Back in May, I was invited on a training camp at the luxurious La Manga Resort, in Murcia, Spain.
The camp was organised by Fitness 12 who offer tailored mini-camps with a holistic approach that extends to nutrition and “active recovery” (in the form of stretching and relaxation).
I’m familiar with the more traditional training camp venues for cyclists, such as Majorca and Lanzarotte, but La Manga was not somewhere I would have thought to go for a cycling holiday. Better known to me as a golfing destination, I was surprised to discover that the resort caters for many sports, providing a winter home for several European football teams, and offering a wide range of sports from tennis to triathlon.
Like most cyclists, my first instinct when I’ve landed in a new place is to get out and explore, and although I only stayed in the resort for a couple of nights, the surrounding areas showed a lot of potential for two-wheeled adventure. Within thirty minutes of leaving La Manga you find some accessible but challenging 4-5 km climbs with spectacular views of the coast. The landscape is dramatic and unusual as you weave your way through disused mines, the hillsides as you look inland dotted by turbines that harness wind energy for the surrounding areas. In the opposite direction you can take in flatter roads alongside the lagoon, and if you are willing to venture a bit further in, I was assured there are some more significant mountains too.
As well as the location, the holistic approach of the tour operator, coupled with the shorter stays they offer, were the elements I felt set this camp apart from others I’ve tried. Three or four days of riding offers a more realistic window for a get-away for many busy people, and also prevents the inevitable overtraining that accompanies the more usual ‘ride till you drop’ approach.
In addition to the riding, as part of the package we had access to the spa facilities next to the luxury Las Lomas apartments where we stayed. These include a jacuzzi and various water jet pools that helped to ease tired muscles at the end of a long ride. Most useful (but only to the brave!) there was an ice bath, brilliant for reducing the inflammation and micro-damage caused by all that climbing, putting you in shape for more of the same the next day.
The healthy lunches that come as part of the package are unusual too, made up mostly of light fish, or meat and fresh vegetables, salads and fruit, served in the apartments. For those used to heavy carbohydrate stodge this may be a bit unusual, but for me this gluten free menu was a pleasing change from the usual heavy doses of pasta and bread. Sport performance products are supplied by ZipVit.
Overall, I felt that the F12 experience was a refreshing one, offering a different approach to the more established camps. With quiet, well surfaced roads and largely virgin territory for even experienced cyclists, there seems a lot of potential for tailoring the riding and stay to exactly what you need. What La Manga and Fitness 12 lack in established cycling culture they make up for in their progressive thinking and a more health-orientated approach, making the resort an interesting alternative for a fun and relaxing get away.
Jo McRae is a cycling coach specialising in corrective and holistic exercise. The views of La Manga expressed above are her own.
