the Palace. What a spectacular job Iain Dowie has done. And thanks to the marvels of internet I could listen to the game on the radio.
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