My first time to do this race, which has been on my wish list for a few years, as it is a big event for the 100 Marathon Club, and many many people have told me how much fun it is.
It's nice that the race is in December, as it's a good time of year to leave chilly grey London for a few days, to catch some winter sunshine. It was a nice temperature there, about 23oC, and for less then 4 hours on a plane, it's a good exchange for the UK winter!
An early morning flight from Gatwick, and met up with friends there for breakfast.
Once we landed in Arrecife, Sarah, Jon, Andrew and I hopped on the Hopper Bus, which took us to our apartments (the Celeste Apartments) in Costa Teguise.
We headed off to the Expo to pick up our race numbers, and signed up for the Santa 5km that evening. This was fun! At sunset, we ran the last 5km of the marathon route, back to Costa Teguise, all dressed up as Santa. It was a great run, but I have to say, it wasn't really hat weather 😂
Afterwards it was time to fuel up for the race, at Juanita Mexican restaurant in the Square (deconstructed fajitas), and catch an early night.
The marathon started at 08.00 on the Saturday, and it was only a 10-15 minute walk from the apartment to get there.
Great to see so many 100 Marathon Club members and friends there. There was a bit of a delay getting started, as there had been an accident on one of the roads the run went along, so we set off about 08.20, after an extra 20 minutes of chatting at the start.
Sarah and I ran together, and it was an excellent run and great fun. The course was 13.1 miles along the coast to the airport, and then back. It was all along nice paths, and was scenic running by the sea.
It was harder than I thought it would be, and especially the first quarter and the last quarter were quite undulating. It was hot and sunny for the first half, which was a bit of a shock after running in the cold in the UK, but about half way it started raining, which was nice and cooling. Made a mistake in the first part, by following the pacer who I thought was the 4 hour pacer, but if I'm honest it was feeling a bit harder to stick with him than I really thought it should be feeling, and on closer inspection of his flag, it turned out he was the 3.45 pacer, which would explain the punchy pace. So we overcooked the first bit really, but it was a great race, felt good, and it was fun!
Good aid stations every few kms with water, coke, fruit and electrolyte drinks. We also had our own 4 x emergency shrimps, some Kendal mint cake and salt tablets.
It was a well organised race, apart from going through Arrecife there was a turn that didn't have a marshal or a marker, where a lot of people went wrong, but luckily for us some people in the town pointed us the right way.
The end of the first half and the second half were the best parts, as runners were going in both directions by then, so we saw everyone, which was fun.
Also saw a plane landing!
Saw Jon and Helen at half way, waiting for their start of the half marathon, and Andrew at 10km before the end, waiting for his 10km start.
The finish was brilliant with plenty of crowds. We finished in 4:00:34. Beer and food at the end!
All the heavy rain had caused a problem with the electrics in Sarah's apartment, so the post marathon routine was a bit disturbed! Hairdryer and diffuser, football, post run drinks, poinsettia spotting, and another deconstructed fajita.
Marathon Boxing Day involved breakfast at Bully's Scottish bar, watching egrets, a walk, spotting grey canaries/pigeons, listening to Andrew and Jon's top facts, lunch by the sea, shopping, a paddle/swim in the sea (warm!), cocktails, watching England win, and a belated post marathon night in Jesters.
Marathon Boxing Boxing Day involved another breakfast at Bully's, another walk, lunch, and then travel home.
Thanks Sarah, Jon and Andrew for our first international trip on tour! A fabulous weekend indeed. Well done to everyone. Lanzarote Marathon weekend is definitely as good as everyone had told me it was, and looking forward to next year!
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