This month’s Santa Pola half marathon has been hailed as a great success, with 6,000 people running through the Costa Blanca town.

Often used by international athletes as part of their training regime for major summer competitions, this year’s half marathon saw many runners with hopes for the Beijing Olympics competing, Round Town News reports.

The race is now in its 19th year and has become the second largest running competition in Spain, with many of the country’s major athletic clubs praising its good organisation and location.

Kenyan entrant Silas Kipngetich Sang was the first to finish the 13-mile course, taking just over an hour to complete the route. Maria Jose Pueyo Bergua won the female competition with a time of one hour and eleven seconds.

Visitors and property owners in Santa Pola looking for a more relaxed experience can take a short boat trip to the island of Tabarca, the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain.

Tags: Costa Blanca, Leisure, Santa Pola