In my head I was running 18km today. In my stomach were the dregs of yesterday’s commute from London to Granada. Namely, red wine, gin and tonic, and a late night gin fizz cocktail, from an un-named bar, where collectively Mr JCR, our friends N&A, and me raised the average age from about 25 to around 60.
In this bar, we also reduced the average tattoo and piercing count, and noticed that most of the punters started paying their bills when we arrived. Clearly we were not their normal clientele. But it was very friendly including the wolf dog on a steel and leather lead – a bit like the circus poster…
I was out at 8.30 am to do the 18km, I quickly realised that it wasn’t going to happen when my first km split was over 8 minutes. Maybe the post dinner gin fizz wasn’t the best prep?
In the distance I could see a couple of runners, so I thought it might be a good idea to follow them. I have no idea if they were warming or cooling down or doing some weird shit exercise routine, but every 10/15 paces they stopped to lunge and stretch various body parts. I do my stretching in the privacy of my own home, no one needs to see my lycra groaning, nor me for that matter. I overtook them and continued to see the world famous sights and sites of Granada. Bus station, Repsol petrol station, Lidl, road closure, primary school, tram lanes.
A quick detour back to the Airbnb to divest hat, gloves and running jacket and I was on my way. Tragically, not to the 18km though. I just wasn’t feeling quite right, coupled with the fact that I seemed to have run most of Granada – bar the hill and that famous palace.
Tomorrow is tourist stuff, visiting the Alhambra and so on. The weather is supposed to be turning a little more beastly, so today with fairly mild weather to take advantage of, we enjoyed very nice free tapas which is a thing in Granada, an interesting afternoon lunch/drink and lovely evening meal. The red wine Munana is delicious and La Tana wine bar particularly grand.
This may not be the best preparation for serious running, but it’s a lot of fun.
Playlist
Get Dancin’ – Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes
Girls on Film – Duran Duran
Hungry Like The Wolf – Ditto
New Moon On Monday – Ditto
Notorious – Ditto
Planet Earth – Ditto
Go Wild In The Country – Bow Wow Wow
Gold – Spandau Ballet
House Of Fun – Madness
Night Boat To Cairo – Ditto
Our House – Ditto
I Am The Law – Human League
I Can’t Stand Up – Elvis Costello
Oliver’s Army – Ditto
I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Nik Kershaw
Is Vic There? – Department S
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
Joan of Arc – OMD
Maid of Orleans – Ditto
The Look Of Love – ABC
Love’s Unkind -Donna Summer
New Life – Dépêche Mode
People are People – Ditto
Personal Jesus – Ditto
Night Fever – Bee Gees
No More I Love Yous – The Lover Speaks
Doesnt Make It Alright – Stiff Little Fingers
Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Temptation – Heaven 17
Every Day I Love You Less and Less – Kaiser Chiefs
I Predict A Riot – Ditto
Modern Way – Ditto
Na Na Na Na Naa – Ditto
China Girl – David Bowie
Statistics
Distance 12.71 km
Time 1:38:19
Average Pace 7:44 (mins/km)
Elevation Gain 106 metres
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms done 467.6
Kms to do 1550.4
