15 Feb – Tapas 5 – Running 0

 

Winter training camp is to be taken very seriously. Up to this morning, I have run precisely 0 kilometres and eaten 5 sets of tapas.

So far we have had:-

Patatas bravas – slow oven roasted new potatoes with warm red pepper mayonnaise sauce

Croquetas jamón – can’t tell you how scrummy these were, potato puree, really creamy with tiny flakes of ham

Gambas tempura – say no more

Porco Iberico con pimientos padron – neither of us had the nuclear grade padron pepper, but the Iberico pork was stupendous.

Queso Manchego – manchego cheese

I am hoping this food will give me legs for a run today, or maybe too much of a good thing could mess up my plans. We shall see…

3 hours later:-

One of the problems of a British Winter is that you get so used to being cold and grey and wet, you forget exactly how to dress for warmer climes. And so it was today. I got dressed in long running tights, long sleeved base-layer, short sleeved tee shirt over and a running cap.

At about 2 kms in with rivers of sweat pouring down my face, the hat came off. Another two kilometres in and an unscheduled middle-aged striptease occurred on the seafront. Off came the short sleeved tee shirt, off came the long sleeved base layer. On went a ‘Do I really care that I am stripped to the waist?’ look on my face and I brazened it out in front of the good people of Malaga. In fairness I am sure they have seen much worse on their beaches in summer.

Another kilometre in and I was having a hot running tights issue. No matter how brazen I felt earlier, there was no way I was going to run bare-arsed, so I had to settle for rolling up my running tights to knee height. It didn’t even look as good as Norah Batty – much more Compo. Not a hope in hell of me ever achieving molto chic podista look.

The Malaga seafront has a nice flat promenade, with a slight sea breeze today which did help, but how quickly I had forgotten that, in the sun, every bit of effort is so much harder.  Today was a touch over 20 degrees according to one thermometer I saw and last summer I would have welcomed that rather than Lucifer’s inferno of 40 degrees plus. But after four months of running in cool/cold weather, it felt really rather scorchio.

A fairly boring route along the promenade, enlivened by hundred of pairs of multicoloured leggings. They obviously are very popular here – not necessarily for keeping fit though, mainly as a promenading outfit, oh and age no barrier either. Along with the multi-coloured leggings the ceramic paving had a wavy line on it that gave an optical illusion of you running up and down mini hills. It was most peculiar when looking down (which was necessary due to dog poop), it really made my head spin.

One of the nicest things was seeing beach volleyball, there’s something lovely about seeing people have fun on a sunny day. This is my second try at running 4 days consecutively, then taking a day off. So it will be interesting to see how I get on.

My lessons on Winter camp so far:-

1. Drink enough water the day before
2. Dress as though it were much hotter than you imagine
3. Don’t go out in full sun

Playlist

People Are People – Depeche Mode

True Faith 94 – New Order

Change – The Lightning Seeds

The Jean Genie – David Bowie

Unbelievable – EMF

Marvin Gaye – Puth and Traynor

This Girl – Kungs

Rain On Your Parade – Duffy

When Doves Cry – Prince

Is She Really Going Out With Him – Joe Jackson

Rio – Duran Duran

I Wont Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Nik Kershaw

Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode

Enola Gay – OMD

Let’s Stick Together – Bryan Ferry

Save A Prayer – Duran Duran

Blue Monday – New Order

It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls

World In Motion – New Order

Modern Way – Kaiser Chiefs

Upside Down – Paloma Faith

Parklife – Blur

Lucky You – The Lightning Seeds

Sign Your Name – Terence Trent D’Arby

I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs

Rockferry – Duffy

Love In Itself – Depeche Mode

Stats

Distance 12.25km

Time 1:37:05

Average Pace 7:55

Elevation Gain 31 metres

Clothing Removed – 3 items

Clothing Replaced – 1 item

Red Face/Paddington Stare – 1

Alzheimer’s Challenge

224.26 kms done

1793.74 to be done (but first time down in the 1700s)