Day 30 – EU – Spain [Salobrena to La Mamola]

04/01/20

34.5km

  From Salobrena (Spain) to La Mamola (Spain)

Europe

Some more mountain roads and seaside mix, another good day by the Mediterranean sea

As I am running a much shorter day today, 8km less than yesterday, let’s have a little recap on how I have planned my route! I have planned the European crossing stage by stage – and this is open to modification, as I go. But the principle I followed was: since it is winter, I need a place to rest at night, have a shower and get a meal. This is why some days are shorter, some days are longer. It is not driven by how I feel or how much I am running in general. The average is set at 42km, and I go reasonably above or below depending on where the next town is!

So today, my arrival was set at La Mamola. A tiny little village by the sea surrounded by … a sea a white plastic sheets, which foster the intensive agricultural business Andalusia is famous for. The greenhouse infrastructure is quite impressive. I took this picture (right) which depicts one of the many “white plastic sheets covered villages”. I will meet more tomorrow, especially El Ejido, which (from Google Map images) seems completely covered in it.

I also met some more natural sights on my way! I met my first Iberian Ibex, or Spanish Wild Goat. I apparently woke him (or her?) up as I ran past, and it fled with much noise! It was kind enough to stop halfway through the hillside and pose for a photo. Cool cat.

Today I am intent on recovering and finding ways to eat more and get more calories in. I have been feeling a little more fatigued the past few days, and my guess is that I need to step up on hydration and nutrition.

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: