Malaga Half Marathon

 Well well well.. I've not been here for a while. Did you miss me?

After a pretty special weekend, I thought that it was only right that the blog was revived for a Malaga special. Next week, I might even do a round up of the year, seeing as my running has taken a huge turn this year and I actually cannot believe how far I've come.

But! Let's get down to the main event.

So, back in July, when the weather was delightful and running was very much a welcome sport, 13 lions all booked onto the Malaga half marathon which was Stu's birthday present. We unfortunately were a lion down, but they were not forgotten and their presence was certainly missed. 💕

Fast forward to December and the one weekend our great country is gifted with snow... is the morning that we had to get up a 2am to get to the airport. The pre flight beer went down a treat, but there were many mutterings of "remind me why this was a good idea again?" 

2 and a half hours later and safely landed in the sunshine (20 degrees no less) we were suddenly grateful for the break. We had flown from Liverpool, and when we were told that the plane needed defrosting I was a little bit concerned that we were grounded and was never going to get to Malaga. 
We managed it. But, as we entered passport control it appeared that people flying from Manchester weren't so lucky as 2 runways had been shut. My phone was pinging away from my friends telling me Parkrun was cancelled due to snow - alas it did not matter. I was about to exit the airport and strip down to my t-shirt because we had left the treacherous weather behind us! 

Safe and sound at our hotel.

We landed at 10.30, by 11.30 we were checked in and en route to the expo to get our race numbers. Sunglasses in tow! 

I've never been to a running expo before, so I had no idea what to expect. On our way across we bumped into Jason, who had flown out on Friday and had completed the 'Breakfast run' (Pre race 5k) There's something quite special about being away with such a big group, and bumping into people that you know. 
The expo was crazy. It was clear that they had let too many people in, as they finally started counting people as we turned up. I would have liked to have looked around - but, with tiredness starting to set in, and foreign crowds - It was my idea of hell, we got our numbers and t-shirts and went to find somewhere to eat.

Just picked up our race numbers!

The general consensus was burgers and beer, and that is exactly what we had. (Good pre race fuel, wouldn't you agree!?) And then we needed to find somewhere to watch football as England were in the quarter finals of the World Cup. 
We wandered into the Old Town, which was beautiful, and the brick wall started to hit me even more. I'm not good on lack of sleep. So, I opted for a little nana nap. I usually partake in these activities in what I'm wearing but this was a serious one, so I popped my Pjs on, facetimed Mr. Cox and had an hour.

The plan was to meet at 6.30 in the lobby and head back to the pub that we had managed to persuade to save us a space.

...Let's not talk about the football, but - put it this way, I gave up at half time with a few others and we wandered back to the hotel, in search of some grub. I ended up with 2 empanadas (lush!) and took them back to my room - and found ITV. So, I snuggled down, ate my grub and set my alarm. 

Race Day

The GNR shorts on another outing.

Remind me again what I was doing? This was insane! We all met in the lobby at 7.30 (Kick off was 8.30) and we wandered through the quiet side streets to the start. Only, it was quiet- bar the lots and lots of runners around. It was raining, but still, a pleasurable temperature. You could definitely spot the Brits, we were the only ones not in ponchos! 

Obligatory Plankashire

I was treating this run as a Sunday run. No pressure. Just, do what you do every Sunday. Only, this one was different. Every half marathon distance I have done I've had my Mav by my side. Unfortunately this was not the case this time, it was time for Goose to do it alone. 

There were 2 distances today. The half marathon, and the full marathon. I think I'd checked my entry over 50 times to ensure that I was booked on the half, not on the full. Strangely, we had all been put in the same pen. The red pen. Right. At. The. Front. We were literally right behind the elite runners. Well, this is going to be interesting. After running back to the pen from the chaos of the toilets (nervous wee- mandatory!) We squeezed through and waited. The gun went. Here we go. 13.1 miles. However, We were in Europe, so painfully we were working in kms. Way to mess with your head. 21k to go. (13 miles sounds so much more appealing).

Smiles make the miles go faster.

I love the songs that these events choose to get you going, and we all know that music definitely helps me through these challenges. Today, we were treated to ACDC, Thunderstruck. The start was chaos. Faster runners darting through, weaving in and out of each other. I think I much prefer time based pens. We did start to thin out. But the start was very, very scary! 

I set off with Julie and Ginny. It was just a Sunday run. But, this is a race so I had no expectation of them to stay with me. We managed to run together for the first 10k. I kept checking my watch.

"Ginny, we're doing 10 minute miles. I am not in any shape to do a 1hr.30 half marathon." 

Put me in a race situation, and for some reason I become obsessed with numbers. Don't ask me why. I hate maths. Anyway, I settled into my own rhythm. This is usually my great downfall. I get into my own head. I wish I could switch off. I started watching the kms tick over. 10k took us back round to the port where the expo was. Round here was an out and back so I go to do my favourite thing - people watch. Gill & Rick passed on the other side & I mustered a wave. Julie yelled "You've got this Sammie!" 

Jason caught me up and took over me. I was out on my own. 

I can do this distance. 

As I left the port, it was my turn to spread some cheers. I saw Jay coming towards me on the other side
"Go on J! You're doing amazing!" 

On my side I hit the water station. I walked a little and took on some fluid. On the other side I saw Patricia and Sue. I passed them my water. "You've got this, come on."

I went round the corner and here it came. The worst part. Out. And. Back. 

I mean, absolutely beautiful setting, running parallel to the beach. Much more preferable to Southport front. However, just like that Southport half you just did not know where the turn around point is. I mean, you know it's bad when you pass the 19k on the other side and you just think, oh crumbs. It's never coming. 

I couldn't tell you what I thought about.  It was definitely a mental battle. The rain got harder - but it was so welcome to keep the humidity at bay. 

When I hit the 16k mark, I knew I had a Parkrun to go. I got my phone out and sent Jess & Jade a little video. I got giggled at but hey! - it's my race. I'd hit 16k at 1hr 50. I was very proud of this. 

Once I got going again and I passed the elusive 19k marker I never thought I'd see, the last 3k was even worse! It felt like the end was never going to come. I turned the corner. I heard the drums. I saw the blue finish line. I'd done it. I'd done a half marathon on my own. I managed to muster a sprint for the finish. 

I'd never been so happy to cross a line. Sub 2hr.30. I'd got my early Christmas wish. The time I chased all year.  I said I wanted a 2hr 30 half marathon - I mean, I also said I'd only ever run 1 half marathon and here I was, running my 3rd. 

My official time on the app came through at 2hrs.28 minutes. How? How had I done that?

I was delirious, tired and quite emotional. I rang my Mother goose, and then of course, Mr. Coxy.

The smile says it all.

I hobbled back to the hotel and stayed in the shower for a very long time. I could have slept all day, but there were sights to be seen! 

Waiting for tapas

We went to get tapas (when in Spain) . However, I was so broken I didn't want to eat. I did manage, but it was the last thing I wanted to do. I hobbled around the sights of Malaga and climbed Mount Everest (Okay, slight exaggeration, but I had just run a half)

Grabbed some gelato. (Ice cream to you and me) and it was back to the airport. 

Made it to the viewing point & what a beautiful view it was

Naturally, I sported my Malaga Maraton top. (You just HAVE to let everyone know.) And I had probably the best passport control experience.
I hobbled up to the desk. The Spanish lady checked my passport, another guard came into the box to open another line. He looked at me. "What was your time?" (erm? what?) "oh, er, I didn't do the full, just the half."  (I can't cope in these situations) He asked me again, and then they both smiled and replied "Well done!" The rest of the team were further down the line "Yeah Sammie, you're the only one we all did the full!" [N.B: they hadn't - we'd just hit the wall of giddiness] 

A little momento of the craziest 

48 hour adventure

And so my 48 hour Malaga adventure ended. And what an adventure. I think it just proves to me what amazing friendships I have gained this year, I wouldn't change my running experiences for the world. Meeting this amazing group of people has helped me to realise who I am, what I enjoy and pushed me to my absolute limits. 

I love feeling part of something, and realising that running is only a solo sport if you want it to be. 

Running is a universal language - no matter where you run, we all go through the same highs and lows. But there is one common theme: 

Running people are the best community to be a part of. 

I wonder where the next adventure will take us?