Running Club Virgin (and naked!)

[Razouski]

So for the first time in my shortish running career (about 21 months) I but the bullet and instead of running solo ran with a group.

I sing with the London Symphony Chorus, and the choir were in Paris this weekend for a concert... and we actually have a running club.

After a fairly late and slightly boozey night I was up at 7.40 and in the hotel lobby at 7.55 in new running kit and raring to go. There were 16 of us in total: 1 lone soprano (me), 3 altos, and the rest were young tenors and basses.

Despite being the oldest in the group I felt I represented my voice group well. The altos had opted to form a splinter group called the Arthritic Labradors and had assumed I’d be among them, but I’d objected to being called an old dog! and managed to keep up with the young male members of the club, and was the only woman to keep with them the whole way.

We covered 12.5 km and I ran at an average pace of 5.33 which is faster than I usually run. It was also my first time running with naked ears - no headphones- and surprised myself at actually managing to converse with my fellow runners without collapsing from oxygen depletion.

It was a great way to start the day, and we had a fabulous concert this evening too. We rocked the Philharmonie de Paris with Bernstein and Beethoven 9.

Happy, knackered and enjoying a rest on the Eurostar wondering where my next tourist run will be. 😀

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

Yay! Well done Razouski ! That sounds a great experience and you were top lady too with that speedy pace!well done on your concert!😊

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Wow! Way to represent! Congrats on the great run and great concert.

[O505k Graduate10]

Well done. Great pace, good on you for sticking with the younger group.

[Razouski in reply to O505k]

Thanks. I think it helped that some of the lads had oner or two beers the previous night.

[Fishypieface Graduate10]

Fabulous post! I am in awe of your time! What a lovely group and thing to do, aside from the main event, which sounds amazing too!

[Razouski in reply to Fishypieface]

It was nice having an expenses paid weekend in Paris, and combining two of my favourite hobbies.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

Sounds perfect! A great confirmation that you’re a great runner! I think I’d have been with the old dogs😎

[Razouski in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

It was so enjoyable, I was quite surprised. 🤓

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Wow! Fab pace.. and for 12.5k! That is very impressive! Running with a group obviously suits you - well done!🙂

[Razouski in reply to Sandraj39]

They were a friendly bunch. I’m relatively new in the choir so it was a good opportunity to get to know a few more people. 😀

[Bestcat]

Running and singing in the sun .... in Paris .........😊Great post & a pace I could only dream about!

Arthritic Labradors? I think I might change my name 😂

[Razouski in reply to Bestcat]

My legs are feeling it a bit today, so I guess resting them on a lounger in the garden is obligatory. 😂😂

[EB43 Graduate10]

Sounds like the perfect way to spend a sunny bank holiday and you certainly did yourself proud. Great running and thoroughly enjoy your rest today.

[Razouski in reply to EB43]

Was fab thanks. Back home now for some r&r, a spot of gardening and maybe a bike ride with Mr Raz.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Sounds fabulous 😃👍. running and singing. Heavenly 😃

[Razouski in reply to misswobble]

It was such a thrill, I’m still buzzing, especially as Lenny Kravitz was in the audience a tweeted about us and how fab we sounded. 🤩

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

Oh my Wow. 😀

[Hidden]

How have you managed to remain a virgin while running alone with all those blokes 😂😂😂 Im hugely impressed with your speed. Well done. It shows what we can do with concentration and a bit of incentive!

[Razouski in reply to Hidden]

I think it was more a lack of concentration, and just a dogged determination to keep up with the youngsters.

I should have got a better photo of my new leggings for you, to see if you approved.

[Hidden in reply to Razouski]

Lol, yes bring on the leggings porn 😂

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your leggings look fab. Are you wearing On Cloud running shoes?

[Razouski in reply to Hidden]

Added Cloudfoam trainers. I had a dark pink pair previously and got on really well with them, so even though I tried all sorts of posher brands I've stuck with these for now.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

That sounds fab. Good for you for keeping up at such a stonking pace! Sounds like one for the "magic moments memory album" 🙂

[Razouski in reply to Irishprincess]

It definitely was a magic moment, although my calves didn't feel quite so magic first thing this morning.

[Jullaly]

Very well done on two accounts and what a fab picture. What a healthy London Symphony Chorus, well done to all of you.

[Razouski in reply to Jullaly]

Thanks, It was probably only about 15% of the choir, and everyone else thought we were mad, or were too hungover to care... 😂😂😂

[Langley-Loper Graduate10]

I am impressed. Well done indeed!

[Razouski in reply to Langley-Loper]

Thank you,.

[Hidden]

How glorious and at 5.30 pace too, amazing run. Glad you had a great concert. Razouski on Tour - I can see the posters now....

[Razouski in reply to Hidden]

I'd better get the marketing team onto the poster production as we have a concert in Lucerne in September. I'm hoping we get to run there too.

[Hidden in reply to Razouski]

That would be glorious I should think. Happy running and singing...