The first impression I had of Sinaloa States dedication to tourism was correct. Their professionalism was incredible.

During my short stop start run along Mazatalans promenade with Ivan the PR director for the states tourism industry he managed to get many contacts in hand organizing escorts for me over the next 3 days in his state.

I have been told that my run through Mexico has had federal approval and all available services are to be put at my disposal.

It is no surprise to me that they see me as a great way to promote Mexican tourism from abroad. 2011 is the year Mexico has dedicated to promote it’s tourism. I have no problem with this but I have told many officials that I will write this blog as honestly as possible.

It was great to be back on the road again. Ricardo and Moses were my Angeles Verdes today taking up the rear while Manuel in a police patrol car took the lead. Within 1km I was saturated from my own sweat in this 85% humidity.

Still it was a lovely relaxing day in which I clocked up 43km. Gone are the arid deserts and cactus of Baja. Now I got some lovely lush green fields, so green I thought I was back in Ireland.

 Except for one or two places near Sedona, Arizona, I saw my first stagnant or even  flowing water since Colorado last April.

RUNNING ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL PROM IN MAZATLAN WITH IVAN

Later that morning I was met on the road by Ivan, Omar, Cesar and a couple of workers from the tourism department. They were travelling in a mini bus so I called it a day when they told me they had a hotel reserved in El Rosario for me. I nominated km marker 252 to be my stop/ start location

As I mentioned in the last blog (see the long you tube interview also) there was a gastro festival here but the whole thing seemed to evade my eagle eye. As soon as we arrived at a building in the towns plaza I started picking at my takeaway dinner I had obtained from a restaurant the night before. I thought we were in some community hall. I followed the others up the stairs and next thing I know I am shaking a sweaty hand with El Rosario’s mayor Edgar Gonzalez. Linguini pasta is sliding from my styrofoam carton onto the beautifully shined marble floor.

So I eventually get to the hotel and crash out for a couple of hours. I don’t usually bother with siestas but I enjoyed this one.

Ivan and the others call for me at 4.30. I had been told Sinaloa’s governor, Mario Lopez Valdez wanted to have a short run with me. Not sure if this was a windup as there was an incredible heavy security presence with the army and heavily armed police everywhere one looked.

 I was told the governor loved to be called Malova as this is an acronym of all his names. I was ushered up onto a stage and sat beside several of the town and states top politicians. The governor shook my hand. I said, ” Que Pasa Molova. ” He got a thrill out of that and then just asked me where I was from. There was about a thousand people in a large marquee listening about all the good things that were being done, including the construction of sports arenas.

QUE PASA MALOVA?

Next morning I started running about 4am. It started lashing rain. Part of me said I should be happy because as long as it was raining it would not be hot. But it was miserable and cold as I ran bare-chested, just wearing my shorts and my drenched running shoes. Just like running in Ireland again for those horrible 8 of my 9 road days there at the start of the world run.

I find it hard to compare torrential rain with excessive heat ie: which is worse, I think I want to say miserable icy cold rain.

Eventually it cleared up and I arrived in El Rosario. I got the mother of all welcomes as two police vehicles led me in sirens blazing at that early hour. A huge crowd lined the streets, they came out and took photos. Ivan told me I was in about twenty newspapers and news of my run is spreading like wildfire.

I stopped in the plaza for breakfast. Cesar met me there. A brass band played latino songs in the bandstand. Last night here I had what I can call the most delicious soft drink I have ever drank. It is from this town and over a 100 years old made from vanilla and ‘ secret ingredients ‘ I understand Toni Col as it is known as is only available in limited locations, so I wonder about the lack of aggressive marketing. I understand the owner was sitting at the very table I was at only a half hour ago. I couldn’t help thinking he missed a marketing opportunity… ‘ Tony the world runner gasps into town looking for a Toni Col. ‘ And it was true.

Actually I had been told that the people expected me to run into town which was about a 3km (detour this distance not counted) On the way out of town for the 22km run to Escuinapa I was joined by 6 runners from the Malova athletic club.

IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO RUN WITH OTHER RUNNERS. RUNNING WITH MALOVA AC

It took a long time to get these guys to open up but when they did they were great fun! It is always wonderful having other runners running with me. The time just flew away and the run was much easier. I got another huge welcome here and once again was brought into the city offices where rows of benches were laid out in the courtyard for about 50 of the towns interested locals. Some of the press asked questions, so I thought this was the press conference but they had other ideas, whisking me into the mayors office where I sat down at a highly polished table and proceeded to sweat heavily over it.

I asked Eden who was the towns tourism director for a towel and a the towns tee-shirt as I thought it would look cool for the pictures. So Eden whips his shirt off while I am mopping myself off and then stick on his shirt, so the director of tourism was shirtless.

I told the assembled journalists that the only problem I have in Mexico is with their poor standard of journalism and lack of research. I also told them if they won’t give me the courtesy of mentioning my website that I am not interested in talking to them.

A lady sitting to my left works for a Mazatlan paper, she says she would, so I trust her. Next day out on the road I see her mistake riddled, lack of content, lack of research, lack of my website piece and I am a bit peeved.

That morning I am joined on the road by Eden who is training for a triathlon. We were also joined by two members of our 3 member Civil Defense entourage. These guys are swimmers. They gave up after 10km and Eden lasted another 5km.

So I had a Civil Defense, two Police vehicles and two Angeles Verdes vehicles for much of today. In the back of the police vehicle that led me out was a Civil Defense man who was working with his mate in the pickup behind me with stop and go flags. The whole day seemed like a circus even Omar sat on the boot of a police car taking pictures as I ran. I got Eden to fill my bottles from the back of his pickup as I noticed if I stopped for a quick refil that everyone jumped out and it was hard to get going again.

Today I ran just over 54km and finished strongly at the Nayarit state line. The lads commuted me to Acaponeta. I have had a wonderful time here in Sinaloa state. As  everywhere else I have been to in Mexico the people have been wonderful. Some people have emailed me to say they were wrong about their  negative impressions of Mexico and are very positive about my run in this wonderful country.

Sinaloa state is so beautiful that I feel my camera did not do it justice.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 7th, 2011 at 2:44 am and is filed under jogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.