Yesterday (Sunday 25th October) the 9th Mamamaratona took place in Portimão. The Mamamaratona is a fun run and walk organised by the Algarve Cancer Association to raise funds for "Casa Flor das Dunas" - a unit for non-resident patients who require temporary lodging while on radiation treatment of 4 to 6 weeks.
Hundreds of people of all ages and nationalities, including Clare from Algarve Uncovered, turned out to support the event on a rather hot October morning (we read the thermometer when we got home just after midday and it was 44°C!). There were warm up sessions to get everyone limbered up during the hour before the start and to cool down when they finished:
The event started and finished at the Fairs and Exhibitions Park in Portimão and the short course (5kms) went along the river front as far as the Naval yard before turning round whilst the 8kms course went on to the marina before starting the return leg.
Everyone enjoyed themselves - some of the fastest athletes completed the course before the tail enders had started - but no matter! Parents took part with youngsters in pushchairs, grandma's chatted with their friends, elderly gents took a stroll with the support of their walking sticks and the more athletic participants tested their pace against each other. Everyone who took part got a finishers medal, a commemorative t-shirt and baseball cap.
