Training Log Archive: Leanimal

We had a beautiful day for the Eco Trail de Paris. Phatty and Weeanimal took the train out to the start line with me in Meudon, just west of Paris. The start time of 10am was quite reasonable so along with thousands of my closest friends I started in the final wave running up the street to the observatory with a great view to the east of the city. Then we were on trails for the next 20-22km at least. It was great. Not technical at all and a flat course (I think it was about 600m total elevation gain over the 32km). Of course with that many people it was a very leisurely pace for about the first 17km. I was just enjoying the run so it really didn't bother me at all. Usually I get dusted on the downhills around here but in this race I was blowing by people. I think most of the trails in this area are like the ones we were running on. Very hard packed and no roots or rocks. We had some single track sections but not too many. I tried to avoid a traffic jam on a downhill by running through the forest but paid for it a bit when I grabbed on to a tree and it fell behind me hitting me in the head. It kind of hurt. I would have felt like a real idiot if it knocked me out.

By about the 20km and the only aid station I could feel my hips and knees just from lack of running but nothing major. I didn't pick up more water here but just ate and orange and some sponge cake and took a look at the eiffel tower in the distance. The finish line. Unfortunately for me the final 10-12km were on the pavement as we ran a riverside trail to the eiffel tower. They didn't really have a choice here as we couldn't go through the city to find parks so we just trudged it out to the finish. I was texting with Phatty to see if they would be there but they were stuck on the metro (he has a story about that) so I just ran to the finish in the sun. Great experience and a good excuse to go for a run in the parks around Paris but it reaffirms my preference for the mountain races. Felt fine the next day but that is probably from running at a moderate pace. I even walked a couple of hours that night to get down to the eiffel tower so I could climb it at night. Too many people to get to the summit and I am just not one to wait in line for hours so I settled for the second level. It was a beautiful, clear and warm night so it was lovely.

Paris was great, the architecture alone is something I won't forget. Unfortunately I won't also forget the smell of smoke, two stroke engines and urine either. That city is far too loud for me. We were quite happy to get home!

C • Cool! 6

Along the waterfront toward Veyrier du Lac. I just can't believe some of the houses along there. So gorgeous. I did stop to check out a menu for a lakeside hotel with a restaurant of a famous chef in it. At 189 euros for a meal I think I will continue to cook at home.

C • Team Salomon Suunto 2028 2

Well my 11 weeks of French lessons are over so I was able to run in het he morning. What a difference it makes on how I feel. So much better. Light snow falling but the trails were nice and soft after a couple of days of rain. Nice and crisp. I might be running 30km in Paris on Saturday. Definitely not ready for the run since I havent been running much but it will be an experience nonetheless. That is IF they accept my medical certificate. So far they have rejected it 3 times. I cannot figure out why so I sent an email back telling them that I have satisfied all of the criteria that they outlined so if that is not good enough I am not going back to my doctor to request something else because I don't even know what to get her to write. Talk about a huge waste of healthcare dollars. If I don't get a response I suppose I will have to eat the entry and drink wine at an outdoor cafe to get over it! Super frustrating.

C • Fussy about medical certificates 11