Run, Bike and Hike ability plus extra skills such as canoeing, abseiling and climbing and more unusual pursuits such as archery are all regular components of Adventure races.

Every year we host an Adventure Race training week for Ace Races, www.aceraces.com, the UK's biggest AR promotions company. The week, which includes one of the World's top adventure racers, Helen Jackson of the SAAB / Salomon team helping and coaching, includes a two day test race.

Please see below for a full report on the event of 19th to
26th Feb 2005.

Diary of an Ace Racer

Day one was a baptism of fire. Having assembled ourselves and become briefly acquainted over breakfast, we made our way outside to chose that with which we would become oh so familiar with over the next few days. our bikes.

It didn't take long to get sorted out. To make sure that woman and machine were suitably well introduced, we took a 25k cycle along various routes, not forgetting the 5k, 45 degree hill that had me weeping at its summit. A hill that we met only 10 minutes into the first ride of the week! I kept telling myself " It can only get easier ".

At the end of the ride, and being suitably well acquainted with our steeds, we proceeded on a 6k run up and down hills, over a nice soft and dusty ground. My knees were thankful for the lack of concrete and my backside thankful for being off that saddle. Not being a strong runner, I was cursing those in front, but the reassurance of food, water and hot soup at the end kept my leaden legs moving.

Marathon of Spain.

The latest addition to UK ultra-running specialist company Ambition Events portfolio is the Marathon of Spain. The race, between July 22nd and 28th, will be a tough challenge of
220km in 5 stages and it will be hot!! The course is 95% off-road consisting of mountain
tracks and trails linking the nine villages which make up the Alhama de Granada municipality.

In events such as the Marathon de Sables you have to carry all your food but in this event the local communities will host and feed you at each stage so you can run with a little less weight on your back! This will enable you to enjoy the route, which passes through the beautiful mountain scenery of the Sierra Almijara Natural Park and the Loja mountains which are part of the Poniente Granadino region ( SW of Granada ).

The Marathon of Spain is destined to become another ultra runners " must do " joining such as the Marathon des Sables and Marathon of Britain.

Further information and entry details are on www.ambitionevents.com/mos

See you in July.