On Sunday 13th September I took part at Laujar 10 km race. Laujar de Andarax is a small town in the Almerian Sierra Nevada. It is a typical Alpujarran white town seventy km away from Almería. I was eager to take part in a competition after several months and after a period with very little training due to the heat and need to rest from running.
So I arrived at Laujar de Andarax twenty minutes before the race. It was a beautiful sunny day but not hot. There I met Pepe, Encarna, Javier, Santi and other runners I know. Encarna introduced me to another runner to do the race together, Agustín, who actually I had already met at Tabernas race this year because we went together some metres along that course.
The race started at 10 am. Agustín and I started together but soon I couldn´t keep his pace, so I decided to go on my own. The course is quite nice since it is along a road and afterwards a dirt track by the vineyards and olive trees and a few fig trees. After two or three kilometres, I was overtaken by the last runner. I tried to keep his pace but I couldn´t. I just kept my pace and enjoyed the views and took some photos while jogging. I had behind me the ambulance and people cheered me. When I got to the town, I saw some runners going back to their cars who cheered me and toldm me that the finish was very near. I managed to do the 10 km in 64 minutes, which is fine for me since I´ve trained very little lately. At the finish I was given a bottle of water and an apple. As there were no T-shirts left, I was given a receipt to pick up one at Corre Corre sports shop in Almería.
After the race we remained there to attend the prize-giving and a draw of sports equipment such as T-shirts, shorts, trainers, etc.
Afterwards, we went to Pepe´s cortijo ( farmhouse ) near Ohanes, twenty kilometre away in the mountains. It is a beautiful house surrounded by high vineyards, olive trees, pome granate trees, etc. It started to rain heavily but it lasted a few minutes. There I met Pepe, Encarna, Pepe´s son, Javi, Santi, Alejandro and his wife, who are Javi´s friends, Felipe and Mario who hadn´t been able to take part at the race with their wives. Pepe showed us the farm who is really beautiful and when we were coming back, a bolt of lightining struck and nearly touched Felipe and Santi. Fortunately, nothing happened. We enjoyed a lot the meat barbecue and Pepe´s own wine as well as beer, cava ( Catalan champagne ), cakes, coffee, etc.
After the meal, Pepe showed us the place where he makes his own wine. Before leaving, Pepe and Encarna cut some bunches of ecological grapes, really good, and insisted on taking some loaves of bread that were left.
It was a beautiful day in the countryside far from the madding crowd.
Great report, Antonio, and well done on finishing the 10K. I know how difficult it is after a break. In the UK, in a typical 10K, there would be plenty of people after you on 64 minutes.
The farmhouse and vineyards sound great -- typical rustic Spain. Glad you had a good time, and let's hope this is the start of your training for the half in January.
And no need to worry about finishing last in the Almeria Half -- SP is taking part.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Well done Antonio. I think finishing in 64 minutes is really good given how little you've been running. I can't believe you were last with that time though - as in the UK, we'd also have a lot of people coming in after you. It seems like only the fast people in Spain enter races. I love the picture of all of you around the table at Pepe's farmhouse; looks so very 'Spanish'.
(23-09-2009, 03:29 PM)suzieq Wrote: Well done Antonio. I think finishing in 64 minutes is really good given how little you've been running. I can't believe you were last with that time though - as in the UK, we'd also have a lot of people coming in after you. It seems like only the fast people in Spain enter races. I love the picture of all of you around the table at Pepe's farmhouse; looks so very 'Spanish'.
Suzie
It's definitely true that races in Spain, and probably elsewhere, have far fewer slower runners. In the UK and North America, there's a stronger culture of 'fun running' (a term I don't like, but it fulfils a purpose). I very nearly finished last in Almeria one year, in a time that was slow, but nothing like the slowest in a typical UK half.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Gracias, EG and Suzie. You´re lucky to take part in races in countries where there are many people who don´t mind running at a pace they feel comfortable. Here in Spain there are a few half marathons in which you have to finish under two hours 15 minutes.
(23-09-2009, 10:22 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: Nice photos too, by the way. As Suzie said, it looks the way we "expect" Spain to look!
That first one, with the ray of sunshine illuminating Antonio is rather inspiring. It's like God saying: "This fellow will finish last today, but I have chosen him to win the Almeria Half".
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
(23-09-2009, 10:22 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: Well done Antonio - it seems there are a few RC people on the come-back trail at the moment!
Good luck with your training for Almeria. Are you aiming for under 2 hours as well?
Nice photos too, by the way. As Suzie said, it looks the way we "expect" Spain to look!
Gracias, MLCM. I think you´re on the way to do a half under 2 hours. However, I don´t see myself doing it under 2 hours 10 minutes. I should train more and better apart from losing 7 or 8 kilos.
(23-09-2009, 10:22 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: Nice photos too, by the way. As Suzie said, it looks the way we "expect" Spain to look!
That first one, with the ray of sunshine illuminating Antonio is rather inspiring. It's like God saying: "This fellow will finish last today, but I have chosen him to win the Almeria Half".
Well, EG, if I once won Almería half it would be the most difficult miracle
done by God. I wish I could finish it next year.
(23-09-2009, 10:22 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: Nice photos too, by the way. As Suzie said, it looks the way we "expect" Spain to look!
That first one, with the ray of sunshine illuminating Antonio is rather inspiring. It's like God saying: "This fellow will finish last today, but I have chosen him to win the Almeria Half".
Well, EG, if I once won Almería half it would be the most difficult miracle
done by God. I wish I could finish it next year.
Saludos desde Almería
God has made his wishes clear -- you'd better start serious training
Nah, you'll be fine in Almeria. Still 18 weeks to go, which is plenty of time to knock off a few kilos and rediscover the inner athlete. At least I hope it is....
As long as we avoid injury, we'll be fine.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
III 10 km de Laujar 13th September 2009
