Am I bothered? by Menton

Well what a great experience the Paris marathon was last weekend.  It might not have the crowds watching that London has but in every other respect it is streets ahead.

The start on the Champs Elysees is just a perfect opportunity to get off to a flying start and into a rhythm it's 3 times as wide as the start in London and downhill and before you know it your at the Bastille with the first refreshment table.

The refreshment tables every 5 KM are infinitely superior to that London offers not only is their plenty of water but the bananas, oranges and dried fruit just mean you aren't wholly reliant on gel's for the whole race.

The route is also nicely split into 4 distinct phases which stops you getting bored.  The first 10K takes you through the centre of Paris, the second through a large wooded park.  The third 10k brings you back through the centre of town and along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower before you head through the Bois du Bologne to the finish.  The crowds aren't significant but the course is so wide that you can just get on with running.

All of the above was a really pleasant surprise because I'd heard so many negative stories about the organisation, but take it from me they really have sorted it out.

So if you don't make the ballot for next years London marathon don't fret sign up for Paris and have a great weekend away, you'll have a smashing time and I reckon a better race experience.

Well yes and no. 

The tough 6 and 7 milers on Wednesday and Thursday evening haven't been as frequent as I would have ideally have liked, but the long Sunday runs have been better and more frequent than last seasons training.

However Sunday is the big day in Paris and I'm still not sure what kind of shape I'm in.  The weather forecast is set fair a 10 Km northerly wind but with the temp reaching 21degrees Celsius. Last year in Stockholm I felt very confident and yet ended up in the medical tent when the temp touched 27 degrees. Yet today I don't feel confident about even a 10 Km run despite knowing I've got the miles in the bank. My heart rate on the longer runs is well below last years stats so I guess I'm either fitter or about to keel over after 30Km.

It's a comfort to know that i've had a thorough medical as a consequence of the OSA's insistence that my Doctor confirms that there is no obvious reason to stop me running, but that'll count for nothing on Sunday, when I'll know within 30 seconds whether this'll be a hard slog or a pleasant training run with 35,000 others.

Well, I'll let you know next week the outcome did I duck under 4:30, did I duck under 4:20 or did I end up in the medical tent, again. 

Who knows that's what I love about this lark you never know until the moment you start.

A surprisingly enjoyable run today.the rolling start was such a good idea.  Although very pleased with the time, I am now suffering with a sore groin.  It's been a problem for some weeks now at around half marathon distance and a slight change in my running stance gets me through it but I'm beginning to pay for it now.

That's the last long run before Paris and i'd like to say thank you for the efforts of the Air Cadets on the water stations today they were superb. Not once did i see a runner not get offered a cup as they reached the frequent stops. It makes such a difference when something is well organised Dave and the FLM could learn a trick or 2 from these kids.

Tonight was a very confident run only 6 miles but at all times it felt good and having the 20 under my belt on Sunday just gave me that feeling of invincibility over the shorter run.

At times it was trying not to overstride and risk injury rather than putting one foot before another which was the problem.  Still runnings a strange game and a pound to a penny tomorrow will be a nightmare jog.