|
|
|
|
|
eat at Lagousteira, another fish restaurant. We order fish "Algarvian" style, which is swimming in oil. None of us are very keen, but the red wine is good and the almond cake with ice cream is great! Walk back fast (it's quite cold at night) and fall asleep really quickly. I dream about the marathon. I'm with Wendy and she knows a short cut! I'm sure the dream has a deep meaning - perhaps it's better that I don't know!
Wed 14th March
Lay-in this morning. Andrea and Wendy go off for a walk. Today there is a handicap race at 9am. It's 4 laps of the almond blossom course, making 5 miles in all, some sun, some shade and quite hilly. It's really warm by 9am and we are very nervous. Angela and I head off together (not talking). Angela quickly leaves me behind and then its just a slog to get round. There are people along the route encouraging us on (bless them)
Angela finishes in 41.20 I manage 41.55 (4mins faster than last year!)
Wendy wins VET category again, well done Wendy!
Back to apartment, shower, dress and breakfast. We nab Andrea's muesli - it looks better than ours - and feast on fruit salad and local bread.
Andrea and Wendy are signed up for the bike ride. Angela and I decide to use the car and head out to explore. Stop for a coffee, hoping to shop but it's all a bit touristy so we head back to Falesia. Find a nice little shop with great jewelry, have lunch and lounge about waiting for the girls to return. They have a great afternoon. Get ready for organized barbeque, then hit the disco for last night revels. It's a bit like a school disco! There are about 120 people on the trip all together Most of them show their faces, but it soon thins out to the hardy few (us) Too much sangria! We all think we are Madonna. Wendy struts her stuff. No one dares to stand still otherwise Wendy makes them dance. We laugh loads, its great fun. Hit our pits at about 2.30am sleep well, but briefly!
Thurs 15th March
Morning comes too soon. We have to run this morning and enjoy our last view from the cliffs. Try to take in all the lovely smells of pine and oranges. We walk a bit on the cliffs, take some photos then back to apartment to shower and breakfast. We still can't be bothered to walk to Villamoura so lounge by the pool. The scenery is wonderful (some Finnish cyclists have just checked in - we check out their bodies from the safety of sun glasses and baseball caps (or maybe that was just me!) It's the last day for Angela and I, Wendy and Andrea are staying till Sunday. We do NOT want to go home - this is paradise. We decide on a final fish lunch in the sunshine. Sardines, salad, potatoes washed down with rose wine and almond cake. BLISS! We fit in some last minute shopping. Andrea and Wendy head off for the pm training session while we pack. Minibus is to pick us up at 5pm. Everyone is back from their run and come to say farewell. The bus is late. I try not to cry as we hug everyone and exchange e-mail addresses (how times
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
change) then we board the bus and crane our necks for a last view of Falesia. The bus is eerily quiet, we are all sad to be going home.
We land at Heathrow, pick up the luggage and Roger (Angela's husband) and head off home. It is SO cold!
We had a fantastic week. It was well organized and really friendly.
Last year I said I never wanted to run a marathon. So here I was this year with a place in the London marathon. How did that happen?
The training has been fantastic. There are so many people on hand to help you out. Everyone is so positive about running, and whatever their level they have time for you. Its great!
Training Schedule
Day 1 Thurs pm 5 miles easy
Day 2 Fri am 5 miles easy pm mile time trials, track (5 m)
Day 3 Sat am 5 miles easy pm no session
Day 4 Sun am 3 hrs slow (18-19 miles) pm no session
Day 5 Mon am no session pm track, speed
Day 6 Tues am 5 miles easy pm heart rate monitor
Day 7 Wed am 5 mile handicap race pm no session
Day 8 Thurs am 5 miles easy pm no session
Diary now continued by Wendy and Andrea
.
Thursday 15th 5pm - Janice and Angela climb in the minibus. We wave bye. So quiet already. We walk back with John and Tim from Derby. For guys who run so fast they walk painfully slowly! Andrea and I decide to take a dip in the indoor pool. Thursday evening is very quiet - only two beers and two glasses of red wine each. We WERE tired! Good pizzas all round. Chaperoned home by Phil from Lancashire - what a gent. Really missed Janice and Angela.
Friday 16th am. Early morning cliff run, sunbathing poolside Andrea chats to Joe Beer so that her heart rate monitor is more beneficial with her recovery runs. Andrea has to learn to enjoy running slower.
Pm. We return to the Almond Blossom course for a fartlek session. Another good hard workout followed by thigh burning relay. Off to Pinhal restaurant again, this time with a few new faces. Wendy shares wonderful Monkfish Rice dish. Lots of pudding to share - yummmmm. Excellent food and company, we meet Katelyn from New Zealand. Katelyn enjoys life to the full and likes to change her drink every round but still manages to run a good steady 22 miles the following morning. We hike back to our apartment but run out of reasons for not going in the local bar opposite. Two hours and several small beers later we wander back. Why do we do these things?!
Saturday 17th am. We succeed in making it up for a long run - approx 15 miles out to Villamoura and two circuits. Original intention was to do two and a half
|
|
|
|
|
|
