Runners World Training Camp, Algarve 12-19 March 2000, with Leisure Pursuits Group

     Report by Janice Tweed

Wendy and I are in a ‘Birthday Club’. The idea is that the person who celebrates a milestone birthday gets to choose the holiday destination of the others!

I was first and chose Maui. We had a great time, snorkeling, sunbathing etc.

This year its Wendy’s turn! She chose the training camp. Oh, deep joy, Boot camp!!!!!!!

I approached this holiday with great trepidation. Let me explain, I am not an accomplished runner and despite Wendy’s reassurances I was convinced that I would be the only one. I thought up lots of action plans, the favourite being to become a non-runner and answer any questions with “I’m here because my friend wanted to come.” 

So here we are in the Algarve!!!!!!

Day 1.

We check in at about 6pm. The apartments are basic, but clean. We dump our gear and head to the bar for a talk by Bruce Tulloh about training. I liked him, he said imbibing is OK! Then it’s off to find sardines and local wine and sleep.

Day 2.

8am Run. 5 miles along cliff tops. I’m apprehensive and find it difficult to talk to people. Wendy keeps making sure I’m OK (bless her) but as we run groups establish and we start to exchange names. The cliff tops are beautiful, the smell of pine, almonds, beautiful blue skies and the sea (a long way below us) On the way back along the road we pass an ostrich farm. They look like they’ve seen it all before! The run over its time to explore. Wendy and I walk along the beach. A German film crew is filming on the beach with a yacht, two helicopters and people being shot (James Bondish). Its fun to watch.

4pm. Meet at the track for training session. My first ever. We did some speed work, which was really fun. Again groups established, and I had someone to run with. Everyone is so friendly. I begin to chill a bit and find it easier to talk to people.

7pm. Meet in the bar (this is getting to be a habit) for a talk by Mark Sesay (800m runner for GB) He is fun to listen to and more importantly gorgeous to look at! Then everyone splits into groups and head for local restaurants. We team up with a couple of people from Worthing Striders. Again its fish and local wine. Sleep like a log (wonder why!!!)

Day 3

Meet at 8am for morning run. Find it harder this morning, but manage to tag along with someone who helps me along. Spend the day sunbathing, reading trashy novels and exploring. I decide to skip the 4pm session and sit by the pool while Wendy does a heart rate monitor session and a run along the beach.

5pm watch the GB team train on the track. WOW!!!!! Paula Radcliffe looks on good form. They hurtle around the track at great speed. I wish I knew who more of them are.

7pm meet in bar!!!! Team quiz. Bar is packed so Wendy and I head off in search of food and wine! Early night.!

Day 4

Lie in! Meet at 9am for 5 mile handicap run. Again I’m very nervous. It’s very hot too. Set off at the same time as Terry from Oxford. We talk as we go round and decide to stay together. (lucky for me as I only have one pace!)Its four circuits of the same course, half sun half shade. We get round and manage to sprint the last 100yds. It feels good to finish. Everyone is so encouraging. NB Wendy only goes past me once, I’m sure she cheated!!!!

Janice 45m 47s                      Wendy 35m 39s

Today is the 42k ‘fun’ mountain bike ride. I draw the line!!!!! Wendy enthusiastically signs up and off she goes. I lounge about in the sun, do some laundry (should have brought more kit) and read more of novel.

4pm easy runs for anyone who wants to (not me!)

I sit by the pool to wait for the bikers to return. I hear Wendy laughing before I see her. They have had a great time, but cycled longer than 42k, getting lost and confronting snarling dogs. Anyone who knows Wendy will know her sense of direction!. The man with the map told the group to ‘look out for the disco’ Wendy passed the message back ‘look out for Tesco’ they were nowhere near either!!! They left first and finished last, but enjoyed themselves thoroughly. A quick dip in the pool and a beer and tired legs are refreshed.

7pm meet at the bar!! Then it’s off to a local restaurant for BBQ and more wine. Prizes given out for handicap race. Wendy wins Vet35 - T-shirt and hug from Mark Sesay. (Sorry, I missed the photo opportunity!) Then it’s off to the disco. Some of the group go home tomorrow – so its last night revels for them. Perhaps this is my one chance to out do Wendy! So I dance till I drop, but I forget what a party animal Wendy is !!!!!! We return to apartment late!

Day 5

Morning comes too soon. 8am set off for cliff top run. Most people feeling either delicate or self righteous (not sure which is worse) Wendy hares off, camera in hand. I struggle round, but again find a kind soul to help me through it.

NB

The army slogan is:-

If it moves, salute it

If it doesn’t, paint it.

The runner’s slogan is:-

If it moves put trainers on it

If it doesn’t give it a watch! (runners are so obsessed with watches!!!!!!)

Say goodbye to some new friends – look forward to meeting more new friends.

Wendy and I head off to lunch then walk along the beach and cliff tops to a fishing village. Really lovely, nice beach and restaurants. Sit on the beach for a bit. Snooze and read more of sleazy novel. On the way back the tide is out so we manage to walk round rocks and avoid hill training! (in flip flops) Get back in time for 4pm track session. I am feeling tired, manage the warm-up jog then decide to call it a day. Wendy sets off, looks strong. She is in her element.

Its cold at night here and Wendy is sleeping in her sweatshirt, with two blankets. After five days we have finally worked out the heater – ah bliss!

7pm meet in bar! We team up with Sarah, whose friend went home today, and head off to several restaurants, no sign of life so its back to pizza. Phil is on his own, so joins our table. Working out the bill is a bit of a nightmare, even though we have two accountants at the table!!!! Back to warm apartment. Good job we are eating out because cooking facilities are not good. (only one ring working) but eating out is so cheap. Crockery is dubious. Wendy ate her breakfast off a plate yesterday – didn’t seem to notice the milk wouldn’t fit!!!!! My feet are stripey from the flip-flops, Wendy won’t let me call it a tan! We have painted toenails for the first time since Maui.

Day 6

8am. Decide to take the flat run today – still 5 miles but easier!. Feel tired again this morning (could be the red wine again)

After breakfast (in a bowl) Wendy and I set off to walk to the fishing village. We hike to the first cove and find it empty, so decide to sit for a while. Absolutely lovely, sheltered and quiet except for the crashing waves. We stop for an hour then move on. We sit in a restaurant for a short while. I nip to the loo and come back to find Wendy eating a white Magnum, she really shouldn’t be allowed out on her own!!! We wander round then head back. Quick sit by the pool then get ready for afternoon session. I am doing a heart rate monitor session with Joe Beer (physiology and nutrition). Find this really useful – we also talk about nutrition. Really informative – and painless!

7pm.  Meet in bar for talk by members of British Mile Club. Very funny. Wendy and Sarah are introduced to Polly. She came in yesterday and is due to run with them in the morning. Phil and Polly join us for dinner and we walk to restaurant for fish and red wine. Walk back. Early night-ish as most people are setting off for long runs! Not me.

Day 7

Wendy’s alarm goes off at 6.30am. She creeps about loudly and makes me coffee before she leaves at 7am for her ‘lets do 15 and see how we feel’ run. I read for a while then debate in my head whether to stay in bed or go run. I decide to run (that’s a 1^st) go to the meeting point at 8am to see if anyone else is around. Meet up with Kevin and set off along cliff tops. Another beautiful morning. What is really nice about this group is how happy they are to help you along. Kevin runs very fast but is happy to let me run at my own pace and jog alongside. (I am sure he could walk quicker!) The cliff tops are very up and down and I have to walk the ups and downs. Kevin, keen on cross-country, tries to teach me how to run down, but I am not comfortable with it so he waits for me at the bottom. Back to the apartment to shower and get ready to meet at 10am for the walk to the WXC. 1^st race is at 11am, it will be very hot by then.

We walk across the fields. There is so much activity going on, with teams warming up. We all try to check out the tracksuits to see who is who. We walk past Sonia O’Sullivan and see the Norwegian girls – they have been staying at the same apartments and we have watched them train. We walk the course – it is in beautiful condition – and decide on a spot close to the finish line. There is also a TV screen so we can keep up with the action. First off are the junior women. The Kenyan team hit the front from the word go and romp home. Next off are the senior men, short race. Again Kenyans hit the front and stay there. I can’t believe the speed (you don’t get that on the TV) Next are senior ladies, long race. Again the Africans look strong. Paula stays with them, with Sonia close behind. Amazed at how much the pack splits in such a short space of time. They are really moving. Paula appears to struggle over the last 400m, and finishes 5^th – then collapses (we can’t say she doesn’t try)

It was incredibly exciting, and we manage to get really close to the athletes. We walk to Vilamoura. We inadvertently walk onto a private golf course and are politely asked to leave! We eat sardines at the Marina, and sit and watch the world go by, how beautiful. Taxi back, Wendy swims at the Falesia hotel, courtesy of Polly, then back to shower and change for Q&A session with weeks speakers. Pizza and red wine, then it’s off to the disco for last night revels. Very quiet, but we manage to boogie for an hour then back to the apartments for coffee and sleep!

Last day.

Have to run today. Get last view of cliffs, beach and hills. Try to take in a bit more, look around and inhale the lovely smells of the pine and oranges. Managed to run up a few hills today. We are rapidly running out of time, trying to cram too much into the last day. Quick shower then walk to XC. Lots more people here today, and we have a bit of a fight to get our spot. It seems to be more tense today, with the highlight being the men’s long race. We start with men’s junior. The Brit team do well, and we shout ourselves hoarse. Then it’s the ladies short race. Paula is running again today. She does really well, and looks to be in with a chance of a medal. But yesterdays race must have taken its toll and she finishes 4^th. Shame! Men’s long race is really exciting. The Portuguese around us are going crazy because their team is going great guns. We shout to all the Brit athletes, and Polly shouts for all the Irish!!! After an exciting finish we walk back to have lunch. After lunch Wendy and Polly decide we need coffee and cake!! So we move to the coffee shop and order several different cakes and three spoons!!!. We sit in the sun and don’t want the moment to end, but we haven’t packed yet, so we have to move on. Packing is a brief affair – stuffing more like!!! We say goodbye to Polly and some others, but a lot of people are taking our flight. We sadly head off to the airport. We arrive home about 11pm and gratefully fall into bed.

 I would like to say thanks to Wendy for making me go, I had a great time and I know Wendy did too (she smiled the whole week) I have learned so much and feel more inspired to run than I have for ages. (I still don’t want to do a marathon though!)

We have lots of people to keep in touch with, and meet at various races around the country. I have lots of people to look out for at the London Marathon, so I am really excited about going to watch. All in all we had a great week, and I have put the dates in my diary for next year.

WOW!!!!