1st Maraton del Norte (Gran Canaria)

I have decided (rather last minute) to run the Marathon del Norte on Saturday.

This is a new race for Gran Canaria were competitors have the option of either cycling or running. The route follows a 60km 'figure of 8' starting and finishing in Arucas.

There are a few reasons behind my decision to run this race:

1. I would like to run Trans Gran Canaria next year, and to be allowed to enter you have to have run a race of 50km or more during the preceding 18 months.

2. I want to test myself to see if I can run this distance, I am sure physically I am capable, however it will be the mental challenge that with be toughest.

3. This year I turn 30 :( and I have for a long time I have wanted to run an Ultra Marathon before I turn 30.

This seems like the ideal Ultra Marathon to choose to be my first, as it is relatively 'low profile' so I will have no pressure on me, it is pretty short (for an Ultra) and the course is not 'too' demanding physically.

It is also a long time before any target races I have coming up.

OK..time to CARBO-LOAD

Lizzy Hawker Trains in Gran Canaria

Former World 100km Champion and UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) winner Lizzy Hawker has just spent the last 2 weeks training in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Lizzy first came to Gran Canaria at the begining of March to run Trans Gran Canaria, a 123km trail race that she easily won. So impressed with what the island to offer Lizzy returned to prepare for next month's London Marathon, and the Comrades Marathon in South Africa.

(Allan Bogle and Lizzy Hawker)

Active Canaria would like to wish Lizzy Hawker all the best in her up coming races.

K42 2010

OK, I have had a few days now to lick my wounds, mend my ego and to assess what went wrong during the K42.


Last weekend Gran Canaria held the first race in the K42 Mountain Marathon World Series. After winning this race in 2009 I was the pre-race favourite to win again this year and to go on to represent Gran Canaria in the final in Argentina. However things did not quite go to plan.

After having a bad race I am often the first one to start making excuses for myself! And this is something I could easily do now.

Photo: Alberto Cardona

However I am not going to do this, instead I am going to list the things which went well and the things which went wrong. Hopefully this will let me see what changes I need to make in my race preparation and execution.

Things which went well

My build up to the race I felt had gone well, and I was definitely in a lot better shape for this year’s race. I had gained a lot of valuable experience in marathon running this past year and I was feeling confident to repeat my victory again in 2010. However I did spot some weaknesses during the race that would suggest that I need to readdress several aspects of my training.

I also felt like I got off to a good start in the race, I often start off quickly in races such as this, putting the pressure on my competitors early on. I have considered since Saturday that this may have let me down during the race, however I on reflection I think other factors had a far greater influence on the outcome of the race.

Things which did not go well

My footwear. I suffered blisters very early on in the race.

Water intake, even though it was not a very hot day I did not drink any way near enough water during the race. I think I could have taken at least twice as much fluid onboard during the race.

My up-hill running. I often pride myself on my ability to run up hills very fast, however this was missing during Saturday’s race and I in fact often found myself walking up the steepest hills.

My down-hill running. After last year’s race I realised that my downhill running needed to improve and I have spent a lot of training sessions practising this, however it did not pay off on Saturday, and I lost lots of time on the downhill sections.

Things to change

I am adamant that I want to compete in the final of the K42 in Argentina again this year. My only opportunity to qualify now is in the Sahara in September. Before this year I have many important factors that I need improve. Apart from the things I mentioned above that I need to change I think I need to go back to basics. Since last year’s K42 I have focused mostly on mountain running training, and I have abandoned my track/ road running background, I feel this has had a negative effect on my speed. I need to go back to basics! I need to strip my training down and follow a more traditional ‘athletics’ training schedule with some specific mountain running training incorporated into it. I will keep certain things like my weekend long mountain runs however I will reintroduce my weekly track training and I will also start going to the gym to try to improve my downhill running and to help with injury prevention.

2 days to go...

The 2010 K42 is less than 48hours away now, and I am deep into my carbo loading regime! (getting a bit sick of pasta).
This week I have been tapering my training and just done a few light jogs and lots of stretching! Today I went to a spa to give my legs a treat and to help me relax.

(Training on the K42 course with Lizzy Hawker and Fernado Gonzalez)

Last night I picked up my race number and timing chip, to find out that I have been given No.1, so the pressure is well and truely on to reapeat last year's performance.

K42 training

Today was my last 'long' training before next month's K42. Last year I won the K42 on my first attempt at a marathon, and my prize was a trip to Argentina to compete in the K42 final.

Today I ran for 4hr45 mins (my longest ever training run). I ran the last section of the Gran Canaria Chellenger route along the barranco to Santa Brigida. I chose this route because it follows a dry river bed for most of the way, which is very similar the final 15km of the K42 route, and it was this section that I suffered the most last year.

I felt good for most of the run, until the final 30mins. However I had my girlfriend Alison to keep my company during this section. She is training for a 5km Race for Life this summer and ran to meet me.

Lizzy Hawker wins Transgrancanaria 2010

British ultra running super star, Lizzy Hawker, has won the 2010 edition of Trangrancanria.

(PHOTO: Alberto Cardona)

The Swiss based North Face runner lead from the start, giving most of the top men a run for their money in the 123km ultra marathon across the beautiful island of Gran Canaria. At the 83km aid station in El Garañon Lizzy was in 6th position over-all, and was feeling very strong. With no pressure from the other girls in the race, she was able to cruise the last 40km finishing in 11th position over-all, beating many top male athletes.

The mens race was won by Bejarano Miguel Heras (13 hours, 04 minutes 14 seconds), who took the lead near the start and held it to the end. This was his first time running Transgrancanaria which he described as very hard and the biggest win of his short ultradistance running career.

Over an hour later finished Arnau Julia in 2nd place, repeating the same postion as last year. In 3rd was last year's champion Adolfo Aguilar.

(PHOTO: Alberto Cardona)

Training with Lizzy Hawker

Over the past few weeks I have been working for Trans Gran Canaria which is a 123km Ultra Trail race across Gran Canaria that takes place this weekend.

Many great athlete have run this race including ultra running legend Marco Olmo. This year´s star entrant is Britain´s Lizzy Hawker.

Lizzy has won Ultra Trail Mont Blanc twice and is the 100km World Champion.

I had the opportunity to train the other day with Lizzy and to pick her brain to try to find the secret to her success!

More to come soon!!