Lanzarote Challenge For Scottish Runners

24 SEP2009

Scottish runners looking for something different to give their pre-Christmas training/race programme a boost will want to take up Club La Santa's International Running Challenge. The 4 day event starts with a 10k road race (Clásica de Lanzarote) on asphalt roads toward the villages of La Santa and Caleta de Caballo (2 loops race course). Things get more explosive on Day 2 when you will you will run on both dirt trails and asphalt roads around one of the big volcanoes near Club La Santa. The pace eases back a little on the third day with a 5k across the soft sands of the beach at Puerto del Carmen. The final stage of the challenge is the 21k - La Vuelta de Tinajo which starts at Los Dolores Church in Mancha Blanca and takes you around the volcanic Montaña de Tinajo (1 loop) through Tinajo and back to Club La Santa on both asphalt and dirt tracks. You will finish the race with 300M of the track in the Stadium before receiving your International Running Challenge medal.

As well as individual prizes for men and women for each race in a number of age categories and for the overall 4-race challenge there are coveted club/team prizes.

The International Running Challenge is one of Club La Santa's most successful events and will be run for the 20th time this year. This event attracts runners of different ages, levels, and nationalities with the common purpose of competition and enjoyment. Take a deep breath, relax, smile and don't forget you are there to have fun.

Fabienne Thompson, Carnegie Harriers' women's captain, is a Club La Santa regular and told www.scottishrunningguide.com: "I spent two weeks at La Santa in July this year as well as last year and I thoroughly enjoyed the events in which I took part (and bumped into a few Scottish club runners each time) and I am returning there for a week in December this year. "All running events are well organised - I took part in the 10K, half-marathon, duathlon and mini-triathlon. There is always a briefing beforehand, good marshaling and/or signposting. Water stations are available for the 10K and and half-marathon but I carried some water too.

"The half-marathon was tough but scenic, while the 10K is two laps of the 5K which was run on the pavement to the village of La Santa and back around the track. Chip timing is used in every event. Results arrived within 1-2 days, with 5K splits for the 10K and age group categories in 5 year bands for all events.

"There are training runs organised on and off-road, as well as on the track, of a varying distance and for varying abilities. From Club La Santa it is easy to go for a run of any distance on or off road (on 4x4 dirt tracks) without getting lost as wherever you are you see the club from a long way away. Running around the lagoon is popular. There is often a pleasant breeze and you do get used to the warmer temperature.

If you want to know more visit www.clublasanta.co.uk/events/21st-international-running-challenge-10k13k5k21k