December is looming folks, and all that’s on your mind might be the big bearded fella in the red suit and lots of lists of things to do.
But take yourself for a pre season break to Spain – in particular to Barcelona – and you can do something different. Not quite relax, but something more energetic. The Buff Run takes place on the 16th December – and no, it’s not a naked dash! Clothes are required, in fact, fancy dress to be precise…Run this way please..
Running up to Christmas in Catalan style
The destination
Barcelona, a city that rarely sleeps – art, culture, monuments, shopping, or the Christmas markets, whatever you arrive here hoping to see or do, you will undoubtedly not be disappointed.
The second largest city in the whole of Spain, and the proud capital of Catalunya, from Roman beginnings to the modern day city that awaits you, it will be a holiday to remember. The run up to Christmas in Catalan style, well, why not?!
Watch a video about the city of Barcelona here….
A weekend break, a mini break, a week – maybe even longer, with plenty of daily flights available from a good choice of airports, all you need to do is choose a great place to stay in Barcelona from this list of lovelies…
Montjuic Castle, Barcelona. The setting for the Buff Run
What to wear?
Now, your packing list. Lycra vest, short shorts? Nope. Definitely something silly in addition to the usual city clobber. The Buff Run on the 16th December requires that you be suitably dressed, in fancy dress that is… think Monty Python more than breathable Lycra…the only sensible item should be your running shoes, if you want to avoid a broken ankle that is!
Crazy Spain
Running naked in Pamplona
If you have never been nor watched from the sidelines, let me tell you that this is one of the more crazy events in the Barcelona calender. Spain tends to favour the silly when it comes to fiestas, I mean where else can you jump over babies, pelt each other with tomatoes or have New Year in August, huh? You can run with Bulls in Pamplona, in fact you can even run naked in Pamplona…maybe not in December though! Fiestas aside, events like the Buff Run are no more sensible, so pack your sense of humour too and join in….
How to take part
Register for the Buff Run before 13th December and it will cost you just 19€ per person to run with the 2500 strong crowd of fellow revellers. If you wait until after this date to register then the price goes up to 23€, and you won’t be guaranteed a place, so get in there early…
The distance of the race is just 8 kms from start to silly finish, so not too far if you choose to wear a full medieval costume, in keeping with the traditional look of the race, although any fancy dress will do, drag being one of the most popular!
Where does it start from?
Montjuic Castle, on Montjuic Hill in Barcelona at 11 am sharp is the point for the starting pistol. If you are expecting a straightforward run around town, forget it! Fun is the name of the game, and to assist you in making a complete fool of yourself, there are mud baths, mountains made from used tyres and obstacles to climb through and over, foam baths to swim through and all sorts of other impediments to, er, assist you…
There is also a separate event for junior runners, aged 13 to 16 years old if they don’t fancy getting dragged down by the oldies! Again though, forget the branded sportswear, you’ll still be expected to wear the fancy dress.
A view of the destination city
Fancy pants
Finally, a selection of three fancy dress hire shops in Barcelona, which might come in handy if you want to travel light – most budget airlines don’t take well to suits of armour and clanking chains…
