Malaga Marathon 2018

The last post of this year will be devoted to my last big challenge of 2018. April saw me conquering Paris, and running my 4th marathon in the city of romance.

Soon afterwards my very good friend from the Czech Republic asked me if I would run the Malaga Marathon with her, it took me literally just a few seconds to reply “YES”.

The time I needed to find out when it was taking place and how much would the flight tickets be.

When we agreed we would do, it, I booked everything and was getting super excited about running it with her. I also mentioned running the Malaga Marathon to my friend Juliet with whom we have been planning to run a marathon for ages. It didn’t take her long to let me know she and a few of her friends would also be joining us.

The adventure was getting more and more exciting!

Running a marathon means loads of hard work, preparation and dedication. As I ran 4 marathons before, I knew a few things about how to train, what to eat, etc.

This time I also knew I really wanted to enjoy running it with my friend and not to be focused too much together. I was dreaming about running through the finish time together.

The training was going all well until about 5 weeks before the race day. Unfortunately, I caught some nasty virus, and was bound to bed for a week. Then it took me another week to recover completely.

I was so scared that all the hard work I had put in before would be lost, but I had so much encouragement from fellow runners online that I stopped worrying.

Funnily enough, at the same time I got a text message from my friend from the Czech Republic, and guess what? She was also ill, so we both stopped training at the same time. This to me was kind of a sign, that we really are in it together and that no matter what we will do it together.

I do not want to go into much detail about how we nearly didn’t make it to Malaga thanks to having some technical problems on a RyanAir plane. It was the scariest moment on a plane I have experienced in my life.

That night I was so stressed and cried so much that after we got through all the problems and landed in Malaga much later than expected, I knew that I had no more stress left in my body to worry about running the marathon.

Fast forward a few weeks, and here we were in Malaga in sunshine on the beach, the day before running the marathon.

We were super lucky to be staying with my friend’s brother who lives in Malaga. He showed us some lovely places nearby and made sure we stock up on some carbs and the most delicious paella before the race.

How was running the Malaga Marathon?

I have to say that if I had to score the communication and organising by the Zurich Malaga Marathon, I would have to score them very poorly.

Unfortunately, this site of the experience let them down. Except for the original registration email confirming I had paid, and it also showed my details, I never heard from the organisers until the Friday before running the race, which was on Sunday.

Despite me contacting them via Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram and their official website, I had never received any reply.

Be also prepared that most info on their website is only in Spanish, so tough luck if you don’t speak it!

That was disappointing, but on the other hand, maybe they want to keep it local? No foreigners? Otherwise cannot understand why they would be ignoring not only me but also my friend and others trying to get in touch.

So this was the downside of my adventure, but the rest is mostly positive.

If you ever decide to run it, there is a chance to run the whole marathon or 1/2 marathon which I believe most people went me. Maybe that is the reason why the course is done the way it is as the first half of the marathon route is the much more picturesque part.

Unfortunately, the part of the course when you hit 30+km, and you could do with some lovely sea views, sea breeze and cheers, you count on running through the most industrial part of Malaga with no views, just motorways and dull bits.

That should not stop you though, as the final part running through the centre and finish where the start was, was epic!

I was super emotional running through with my mate and holding hands through the finish line. I also managed to see Juliet 2x during the marathon.

We conquered Malaga and loved it. If you are after running a marathon in the autumn, this should be on your list. Just be aware of the few issues I had but don’t let these stop you.

Celebrating after the marathon was superb, and we also enjoyed a super sunny 20C+ day on the beach the following day. It was a lovely winter break, and cannot wait to be back to Malaga again soon.

For those who are wondering what’s my next big challenge, it will be the London Winter Run 10km in February and then the Virgin Money London Marathon 2019! Watch this space for more!

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!