What a fantastic day, I was a bit nervous but was fine once I started, I had planned to run an even pace and stayed at a steady 6.30 all the way, I did not know how I would manage the distance so this seemed to be a good plan and it worked.
There were a few uncomfortable bits but I did not hit a wall or want to give up and keeping the pace made the my first marathon experience a really positive one and I felt strong and finished strong.
I stuck to the training plan, stretched after every run, did strength work and practised fuelling on my long runs and it all paid off 😃
The support and advice on this forum has been amazing
Happy future running everyone 😃👏
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My chip time btw, was 4.39.19 really happy with that 😃
Simply amazing tracy2020. A perfect combination of good preparation, planning, pacing, physique and sheer talent. As our USA friends would say, awesome!! 🙂🥇🏆
Wow! What a fantastic run that was! You should be so, so proud of yourself! All the stress of your first marathon with an extra layer on top for running it in France? Your calm well thought out approach is just inspirational!
Too true!But I was thinking of the whole medical certificate beauracracy that France applies to it's running events; we don't have that additional hurdle in the UK!
Sorry linda9389 but you've touched a nerve with the medical certificate reference. France is undoubtedly absurdly bureaucratic in its approach to many things and I've had plenty of personal experience of that.
However, the medical certificate really isn't a big deal over here: it lasts a year, and mine was free from my GP. As I've pointed out before - and been roundly shouted at for so doing - I think events organisers and participants should abide by the regulations and laws of the country concerned.
The thing that annoys me most about events I've done in France, is the annoying need to go there the day before to pick up your number, they don't post them. I did La Parisienne and the Odyssea and for both I had to make a trip to Paris the day before to get the number & stuff, then back again the next day. Makes it stupidly busy weekend, when all I wanted to do was do the stuff I wouldn't get done the next day because of the event.
But surely you just factor number pick-up etc into your choices and plans for the event? For my trail marathon I had to drive an hour each way to pick up my number the day before. It was made perfectly clear in advance that numbers had to be collected and wouldn't be posted, so I organised my time accordingly.
And in the highly unlikely event that I ever enter an event further away, I'd be staying overnight anyway, so number pick-up the day before or in the morning wouldn't be an issue.
I'm gping to have to go into Vancouver on the Saturday to pick up my number for the Sunday. It's a pain. I didn't spot that before signing up, but it may well have put me off if I'd beeen more observant 😍 I'm kindof glad I didn't realise 🙈🤷♀️😍
yes, I did know in advance and I did factor it in, but as a single parent who works full time, a 1.5 hour each way trip into Paris which could have been avoided by a stamp, is a frustration to me - I feel that they could offer a postal option even if you have to pay for it. I could take a day off, but I'm paid by the day, so that makes it an expensive option.
I would happily have gone in earlier if they offered a morning pick up, but that wasn't an option either, it was head in to Paris both days or don't run. Obviously I did it, but I honestly can't see what they gain by it. The queues to pick up the numbers were very long too. One other event I did, organised a pick up "near you". You still had to pick up but you had a choice of shop near your work or home, which was a much easier option.
I think that's all marketing for people to visit the "Expos" and not country specific. I have to go up to Belfast on the day before to collect my stuff as well. Not looking forward to it as I heard that it was a four hour wait last year. Hopefully that was more to do with Covid.
The medical certificate was a frustration, the form was so vague my Dr refused to sign it, I had to use an online service that cost me £65.00! I have no regrets though 😀
Just read your post re missing last years marathon in Brighton, so this one must have been even more special. I'm kind of in the same position as you were last year. I did a 20 mile run on Sunday and my knee was a bit sore afterwards but ok today. I have a hm on Easter Monday and then tapering until the marathon in the 30th April. Hopefully all will be ok for it but I am a bit concerned as I have 2 10 mile runs also this week if I stick to the Run with Hal app. I think my base is good enough so might reduce the 10 milers to 10ks.
Hi Freecloud, yes this marathon was very special, so I deferred my Brighton place last year with the intention of running it this year, the organisers went into administration and I didn't think it would go ahead so I booked paris as my running group were going. Then London mararathon took over Brighton!!
So I think your plan to reduce the 10 milers to 10k is a good idea especially as you have a HM 3 weeks out from your marathon and you might be tempted to race it and therefore need more recovery 😀. After your 20 miler you've bagged the long runs, and the advice I have read is that at this stage there is nothing to be gained by over doing it.
Is this your first marathon?
Good luck with the HM and of course your marathon at the end of April 😀🤞
Thanks very much tracy2020, yeah I will change the miles to km, run one slow and one at marathon pace. The HM will actually be my 4th in 2 months, one under 2 hours and rest sensibly paced. Not sure what to do about this one, it's probably too close to race risk it. I might just see how I feel on the day.
This would be my first official one, the first was meant to be last November, it got flooded so I ran the half and then another half on my own. I wrote about it on one of my posts here (Clonakilty), its a bit long but was great to write.
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