LOVE TRAVEL? LOVE BROOKS! HOP ON BOARD WITH BROOKS, FOR THE TRAVEL AND RACE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!
B
ack in October, Women’s Running and Men’s Running teamed up with Brooks and Running Crazy to give two lucky readers the chance to be a journalist for the day and report back from the Torremolinos Half Marathon on 2 February 2014.
Not only did they win a race place, flights and accommodation, but Brooks also put together the ultimate runner’s travel pack, specifically pieced together with the ideal kit items for the travelling runner. The kit the winners received included…
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Total £250
LSD Lite Jacket lll Equilibrium LS ll Infiniti Capri llI EZ T Live Love Run Adrenaline GTS 13 5” Essential Run Short Onboard Travel Kit
THE TORREMOLINOS HALF MARATHON T
orremolinos, just ten miles east of Malaga in the Costa Del Sol, plays host to the Torremolinos Half Marathon in February each year, with many runners using it as part of their spring marathon training or simply to soak up some winter sun!
LSD Lite Jacket lll (RRP £65)
Equilibrium LS ll (RRP £32)
An indispensable companion for running, walking, and travel. Easy to pack and stash, the new L.S.D. Lite Jacket III brings loads of style to this windproof and water-resistant jacket. Clever features like double back ventilation, an easy cinch hood, and pack-in-pocket capabilities, make this a versatile piece a runner’s favourite. A swooping colour line and slimmer waist give this jacket a fast and fierce look.
Our amazing, silky smooth Equilibrium features super-soft mesh in high-visibility colors and reflectivity. Breathable mesh with odorresistant technology delivers cool ventilation, and a touch of mesh on the V-neck adds a soft, feminine feel. Perfect alone on the run or as a day-to-day base layer.
EZ T lll Love to Run EZ T III Run (RRP £23) Softer than cotton, and way more technically advanced, our favourite moisture-wicking short sleeve comes in beautiful colours.
5” Essential Run Short (RRP £28) Like a basic, but better. With mesh insets to keep you cool all summer, and secure zip pocket for on-the-run essentials, this simple, smart, lightweight short is up for any run, any time.
Men’s
The course takes in much of the beach promenade and the first seven miles are very flat. Runners then head into the countryside and the final six-mile stretch is undulating yet scenic. Torremolinos is spoilt for choice when it comes to evening entertainment, too, with bars, cafes, and restaurants for all tastes – perfect for those post-race celebrations!
Adrenaline GTS 14 (RRP £100) We paid special attention to the underfoot flex by adding Omega Flex Grooves and continuing Omni Grooves in the forefoot, allowing the outsole to bend and shape naturally. Continuing with the tradition of a tailored fit, stretch eyelets lock into the medial side to capture the foot better and technologies like Flextra and anatomical Brooks DNA deliver customised stability and cushion.
Infiniti Capri lll (RRP £40) When you want everyday looks with more than everyday performance, the Infiniti Capri III features moisturewicking compression fabric that supports your every move on the run, and around the town. Available in eyecatching prints and solids with contrast waistbands -- style AND substance.
© runningcrazy.co.uk
en’s Wom
In return for this fabulous prize, we asked the winners to turn reporter for the day and tell us all about their experience, including the race and how they got on with Brooks’ ultimate travel pack! So, it’s time to find out about the Torremolinos Half Marathon, meet the lucky winners and find out how they got on… Fancy taking part in the Torremolinos Half Marathon next year? For details of the 2015 race, and to book your trip and race experience with Running Crazy, visit www.runningcrazy.co.uk
RACE REVIEW
RACE REVIEW
Rhiannon Halls
Ben Moxley
Rhiannon, 32, from Wapping, East London won the Women’s Running Brooks Travel Kit competition and jetted off to Spain to take part in the 2014 Torremolinos Half Marathon on 2 February, kitted out in some top Brooks kit! Here’s how she found the race…
Ben, 27, from North London unfortunately had to pull out of the race due to a sporting injury. However, he still made the most of the Brooks Travel Kit
What attracted you to enter the Brooks Travel Kit competition? The chance to run in sunnier climes and also win some snazzy new running gear! How was the race for you? The race was tough (there were a few more hills in there than I was anticipating!), but thoroughly enjoyable. You forget how much of a routine you have when running at home, but running abroad meant a change in my pre-race preparation. However, the sun was shining (a sweet 19 degrees) and the course was very picturesque (I got to run into the mountains and down by the beach and sea). The highlight for me was achieving a personal best! Oh, and the fluorescent orange tech T-shirt given out as a souvenir instead of a medal. How helpful was it having running kit that can fit in a carry-on bag? It was really great that my new Brooks kit fitted into a carry-on bag – it meant I didn’t have to worry at all about my luggage going missing on the journey and ending up with no kit to run in, plus I knew I had everything I needed. How did the kit perform? The kit is great – really lightweight yet also durable. I absolutely love the Equilibrium Long-Sleeve II top and LSD Lite Jacket III. However, thanks to the weather in Torremolinos,
After winning the competition, I was amazed by the amount of kit that Brooks sent over to me. Due to a training injury, I couldn’t take part in the half marathon in Torremolinos, but that hasn’t stopped this being the best New Year training regime I’ve ever had. The clothing items of the kit have all come in useful during the iffy weather this year. The windbreaker top has helped to lessen the icy drafts trying to push me off the pavements of London; the shorts (with the very useful zip pocket for keys) have been comfy; the socks are able to wick the sweat off my feet and protect against blisters. But the piece of kit that has been the most effective? The trainers.
these weren’t needed on the day of the race. How much training did you do? As I’m training for the Virgin Money London Marathon in April, I probably did more training than I would ordinarily do for a half marathon (about six long runs building up distance, as well as my mid-week shorter sessions),
Rhiannon is all smiles in the race!
Post-race celebrations!
but this also meant I felt strong going into the race. I took the opportunity of my training runs to try out the new Brooks kit, especially the socks, as I usually suffer with blisters. And given all the rain we’ve had recently, the jacket was an essential part of my attire on each run! What is your must-have item when travelling abroad for a race? I’d say earplugs for the hotel the night before! Was the Torremolinos Half Marathon a Run Happy experience for you? Definitely! Running with likeminded people always gives me a sense of pride and community. I am certainly tempted to run abroad more often now.
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13 trainers are, without a shadow of a doubt, the best I’ve ever had. And I have very demanding needs! With feet as flat as a pancake (and the various knee/hip/back issues that follow that), I am always looking for the best shoes out there to hold my ankle and foot in the best position to lessen the thuds of flat-footed running. Couple that with soft-skinned feet and the chances of blistering are high. Last year for the London Marathon, I ran using another brand that were stability, which meant that the arch foam was made of a rock. As a result, my feet were torn to shreds and the final 10 miles were a quick limp to the finish line, where blood and pain awaited me. The Brooks shoes have been phenomenal. No blisters at any point. Comfy inside, good moisture control and stability that gives when it needs to. These shoes have been a miracle for me. The one piece of kit that has yet to be used is the Brooks Overnight kit. Complete with a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask and earplugs, it looks like the total runners kit. I’m very much looking forward to the night before the marathon now! Despite missing race day, Ben tests out his Brooks kit