Advice please! ๐Ÿ‘ƒโ“: Right, Iโ€™ve just... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

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Advice please! ๐Ÿ‘ƒโ“

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathon
โ€ข44 Replies

Right, Iโ€™ve just done something really random, Iโ€™ve entered a 10k race in Paris for ladies only in September. Why I didnโ€™t enter something down the road is beyond me, but I need a bit of adventure in my life! Here is the race:

la-parisienne.net/

Apparently to race in France I need a signed medical form. I was wondering if the clever France residing Cmoi could shed any light on this? Thank you in advance ๐Ÿ˜Š! I have to attach it as a file and email it back to them, so it would obviously be in English, so wondered if this would be an issue.

In the meantime, I imagine it would be a jolly jaunt for the weekend if any ladies here fancy entering too. sparky66 , you know you want to ๐Ÿคฃ โ€ฆ

Have a smashing rest of the day all!

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Frenc profile image
Frenc
Half Marathon
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44 Replies
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sparky66 profile image
sparky66Half Marathon

Ooh that sounds wonderful..and would make a lovely break, and an adventure to look forward to โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธVery brave ๐Ÿ˜…

I'd love to join you, but, entering races far from me brings lots of eating obsticals frustratingly ๐Ÿ™„

Due to the surgery I had for my oral cancer..

Hopefully Cmoi will be able to help with your form ๐Ÿ™

Exciting Frenc ๐Ÿ‘ something to look forward to๐Ÿคฉ

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply tosparky66

Ah no worries Sparky! Totally understandable ๐Ÿ˜Š. Maybe we can do something closer to home at some point. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐ŸŒธ

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootHalf Marathon

I managed to get my UK GP with a little French to sign my certificate. It does need to be stamped. The French like a stamp. Photo it and send it with the rest of your application.

Small wonder there are very few Parkruns in France.

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toHeavyFoot

Thanks HeavyFoot ! I found one online in English and French so everyone can understand it. I imagine my surgery will scratch their head a bit, but Iโ€™ll get there. ๐Ÿ˜Š

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Milesโ€ข in reply toHeavyFoot

Fortunately, the French authorities have been convinced that parkrun is not a race so the medical form does not apply, and I believe the results come out alphabetically rather that in time position (although it can of course be sorted on receipt). However, I understand there are lots of other obstacles, including the fact that volunteering is not so prevalent in France.

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathonโ€ข in reply toDexy5

I don't understand why you say that volunteering isn't so prevalent in France Dexy5 ? Yes, many activities are organised in a different way from the way they are in the UK, and French bureaucracy is all-too-often a nightmare.

However, I've been volunteering for over 40 years and where I live, there are way, way more clubs, groups and associations than I ever encountered in all the places I lived in Britain.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Milesโ€ข in reply toCmoi

I am so glad to hear that Cmoi. The impression I was given was that the parkruns that do exist are set up by British expats and also the volunteers needed to run them. Maybe it was a Paris thing.

I remember one HU runner ran a race in France and instead of a t-shirt at the end, they got running gloves. I do like that idea - you can only wear so many shirts.

๐Ÿ˜‚

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toDexy5

Yes! Bring on the gloves ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜. Thatโ€™s a smashing idea Dexy5 .

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootHalf Marathon

PS your UK GP might understandably charge for this. A French doctor charges about โ‚ฌ25 for the consultation

Good luck ๐Ÿคž

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toHeavyFoot

Thanks again. Going up St. Catherineโ€™s Hill in your honour tomorrow btw!

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

Good luck. Iโ€™ll be rooting for you!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

Ooh exciting!!! (sorry I can offer no practical help on the admin, just lots of encouragement ๐Ÿ˜)

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply tolinda9389

Encouragement is always very much appreciated! Especially as itโ€™s the first race Iโ€™ve ever entered. I was going to Paris for a short break anyway and I figured it would be a different way to see the city. ๐Ÿ˜Š

00marks profile image
00marksMarathon

The French are somewhat enthusiastic about getting medical declarations for almost every sporting activity. From a UK perspective we can see this as not particularly proportionate. Good luck with the event and I'm sure the form signed by your GP will suffice.

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply to00marks

Thank you 00marks ! Thatโ€™s what Iโ€™ll do. Going on line Iโ€™ve read about so many people who just filled the form in themselves and faked a signature. Some people made their own stamps as well! But I want to do it in the spirit of it, and I think the only stamp I have has Donald Duck on it or something ๐Ÿคฃ.

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

I have heard of people who get a valid certificate once, then Photoshop it with a new year annually.

Moi? Couldnโ€™t possibly comment.

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toHeavyFoot

Oooh think about how many races you could enter down the years ๐Ÿ˜Š.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Half Marathon

I entered a 10k in France in 2019 (which annoyingly was cancelled he day before ๐Ÿ˜ก). My UK GP refused to issue me with a certificate, even if I paid as it โ€œisnโ€™t something we doโ€ so I ended up doing it online and a certificate was emailed to me. It was expensive though (ยฃ60)

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toSandie1961

Oh thatโ€™s annoying - after all that effort! I hope you still had a nice time in France regardless ๐Ÿ˜Š. Iโ€™m not sure what reaction Iโ€™ll get at my surgery tbh. But itโ€™s good to know there are other options out there. There are also private practices around here so I guess if my gp wonโ€™t do it, I can ask one of them. Thank you for replying! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ”†

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Half Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

We have a place in France and it was in our local town, so no real problem. I had been so looking forward to it though. A couple of people on HU have done La Parisienne before. It sounds like a brilliant race. Have fun ๐Ÿคฉ

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toSandie1961

Thank you! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathon

HI Frenc , I've been away with my Reniassance group all weekend so missed your post. Yes, you do need a signed medical certificate saying that you're fit to run in a race. You're right to not consider faking one. I printed off an online one and my French GP signed it for me, didn't even charge! I'll message you.

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toCmoi

Thank you Cmoi , I hope you had a nice weekend! ๐Ÿ˜Š.

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

The weekend went very well thanks Frenc , though today has been a succession of unexpected hassles which needed urgent responses. And I'm mostly retired!

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toCmoi

No rest for the wicked - hope today is more hassle free! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon

Oooh how exciting sparky!!! I canโ€™t wait to read all about it!

My own GP here told me about the rule in France and he thinks itโ€™s a great idea and we should do it here too. Sorry, I can offer no help on the process.

PS I just watched the film โ€œFrench Kissโ€ again recently as it popped up on my listings. Although Iโ€™ve seen it a few times before I still laughed out loud at some scenes ๐Ÿ˜‚

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Ah thatโ€™s good to know your gp has actually heard of it so it gives me hope. Iโ€™ll trundle in there later today to see how the land lies. I remember ages ago I needed a piece of paper from the NHS saying what my blood type was (I was going to teach English in Colombia and it was one of the stipulations). The hoops I had to jump through for a bit of paper saying I am A+. Madness ๐Ÿคฃ.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

Hope you got on okโ€ฆ.

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Metric Marathon

Oh wow exiting stuff! Can't help re the form but sure it will be a great experience!!๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toHedgehogs123

Thank you Hedgehogs123 ! Iโ€™m quite excited - apparently you need to glam it up, so Iโ€™m thinking about trying to find sequinned running togs ๐Ÿคฃ.

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Metric Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

Oh yes that sounds great! The more sparkle the better!! We'd need pics afterwards of course!! ๐Ÿคฉ

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toHedgehogs123

Of course! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Milesโ€ข in reply toFrenc

And lipstick, youโ€™ll definitely need that in Paris ๐Ÿ’‹

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toDexy5

Never run anywhere without it! ๐Ÿ’„๐Ÿ’„๐Ÿ’„.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

Sweaty Betty use to have gold leggings or shorts. Our own ju-ju got a pair and posted a photo of her wearing them. Fab they were ๐Ÿ˜

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Ooooh I like the sound of those! Blingy leggings canโ€™t go wrong ๐Ÿ˜!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

I found a pair online!

Gold leggings
Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Ha ha you read my mind I was just looking too! They may, just may, be a little warm? What the heck, sometimes we have to suffer to look good ๐Ÿ˜.

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Then thereโ€™s these bad boys ๐Ÿคฃ.

Leggings
Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

Oh erโ€ฆ. go for it!!!!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon

These would be coolerโ€ฆ.

SB gold shorts
Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Oh IP I wouldnโ€™t have the you know what to wear these! I wish I did ๐Ÿคฃ. Maybe if I was 30 years younger and slightly less saggy!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toFrenc

But no one will know you in Parisโ€ฆโ€ฆ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ™‚

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

True! ๐Ÿ˜Š

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