Active Travel Plans

  Quick wrap up post. Dawn departure to the airport, far to early, booking a taxi a bit of a pain not been in a hotel, we could have walked down into the town, but no guarantees so paid a premium for a minibus, and then sat at the airport playing clash of clans and blogging until check in desk opened.  Some of those carnival peeps turned up here too! Thoughts now turn to next travel trips, the year is taking shape but the 'big one' yet to fully materialise. Our appetite whetted by the latino feel, Argentina now very much looking on the cards if the stars align. And a trip back to the Canaries at this time of the year very much in our sights for 2027 should we be fortunate enough to have the time and resource. So trips abroad for the year (and this blog) already in play are Berlin (and surrounds), Alpine cycling, and a journey through Croatia and Bosnia. The former 2 should allow for a catch up with 2 of the most engaged readers of this blog, and bloggers / travellers / posters...

  A fun run in the sun was the start of the day, they don't have parkrun out here, but they do have a sun run. Same distance, 5 euros to charity, and a comprehensive warm up both formal and informal. Informal was my 1.5 mile jog to the start, formal was a bit of 80s style stretching with TVAM Lizzie / Green Goddess of Lanzarote. Being a bit of tight arse I did feel as I paid I should make a bit of an effort, so gave it a good go on the outbound which was flat to undulating, and then got collared for about half a mile on the inbound by an offshore breeze that almost ground the running to a halt. That been said, under 23 mins which is as good as it gets for me at the minute, and a nice bit of parkrun style banter afterwards with some of the other runners, almost all appeared to be from the UK. Chrissi chose to run solo and I met her afterwards around where my run ended. This was in the heart of the tourist bit of Costa Teguise, not an area we have spent much time in, but had a quiet ...

  A name that has come up time and time again in our time on the Island is that of Cesar Manrique  and architect and influencer on the development in Lanzarote, from construction to artistry to conservation. The latter was where we picked up some of his thoughts today via our guide in Canary Trekking  who made conservation and sustainability their theme as we toured the martian landscape and lava fields of Lanzarote.  He absolutely feels to be sitting beneath the foundations of the island, his philosophy steering the direction of all its inhabitants. So up and at 'em with a collection point by minibus outside our appartments. Our driver, and later guide, super scientist and like the Spanish Lara Croft, looked after us for the next few hours. Drove up into the lava fields that lie adjacent to Timanfaya national park. We didn't go there, I understand the trips up there are a little more managed, and of course you get the real thermal insight, but equally we did want a ...

  I had been jokingly referring to this trip as a warm weather training camp in the middle of the UK winter, and there has been definite benefits to sweating and working out in the heat that I hope will add extra fitness in spring conditions back home. That all said, I was not too disappointed when I awoke to grey skies this morning and initial drop in temperatures to do a few miles. Chrissi the same, posting her longest run of the year en route to Half Marathon success in Berlin. Not having to rush out to 'school' was a bonus so I wound my way north on a familiar track but then wound off road and up to a hilly headland which I decided would make a good turnaround point for a 10K and also give me a minute to catch my breath and take some photos.  Comfortable run back, a cool down on some of the street side gym equipment, and then caught up with Chrissi. Still only late morning so definitely brunch territory, and we returned to Greens for that .. I could go a little more up the...