Snow

Snow had been forecast for this morning. I went out, all wrapped up for the cold, and was slightly disappointed to see that only a light sprinkling of powder lay across the ground. I set off anyway and made a good start down to the Seine in the dark.

The thin layer of snow and the clear sky, had the advantage of making the terrain a lot more visible than usual and I was able to negotiate my path down to the river and avoid the potholes in the process. I had put gloves on this morning and my hands were warm inside, far better than on Tuesday. The speed was good and I felt strong in my legs, turning over at a fast pace, not waiting to get cold in the freezing air.

I kept the pace up until around 4 kilomteres and then I began to slow down naturally. I could feel myself easing off and wondered whether it was worth pushing on, before deciding that I was enjoying myself and that by pushing hard now I wasn't really going to achieve anything extra. I must have been daydreaming at this point as I don't recollect anything particularly significant about this section of the run. There were more people out and about compared to Tuesday, despite it being the same time and similar weather.

As I ran down to the townhall, the snow began to fall more heavily in large snowflakes. I was almost back home now and I made a last little effort up the final slope and stretched along the straight to get back to the house in 47:08, precisely one second slower than on Tuesday. Talk about being consistent. An average pace of 4:15 per km as I set the Garmin off higher up the drive than 2 days ago !

The comparison with Tuesday stops here. The snow continued to fall and by the time I got in the car to drive to work, there was a good 5 cm of snow everywhere. This was sufficient to cause chaos in the capital and it took me 2hours and 45 minutes to drive the 30km into work. I'd have been faster running in. What happened to the gritters ?

Cold

The temperature has dropped and winter has finally arrived and properly.

I woke up at 6:00 am with the alarm and pulled on my running kit. I'd prepared the ear warmers in the form of the headband, and 2 tops to be able to take the colder weather outside. I got dressed quickly and went outside as fast as possible before I changed my mind about the whole proceedings. It had been cold at the weekend at Issy and I presumed it would be the same this morning. I was wrong. It was far worse.

I didn't realise it to begin with. I felt the cold air instantly, obviously, with my first steps outside. I started running immediately and a few seconds later the extent of the cold began to take effect. My breath hurt as the cold air entered my lungs with every inhalation. I ran faster so that my body would get warmer through the exertion. This didn't appear to work so I picked up the pace again. What was initially supposed to be an easy early morning run was quickly turning into a speed session. The cold made itself felt on my hands as the fingers grew first of all numb and then painful as the cold bit harder and harder. I regretted not having put on gloves and carried on in the hope that the blood would begin to circulate and warm through eventually.

It was a lovely clear night and there was no wind. Everything seemed quieter than usual, as if the cold had kept everybody indoors, under the cover of the bedclothes. I thought of Laurence still in bed and wondered why I'd bothered leaving the warmth of the bed to go running anyway. I kept the pace up and felt good. My legs felt strong and I was running well. The time seemed to go quickly, probably due to the fact that I was still half-asleep, and I only woke up when the cold crept through my running tights freezing my testicles and my buttocks.

I was over half way by now and I was looking forward to getting back to the warmth of the house for breakfast. I left Maisons Laffitte and the park to run infornt of the church at Le Mesnil and then down to the town-hall. A quick sprint back along the main road and I was back home in 47:07 for 11.1 km or an average of 4:16 (marathon pace) per kilometre.

Back inside the house and Laaurence had only just got up. She admitted that she wondered why I didn't move when the alarm went, not realising that I'd already got up and left the house for my run. Some people have all the luck ! By the way, the thermometer showed that it was -6°C outside. Definitely cold.

Photos from Issy

Just a few photos that Nick sent me from yesterday's race.


Andy and I looking fresh just before the start. End of the first lap and I'm alongside the first woman as I try to pull away from this little group.

End of the race and 500m to go. Notice the guy in black has gone past me now and I'm looking tired before the finish. Spent ages coughing my guts up after the race, so I was definitely trying !

Corrida d'Issy - podium

This event is the main race for the start of the Christmas festival. It is a corrida, or a race through the town, and the event in Issy has grown in popularity year after year to attract almost 10 000 participants in the 7 races that are organised on the day.

The first races are for the children with a short 1km to 3 km loop organised depending on the age group involved. And and I were signed up for the 4th race; a 6km race around two laps of the town. Nick had come along to support us and to take some photos that I'll post as soon as I receive them.

It was a cold day and some snowflakes were falling as we drove to the race. Issy is just to the South of Paris, and the temperature had risen by a couple of degrees by the time we arrived and the snow had stopped. There was a bit of a breeze blowing and as Andy and I warmed up (silly expression really, as leaving the relative warmth of the sports hall to go for a short run just meant that we would actually catch a death of cold!), I noticed that thewere was a stiff breeze that felt as if it was blowing straight in from the Siberian plains as you headed up the main road from the start.

With the "cool down" out of the way, we lined up for the start. I tried to get into the middle of the field near the front in order to find some human warmth but in order to push in I was a left a little exposed on the side of the race. The gun went and I took off. I think that I ran fast in order to get warm as quickly as possible, but whatever the reason that first kilometre felt very long. Normally, the first whips by and then you're into the race. I must have pushed the heartrate very high from the outset and I kep waiting for what felt like an eternity before we crossed the red line across the road as the first marker.

I settled down into a pace and concentrated on focusing on the runners around me. There was a small group of 4 runners ahead: 2 relatively young, one slightly older and a woman. I wasn't actually sure that it was a woman at first as she was a fairly strong build and running like the wind. I tried to catch up with this group and stay with them. As I caught them, the woman encourage the younger 2 to speed up as the pace had dropped slightly, she latched on to me and one of the younger runners as we finished the first loop and set off on the second. Nick shouted encouragement at this point but I was that intent on the race that I hardly had time to acknowledge him.

The female runner pulled away from me now with the other runner as we headed into the breeze. I was determined not to let them pull away though and as we rounded the bend passing the 4th kilometre she faltered slightly, came back to me and I went past. The course heads slightly downhill at this point and I was feeling better. I made the most of this to push home my advantage and stretch out. The younger runner was still with me but we were catching some others now as they tired towards the end of the race. The difficulty was also in overtaking many runners who were still on their first lap. I hadn't noticed this last year but there felt like a good hundred on the course who I went by towards the end today.

We caught another small group with 500m to go and they pushed on as they heard us coming. I wasn't able to put in any more effort at this point and let them go so they went on to finish 20 yards ahead of me. I sopped my watch and it showed 22:22. This was a full 40 seconds faster than last year and I was thrilled with this. I stood there panting at the finsih, my lungs burning waiting for Andy who came past the line a few minutes later in 26:36.

Nick told me then that I'd finished in the first 25 or so and that he hadn't seen many older guys in front of me. We hung around, waiting for the results, and my official time was 22:27 (really don't know how they added 5 seconds to my time!) but I was third vet with the second vet the runner just ahead of me. I was really delighted now: my first ever podium in a large race. Shame that there were no prizes by category for the 6km race, but still chuffed to bits.

Garmin says that the course distance is 6.2km and average speed for 22:22 is 3:35 per km. Splits were as follows: 3:29, 3:33, 3:35, 3:44, 3:35, 3:38, then 45 seconds to the line. 4th km was slower as into the wind and very slightly uphill. Very excited by this result and feel that I can bring down my 10k time in the New Year. Good end to the year.

Cora alone

I ran to Cora by myself on Saturday. Nick is injured with tendonitis in the foot post-marathon. Andy was resting prior to the race and I felt the need to put some kilometres in just to be serious.

I ran the usual route to Cora by myself. I missed the banter and the joking with Andy and Nick and spent most of the time talking to myself. I told myself to take it easy as it's the relaxing Saturday run. I said that Andy and Nick would be running slower than this so I should slow down. I told myself that I was racing the following day and wanted to do well, so I should just take it easy. I ignored myself superbly.

I set out easily enough, running the first kilometre in 4:48 but then I ran faster and faster going through the next in 4:30, then 4:24; 4:18; 4:14. I slowed up then and made it steady for the rest of the run. I could feel a stitch from having eaten breakfast before going running which I almost never do. I don't eat breakfast before running as I get a stitch. I must remember this.

15km in 1:06:33 or 4:27 per km. Great run on a cold, still day. I felt good all the way around (bar the stitch).

Routine

Back into the early morning routine: 6:00 am start - 10k run; shower; quick breakfast; then into the car to work.

It's good to be back in training and not to feel the pressure of a marathon approaching. I can concentrate on shorter races and not feel that I'm going to compromise my performance in my quest to achieve an objective. This training session on Thursday was great for that.

I set off slowly because I wanted to - no pressure. I sped up because I felt good. As simple as that. It was a quiet morning. With winter finally arriving, everything seems calmer around town. There are less people around early in the morning, less traffic. This didn't stop one of the few cars around to almost mow me down at the Maisons Laffitte roundabout though. I think that the driver was in a half-awake daydreaming state and he just didn't see me coming. I noticed him and was prepared to pull back but he braked heavily at the last moment and came to a stop on the zebra crossing. I didn't acknowledge him or give him one of the usual smiles I reserve for kind motorists. That'll teach him.

Apart from this incident the rest of the run was standard. I searched for Andy again coming out of the park but no sign. I thought that he was slacking. I mean there's a race on Sunday and he's not training - seriously !!

11.1 km all up in 47:24 so marathon pace over the distance. Not bad going and I was in a sweat when I arrived, despite the 2°C outside. Felt good to be back.

Early start

I want to get back into a routine (and that includes writing up my blog regularly!) with my weekday runs and decided that today was the day. The alarm rang at 6:00am and I almost changed my mind about going out. Laurence tried to convince me to stay in bed but I knew that this was the devil talking so I got up, got dressed and left.

It was very dark outside, with a clear sky and little wind. It wasn't that cold either so I was happy since I'd left my headband to keep my ears warm inside anyway. I set off at ran at what I felt was a very comfortable pace. After Sunday's experience, I didn't want to be pushing myself again as there's only so much pain that a body can take.

As I ran I felt very good and the time went by quickly. I was probably half-asleep all the way around the course as I ran through the park at Maisons Laffitte and back to the church in Le Mesnil. I looked out for Andy as it was Tuesday morning but there was no sign of him. I'm a little concerned about his training programme before this Sunday's race in Issy les Moulineaux.

So a great run all of the way around the streets of Maisons Laffitte and really pleased when I got back to the house as I felt so much better than the last training session. The legs felt slightly lethargic but no aches and pains so this is already a vast improvement.

10.2km in 45:17 or an average pace of 4:27. Not a bad pace either for an easy run.

Sunday club run

I was getting fed up after a week of inactivity. It wasn't that I was eager to get out as I had plenty of work on my plate and other things to think about, but I began to feel guilty. I felt bad about not going out and getting some mileage in.

Monday and Tuesday were spent coping with the aches and pains in my legs. The recovery was easier than the last 3 marathons and I wondered whether this was due to the massage at the end of the race or the higher level of training and preparation. By Wednesday I wondered if I couldn't fit an early morning run in. I actually told Laurence that I'd be going for a run Thurday morning but she talked me out of it. A week of late nights didn't make me push the subject any further. Saturday and I was back to doing DIY and a meeting with the bank put pay to any thoughts of going for an easy run. So a sunday run with the club was the ideal opportunity to get out again and meet the others.

I initially thought about running to the club, but a late night Saturday night convinced me that this was unnecessary (together with a few whiskies and some light rain on Sunday and I was more than convinced). I turned up at the club to see a large turnout and plenty of congratulations from everybody on beating my objective.

The plan for the session was hills. 11 x hills to be precise and Miguel took us out to the Princess Road to do them. I know this section very well from my long Sunday runs so there were no surprises. We had a 300m section of uphill to run and then jog back down for the recovery. Thierry, José, Eric, Bruno and Bertrand were all there and they led the attacks on the hill. I was between the group of 3 at the front and just in front of Bruno and Bertrand behind.

So much for an easy receovery run to get over the marathon. I could feel my hamstrings tightening to begin with and a pain in my right calf. In fact, I could feel small aches and pains all over my legs and I knew that you can't under-estimate the damage that a marathon does. My legs hadn't recovered still and I was glad when the hills were over and we could just jog back easily. Still it was good to be out and I was pleased that I managed to stay in front of Bruno until the last 2 hills.

16.3 km all up in 1:37. The hills were run at above 15 km/h at just under a minute for each rep. Tough but good to be back.

Photos

Some photos of the event showing lovely La Rochelle and the local weather.

Photos of me going through the half-marathon marker with the clock behind and sprinting in the last kilometre towards the finish.

Laurence heading for home