Paris Marathon 2014

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  • Happy birthday to Kaz, happy birthday to Kaz, happy birthday dear Kaaaaaaz, happy birthday to you image

    Stuchbury - oh yes. And Emmy's pistachios as well. And the Haribos and the little lollipop. I'd have eaten the sponge too but Radar Sal stopped me.

    Leggy - I got a spare copy of L'Equippe for such eventualities. Message me your address.

    Maxs mum - sorry to hear, altho trail marathons are fab.

  • Orapidrun & spitfire ....I've had very similar issues s you have with heart rate and other stuff ....  Heat was the trigger, ... My issue was hormonal cardiomyopathy ... According to my lovely top notch doc .... Since being on hrt for the last 8 months the difference is stunning .... Been given the all clear and now doing first ultra on 2 august & Paris 2015.   At one stage whilst being monitored for a week, hr hit 148 at 11 cowlick at night and as I assured my cardiologist i was sleeping ... Was horrendous at the time but good now.   So keep the faith took them oh about 18months to figure it out.   Must admit have had to learn to run to hr level rather than speed .... I also can tell instantly if not right .... Know the signs, all about being aware and dare I say sensible (very odd to be uttering those words) ....

  • Weedy I could kiss you!

    Defender Ken and Defender Jo how did you get on?

    Does anybody know when they put the videos up?  I paid for one but don't know if they email you a link or what?

  • Leggy - don't let me stop you kissing Weedy, but I also have a couple of spare copies if L'Equipe - if anyone wants to see their name in print let me know.



    Happy birthday Kaz image
  • E mmyE mmy ✭✭✭
    Running Rodent wrote (see)
    Le EggyMountbatten wrote (see)

    I vacillated (good word) between despair and euphoria and sometimes moments of madness.  At one point I remember thinking 'I think I could be an ultramarathoner'. What the heck?!

    Hehehe. Come over to the dark side, you'll like it here. image


    Ooh - come on... now that sounds like fun!

    Stuchbury wrote (see)

    Orange Cherry zero tabs for me. Love them. Take them every long run and when I get home to make sure all is good.

    Contemplating doing a 100km over two days. Trying to convince Mr S he wants to do it with me. I'm done with silly sub four marathons (apart from Shakespeare in two and half weeks).

    Leggy - what a great marathon story!

    I am also shocked at the number of us that had some really quite serious sounding medical issues on Sunday - is that usual? I thought there seemed to be lost of medical people helping runners and lots of ambulances in the woods of death but I don't have experience of big city marathons so don't know if it was the heat really causing people problems or if that's usual? Am very glad everyone is on the road to recovery now.

    100km over 2 days running? image Where do we sign upimage?

    RE: The number of issues. It's kinda proportional to the numbers of runners and experience. I think if the temperature was lower it would have been ok.

    Stuchbury wrote (see)

     

    Weedy Gonzalez wrote (see)



    Stuchbury - my pistachios didn't even make it out of the expo



    Did you eat them Weedy?


    Inhale is the word i'd useimage

    orapidrun wrote (see)

    Stuchbury - it seems we have similar designs on going sub 4. I thought i was going to to go 3.30 in amsterdam but overtrained, only just made the start and limped a 4hr33, then in Paris (just now) was on target for 3:45 overcooked the race, at 28ish k pushed myself too hard and dnff! I'm signed up for Abingdon, with only 1100 runners it won't be so congested but after Sunday will not put any pressure on myself to do anything but finish with a 'smile'.....haven't done that yet.

     

    Abingdon is a fast race but known to not be the easiest course mentally. I see a sub 4 train coming up for autumn marathons!

    Jimbob - arent you running abingdon too?

     
    Weedy Gonzalez wrote (see)

    Happy birthday to Kaz, happy birthday to Kaz, happy birthday dear Kaaaaaaz, happy birthday to you <img src='/fo

  • Sorry to hear about the issues you had on the run, orapidrun and Spitfire. It's amazing how much of a difference the heat makes, especially when you've trained in the winter! Glad to hear you've got unfinished business though, Spitfire!

    Maxsmum, I think I'm getting my RW forum and my twitter feed mixed up - are you @socks_up_to? I recognise your profile picture - we've definitely talked before but my memory's been terrible lately! Looking forward to Giant's Head?

    Speaking of, what do I do for training? I've got two half marathons before then and am fully intending to take it easy on the trails - run a few miles, walk a bit, take some photos, eat some food. It's also a month into my Loch Ness Sub 4 or die campaign. Any tips would be appreciated!

    We're heading down for London - would love to make Ask but at the moment, we're either staying with a friend who's running it after running Paris as well or driving down early morning on Sunday if his painful hip is still playing up and he needs to pull out.  I definitely want to wave some stools! Paris shirts?

  • Leggy - I loved your report! You so sound like a women who's enjoying life image I can recommend Imodium to avoid those Bristol moments, although for me normal service only resumed this morning.

    Kaz - Happy Birthday image

  • Radar SalRadar Sal ✭✭✭

    Maxs mum - are you doing giants head?!?! Yay!!! There's a contingent goingimage

    Right, off out for run...ahhhh!!

    Anyone going to London expo get photos in the booths at the end. Dannirr and I had brilliant fun yesterday.

  • Keysersuze - yes thats me! well spotted image

    basically just do all your normal training, but do it off road! with as many hills as possible. you'll be great, its totally unlike a big city marathon. look out for the ladies in pink at the love station if you need a hug (think thats at mile 17 ish) Plus my other half is manning a jelly baby station nearby. apparantly he is planning on wearing a kilt, but it depends on how windy it is image

    The cider at mile 20 last year was actually pretty refreshing, i hope the weather is not quite as hot this year though. I will be taking a camelbak just in case as i ran out of water between aid stations last time.

    the naked farmer in the bath may be making a re-appearance, he was near the beginning so watch out for him!

    the organisers laid on shower cubicles afterwards last year, which were lovely, plus there was a BBQ, and we all kind of lolled about on the grass recovering. image

    Also, its nice to think that only a few hundred other people have a medal like yours, as opposed to several thousands!

    Radar Sal - yes i sure am!! image

  • StuchburyStuchbury ✭✭✭

    Maxs mum - feeling your pain of the toilet stop. I experienced something similar - thankfully I was in some woods - mile 9ish I think. And I also think I agree on the trail thing too, I enjoyed the sights and people but think I prefer the peace of a sunny day in the hills.

    Emmy - it's the Race to the Stones in July (20th I think?) We are contemplating doing the two 50km and camping overnight. It looks really well organised and should be reasonably straight forward in terms of route. I've done one 52km ultra last September along the Thames Path (it was supposed to be a 50km but they lied! The 'extra' 2km was hideous but I'd do it again! Mr S has never gone further than a road half mara and he's not as into the hills and trails as I am. Further discussion to be had this evening!

    List fairy - Stick me down for Abingdon too - signed up in Feb when I got my calf injury and Paris wasn't looking so promising. Will also be entering Shakespeare later on if my jog around the lake goes well. 

    ATM - supporter feedback... great information - they used it well to locate somewhere along the Seine and the bottom of the woods at about 18km? One issue they had was from our hotel on the peripherique they were planning on getting to the start of the woods at about 9/10km (?) but their route was on the tram. The trams weren't running because there was a running race on apparently! I do remember crossing some tramlines! So they missed the first flag waving spot as we went into the woods. Mini S's are still discussing the tram shortage and the fact that metro tickets can also be used on trams - one of their hightlights! 

    They loved the fact that the metro was right by 18km, and found the spot on the Seine just before 30km pretty easy and then onto the edge of the woods of death. They wanted to be a bit further into the woods but found it was very busy so were on the roundabout. They enjoyed their day. Mr S managed the three year old without a pushchair which he was planning on taking but is glad he didn't because it would have been very tricky with all the stairs on the metro. Thank you for all the info - I think they'd have struggled a little without it pointing them in the right direction!

  • Well done everyone xxx I am only just getting a chance to read your posts x 

    I did it 4 hours 35 mins 31 secs x so proud of myself concidering all the injury and illness I had before hand xxxx  can I go on the medal table lol x

     what an amazing Experience x I was running for Macmillan so I could not meet up with you guys from the forum as I attended their events xxx met some amazing people who's families are going through a tough time with cancer. It was an honour to run as part of their team x

    ran really comfortably at 9.30 ish min/mile for first 19 miles slowed down a little then found the last 4 miles tough but did not walk even though knee and hip were hurting xxxx learned a lot - need to get more long runs in next time x and I think I was a bit dehydrated x

     

    doing Tenby Marathon in July and that is tough!?! So lots of long runs with hills planned x any one else doing this 

     oh and I am doing Offa Orror 20k this weekend but taking it easy x

  • Hello all, where do I start. I'm not one to go on about myself really, so will start by saying I have read all the messages of woe and triumph, personal joys and heartaches and wish you all the best for your futures.

    We had a rather eventful few days in Paris so bare with me.

    My mum & dad came with us to be support and look after 13 year old son. We arrived on Friday and everything was great until the Sunday morning.....

    Jo and Adam were both up in the middle of the night ill. It turned out my mum was ill too. Possible food poisoning or a bug, not sure, both me and Dad were fine. Jo hadn't run for two weeks due to calf / shin injury and wasn't sure she would make the start line, and now she also wouldn't have the best pre - race start to the day.

    We left it until the last minute as Hotel was on Avenue de Friedland, 2 minutes away and went to the starting pen. Gutted to miss the pre start photo at Arc.The atmosphere at the start was amazing and all the advice from here was spot on - off with the Primark tops and we were away. 

    I ran the first mile with Jo to see how she was - she normally runs about a minute a mile slower than me, but rounding Concorde she knew it was no good. Her calf / ankle / shin was sending shooting pains at every step. She insisted I went on and she slowed up.

    From there I settled into 9:45 / 10 min miles and tried to focus on my race. As others had said the heat was not something I had trained for, so always had a bottle of water in hand, but other than that I had an absolute blast. Mum, (still being sick), dad and Adam were at 8km then I saw Running Rodent which was a great boost. My support was there again at 20km with a bottle of Lucozade which was a lifesaver, but said Jo was still going but slow so they might not see me at 35k.

    I finished with 4:30, never hit 'the wall' and can honestly say I enjoyed every step - except for the worry about Jo. I crossed the line thinking which marathon am I going to do next. Truth be told I probably could have gone faster, but being my first just wanted to enjoy the experience and learn from it.

    I sat for a while then got a text from Dad saying Jo had come through 35k - it had taken her 5 hours 22 mins to get that far. So I jogged down to 40k point to help her on the home stretch. She was in a bad way, and should never have got past the first mile. I ran the last bit with her and tried to keep the road sweepers away from her. Nothing was going to stop her finishing.

    She crossed the line in 6 hrs 28 - position 39,042 out of 39,115 finishers. As someone said earlier, celebrate finishing lines, not times - but she had a range of emotions that cannot be described.

    Back to the hotel where she was being sick again, so we couldn't make it out to Cocorans. Again, gutted to have missed you all and especially those I met at the Great Winter Run.

    Next morning at about 4 am my mum collapsed banged her head on the toilet floor and was rushed (by rushed I mean, being in france once the ambulance driver spent an hour doing the paperwork) to hospital. She received great care and was put on a drip which helped and we managed to get home - an 11 hour journey on three trains.

    Jo needs to get her leg fixed and we don't know where to start, but already got Chester Marathon in our sites so she can put a time in she deserves. Then, one day, Paris, we will be back, because despite all that, you are an amazing city and an amazing marathon. And without the support of this forum we would have never made the start line, let alone the finish.

  • A hole has appeared in the toe of my Asics.  They have only done about 50 miles plus the marathon and I only bought them in Feb.  Surely this can't be acceptable can it? Sportsshoes say that they will send them back to Asics but if they say it's fair wear and tear they will just send them back.  At £100 a pair surely that's not wear and tear is it?  Does this happen in a marathon?

  • DefenderKen! I am speechless.  I don't know where to start.  Your amazing wife.  Your poor Mum.  The fortitude of your family.  I hope the leg is sorted out asap and well done to all of you for sticking with it all in the face of such adversity.  Really I don't know what to say.  If there's any justice in the world you will all come back next year and have the experience you deserve. Healing thoughts and best wishes xxx

  • E mmyE mmy ✭✭✭

    DefenderKen - what an awful race. I hope that your mum and Jo are OK now? did none of you get ill since the race?

    KeyserSuze wrote (see)

    Speaking of, what do I do for training? I've got two half marathons before then and am fully intending to take it easy on the trails - run a few miles, walk a bit, take some photos, eat some food. It's also a month into my Loch Ness Sub 4 or die campaign. Any tips would be appreciated!

    Whoop whoop! image There's not a lot of road and there's plenty opportunities for walk breaksimage I will be bringing my backpack this year and having a picnic en routeimage

    Maxs Mum wrote (see)

    Keysersuze - yes thats me! well spotted image

    basically just do all your normal training, but do it off road! with as many hills as possible. you'll be great, its totally unlike a big city marathon. look out for the ladies in pink at the love station if you need a hug (think thats at mile 17 ish) Plus my other half is manning a jelly baby station nearby. apparantly he is planning on wearing a kilt, but it depends on how windy it is image

    The cider at mile 20 last year was actually pretty refreshing, i hope the weather is not quite as hot this year though. I will be taking a camelbak just in case as i ran out of water between aid stations last time.

    the naked farmer in the bath may be making a re-appearance, he was near the beginning so watch out for him!

    the organisers laid on shower cubicles afterwards last year, which were lovely, plus there was a BBQ, and we all kind of lolled about on the grass recovering. image

    Also, its nice to think that only a few hundred other people have a medal like yours, as opposed to several thousands!

    Radar Sal - yes i sure am!! image

    Max's mum!! I was there last year too. Considering how small the race is - how could I have missed you? image I LOVED it last year. The mile 20 love station was the one with the cider. The RD has assured me that he's knocked out the extra miles this year so lets hope that there are no pregnant cows!

    I agree with you about the backpack. I didnt run out of water but I would have liked to have some spare/food etc.

    I've also heard that the naked farmer may be joined by his naked wife this year!

    Stuchbury wrote (see)

    Emmy - it's the Race to the Stones in July (20th I think?) We are contemplating doing the two 50km and camping overnight. It looks really well organised and should be reasonably straight forward in terms of route. I've done one 52km ultra last September along the Thames Path (it was supposed to be a 50km but they lied! The 'extra' 2km was hideous but I'd do it again! Mr S has never gone further than a road half mara and he's not as into the hills and trails as I am. Further discussion to be had this evening!

    Ah! A friend of mine is doing that. I'd like to do it but the camping is just too expensive for me. Votwo do some great multiday camping events.

  • DefenderKen - that's a wonderful/ dreadful story. Your wife is rock hard to do what she did, and maybe a bit mental too. I can say that safe in the knowledge that it describes the vast majority here! Really impressive mental strength.

    There are a lot of risks travelling to do a marathon, moving into foreign climes. Sickness, security, logistical issues. It's no wonder that some things go wrong. I am laughing as i type this, having booked me and TinkerBEL to do the Duke City Marathon in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October.

    But first we have the Giant's Head (Knob) Marathon in June to negotiate, along with it's array of naked agricultural types. Hoping that it will be OK for the runners to join in with similarly outlandish behaviour

    ;-)

  • PC -PC - ✭✭✭

    Following a stewards inquiry there has been a modification to the medal table.  I haven't read the recent posts so I don't know if I'm missing anyone else. Next year if I volonteer to be medal fairy, please shoot me.  Don't know how Weedy manages to be Events Fairy, must be a full time job.

    Bronze image

    3169 The Jimbob - 03h13
    xxxx MJKK - 03h28
    12047 Malcs - 03h29
    31602 Lloyd Richardson - 03h55
    52193 TinkerBEL - 04h39
    58566 Leggy Mountbatten - 05h17
    62952 Peter Sherri - 05h31

  • Hi all! Decided to see if I still possessed the Paris marathon thread magic handshake after the run and I DO!! With Paris, my 7th marathon, in my rear view mirror my perspective has changed!! Was initially a bit disappointed in my time but since the marathon is such a multifaceted event that small component does not diminish it's brilliance in my memory and putting faces and smiles and hugs to all of your names made it all that much better! My initial plan was to stop marathon running after Paris buuuuutttt..... I don't think that's happening image. I hope to do one more event before the end of the southeastern us running season and then keep up some maintenance routine until the fall season kicks off! Looking forward to keeping up with everyone's progress....cheers!!
  • StuchburyStuchbury ✭✭✭

    DefenderKen... big hats off to Jo and all of your family. What a weekend! Well done all of you for making it through. Incredible of Jo to feel so awful but to go on and finish. I hope your mum is on the mend now. 

     

    TD - New Mexico sounds hot, even if it is October!

  • DefenderKen - wow what a weekend for your family!!  I hope your Mum is ok and that Jo gets her leg fixed!  

    Well we are back home in Aus.  I am still stoked I finished - can't believe it is over!!   

    I have been sussing out races for the rest of the year and am thinking of doing the Great Barrier Reef Marathon in November.  It is a quick flight from my house and I have a friend who lives there so can stay with her, and she is also a runner!!  So just going to see how I go! It is a crazy hard course though and has a 8 hour cut out and a big mountain in the middle, and you start running on the beach. It would be an amazing accomplishment though!  

    Is this thread going to keep going? I'd love to keep chatting!  I don't know if i'll get back to do more runs in Europe, but hoping to do so next year if I can swing it! 

  • Eggyh73Eggyh73 ✭✭✭

    DefenderKen - Really sorry to hear Jo had such a hard time of it. Amazing determination from her to make it through the day. Glad to hear you had a good race though.

  • And the stories just keep coming.....

    Jeez Defender Ken, you won't forget this one in a hurry!! Hats off to you all. Amazing.

    Rach - this place is open 24/7. It will move to a new abode later in the year in readiness for Paris 2015.

  • http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/04/random-things-i-did-this-weekend.html

    First comment... some of you lot are famous....image

    Just noticed somebody else has found it too. Not as quick as I thought...

  • StuchburyStuchbury ✭✭✭

    That's great... the vest made me chuckle too. 

  • Careful Rach - you've got the bug now! Next thing you know you'll be taking a job on a remote island in the British Isles just to be closer.

    Amazing story Ken and Jo. I admire your tenacity in the face of adversity.

    Stuchbury - Apparently the average high and low temps for the Duke City Marathon range from 2 to 20. I was surprised by this as I'm worried it's going to be a scorcher.

    So I went for a little run at lunch today. There's nothing else to be said for it, other than it happened and nothing fell off. I tired quickly (lurgy hangover, I presume) and it seems I've acquired a nice new niggle in the top of my right adductor. I'm hoping it will be a mutually beneficial arrangement when I ask TD to massage it later...image

  • TheEngineer wrote (see)

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/04/random-things-i-did-this-weekend.html

    First comment... some of you lot are famous....image

    Just noticed somebody else has found it too. Not as quick as I thought...

    You mean "some of us lot", don't you Engineer! You don't get away that easily! image

  • Ken - my word, you had it tough! I hope your Mum and Jo are both recovering well, and the rest of the family from their illness. Jo has so much courage and determination Well done both of you.

    I ahve enjoyed reading all your reports, and eachone has brought a tear to m eye. No matter how well training goes, 26.2 miles is a heck of a distance and a heck of a lot can go wrong. As i said before celebrate finishing lines, not finishing times! If you should be lucky enough for everything to go well on the day and achieve the time you want all the better.

    Thank  you all for the Birthday Wishes..... now that I am older I am also wiser! Paris will be my last city marathon. I have done a lot of soul searching in the past few weeks, and as much as I love meeting everyone the whole situation just overwhelms me and reduces me to one blubbering wreck. I have a couple of ultras lined up this year as well as Loch Ness Marathon which will be soooo differnet to all the others I have done. I have already started plans for next year - Glencoe Marathon being one of them. 

     

  • Rach M in Aus - I'm really sorry that you didn't manage to meet any of us in person on your long European adventure, but glad that the whole family has made in back in one piece.

    Absolutely hang around - this thread never stops or runs dry. We go the whole year round and the thread just gets a new version each year, usually around the beginning of September. Will you do another blog post, this time about your mara experiences? Remember to post a link to it here so we can all have a read.

    TinkerBEL - that old 'my adductor hurts' excuse AGAIN? Fair enough, works for me

    image

  • StuchburyStuchbury ✭✭✭

    I met Rach M at the l'Arc - she was there for that bit - it was you wasn't it? You have blonde hair? 

    I am about to go for a run people. I will let you know how it goes. I have drunk eight cups of tea today and enjoyed the silence of my house whilst everyone else has been gainfully employed elsewhere (I have paid a lot of money for this privilege as Mini 1 is at the childminders - Pampering Day - she'll come back with painted fingers and toes and crazy hair imageand Mini 2 is at nursery building lego houses and generally getting up to mischief). I have made some great inroads into my ridiculous CPD qualification and have nearly finished the spreadsheet and taught myself how to do frequency formulas ( v impressed with myself image) . I am feeling slightly more positive today.. there is more distance between me and the 4:02:46 disappointment to the extent that I think I might suggest that I enjoyed Paris. Crikey!

     image Kaz1!

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