TOULOUSE (23.10.16)
So 3 weeks after my best ever race in Belgium, I arrived in Toulouse to attempt the most urban and probably flattest race so far. Before the race I interviewed Marie from the French ME Association ASFC about what it's like to live there with ME. I was also lucky to get some press coverage from Depeche du Midi (click here) which I hope helped raise some awareness about the illness.
I landed in Toulouse the afternoon before the race start and managed to get to the expo to pick up my number in the lively Place du Capitole square where the race would finish. I was one of 2788 runners and certainly far from my fittest having struggled to recover from the rigours of the hilly Brussels race. Still, the weather and course were perfect and the confidence that had grown from 8 previous marathons meant that I knew I'd finish, even if I'd be crawling up the pink carpet to the line.
Start
The race started on the Pont De La Croix De Pierre bridge around a 30 minute walk from our apartment next to Place Du Captiole. It was pretty dark and cold as we approached the bridge and security was high, I had to leave Cat there and head to the start on my own, my pockets bulging with vaseline, meerkat mixups (jellies) and painkillers. A lot of runners were jogging around by the Toulouse FC Municipal Stadium but I decided to conserve my energy, I sat under a tree away from everyone, getting my focus together. The race started promptly at 9.30am and I found myself at the back with the 4hr 30 pacers easing myself into it, I hadn't run for 9 days due to the pain in my right foot so wanted to take it steady. There was good support through the first 6 miles and we passed a Brazilian samba band and dancing girls as the course took us out of town a little and towards a rather pretty park. I felt surprisingly good for the first hour, obviously a lot slower than usual (probably 6-7 mins per hour) but managing fairly comfortably aside from the frustrating jostling as the path narrowed and spectators held us in tight. My foot started to hurt again at around mile 8, but at this point I just dropped another Ibuprofen and cracked on without too much pain. What had annoyed me a fair bit more were the film crews on motorbikes that were weaving through the 2 metre wide path of runners blowing exhausts everywhere and without any warning. I let my feelings be known to one of them, I won't repeat what I said but it lets say it was very 'Anglo-Saxon', no idea if it was a live broadcast. The route then took us back to town to my relief, I knew it would be well supported and by the time mile 10 arrived, I knew I might just need some random support. When I got there I wasn't disappointed. The crowd were fantastic yelling out 'Allez Michel' and I clapped them back as the course took us parallel to the picturesque Allee De Briennes canal, genuinely stunning with it's yellow leafed trees running down either bank.
Middle
I managed to get to the halfway mark at almost exactly 2hrs (10 mins slower than in training) and I was hanging in there at just about 4 hr pace as I waved at Cat at mile 15. I knew it wasn't going to last though as the pain returned to my right foot and my left thigh was starting to spasm. The route zig-zagged around the Saint-Aubin district and the support swelled to a marching band and more bystanders and I was back high-fiving kids and nodding my approval to the clapping randoms. The motorbike riding cameramen might have stopped but more annoyingly the marathon relay race joined our course and a parade of sprinters cut across our path crashing into the slow mass already on the course. Not the first time I've seen this and I'm still unsure why race organisers do this, nothing more demoralising (or dangerous) after 2.5 hrs of running to see a wave of uncontrollable speedsters tripping up the marathon runners at such a late and brutal stage. Anyway, I was feeling OK still right up until around 18 miles when my hips started to seize up and my right knee had locked causing me to slow right down to 10 minute miles. Not good. Looking at the clock I could see 4.15 slipping away, even 4.30 would be tough given the rise in temperature. But the sun was coming out, I was on my last race of the year and I knew hitting my usual time for this one was ambitious but not the most important factor. There was some great views of the Garonne and the course was pretty kind with gentle undulations, the odd bit of cobbles but on the while, an interesting urban mix of tight streets, open squares with typically french houses.
End
Shuffling up the Grande Rue St Michel back towards the centre things were getting tough but the picnic stops every mile and nice vibe of the course was more than keeping me going. Mile 21 took an age but I knew it was a turning point and that with 5 miles left it was just my usual Tuesday and Thursday run home from work. I was chucking more water over my head than down my throat by now and most around me were walking or hunched over stretching. After having been on the receiving end of the 'good samaritan' who helped me when I was cramping in Brussels, I decided to stop and help a couple of randoms to get going again. Runner karma, I totally believe in it. I grabbed some more Pepsi Max and trudged on, trying to enjoy my last few miles of the year as we headed towards the finish at Place Du Capitole. After what seemed like an eternity running around the warrens of the city's side-streets the road opened out on the Rue De Remusat and it's wide avenue of shops and restaurants. I had planned to stop here, stretch a bit and get ready to push on for the last two miles but the crowd weren't allowing it. They pushed me forwards and I got the second-wind I hoped for. I could see the white tents of the finish up ahead, I put the ipod away and soaked in the cheers and applause. Up onto the pink carpet and with finish line in site it all felt a bit weird knowing this was it for the year but I'd fought hard through the injuries and was looking forward to a good rest. I'll probably look back on this one with mixed feelings. It certainly was a PB course with great support and views but that said I really only felt 70% right in the days leading up to it and things could have gone a whole lot worse.
Pics
Official pics here
Gallery photos here
Weather
Chilly at the start and a strong headwind giving way to sharp sunshine, 15C to 22C at the finish
Ratings
I landed in Toulouse the afternoon before the race start and managed to get to the expo to pick up my number in the lively Place du Capitole square where the race would finish. I was one of 2788 runners and certainly far from my fittest having struggled to recover from the rigours of the hilly Brussels race. Still, the weather and course were perfect and the confidence that had grown from 8 previous marathons meant that I knew I'd finish, even if I'd be crawling up the pink carpet to the line.
Start
The race started on the Pont De La Croix De Pierre bridge around a 30 minute walk from our apartment next to Place Du Captiole. It was pretty dark and cold as we approached the bridge and security was high, I had to leave Cat there and head to the start on my own, my pockets bulging with vaseline, meerkat mixups (jellies) and painkillers. A lot of runners were jogging around by the Toulouse FC Municipal Stadium but I decided to conserve my energy, I sat under a tree away from everyone, getting my focus together. The race started promptly at 9.30am and I found myself at the back with the 4hr 30 pacers easing myself into it, I hadn't run for 9 days due to the pain in my right foot so wanted to take it steady. There was good support through the first 6 miles and we passed a Brazilian samba band and dancing girls as the course took us out of town a little and towards a rather pretty park. I felt surprisingly good for the first hour, obviously a lot slower than usual (probably 6-7 mins per hour) but managing fairly comfortably aside from the frustrating jostling as the path narrowed and spectators held us in tight. My foot started to hurt again at around mile 8, but at this point I just dropped another Ibuprofen and cracked on without too much pain. What had annoyed me a fair bit more were the film crews on motorbikes that were weaving through the 2 metre wide path of runners blowing exhausts everywhere and without any warning. I let my feelings be known to one of them, I won't repeat what I said but it lets say it was very 'Anglo-Saxon', no idea if it was a live broadcast. The route then took us back to town to my relief, I knew it would be well supported and by the time mile 10 arrived, I knew I might just need some random support. When I got there I wasn't disappointed. The crowd were fantastic yelling out 'Allez Michel' and I clapped them back as the course took us parallel to the picturesque Allee De Briennes canal, genuinely stunning with it's yellow leafed trees running down either bank.
Middle
I managed to get to the halfway mark at almost exactly 2hrs (10 mins slower than in training) and I was hanging in there at just about 4 hr pace as I waved at Cat at mile 15. I knew it wasn't going to last though as the pain returned to my right foot and my left thigh was starting to spasm. The route zig-zagged around the Saint-Aubin district and the support swelled to a marching band and more bystanders and I was back high-fiving kids and nodding my approval to the clapping randoms. The motorbike riding cameramen might have stopped but more annoyingly the marathon relay race joined our course and a parade of sprinters cut across our path crashing into the slow mass already on the course. Not the first time I've seen this and I'm still unsure why race organisers do this, nothing more demoralising (or dangerous) after 2.5 hrs of running to see a wave of uncontrollable speedsters tripping up the marathon runners at such a late and brutal stage. Anyway, I was feeling OK still right up until around 18 miles when my hips started to seize up and my right knee had locked causing me to slow right down to 10 minute miles. Not good. Looking at the clock I could see 4.15 slipping away, even 4.30 would be tough given the rise in temperature. But the sun was coming out, I was on my last race of the year and I knew hitting my usual time for this one was ambitious but not the most important factor. There was some great views of the Garonne and the course was pretty kind with gentle undulations, the odd bit of cobbles but on the while, an interesting urban mix of tight streets, open squares with typically french houses.
End
Shuffling up the Grande Rue St Michel back towards the centre things were getting tough but the picnic stops every mile and nice vibe of the course was more than keeping me going. Mile 21 took an age but I knew it was a turning point and that with 5 miles left it was just my usual Tuesday and Thursday run home from work. I was chucking more water over my head than down my throat by now and most around me were walking or hunched over stretching. After having been on the receiving end of the 'good samaritan' who helped me when I was cramping in Brussels, I decided to stop and help a couple of randoms to get going again. Runner karma, I totally believe in it. I grabbed some more Pepsi Max and trudged on, trying to enjoy my last few miles of the year as we headed towards the finish at Place Du Capitole. After what seemed like an eternity running around the warrens of the city's side-streets the road opened out on the Rue De Remusat and it's wide avenue of shops and restaurants. I had planned to stop here, stretch a bit and get ready to push on for the last two miles but the crowd weren't allowing it. They pushed me forwards and I got the second-wind I hoped for. I could see the white tents of the finish up ahead, I put the ipod away and soaked in the cheers and applause. Up onto the pink carpet and with finish line in site it all felt a bit weird knowing this was it for the year but I'd fought hard through the injuries and was looking forward to a good rest. I'll probably look back on this one with mixed feelings. It certainly was a PB course with great support and views but that said I really only felt 70% right in the days leading up to it and things could have gone a whole lot worse.
Pics
Official pics here
Gallery photos here
Weather
Chilly at the start and a strong headwind giving way to sharp sunshine, 15C to 22C at the finish
Ratings
|
|