Race Date Tuesday 14 March 2023

A small group targeting an April marathon spent a week at training camp in the sunny Algarve recently. Topping out at 95 miles for the stars and 85 miles for the older ones, this was the chance to train like a professional with twice a day training, ice baths (swimming pool) and time to stretch properly. Other activities included sleeping, aqua jogging and arch strengthening exercises involving marbles. The coach’s first instruction was not to get injured and thankfully everyone flew home in one piece.

The trip also involved a neat little 5k race on the second day organised by FB Tours and sponsored by Mike Gratton’s 2:09 Tours. On a not flat three lap course but with fine weather, the race attracts athletes warm weather training in the area although not as many ‘continental’ athletes as in past years. Run on open roads, there are marshals at all the important places and little traffic. With 87 finisher’s, including another couple of Strider’s (they turn up everywhere ed.), the race was won by Kristan Watson (Mansfield) in 16:08 with first woman home Mathra Owen (Dee Striders) with 17:55. If you wandered up to the Neptuno at lunchtime on Monday you could enter for five Euros otherwise entry on the day was ten so an economical outing.

Striders results including an F50 victory for Sarah Allcard.