5,000k and counting

Time for another post. I was motivated to do so by seeing that I've hit 5,000km on Runkeeper. I started logging my runs back in May 2012 so it's taken me 7 years to hit this landmark. It's an average of 60km a month, which isn't great but I have managed to increase the distances in the past couple of years. Running has become extremely important to me. When I got back into it here in France it was just something to do when I didn't have enough time for mountain biking. Now, it's my main way of relaxing, exercising, exploring, and competing. Here's to 5,000 more! In a week I'll be running the Paris-St. Germain en Laye 20k race. Looking forward to it!!

Local races

Race season has started with a whimper, not a bang. I ran in two local races in the last few weeks; the old reliable Course du Printemps in Voisins-le-Bretonneux, one I try to run every year.

The race has become more of a trail over the years, and this year was particularly tough, and my lack of preparedness didn't really help! All in all it was a great experience, as always, but with the nagging feeling that next year will be the year I'll actually be ready for it. Today, I ran in another local race, a 10k (well, slightly more) trail around the beautiful setting of the Etangs de la Minière in Guyancourt.

I must learn that what goes down, must come up. I started strongly but the ascent around the 6k mark was very tough. The race itself was advertised as a 10k, but it actually went closer to 11k. It was a gorgeous morning for it, though, and I gave it all my all, including a sprint finish. I was also interviewed by the race announcer afterwards. Definitely one to run again!

Semi-Marathon: Boulogne-Billancourt 2018

bet I feel like my running year has been book-ended by this race and the Paris marathon back in April. This morning I ran in the Boulogne-Billancourt Half-Marathon, my first official Half-Marathon. It was great to race in Boulogne, as I had lived there for 3 years before moving to Montigny in 2013. I wanted to finish the year on a positive note. In 2016 and 2017 I did the Corrida de Noel in in Issy-les-Moulineaux, but this year I wanted to stretch my legs a little, particularly after the disappointment of the marathon. I was relatively well prepared, with a number of 7k and 14k training runs, and a couple of full halves under my belt. I prepared my usual kit the night before.

The race itself was pretty classic, a loop along the quays of Boulogne and a few km in the Bois. It was freezing in first thing in the morning, though. Jogging across from Issy to Boulogne from the RER station was an experience, but one with some impressive views.

The organisation was efficient and smooth, a world away from Paris-Versailles.

As we had to double back on the course, the lanes were very tight, which led to a steady pace overall. I finished in 01:43:29, despite going for the 01:50:00 SAS. It's a race I'll definitely do again.

The biggest challenge was the warm-down jog up the hills of St Cloud to catch the train home afterwards, though the views did somewhat make up for things (maybe some of the best views from an urban train station in Europe).

For now, it's a few weeks of regular training before the excesses of Christmas, followed by preparation for a New Year of running.

A meander around La Minière

I signed up for my first half-marathon last night, the Semi-Marathon de Boulogne-Billancourt on November 18th. I used to live there so I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with the area, and racing in the infamous Bois! To start getting ready for it, I went our for a relatively long run this morning, a 15k steady jog in and around Les étangs de la Minière. It's one of my favourite spots for running, and it was a glorious autumnal morning for it.

The lakes themselves were used to feed the system of bassins and fountains in Versailles, and the scenery is gorgeous at this time of year.

It was good to get out and stretch my legs and I'm looking forward to the BB half-marathon!

Parcourir Montigny Urban Trail 2018

Last Sunday I ran in my fourth Urban Trail in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, the town where I live. It's a race which has evolved over the years, from a 2x5k loop back in 2014 to a 13k 'urban trail' this year. It's a challenge as the race includes both urban areas and wooded trails, with steps and slopes thrown in as often as possible.

I have to say I increasingly enjoy the local race with the number of participants in the hundreds, as opposed to the thousands taking part in the big Paris races. I felt ready and was keen to put a decent time on the board.

The weather was pretty grim, windy and overcast with little let-up forecast. I arrived early and actually had the pleasure of an empty departure line!

The race itself was pretty uneventful. I was aiming for in and around 01:05:00 and I finished in 01:04:44, 59/216 overall and 22nd in my category. There's still the niggling feeling that with more application, time and effort I could do much better and actually knock a lot of minutes of my finishing times. This was my 26th race in France and nothing else is planned for the moment. I'm looking at different options between now and the end of the year and I'm aiming at putting in the kms with some longer runs over the next few weekends. I'll be sure to update.

Happy running.

Paris - Versailles 2018

Another Royal Run (what could be more Royal than a race which finishes on the avenue leading to the Chateau de Versailles?), but overall a bit of a damp squib I'm afraid.

This was my third Grand Classique (16.2km from the foot of the Tour Eiffel to Versailles, a course winding its way from the banks of the Seine up through the close western suburbs and through the Meudon forest to the royal demesne) and it might just be my last.

First things first, the race itself. The course itself never varies, and the main challenge is the steep climb from Issy to Meudon, just outside Paris.

This was particularly challenging this Sunday due to extremely windy conditions, which resulted in a 3k slog uphill battling strong head-on gusts. The actual organisation didn't quite help either, with no preferential starting pens, and 1.5 hours of waiting in a crowd with little or no movement.

As is par for the course in this race, the first 6k before the hill climb went smoothly, with a nice jog along the Seine.

Things got tricky however once I hit the wind uphill and my time dropped considerably. I also began to notice a less than chivalrous attitude from other runners (''putain" sprinkled liberally), which is somewhat surprising as this is not a race designed for setting PBs by any means.

The management of waste and discarded items left a lot to be desired, too. Please, please stop using single-use plastic water bottles for these events!

In any case, I made it to the finish line on the Avenue de Paris in 01:25:53, 4 minutes more than last year, mostly due to the struggles on the uphill section.

(with a strong wind still blowing!)

I'm in two minds now. It's a particular experience, and a race which finished not far from where I live. However, there need to be some improvements made to the overall organisation or it could be become an entirely unpleasant event in which to take part.

I can say that the medal provided was inspired:

Nelson Mandela:  "I never lose. I either win or I learn." Wise words. And words I will definitely take to heart.

Next race: Parcourir Montigny

Montigny - Guyancourt - Buc - Guyancourt - Montigny

Reading back over the past few posts I realise that things seem very despondent.

I hadn't been able to shake off the lingering feeling of failure following the marathon in April. 

However, today I had a beautiful Sunday afternoon in September afternoon stretching out in front of me and I decided to make the most of it but going on a Long Run to Buc, run through, well, up, the actual town itself (with Paris-Versailles and the Cote des Gardes in mind) and then back towards Montigny and home.

 And, apart from a soft blister on my left foot, it went perfectly. I'm getting back into the groove and I can't wait until the 23rd!
 
Highlight:

• The beauty of Les Etangs de la Minière