Eamonn Martin was the last British man to win the London Marathon. In 1993 the engineer from Basildon crossed the finishing line in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 50 seconds in his debut marathon, outsprinting Mexico’s Isidro Rico on Westminster Bridge in his mustard, pin-striped club vest.
Elixir caught up with Eamonn, who luckily for us was not running at the time, at the London launch of the Lanzarote Wine Run – a half marathon in which takes place on the Spanish island this year on June 23 where the winner takes away his own body weight in the island’s fine wines.
Eamonn, now 54, has been manager of the England cross-country team for about 10 years and a coach and chairman of Basildon (Athletic Club) explains that he does a lot of his training and coaching on Lanzarote because of the climate and the terrain.
“I often wish I had found out about it before,” he laments.”It’s a perfect place to train, particularly when the weather in the UK is not good.”
Eamonn Martin, the last UK men’s winner of the London Marathon
The Half Marathon (2.1 kilometres) With A Difference is part of the Lanzarote Wine Run And Traditional Food Festival 2013 andthe only race in the world where participants can sample wines on route and win their weight in wine! Visitors can either run (walk…or wobble!) the route, through the stunning Geria wine region whilst sipping wines and tasting local foods before returning to to soak in their hotel pool and rest sore muscles!
Vines on Lazarote are grown in man-made depressions to protect them from the winds
The half marathon course commences at Los Dolores Church in Mancha Blanca and the route runs through the stunning wineries before finishing at Bodega Rubicon. The race is split into several categories, including age and gender and winners will be selected for each group. The winners will win the equivalent to their weight in litres of wine to take home! There is also a 10km Wine Walk for those not wanting to run enabling them to enjoy more of the region’s famous Malvasia wine.
Runners make their way through Lanzarote’s lunar landscape
For onlookers, and those getting slightly peckish on route in need of an energy boost, The Traditional Cuisine Festival takes place from 22nd – 23rd June. Local cooks and restaurants set up shop along the track, serving up local gastronomic delicacies with delicious organic Spanish flavours and tasty tapas dishes.
For more information and to register please visit: www.lanzarotewinerun.com
One of the nicest hotels on the island is the Seaside Los Jameos Playa Hotel**** located in Playa de Los Pocillos, just a 30 minute drive from the start of the race. Seven nights half board accommodation in a double room costs from £488 per person based on travel in June. The four-star hotel offers the best tennis facilities in the Canary Islands, two swimming pools and a spa and wellness centre offering a variety of treatments, making it perfect for those wanting a relaxing or active break. For more information on Seaside Los Jameos Playa Hotel**** or to book please visit http://www.los-jameos-playa.co.uk/
Return flights with Easyjet from London Gatwick to Lanzarote departing in June costs from £69 one way per person. For more information or to book please visit http://www.easyjet.com/en
More about the festivities here: