The Race - Allez!

So you have seen my finishing time - probably not as fast as I'd hoped but what an awesome day I had! In case you don't want to read the blow by blow description below let me sum up by saying that the experience of running the streets of Paris with > 30,000 others is one that I'll never forget.

The morning of
I woke up and felt the nervous energy as we made our way through the Paris metro to Avenue Charles de Gaulle. It was a very fresh 4 deg and many people were wearing the plastic bag poncho provided at the expo that were to become quite a hazard as they were ripped off at the start line. It was a unique experience to see the arc roundabout free of cars and we delighted in running across the road to the Arc.

Having completed the first of my porta loo experiences for the day (none of them pleasant!) I said goodbye to Ash and Bren and joined other starters within the designated barricades. It was surreal to only hear French being spoken around me and to turn around and see the Arc glowing in the sunlight as we all huddled in the shade at the start line. I was really in Paris!

The Start
The announcer was occasionally giving instructions in English but I never heard a start gun go. Everyone was inching forward in the pack and I was thinking we were just getting excited and closing the gaps before I realised it was all go go go! I had to be careful not to trip on any of the plastic and bottles being discarded but before I knew it I was running across the start line and down the Champs Elysee.

At 1.5k

As I run through Place de la Concorde onto Rue di Rivoli I see my support team and get so excited I literally trip over a runner in front of me - pardon!!

My Support Crew - best (and loudest) on the route!
Ash - Team cook and photographer (amazing job!) and sometime masseuse
Bren - Team Masseuse and Support Crew Tour Guide
Mum, Sue and Lyn - Cheering squad, flag bearers and suppliers of chocolate

They did their own amazing race using the metro to catch me at 4 different places along the way. I really looked forward to seeing them, and it got me through the second half of the race.

The First Half

I ran the first half well, feeling good and keeping pace with the general group. Conditions were perfect and the sights of Paris were showing off along the way.

At one point I had a guy run beside me with a large video camera a few inches from my face chatting in French, I was like, “Pale vous Anglais? I don’t speak French” and he quickly adjusted to “Are you having a good day?” My response “A great day – thanks”. I was clearly feeling good at that point! Maybe I made tv??

There were crowds gathered around the whole 42k route along with bands, drummers or dancers every few k. They were very vocal and the atmosphere kept me going. We all had our first names printed on our bibs and it wasn’t uncommon to hear “Allez Tracy” in French accents which always made me smile. One elderly woman I remember clearly was on a corner rugged up and clapping her hands constantly just saying “Bravo, bravo”. At some points they were coming onto the roads and narrowing the route in their excitement which made the runners come together to get through.


The Second Half
I started to hurt around 28k. This was earlier than expected and still seemed a long way to the finish. I slowed for some oranges and also had to queue for a (very gross) toilet stop and getting started again was a challenge. This was as the Eiffel Tower came into view and mentally I just was thinking, Trace enjoy this, it is a one time experience.

What I didn’t factor in was that by dropping back with the stragglers there were a lot of walkers and this made it even harder to remain focused on running. It was much like the back of the City to Surf, there were people everywhere and often you had to swerve to get around. I had a few elbows to my arms and chest along the way but think I gave them out too!

I was looking forward to seeing the Aussie flags at 34k and kept telling myself, get through 30-35 and then you’re nearly home. When I did see my team, their cheering really spurred me on, as did the Aussie Mars Bar that my Mum had brought for me J I knew at this point that beating last year’s time was almost out of reach but that I definitely wanted to finish in less than 5 hours and this was a possibility. I didn’t come to Paris to walk!




A Strong Finish
The last 2k was not what I expected, we were still running in some woods, not suburbia and I couldn’t see the finish line, or Arc de Triomphe as we approached. There were clear measurement markers so I knew I was close and it turned out the last stretch was uphill and around a few curves, the final straight only 100m to the finish line.

I must have had an adrenaline surge with 400m to go because after hearing someone in the crowd say “its just around the corner” (they were lying…) I felt like I was flying past the other competitors – my legs took off!. As I rounded a bend I saw my support team for the final time and ran past collecting an Aussie flag on the way and sprinted (if you can call it that!) to the finish line.

I did it!

While exhausted – I felt elated, you couldn't wipe the smile off my face although the legs had started to ache!

Its Over..... A Triomphe!

4:54.40

I made it. More to come......

My mad dash 200m's from the finish

"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie"

And it's official...

The Night Before

Tomorrow I will wake up and run 42.2km.

No excuses. No other options.

I have prepared well. I have eaten and hydrated well these last few days. A long walk yesterday was probably not the best thing to do (in retrospect) but it was such a stunning day in Paris we couldn't resist the walk along the Seine. Today I have bunkered down locally and stayed off my legs as much as possible.

I visited the marathon expo yesterday and collected my bib, timing chip and race info. It was quite tricky as not everyone spoke english and in my excitement to enter the exhibit area I went the wrong way and missed collection of my goody bag - don't worry, I was determined to get the blue backpack and so dragged Ash around until we found it! The hall was energised, Ash called it the equivalent of runners geek heaven, and I have to say, compared to the Canberra marathon school hall, being in the Parc de Expositions Hall 7 was quite impressive!

I know I will have so much to keep me inspired through the race. The sights of Paris, the memories of the many times I have been here before both as a tourist and tour leader, the people who have supported me on this journey and, of course Harry and the challenges he and his family face every day. I'll also be thinking of my blog readers and subscribers that I can truthfully say are all over the globe.

To Wazza, a follower of my blog and fellow Aussie from Victoria who is running tomorrow - Good Luck!

I have to say a big thank you to all of you who sponsored me for this race and am so grateful to you for raising $2,250 for Harry's research.

I also would like to make special mention of some friends who have inspired me to run marathons in the first place, listened patiently to my journey of ups and downs and provided valuable advice along the way - Mark, Tim and Giddo - thanks!

I now have to go eat some more pasta...

I look forward to sharing with you the story of my race tomorrow.

A thought to leave you with -
In the competitor program provided at the expo which is full of practical information for race day is a page titled "Last Advice Before Departure" that was translated to english exactly as follows:
Don't forget!
* your bib and 4 safety pins
* your timing chip and the plastic link to attach
* a personal bag to let some dry clothes on the left-luggage facilities
* your Jogging International poncho to keep warmth before the start
* some antifriction cream preserve your skin
* your sponge if you want to use it on refreshment points
* 2 small bandages for your tits
Have to love the French!!

I've arrived in Paris

It took the excuse of a marathon to come back but it is as beautiful and exciting as I remember from years ago when I was a regular here. I love Paris.

It's not just me, Ash is here as well, and my sister Bren, and my Mum along with her 4 friends. Great support crew! We are yet to have the planning meeting about the best vantage points for them to catch me in the race. One of 40,000 - could be challenging...

We are staying in a gorgeous Le Marais appartment and feel just like locals with a fresh food market beside our block. I went for a walk this afternoon and caught my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and the race course. I have read somewhere that there will be a traditional blue race line to follow on the day, but couldn't see that it has been painted yet.

I am feeling ready for a good attempt at the race. A wise man I know says that getting to the start line of the marathon fit and healthy is as tough as the race itself. Well, I am here, and final preparation is all about being conscious of my diet and hydration for the next few days.

An earlier entry to this blog suggested I needed to find a solution to finding a toilet en route and I thought I would provide an update. I have read that loos will be available at every refreshment station along the way so have decided that as I'm not an elite runner, really 3 mins is not crucial, and for my own comfort, I'll happily use a loo where needed!

I've also decided to wear my bladder pack with an electrolyte concoction for the race as I was using it for training runs and I'm not 100% confident how the refreshment stations will be set up on the day.

Tomorrow I'm off to the marathon expo to collect my bib and timing chip. I also plan to buy the souvenir t-shirt :)

Running in Central Park - New York

Today I ran around the 10k loop of Central Park. How beautiful it is and so different to any of my other training runs. There was some unusually warm weather last week and the trees have begun to blossom, there are lakes and recreational fields and forest areas and people everywhere!

It was great to get out on a lovely blue sky but cool day as I am still feeling jetlag after only arriving in New York City on Tuesday.

I entered the park at 6th Ave which it turns out is the most popular tourist entrance to the park and where you find the ice skating rink and the horse drawn carriages (with naff fake flowers decorating them). When I entered, for the first 10 mins as I walked through the crowds I didn't see anyone else exercising. I felt too self conscious to strip the outer layer and start running so I just wandered further to explore. I thought to myself, surely there will be some runners some where - and then I saw them. Not only runners, but rollerbladers and cyclists as well on the 'recreational path' which is the side of a road that loops the park.

It was a really enjoyable run. I didn't stretch myself, just stuck to 6min/k pace and felt comfortable throughout.