Yvonne, give us a general impression of your experience last Sunday.

In general I found the TUI marathon a very impressive international event.  It is the second time I have taken part and it was really special to be part of an event with 9000 runners. The start is in front of the cathedral on the seafront and the first 10 km track is on the main boulevard of Palma so the location is very exotic. The organisation is very professional. Each runner is presented with some very nice gifts, a clothes bag and a medal. Drinks and snacks are distributed to the runners along the way. On my 10km run I also passed 3 live bands playing great music which was also very motivating.

What were the best and the worst parts of participating in the marathon?

The best part for me personally is that I ran 25 minutes faster then last year. Unlike last year, I had trained a lot for this year’s event. It was a very sunny day and by the end of my run the temperatures were quite warm.

Can you also share something funny that occurred?

It is funny to see that some runners are dressed up. I saw a group of ladies dressed up in pink including wigs (which must be so hot), I also saw someone dressed up like Cleopatra and one man was running the half marathon with a large flag on a pole. That looked very heavy to me.

Would you recommend taking part in the marathon to others?

I can definitely recommend this event to others. The scenery, the location, the weather and the excitement of participating in such a large event is one of a kind and has already convinced me to sign up for next year’s event.

Coming soon: A review of the Llucmajor Feria celebrated last month on the island.

On Saturday the 15^th of October from 2pm to 6pm the Pasta Party will take place in the Parc de la Mar, below the Cathedral. Those attending are guaranteed to find a delicious pasta dish and a very pleasant atmosphere. Once you have indulged in some energising pasta, take part in the UNICEF Kids run at 5pm or go for a walk in the Marathon Market, the perfect place to find running gear. For the perfect relaxing evening before the big event, chill out at Zenet’s “concert under the stars”, taking place at 8pm in Ses Voltes.

On Sunday the 16^th of October, the marathon, the half marathon, the 10km run and the 10km walking / Nordic walking will start at 9am at the Cathedral. The big After-race Party is a further highlight for runners and helpers in Palma and will take place at Mega-park in Playa de Palma on Sunday from 8pm.

Our Group Sales Manager, Yvonne Schelekens will be taking part in this event, so keep an eye on the blog to read about her personal experience.

Our experienced coordinators are looking forward to personally discuss your weddings plans directly on site. Skilled wedding professionals including florists, photographers, musicians, wedding salon representatives or wedding cars specialists will be presenting their products and services for you. Our main Ball Room will be fully set with festively dressed tables featuring examples of the provided flower decorations, wedding cakes or chair covers that are all included in our wedding packages.

Your team at the Mallorca Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa benefits from the valuable experience of planning and hosting many successful wedding ceremonies, receptions and other special events. Both indoor and outdoor weddings can be accommodated in one of many attractive facilities of our beautiful resort.

Special Wedding Open Day Offer 

Make a provisional booking with us at the upcoming Wedding open day, confirm within 2 months and we will gladly provide you with a 10 % discount based on a minimum number of 80 guests on a Saturday or 50 guests on a Friday or Sunday.

Terms and conditions: In order to qualify for the discount the wedding mut take place before the 31^st December 2012.  The offer can not be used in conjunction with any other special offer. Subject to space availability.

Yago has a degree in Marketing from the Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina, USA) with a Masters in Business Administration, specialising in Golf Management. During his degree, he also studied a Golf Professional Training Program, taught by the US PGA, focusing on various aspects of Golf Operations and Management. He started his working career in the golf industry in 2001 at the Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA as a member of the Outside Operations Staff. In 2004, he joined the Talayuela Golf Club in Cáceres, Spain, as Golf Director and has been working there ever since.

Yago will be responsible for the two 18 hole golf courses, Son Antem East and Son Antem West, and the Golf Academy. He will also be in charge of the renovations that are taking place on the East Course and the driving range, scheduled to finish by the beginning of September 2011.

Routes have been opened between Palma and key German cities including; Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich and Berlin. Other popular destinations have been recently included such as the French Riviera, Switzerland or Austria.

A different way to come to Mallorca surrounded with all the luxury that our guests deserve. Wake up in the morning, avoid waiting never-ending cues at the airport, drink some champagne before taking off and enjoy your holidays until the last second.

Take a look at www.flyvictor.com and register free!

 ASPANOB was created in 1987 by a group of parents who met in order to improve the quality of life of children between 0 and 18 years of age suffering from cancer, as well as their families in the Balearic Islands. Since then, ASPANOB has been working tirelessly with the satisfaction of seeing their activities continue to increase and more important programmes being put into place.

For further information about ASPANOB visit www.aspanob.com

A – Avoid unprotected exposure during the peak UV hours between 10 AM and 4 PM.

W – Wear sun protective clothing including a shirt, a hat with a 3-inch brim and sunglasses. If possible, stay out of direct sunlight.

A – Apply broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to all unprotected skin 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours while in the sun.

R – Routinely check for and report suspicious changes to a physician.

E – Express the need for sun protection to your family and community.

In the Market Place located in the Spa Building we offer a complete range of sun protection, after sun creams and clothes.

Remember, the sun is our life, but our safety depends on how we deal with it!

The team at Mallorca Marriott Son Antem is very excited to welcome this new member into our big family.  Our offer in Mallorca has now become even more complete; we have a city option for those who want to experience the bustle of the capital and a sun & relax option for those who want to spend the day in a resort, play golf and enjoy Spa treatments.

El Olivar is an unforgettable restaurant, decorated in a fresh contemporary style, with stone floors, tabletops made of traditional Olive wood, and wooden Artwork combined with Spanish ceramics. El Olivar offers a Spanish buffet with live cooking based on local and regional products from all over Spain; we invite you to experience the best of the Mediterranean.

On entering the restaurant our Sommelier will introduce you to the world of Mallorcan Wine, offering you the opportunity to taste the wine you can enjoy during your dinner. Flor de Sal, spiced oils and home-made Aioli are also offered at the table.

Llevant, the new lobby bar, is the hotel’s fashionable Day & Night Bar.  Llevant is located within the central lobby and furnished with handcrafted tables, comfortable chairs and sofas. It also has its own Chill-Out Patio with large armchairs and sofas.  Llevant serves a large selection of Tapas and has an interesting selection of wines, including local Mallorcan varieties, a variety of Sangrias and branded long drinks & spirits.

Es Trenc, the pool bar, with its stylish new sun beds and furniture, invites customers to enjoy a light lunch or an after pool drink during the summer months. The menu includes fresh and healthy smoothies, juices, salads and sandwiches.

Finally the new concept of La Vista Verde, the Golf Restaurant, is defined as Fast, Fresh & Simple. With a mixture of salads, tapas, chef recommendations & pizzas it is the perfect place to stop and plan further activities to enjoy in the resort.

Don’t wait for others to tell you about it! Come and try our new gastronomy offer! We are sure you will enjoy it!

The event started at 4.30 pm with a cocktail and chocolate tasting in the new open air chill-out area in the hotel patio before guests were given the opportunity to test their swing with a golf simulator in the hotel garden. Sixt showcased in the hotel entrance and garden area their luxury car collection.

The guests were entertained by Batucada, Michele McCaine and Duo Sunshine at the hotel pool.

The highlight of the evening was the hot-air balloon in the hotel garden. Guests were treated to a short ride and even people who thought they would never try anything like it were delighted. It was the perfect finale to a perfect party.

Special thanks go to Sixt, Oh Palma, Chocolate Avenue, Espurar Events and Sports Coach.