Even before I've laced up my trainers, I get a taste of what's to come. Driving to Almond House (our home for the next three days), we leave the tarmac road in the local village and the rest of the journey takes place on a dried out river bed, lined by irrigation ditches for the ancient olive trees that dominate the surrounding area. The scenery is pretty special; vast undulating hills silhouetted against more hills, ravines and canyons pitting the landscape, bright blue skies (it's a perfect 23 degrees with a nice breeze) and some incredible terrain.
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With a moon-like appearance, the dried trails give way to soft sand, then steep rocky outcrops, then back to dust all within 100 yards. It's a trail runners playground.
It's not just running that is catered for here, this is a training facility. There's an arena out the front of the house with obstacles, old housing beams to lift, tyres to jump through and a suspension training set up with an incredible view. We start the day with a light circuit to get warmed up, focusing on all body strength (something often over looked by runners) and then we're off for 5.5 miles of running. There are only four of us on the trip and this is pretty much as busy as it gets, the training and guidance is very focused and everyone benefits immediately from being in such a small group. More pictures to come soon in the full review.
Once we return, there's time to relax and then it's dinner, which is expertly created by the Jools and Claire and is very welcome after a days exercise.
After some careful rehydration (wine), the bed is calling and that's when the real essence of Almond house becomes clear; the quiet. It really is golden.
A good nights sleep and I'll be ready for day two!
