January 2008

[Sweder]

I'm leaving fullsome reporting on the Big One to others this year. My own race turned out pretty well considering post-lurghie, rather flabby conditioning, mainly thanks to the excellent Moyleman who chugged along with me all the way and to the excellent support offered by the good people of Almería. The ladies did stout work, cheering us on our second ascent of Las Ramblas - one we took all too fast, putting the kaibosh on a potential course PB. 7:40 miling felt pretty impressive on that last climb, but the toll paid on the recovery descent was too high, at times slowing to 8:30 pace. Something in the mid 1:47's was more than satisfactory.

Great weather, fabulous company and some notable achievements, not least from Ana, Javier and Jorge who, as has been well-reported elsewhere, suffered at the hands of incompetent race organisers/ marshalls and completed a 13 km route instead of the scheduled 10. Steve came into this race having one previous half - last March - under his belt. He's 'run a bit' since but was, I think it fair to say, pretty nervous about the run. He walked away, having looked remarkably comfortable at every stage, with a massive PB, smashing two hours with a sub 1:56, a stunning effort.

Elsewhere El Gordo took good care of his troublesome knee, Moyleman defied imminent Man Flu and Antonio brushed off severe discomfort in his foot to finish in creditable style. All in all a grand day out, though in my humble opinion this was only the prelude to the high point of the weekend; the offroad Monday madness of the plunge from Banos Sierra Almahilla. I'll get to that just as soon as I've taken care of a small avalanche of home and work-related matters that accrued in my absence.