A month in Costa del Sol: Run Club!

One of the many joys of my retirement life has been the discovery of Hoptron Brewtique Running Club. It combines my rediscovered love of running with a desire to stay connected with people and to socialize with good friends.

Nearly all of the run club members are new friends, and I look forward to spending Tuesday evenings with them each week. They're great people.

Now, in Spain, I am determined to keep my running up so I can stay up with the group back home. But this is much easier said then done!

For one thing, we are on a mountain top.

And also, we're on top of a mountain! Running here is a sick joke. So far, I've done runs of 1-2.5 miles and they have been brutal! I'm lucky to average 15 minute miles!

I virtually crawl up the long, steep sections of roadway and shuffle my way down the other side. Did I mention that the road is one lane with a constant cliff to one side? It necessitates stopping and squeezing myself to the side whenever a car approaches which is, fortunately, rare).

My latest effort: run hard up hill for 30-45 seconds, go back down and do it again. Interval training!

But hold on, running club buddies. Today I found next winter's Hoptron Brewtique Running Club (Retired Division) Vacation Spot! It's the seaside town of Torre del Mar in the Axarquia region! It's got miles of boardwalk (tile walk is more like it) dedicated to cycling, walking, and beach sports of all kinds, including running! They have a section of beach rolled and pounded to a consistency of an old fashioned cinder track, so we can run for miles alongside the Mediterranean Sea! In perfect 65 degree weather! Check it out: