Jason Coltman was in Alicate tackling the Torrevieja 10k
Whilst on a little getaway in Alicante, Jason Coltman and his pal Stuart Stone, who runs for Littledown Harriers, checked in at Torrevieja for a 10k race with a very international flavour.
They weren’t expecting it at all but when they got there, they found there were quite a few British athletes there. They were in fact from Tyne Bridge Harriers, which was a coincidence as Jason has roots in the north east as well.
There were about 20 of them there and Jason got chatting to a few of them and ended up running with them. He probably told them all about his recent appearance at the Great North Run as well when he ran for the Stroke Association with his daughter Emily.
Jason met a lot of Tyne Bridge Harriers who were also running
Having had a mini stroke himself, Jason knew all about the important work that the Stroke Association do. He ended up not feeling well during the race at the Great North Run and was experiencing chest pains and stroke like symptoms. He went to get it checked when he got back to Bournemouth though and had a full medical and MRI.
Jason running with one of the Tyne Bridge Harriers
Luckily it turned out there were no issues there though and came to the conclusion that is was due to covid. That was a massive relief to Jason.
Jason reaches the finish of the race
Jason and Emily went on to run the Supernova 5k in the Run Bournemouth event, clocking a time of 21:43 and registered a time of 47:15 ad the Bournemouth Bay Run 10k back in March.
The aim for Jason at the Torreviejo 10k was really just to enjoy himself and he managed to do that, with some of the Tyne Bridge Harriers who he’d met.
Jason clocked a time of 47:32 and was 7th in his age category
Completing the course in a time of 47:32, Jason finished 109th overall out of 494 athletes and was 7th in the Male Master 50 category. Jason’s mate Stuart Stone finished 178th in a time of 52:30 which put him 9th in the Male Master 55 category.
The race was won by Constan Jaen of AC Manchaton in a time of 31:45, with Carlos García Hurtado of C.A. Albacete taking second in 32:46. Alberto Alameda Torres was third in 33:02.
Jason Coltman (right) and his mate Stuart Stone (left) of Littledown Harriers
Marina Callealta of Murcia Unitada was first female in a time of 39;35. That put her in 33rd place overall. The highest placed of the Tynebridge Harriers runners was Laurentiu Craciunas who got round in 38:21, putting him in 21st place overall and third in the Male Masters 35 category.
Jason (2009) and Stuart (2618) enjoyed their racing experience in Spain
Jacob Turner was another of the Tynebridge Harriers and he finished 94th in 46:20. There were a few ladies from the club who finished quite soon after Jason as well.
There was also a half marathon race which was won by Houssame Eddine Benabbou Azizi in a time of 1:06:54. Iván Hernández Illán was second in 1:08:50, with Anotonio Martinez Ardil of C.A. Puerto de Torrevieja taking third in 1:12:35.
Some of the Tyne Bridge Harriers did that race and William Bowers was the highest placed finisher out of them. He got round in 1:19:52, which put him 24th.
With the heart issue he had, Jason has to be cautious when racing and be careful not to push it too far. He’s still determined to enjoy his running though, as opposed to putting too much pressure on himself to strive for specific times or PBs.