Málaga Marathon

by Angie Parkin

I loved training for Edinburgh marathon so much earlier this year, that before I’d even done the race I was looking for another one to do. I settled on Málaga marathon which was to be run on 14th December. I figured a bit of pre-Christmas warmth would be nice.  I presumed I’d be in the same enthusiastic frame of mind for this training block.  Oh, sweet summer child, how naive you were. 

Optimistically I decided I would train at 30 seconds per mile quicker than I had for Edinburgh. The training block started well, but as the miles started to ramp up it became apparent that just because you want to be able to run a particular pace, doesn’t mean that you can. I kept plugging away, but I think it’s fair to say I wasn’t exactly loving my life when it came to the long runs. I had a couple of disasters, most notably when I was down in Gateshead staying with my sister. I confidently announced that I was off for a 17 mile run. When I was already walking 2 miles in it became apparent that a change of plan was required. 

A couple of other long runs didn’t go particularly well, with plenty of walk breaks needed. I was doubting my life choices and the ability of my body to deal with another marathon. I was coming up with all sorts of  reasons why my marathon pace runs were OK to be run more slowly. I did however manage my final long run of 22 miles without any walking, so that gave me a much needed confidence boost. Some crucial chats with friends led me to decide to scrap my original race plan and be a bit more realistic. I figured if I used my race plan from Edinburgh again but try not to die a death in the final 6 miles then I still had a chance of a PB. 

Last minute preparation was far from ideal.  I got 5 days of Extras work on a period drama, filming up at Gosford House. This was the first time I’d done this, so I was pretty excited. Filming finished 2 days before I flew to Málaga, so it was not quite the relaxing taper I’d hoped for. 3 am starts and home in time for 5 hours sleep every day was not quite the sleep loading I was hoping for. Luckily the food was great on set, so I was fully carb loaded! Rather fittingly there was a scene where I had to run down the steps of Gosford House into a maze.  I’m not sure they expected me to take this quite so seriously and be quite so competitive! Tricky running in a corset, multiple long layers and the world’s most uncomfortable shoes. I did my best to do Carnegie Harriers proud, but after about a dozen takes my feet were completely wrecked. 

I flew out to Málaga on the Thursday before the race. My apartment was really central and less than a ten minute walk from the start/finish line. It was absolutely ideal, and as it had a kitchen it meant I could be in control of what I was eating. For some bizarre reason I hadn’t squeezed a porridge pot into my hand luggage, so I was randomly walking around supermarkets trying to figure out what to eat for my pre-race breakfast. Turns out white toast works just fine so I don’t know what I was worrying about. 

I went to the Expo on the Friday. I’d never done a race abroad before or been to an expo, so I was really looking forward to this. I picked up my bib and got a choice of a snazzy vest or T-shirt. I opted for a vest on the grounds that I have about a squillion race T-shirts. As I discovered at the end of the race though you get a finisher T-shirt as well. Result! I wandered about the expo, got my photo taken on the podium and started  to get really excited. Finally I was getting in the zone and feeling like I wanted to do the race. 

I was manically checking the weather forecast in the lead up to the race. As a menopausal redhead I do not know what I was thinking booking a Spanish marathon, even if it is in December. Turns out I didn’t need to worry. On race day the highest it got was 17 degrees, and I didn’t feel any hotter than I do on a normal Scottish run. I have to say it was lovely strolling to the start line in shorts and my Harriers vest without needing extra layers to keep warm. 

The race started at 8.30 in the morning. It was a really international field – well over half of the runners were from abroad. The half and the full marathon are run on the same course at the same time. So on the start line you were all mixed in together. The halfers had a white number and the foolish full souls had a red one. There’s a cut off time of 2 hours 45 minutes for the half and 5 and a half hours for the full marathon. I’d been put in the very last wave. I think the cut off time for the full had maybe put a lot of slower folk off – so it seemed to be mostly half marathoners in my wave. 

You start in the city centre and then do quite a few out and back sections. I always quite like these – as looking at the  speedier folks always inspires me and keeps my mind off the actual running. There was lots of really good crowd support in parts – but inevitably the more far reaching parts were much quieter. I’d decided to aim for 11 minute miles – thinking that I’d probably end up running a bit faster getting caught up in all the excitement. I was pleased with how I controlled my pace – especially as I was running with a load of folk who were “only” doing a half. Some sadist had obviously designed the route. As you start to approach the half way mark you can see the cheering spectator lined finishing straight and you almost have to run under the finishing arch for the half marathon before they scoop the marathoners off to the left for the last 13.1 miles. Bliss!

From here on in there were a lot fewer runners around. There were plenty of people doing the marathon – it’s just that I think most of them were way ahead of me. On yet another out and back section you randomly run into an athletics stadium, do a lap of the track and then go back out onto the road. It was kind of fun, but I think if I’m on a track at any point in a marathon I’d rather I was about to finish. 

The miles were getting ticked off nicely. Actually it was KM signs that were out, but I was tracking miles on my watch. I was taking two gels an hour, one a higher carb one and one a cheapy standard carb one from B&M. Fuelling was going pretty well. I had my soft flasks with me so was drinking from them and using the water station bottles to keep myself cool. I ignored the fruit they had on offer at some of the aid stations. I managed to keep around 10.45 per mile pace up until around 21 miles. It started to get tough at that point, but not unbearable. I opened my next gel, but just couldn’t face it. Nothing new on race day and all that, but I  risked an isotonic drink from a drinks station. I managed to chuck half of it over my vest, making me look like I’d bled everywhere, but I drank enough of it to keep me going to the end.

It was getting pretty tough the last few miles. I was having full blown conversations with myself out loud. “Just get in the pain cave, it’s fine in there, you can just stay in there till the end and you’ll be OK.” People must have thought I was a lunatic, but it seemed to work. Crucially I didn’t have to stop to walk. This was my fourth marathon and the first one where I’ve managed to run the whole thing. At around 41 km you are right in the centre of the city again. You’re running up a main street where they have some fabulous Christmas lights. The ground is marble, so I was really careful not to slip. There were so many people cheering us all on. The kindness of strangers looking at you, thinking “well she’s clearly not Spanish” and cheering for you in English made my heart soar. I did my usual pumping the air in celebration and crying like a baby. Sadly we weren’t quite finished yet, but I knew I had it. 

I finished in a chip time of 4.45.22, a ten minute PB. Already I’m thinking that I can definitely do better. I’d love to say I had a fabulous celebration afterwards, but I always feel too sick after to even think about eating. I did wake up completely famished in the middle of the night and demolished  mountains of chorizo and cheese. And then the day after I stuffed my face with tapas and chocolate pudding. There was also a steady supply of chocolate and turron back in the apartment that didn’t stand a chance. 

I’d really recommend Málaga marathon. It’s well organised, the expo is great, the goody bag is top notch, the route is mostly pancake flat (apart from some random down ramp immediately followed by an up ramp in the closing miles – what the hell was that all about?!), it’s at a nice time of year and Málaga is a beautiful city. I’m half thinking this might become an annual trip for me. 

Angie