Paris Versailles - In English

You have 2 options today:
1. Lazy one: just watch the video. It gives the exact image of the race (except that I didn't see the fast guys, nor girls).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-xqqG5Ets&feature=player_embedded

2. The LV (long version)... Read through... Good luck!


The plan is simple considering it's the first race of the season (first run race in ages actually):
- run easy to the bottom of the hill, about 5 km.
- build up during the 2km climb
- and let it go til the end.
Conservative objective: 1h20 for
I almost did that.

After an hour wait, seating on the asphalt not confortable... Make a note: bring bubble wrap as disposable seat). I had a disposable T-shirt, the famous trash bag (for recycling) and water. So much that I relieved myself in a bottle... Disposable toilet...).

Fantastic sight, the Eiffel tower in the back, the road blocked off for us, and thousands of runners ready to set off.

10am, the gun goes off... For the pros and the VIPs.
After, it's a wave of 350 people approx per minute. And I manage to squeeze in the first wave whereas my Renault friends get hold off to the second one.

We jog to the start line, with the timing mat ahead of us. Waiting, waiting... GO!
Everyone rushes off. And I'm very soon one of the last ones as I run at an easy pace to warm up (for real this time).
On the left, the Maison du Japon, and not even a km, guys start to run off to the side bushes - pee break (only in France). I'm passing so people already (catching back them up).

But time to time, you can see the next wave catching up, and then the next one, and the next...
On the other end, some people are already purple red: it's gonna be a long race for them.

I enjoy the run in the flow, reaching former Hotel Nikko. That's when Patrick passes me like a charm. Man! He's moving!
I start to see same people for more than a few mn: we're running at the same pace.
There is that girl, with a Britanny head band and huge stride. We keep passing each other.

Chatting with a triathlete from Bouygues Tel club. We rode once together. He goes off.

There is a huge flow of runners, as I enter the tunnel after Garigliano's bridge. It's very cool: it's silent. But then someone screamed... Huge echo. So everyone screamed!

Out of the tunnel, even though I still conservatively (about marathon heart rate), I pass people on the small incline. People whom just past me on the flats. I know I'll get most of them, if they pass again... See you soon...
3 km: haven't seen any signs before. 13'30 or so. That's way fast vs. plan. And it doesn't feel that fast.

Enjoying the ride. Reaching the peripherique. Some people are watching, silently. Can't help cracking a joke, or waving (usually blank look back).

Issy les Moulineaux and its shiny kinder garden, feeling fine. Heart rate a little high, 145-148. But easily following along.
5km - water, in tiny pet bottle. Very practical (vs. cups). A little of energy gel, water. Keeping the tank full.
It's warm enough that I empty the bottle in my neck.

Strolling along still, we re getting close to Ile Seguin (historical place for Renault, old factory) and the turn. The turn that is going to lead us in the 2 km climb.
But just I reach that point (and see again the Brittany girl), I go to the opposite side: a bunch of people with assorted T-shirts is pushing a stroller. With the VIP were disabled people / teams. I try to say hi to the young adult and cheer the team up. It's  always amazing and touching to see such enthousiasm.

They cheer back at me as I move on, into the hill. Within 50m of the slight incline, at first, I catch and go by Brittany girl. I know it's the last time I'll see her.
Right turn now, and start to see the significance of the climb. It's steeper.

I move along putting a tempo into it. It's not sprint either!
And I pass people. I try to focus on moderate effort, hight frequency, and good form.
Soon, I pass a few walkers. I try to monitor not falling into a very hard effort. I want to finish the race with panache...

I recognize the T-shirt in front of me. It's Patrick whom flew by early on. I seem to be more comfortable up hill than he is.

Spank on the butt cheek, little chat and I move on.


I go on, at a good effort now. It feels good to pass people.
I sometimes have to jump on the curb to keep moving, and cut in the turns - you know the short way between 2 points...).
It's getting steep. No problem.
I'm passing a team pushing a kid in a stroller. I talked to him, and his team. They cheer me back.
Off I go.


There are people watching and cheering on the side. It's nice.
Then we turn left, onto a magnificent road, with fine cobble stones, and trees on both sides. Gorgeous, but still up hill... But I'm good. Enjoying myself.


Soon enough, we turn right, and left and up again: on rough cobble stone this time. Alright now, all is good. The pace is good and steady.


It's flat and I'm cruising, as fast as most of my companions now. May be I pushed it too soon. Oh well. That's life.

I know there is a short down / up as we will go under the N118, a freeway often jammed. And here we go, thump thump... I'm slamming my feet on the road instead of a smooth stride. I adjust that, it's better and I move past people again.

And UP again, it's short, and I move well. The legs fine, the lungs are perfect. Temperature is excellent. The check is complete. I've got 5 or 6 km to go. I'm now officially allow to go for it.

Back a flat road, in the forest, it's marvelous. I'm actually not pushing it yet... But the road starts to go down. So I have 2 options: try to control the speed (but my right quad doesn't like that too much) or like earlier letting go (going for free speed, but not resting).

Option 2 it is!

Down, longer stride. Down, higher tempo. Down, higher heart rate! But boy it's fun. Technique is not great, with still some thump thump at times, but it's not bad. Especially compared to others.

Km11 - a lady is on the side of the road, someone is taking care of her. She's not quite there - poor thing is longer water proof...

A guy caught me in the long down hill. I'm jumping in his steps. The tempo is way fast. I let him go after a while.

But as the road flattens to a point of going up again, I'm back on his heels, I even pass him on the final climb, 400 m quite steep, along the cemetery. I'm pushing it quite a bit to do so.

So it's no surprise that he closes back on me latter and that he drops me.

It's ok. I'm still passing people. That's my driver at this point.

13 km, 14 km, talking to the guy next to me: 2,5km left. 10mn to go approx. I still have fuel in the tank.

We've come back into the city. It's getting to me now.

But soon enough, the 15km sign shows: great news. I'm done, well, almost.

We go under a bridge, and I recognize the place. It's the big avenue in Versailles leading to the Castle. And from here, there is a slight incline. I'm totally fine with it. I'm moving.

We don't see the Castle yet, nor the finish line. "Are we there yet?" That's what comes to mind then. I'm pretty much all out now but how much longer do I need to hold it.

Plus people now are sprinting too. So there is much less passing. It even hurts now!!

 

There are those 2 guys, one is cheering / coaching the other. I run behind them. Soon enough (don't ask why), I start cheering / coaching the other guy as well. 

We turn slight: the finish is 300 m away (at last).

But the 2 guys are moving strong. As I cheer him, I think I'm talking to myself in fact. "you're doing doing, stick to it..."

100 m left, the "weak" blows. The coach hesitates, I move on, passing both. 

The "coach" comes back and take the lead. It's the famous hurt locker now.

A volunteer tells us to go to the right. In the shift of direction, I almost make him fall, tripping in his steps. Apologies.

Back to business. 

We sprint, and finish in that same order, I'm 2 feet behind.

1'11 across the line. Great. 

I wanted to do under 1'20 with an easy start. I did that. 

I find Ludovic & his kids: they have signs for their mom (first run race ever) and me! Pretty neat.

She came in later, with a big smile (and a grin) on her face.