Wed 05/09/18
Wednesday
05 September 2018
This was
the day of the first race, the 8K cross country. I had set my alarm for 8am as
a back stop. I needed it! I woke one minute before the alarm went off. My idea
of getting a taxi to the venue did not come to fruition so I walked, got the Cercanías
for two stops and then walked at the other end. It was a good option as I got
to see the course before I arrived at the start and finish area. Here is what I
said to Keith Etheridge about the experience…
I was pleased to finish the course it was a tough one. You
are right, I was well aware of the progress that I have made in the last six
months so I am happy with that. I ran most of the way with Rob Sargent who is
definitely a baby… still in the 60-age group (but not for long). Rob was in
front of me for most of the race. He pushed hard for 3 of the 4 laps but then
tailed off. Archie had told us that he was only going to do one lap so we knew
that he would not finish. I think quite a few runners approached the race with
that option in mind having seen the severity of the course. Andy Murray had
counted the emergency vehicles and pointed out that they must have decided that
ours was a two-ambulance race! I was surprised to see that Alan Newman dropped
out but he has suffered a similar injury to mine. On a brighter note, his
partner Sue James ran well. Sue had a long-term back injury. She spent a small
fortune on a course of treatment which involved being strapped into a machine
that turned her upside down and stretched and straightened her spine. It seems
to have worked!
I was chatting to an Aussie who had an M70 logo on his race
number. He then turned up on the start line for our race. He explained that
they had cocked up his age group on the numbers print run. The age group is set
by age on day one of the tournament. He was 69 on day one and 70 one day later.
So, he was definitely an M65 and definitely the oldest in the race. Meanwhile,
the younger Kenyans, not realising that the timetable was delayed by 30 minutes
or more, turned up on our start line too, before being shepherded away. Looking
at the results I think the delay may have been initiated by an M70 runner in
the first race taking 70 minutes to do his (short) 6K. That was much slower
than the M85s even! The old guys only had to do 3 laps by the way.
I was lapped by the leaders of the M60 race while I was on
my second lap. I saw David Oxland make
his move into the lead as he passed me with about 350 metres to go. You are
right again. He was outsprinted by the eventual winner.
Well done on spotting my result. You probably saw it well
before I did as I was scanning the track & field results page. You probably
didn’t spot Barrie’s result though. He competed in the M75 race which started
at 09:00. Although I arrived much to late to see him run, I was able to have a
chat to Barrie and Katie before my race. I haven’t done any socialising though;
I have some chums staying in an apartment about 400 metres away in Benalmádena.
As they were heading to the marina for an evening meal I was going to bed. I was
so tired that I was woken by my alarm at 08:00. I did take a late afternoon
stroll prior to retiring early though…
I took a couple of photos as I strolled through the park.
There was a playground there that I thought Emmie would appreciate. There was
also a goat and a small lake (large pond?).
The 10K on Sunday starts at 9am so I’m already trying to
adjust my body clock. I was up at 6am this morning. I shall use this rather
lengthy missive as a reminder of what has happened so far! There will be no
team competition in the 10K so the medal hunters (Graham Webster for example)
will not be taking part.
I have picked up some bites. I think there are a few biting
insects by our pool. My preference from yesterday has been to spray on insect
repellent rather than sun screen. I have some bite relief spray too. I forgot
to bring a hat so I am staying in the shade whenever possible.
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