5K Beach Race

Posted: Wednesday November 26, 2008

Third race of the International Running Challenge @ PDC

Good weather conditions ensured a smooth third race of the International Running Challenge in Puerto del Carmen today. In contrast to both former races (10K Road Race and 13K Ridge Run) the participants had to run two laps on soft sand. Extra organized busses took all runners and their companions from Club La Santa to Puerto del Carmen, the venue of running.

During brilliant sunshine, Green Team multi-instructor Michelle did a warming-up in order that the tired muscles, caused by the last two races, won’t get pulled.

Race start was again at 10 o’clock and although today’s course was flat, it was in fact very hard and exhausting. Especially after the first lap as the sandy underground was much more soft and swirled than in the beginning. Nevertheless, Michael Jeppsen could continue his series of victories and won in 19:31. His permanent pursuer Jonas Brandsbjerg finished in 19:49 and became second like the two days before. Ten seconds after him followed another Danish runner, Søren Helmer. At the women category was a change unlike to the two previous races. This time the female winner was Camilla Spagner who finished in 22:25. She left out the 13K Ridge Run yesterday and was therefore maybe fitter than her competitors. Clásica de Lanzarote and yesterday’s winner Tracey Ranson became second in 22:48 and was followed by Rachel Morgan who passed the finishing line in 23:16.

Today’s fastest runner Michael Jeppsen is looking forward to the last race, the 21K of ‘La Vuelta de Tinajo’. “My favorite race will be the half marathon tomorrow because I’m actually a marathon runner. The Beach Run today was quite hard and definitely not that enjoyable like the 21K tomorrow!” Michael stays at Club La Santa with his school and is running for the Danish Club Sparta. It’s his first Running Challenge and unfortunately he can not participate in the Ciudad de Arrecife Marathon this Saturday as he is already leaving on Friday morning. He would certainly have good chances to improve his personal best marathon time of 2:43. Michael is going to tackle the 2:30 at the Copenhagen Marathon next year in May.

Together with Michael we are looking forward to the next and last race of the Running Challenge tomorrow which will start at Mancha Blanca.

Click here to check all the challenge results Club La Santa

We are sure that all runners will show an amazing performance once again and wish all good luck for ‘La vuelta de Tinajo’!!!