Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

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Axel P
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Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Axel P »

Today I took part in the first half marathon of the Douro organised by Fladgate, Noval and Symington.

Weather was sunny all over the place and the tour took us from Pinhao to Junco, Cavadinha, Terrafeita, Cruzeiro, Noval, Bomfim and Roeda with proper Port stops in between at all Quintas. For everyone who knows the Douro quite well, you can guess that this was not a straight run but involved some inclination.

We started quite early with a Pichon 2000 prior to the race:
IMG_3331 petit.jpg
IMG_3331 petit.jpg (243.5 KiB) Viewed 6668 times
Great race, great people, perfect weather, but as you can see in the picture our generous host Christian Seely was rewarding the running team with something special at the return:
IMG_0211 petit.jpg
IMG_0211 petit.jpg (235.91 KiB) Viewed 6670 times
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jdaw1
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by jdaw1 »

Splendid effort by those doing the work.

Not including me.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Excellent work by all who ran. Any idea how many participated?
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by jdaw1 »

The Malvedos Blog, in a post entitled [url=https://blog.grahams-port.com/2016/06/20/victory-for-symington-family-estates-in-the-1st-great-douro-vineyard-run/]Victory for Symington Family Estates in the 1st Great Douro Vineyard Run[/url], wrote:Yesterday saw the Symington running team take part in the first edition of the Great Douro Vineyard Run. Formed by members from diverse areas of the company, Symington Family Estates won first place in the team event and saw every member placing highly, with second place in the women’s race going to Mariana Ameixieira, and third in the men’s to Pedro Silva, the team’s invaluable trainer.
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by LGTrotter »

The photographs of people in running gear apparently drinking port reminds me of the Saintsbury story about two young women playing tennis and being asked if they would like a drink and the old prof then returning with glasses of port on a salver. Port is not exactly what I would reach for if I was running a marathon, or even half a one.
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Andy Velebil »

I could not imagine running in the Douro, not exactly flat. Well done!
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DRT
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by DRT »

LGTrotter wrote:Port is not exactly what I would reach for if I was running a marathon, or even half a one.
Andy Velebil wrote:I could not imagine running in the Douro
I have considered these statements very carefully and have decided that the best approach is to drink port in the Douro without running a marathon, or half a marathon, or one hundred yards, or an even shorter distance.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Andy Velebil »

DRT wrote:
LGTrotter wrote:Port is not exactly what I would reach for if I was running a marathon, or even half a one.
Andy Velebil wrote:I could not imagine running in the Douro
I have considered these statements very carefully and have decided that the best approach is to drink port in the Douro without running a marathon, or half a marathon, or one hundred yards, or an even shorter distance.
I concur with your "best approach"
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Paul C. Metman »

+1 :lol:
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Glenn E. »

Andy Velebil wrote:I could not imagine running in the Douro
If there were a decanted NN63 on a picnic table under a large shade tree overlooking the Douro, and Derek were between me and the picnic table...

Yes, I can imagine running in the Douro.
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Andy Velebil »

Glenn E. wrote:
Andy Velebil wrote:I could not imagine running in the Douro
If there were a decanted NN63 on a picnic table under a large shade tree overlooking the Douro, and Derek were between me and the picnic table...

Yes, I can imagine running in the Douro.
That's like a soccer player taking on a rugby player. I'd suggest you go find another bottle for yourself hahaha


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DRT
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by DRT »

I was sitting on the lawn at Quinta dos Canais yesterday in the baking heat of the Douro and listened with great interest to Gustavo Devesas describing his training and the route that this run took and the conditions in which it was run. All I can say that it is not only mad dogs and Englishmen who go out in the midday sun! I have not changed my view about running in the Douro in summer. Madness. Complete madness. But well done to those who did so in the support of a good cause.
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Axel P
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Re: Douro Half Marathon by Noval, Fladgate and Symingtons

Post by Axel P »

Ok, the reward was:

- Saturday evening: NN 78, 85, 87 academical. 2003 Colheita, VP and NN
- Sunday Morning: NN 2003 and Pichon 2000
- Sunday noon: LBV 2011, NN 97
- Sunday night: Colheita 64, NN 70 and NN 60.

So, best running trousers on and see you all there next year...

Axel
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