Grantham Running Club travel to Benidorm to race.
After the inaugural team trip away to Luxembourg last year, Grantham Running Club had a successful visit to Benidorm where they took part in a race on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
The event attracted large numbers of competitors, mostly from the United Kingdom, but also from other countries, tempted by the choice of both a 10K and half marathon which started at dusk.
Around 5,000 runners gathered, with a minute's silence to pay tribute to those suffering in the floods in Valencia, and this was followed by a mass start with both distances running together for around 8.5km.
The urban route took runners along the entire coast and seafront and the atmosphere was second to none as the sun went down, with support, music and drummers around the course.
After a while, the 10K runners peeled off to their finish while the half marathoners continued to complete lots of switch backs up and down the surprisingly hilly course.
At first, it was fantastic to catch sight of fellow club-mates going the other way but, as the humidity, heat and distance started to take its toll, the novelty wore off.
The final stretch along the finest bars in the town was tough, leading to an uphill finish reminiscent of the travelator at the end of Gladiators.
The next day, the Grantham team gathered for a social walk to the La Cruz Benidorm, a giant metal cross that looms over the town atop a rocky cliff.
All agreed that the trip away was enormous fun and plans are underway to decide on the next adventure.
Results
10K: Sam Dodwell 47:01, Chris Masters 47:51, Paul Jepson 52:39, Stewart Pick 54:33, Kev Kettle 54:44, Matthew Sadler 58:42, Martin Carter 59:06, Chris Smith 1:01:14, Judi Allsopp 1:01:19, Ros Sadler 1:06:08, Richard Litchfield 1:02:46, Martyn Wand 1:03:31, Fraser Marshall 1:06:09, Nicola Cottam 1:07:25, Wendy Smith 1:10:55, Julia Hallam: 1:11:09, Suzanne Angeloni 1:11:12, Simon Smith 1:13:05, Nick Thorpe 1:14:34, Yvonne Buckley 1:15:29, Brendon Buckley 1:15:50, Clare Smith 1:16:27, Mark Rice 1:18:14, Vicki Geeson 1:18:14.
Half Marathon: Jack Heathershaw 1:35:29, Matthew Atter 1:35:21, Robin Atter 1:38:12, Mark Angeloni 1:45:09, Ben Mason 1:48:19, Nicola Ruston-Litchfield 1:46:20, Ross Warden 1:51:18, Simon Allsopp 1:55:34, Zoe Wragg 1:57:14 (personal best), Emma Duncan 2:01:09, Kev Wallace 2:02, Sylv Hull 2:02:55, Holly Wragg 2:04:25.
