Eccleshill Road Runner’s annual pilgrimage across the airways took us to the beautiful city of Barcelona. The main dish on the menu, the half marathon. The half-marathon in Barcelona, also known as the eDreams eMitja Marató de Barcelona has grown rapidly since its inauguration and is now the second largest running event next to the Marathon this year, selling out 23,000 places. Barcelona is the capital and largest city of the principality of Catalonia and is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres. Runners were met by a breezy but sunny morning for the start which made for perfect conditions throughout the race. The route takes runners from the Arc de Triomf, by the old town to the Plaça Catalunya. From there it goes down the famous Ramblas and along Avenida del Paral·lel. Then it goes through the modernist Eixample district back to the Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Ciutadella further along the eastern part of Eixample to the Torre Agbar, one of the most striking buildings in Barcelona. The route then takes runners along the Diagonal and then the Fòrum finally along the beach again at the Parc de la Ciutadella to Arc de Triomf and the finish line. With very little elevation at all the race is billed as perfect for setting that personal best time for the distance.
A little trivia:
FC Barcelona is the biggest privately owned stadium in the world (seating 100,000 people) and is also one of Barcelona’s most visited tourist attractions.
Kenyan born Florence Kiplagat holds three world records in the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona that have been ratified by the IAAF.
Fun Fact: On average, everyday, seven days a week, 150,000 people walk along La Rambla.
The ERRers taking on the half this weekend were Debra Grant 2:28:18 Garry Ellison 2:28:04 Rob Sutton 1:50:53 Julie Steele 1:57:37 Martin Steele 2:17:57 Ian Stow 1:39:56 Barbara Stow 2:37:17 Alison Hartley 2:30:48 Kim James 2:33:18 Ian Dowsland 2:00:04
Big thanks to our Support crew
Tricia Grant, Maxine Ellison & Neil Grant