THE 2008 PARIS MARATHON EXPERIENCE
Training? What training?...Oakley defies medical science
Cooper and son battle it out in the Bois de Boulogne
It was 8.45am (that’s 7.45am at home – so well before the two other Steves set off on the Taunton marathon) on one of the coldest April days in French meteorological history (snow was falling south of the Loire), Bill was massaging his aching calf, I was describing the symptoms of “runners’ knee” to anyone who cared to listen (no-one, in fact) and Rob was bemoaning the effects of a student lifestyle and the total absence of toilet facilities at the start. Still, there was no escape, especially as we were penned in our sub-4 hour enclosure (a very optimistic-looking projection at this point) amongst 35000 other hopefuls on the Champs Elysées. The Purbeck Gateway Club appeal fund “running” total had reached £1500 but depended on at least one of us finishing.
There is always a tendency amongst “fun” runners to downplay the amount of training they have managed before a big event (like the cool kids in school, usually lads, who claim they never revise for exams) partly perhaps to make ourselves look better if we do finish and partly because we don’t want to tempt fate. Who (apart from élite runners or Americans) is going to stand on the start-line and say, “I feel great. My preparation was perfect. I own this marathon! Bring it on!” Well, certainly not the three Dorset marathoneers. And certainly not Bill who had pulled a calf muscle in the previous November and had been resting it ever since or shuffling gently on his heels over short distances. Forget your 12 week marathon training programmes, your long runs, your fartleks, your Kenyan Hills...Bill’s approach was, “Just turn up and do it.”
And do it, he did. “How’s your calf?” I asked him at 15K. “I’m not sure ‘cos everything aches below the waist!” he replied. We hit half-way as a team in about 1.54, buoyed by the Samba bands, the belly dancers, the Gallic support... (“Allez Bill!” “Courage Steve!” “Vite Rob!”) but then Bill had to adopt his straight-legged shuffle to nurse his throbbing lower limbs and slowed down. Rob ruthlessly slipstreamed me for 24 miles and then at 39K, the following father-son conversation took place:
“I’m cramping. I’m going to have to walk for a bit and grab a banana,” I said.
“OK. See you then,” Rob said...and disappeared into the middle distance.
Anyway, we all got round and for the record and for the Champagne Sweepstake, our average finish time was: 4hrs, 7mins, 47 secs – which means that Dave Bhattacharjee of Wool (and the Purbeck Squash Club) won the bottle of bubbly with the closest prediction (of 4.08). Thanks to everyone who supported the fund-raising. Trips to Paulton’s Park, Monkey World, Longleat...are all on the cards for the Gateway Club members in the coming months as a result of your generosity.
Finally, reading Penny Ettling’s article on the website about her Paris Marathon experience in 2005 really helped us (especially the bit about avoiding the banana skins – thanks, Penny) so here’s a few thoughts if you fancy Paris in the Spring of 2009:
· the expo. is a couple of metro rides away from the city centre but was very well organised so that numbers, t-shirts and goodie bags were acquired very speedily on the Saturday afternoon
· the route is magnificent...starting and finishing close to the Arc de Triomphe, running down the Champs Elysées (downhill for the first 2K) and taking in the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Bastille, Notre Dame, the banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Bois de Boulogne, the Roland Garros stadium, the Longchamp racetrack...and, apart from the one long underpass, it’s all pretty flat...it’s also a looping course so your family and friends get several opportunities to see you flash by – just by walking around the beautiful city
· there are no long toilet queues at the start...because there are no toilets, but there are reasonably priced hotels nearby so you can stay in the comfort of your own en suite until minutes before the start
· there is one mass start but the Champs Elysées is so wide that we crossed the start line within eight minutes and experienced only minor congestion here and at the drinks stations...although we had to watch our feet for the first 2K because it was so cold that the route was strewn with discarded bin liners and items of clothing – some so good that Rob and I had to restrain Bill from restocking his kit wardrobe
· there are drinks stations (plus sugar, bananas, oranges, dates...but no energy drinks) every 5K...in the later stages these come to resemble delicatessen counters with cider, wine, cheese, canapés, cake, seafood...also in plentiful supply
· bollards and central reservations are not clearly indicated so it pays to keep your eyes on the road...Rob was so distracted by a troop of belly dancers at one point that a single bollard nearly curtailed both his race and his procreative potential
· the crowds are smaller than London and (I’m told) less enthusiastic than New York but we all felt well supported and the numbers were personalised with our names (as were our t-shirts) so we had lots of vocal Gallic support
· the technology was great...the championchips were linked to mobile phones (a free service) so our support team knew exactly where we were after each 10K and personalised DVDs (with split times) as well as still photos were available within hours of the finish
· the finish itself was fruit and drinks heaven...so many apples, oranges, bananas, dates... that the Avenue Foch leading back to the Arc de Triomphe was like a help-yourself street market.
Sightseeing – it’s exhausting, but the sun did shine that day
The runners and their personal trainers (who refused to be seen
wearing their tastefully tangerine t-shirts on the streets of Paris)
Breakfast loading...Steve proud to be a Strider...Bill hits the porridge
Bill defies medical science and arrives at the starting area
Don’t pause to pose...your son will leave you standing
Down and out in Paris...Rob shares his pain
42.2K and still looking so good!
© Steve Cooper 2008