JB's Paris Marathon Part 1

As I wrote last week, my mate JB ran the Paris Marathon on Sunday. Here's part one of his take on how it went. Please note that what you are about to read isn't exactly going to be like Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent...

Lining up on the Champs Elysees the nerves really start to kick in - Everyone around me looks a lot more prepared with packed utility belts, race plans and snazzy kit but after a quick look behind me at the Arc De Triomphe we’re underway to the tune of Chariots of Fire on the PA system.

Mile 1 – It’s really hard to keep a slow pace with the adrenaline really kicking in, especially when you’re running past thousands of cheering crowds and loads of TV cameras – I give one of the cameras a wave but then spend the next mile worrying it may have looked like a Nazi salute. There are dozens of discarded jumpers and bags so everyone’s being really careful not to slip over – that would be embarrassing...

Mile 1 (contd) – Nearly slip over.

Miles 2 – We’re past the cobbled section and into the really busy Paris streets. I was told the public here don’t get enthusiastic about the marathon but they seem really up for it and it’s a real buzz being cheered on.

Mile 3 – A little kid shouts “Allez John” from the pavement. For a minute I wonder what’s going on but then I remember he’s seen the name on my shirt. I decide to see how many attractive women I can get to shout my name.

Mile 4 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 5 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 6 – A Trevor Mcdonald look-alike shouts my name. I give him the thumbs up and shout “merci” – beggars can’t be choosers!

Mile 7 – We pass the 10km and I give the inflatable marker a little punch – my ill thought out race plan is to split the race into 4 10km blocks so one down three to go – I’m just behind the 4 hour marathon pace.

Mile 8 – Pick up a bottle of water at the drinks stop – it’s a bit of a scrum and you have to dodge other runners and bottles as people throw them on the side of the road. Getting one of them in the head would really hurt.

Mile 8 (contd) – get a bottle in the head.

Mile 9 – Things get a bit more challenging as we leave the city and head into a huge park where the crowds are a lot thinner. I decide to pass the time by coming up with my all time Leicester City best 11.

Mile 9 – I controversially choose Mike Whitlow at left back.

Mile 10 – I see a runner having a poo next to a tree and I’m relieved that I didn’t have that second banana at breakfast. It’s hilarious seeing all these people sprinting into the woods.

Mile 11 – I sprint into the woods for a quick pee!

Mile 12 – My legs are starting to feel a bit tight but I’m feeling ok coming up to the halfway point, it’s time to eat one of my gels – blueberry – nice!

Mile 13 – Over halfway, heading back into the city and the crowds are really beginning to grow. I overtake a man wearing a huge inflatable ball on his back. He’s really struggling so I give him a pat on the back and shout “bon courage.” I’ve done the half marathon in two hours, which could be a mistake!

In part 2...watch out for when John next sees the man with the inflatable ball and the R2D2 girl.

5 Day forecast

Today, the BBC weather forecast has a dark cloud with rain at the bottom and a bright sun in the top right hand corner for the London Marathon on Sunday.  I don't actually think this means much especially as today's forecast, yesterday, had the same symbol until the sun came out and the BBC weathermen (or women) changed it. The max temp is predicted at 11 and Min is 3 degrees C. Last year temperatures topped 21.

Final week is on track

All day I've been under a cloud of depression. People have been asking if I'm excited or worried and, to be honest, I have no feelings about the marathon at all.

I've just got home from a long tube journey without my usual run home from London Bridge to break up the monotony.  Marathon or not, running home is the way forward.  There's only so much stink, sweat and sullen faces you can take in rush hour. I finished off The Guardian from this morning, read both London free papers, and scouted around to see what other people were reading as I had left my Ipod to charge at home - girl opposite, The Kite Runner; bloke next to me, Alastair Campbell's Diaries; and a bloke standing up was engrossed in Heat.

The two freebies both had marathon tips in them.  They were talking about tapering and what the week should entail.  One said you should have a marathon plan and stick to it.  Now,  I've had a plan which has been steadily developing since January.  Although, sticking to it will be the difficult part.

Here it is:

Mile 1. Start off slowly and run a 10:30 mile.

Mile 2-5.  Run 10 minute miles.

Mile 6- 18.  Get into a rhythm that will enable a 9:30 pace but with 30 seconds of walking at each mile marker to take in water and PowerBar gels.

Mile 18- 26. Sprint finish.  Well, er, no, not really,  but no particular planned stops just run as far as I can with as few walking breaks as my withering, failing body will allow.

Mile 26 - 26.2(Finish).  One last push.

Now, Unlike the rest of the day, I'm getting a little psyched for Sunday.

Tapering

Just in case you've clicked on this for a bit of insight, or you're a mate wondering what I'm going on about by the word tapering, here are a few links to explain. But it's mainly about recovering from the excess training before the marathon.

Here are the links:

From Marathontraining.com

The BBC website

Runner's World

and another Runner's World one focussing on what you shouldn't do.

Well done fella

I've just taken a phone call from my mate JB.  He ran the Paris Marathon today.  He finished in 4 hours 36 mins. It might not be what he originally wanted to do it in but it's brilliant for a first timer.  I'm now waiting to chat with him all about it when he comes back.  He said he hit the wall with 10 miles to go and didn't really get out of it.  Crossing the finish line must have been the best feeling in the world. Well done JB again. 

A big fat lie

Yesterday I lied.  At the end of my blog I said I was going to go out for a 10 mile run. I didn't.  

I was out for around an hour running and walking and plodding and working myself into a frenzy for just shy of 6 miles.  I started out with the sun in my eyes, then when I found shade it would often blindingly let the sun back onto my eyes, then I was hit with inertia and started to worry about the world, his brother and his work, and then I was passed by several other runners.

All in all it wasn't a happy time and it made me a grumpy old moody grump for the rest of the day.

I've now put it down to experience and forgetting about it.  Note I've not quite forgotten yet. But I got an email from a fellow Barnardo's runner last night answering a few of my tapering worries and after I received that the world seemed a brighter day.  He's tapering with only a few short steady runs and eating lots of carbs.  He didn't do anything like 10 miles this weekend and will only be doing a 4 miler mid week.  So I'm only doing 3.

Things go up and down very quickly with my marathon moods.

I'm not sure if this week is going to be the longest or shortest ever. Probably a bit of both.

In-Seine

I ran 5 miles on Thursday evening.  After the elation of the night before of running a personal best for the mile this run was struggle.  My mate JB who's running the Paris Marathon on Sunday called to say he was at my house just as I had started running. He was early and I was distracted all the way back home thinking I should be there quicker.  When you know you should be somewhere and also know you need to control your pace it's not a good place to be.  Anyway I got home eventually and we continued to bore my wife to bits about pasta, 10K runs and comedy clips from the internet. 

John has taken a different approach to his first marathon than myself.  Where as I have soaked up every ounce of advice from books, blogs and previous runners he's tried to do his way and closed his eyes and ears to what everyone (often conflicting) has said.  He's younger and fitter so will be coming home, hopefully, in around 4 hours.  Bon Luck and Good Chance for Sunday mate.  

I'm now off to run to Tower Bridge and back.  My last 10 miler before the big day and my penultimate run.