Race Result: Emma & Tom’s Christmas Run (yes, I know – it has been a while)

Have I stopped running????

No!

However, as this blog was originally dedicated to my journey towards my first ultra marathon (and yes, there will be more, just not every year), it seemed that after my recovery week, it should wind up.

However, I have had a few people ask me if I was going to write/blog again. And when a friend asked if I would be interested in contributing a race result as a guest blogger on her own website, it seemed as good a time as any to pick up the pen!

Sorry to redirect you, but may I please point you to my recent race results for the Emma and Tom’s Christmas Run on my friend Nell’s website? Her website is called Good Morning Runners: http://goodmorningrunners.blogspot.com/2013/12/guest-post-emma-toms-christmas-run-race.html.

You will also find some other interesting running articles on her great website as well.

In this 10km race, I had a time goal to try to run a sub-50 minute 10km for the first time. As a summary though, for those who like the stats [SPOILER ALERT]:

Distance: 10km (actually 10.89km, once you dodge & weave)

Time: 49:32.5 minutes

Position:

• 8th in my category (40-49 F, 40 runners in category, top 20%)
• 41st for all females (336 female runners in total, top 12%)
• 198th overall male & female runners (674 runners in total, top 29%)

See you on the track!

Week 29: recovery

In the past I have often had my only injuries in the recovery period following a run. This has included putting my back out, hurting my knee, hip out of alignment…the list goes on. It has taken a number of years and too many injuries for my own liking to learn the lesson that a well-planned recovery period is as critical as the actual strategy during the race itself. A lot that has been written about the recovery period, and it is worth reviewing some of the thoughts on this while planning your own recovery period. Hal Higdon has a great article on post-marathon recovery that is worth a read as a start.

There are a few key aspects that I consider when planning my recovery:

Running again. I do not run for a few days at least after the run. How long I rest the running legs for depends entirely on the race I have run. Shorter races that are for speed only will permit me to run again within a couple of days. Long races that place extreme and ongoing strain on the body need a bit more. There is a bit of a rule of thumb that suggests a day of recovery for every mile run. In this instance, I have not run for the entire week. Not even to catch a bus. It always feels a little odd as I am so much in the routine of running, but a running break is a good thing to help recovery.

This does not mean do no exercise at all. It is equally as important to keep moving as it is to rest the legs, otherwise everything seizes up. So my week was full of gym and cross training work. I went to body pump, did core work, weights work and also went to my favourite boxing class again (and have the bruised knuckles to prove it). Today (Sunday), I will be cross-country skiing in Dinner Plain, and will start running again this week from Wednesday morning – slowly but surely, and only short stuff.

source: http://www.sleddogtours.com.au/photography/images/dinner_plain_hut_11.jpg

Feeding to assist recovery. I am a big fan of Teresa Cutter’s work. She recently posted an article on sports recovery, and the nutrient considerations that should be taken into account. It is worth a read, and I strongly recommend incorporating some of this in any recovery planing: http://www.thehealthychef.com/2013/07/sports-recovery-better-stronger-faster/.

In the first moments after the run when I crossed the line, I headed straight for the fluids. Water and electrolytes please! I also had what tasted like the most flavoursome banana in the world. I am sure it was not. They were segments of banana still in the skin, about 2 inches in length and a bit brown from being out in open tubs for runners to easily access. I am sure if I had eaten the segments at any other time they may have tasted a little slimy, and even a little manky. However when you are deprived of nutrients for hours on end (I can’t eat lots when I run – I nibble on protein bars and consume some gels), anything tastes like it is the best thing you have ever eaten! EVER!

And then it is cake time! Yes yes yes. After each long run I usually go and have a skim milk hot chocolate (sometimes soy milk if I am just making it at home) and some cakey-thing. During the ultra I lost over 2.6kg on the day, so there was room for a bit of cake. However after that I was a little smarter about what went into my body. Lots and lots of fluids. Dinner was baked salmon with a large green salad and beetroot. I did have a glass of red wine as well, but just one. I never feel like drinking much alcohol after a long run, and in fact the more intensively I train, the less I drink (the body doesn’t like trying to run long distances a bit hung over or slightly dehydrated), so more than one glass or two of anything is a bit of a rarity these days.

During the week I consumed a lot of nuts and seeds – predominantly walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds – as snacks by themselves and incorporated into other meals such as salads, in my breakfast etc. Protein was high on the agenda. Any smoothies made included extra protein powder, and I made the Teresa Cutter energy smoothie a couple of times, but without the orange. I also ate kangaroo a couple of times as well as seafood and legumes, all accompanied by lots of greens!

source: http://www.thehealthychef.com/downloads/Sports-Recovery-Smoothies.pdf

Massage. I made sure I had a massage scheduled for a couple of days after the run. My masseur, Rupert, was quite surprised with how my body had pulled up considering I had run the ultra, two marathons and a lot more in the preceding month and a half. He did note that my quads were a little tight and suggested that I keep working with my foam roller during the week. Oh yeah. That green thing and I have a very strong love-hate relationship, which became even closer this past week.

The mental game. Sometimes after the adrenalin has gone, and the immediate post-run enjoyment and reflections have started to fade, I can become a bit melancholy and even get the post-run blues a bit. Staying mentally active and starting to plan new or different things helps me to keep that at bay a bit. Luckily I am full swing into the semester at uni and have been meeting with other researchers in the food waste area, so had a lot to look forward to on that front. Also, my friend Stacey is coming to Melbourne in October to run the Melbourne half marathon and I have agreed to run it with her, so I needed to start to plan my training for that. These two distractions gave me positive things to engage my brain with as well as new goals to look forward to – both of which have staved off the post-run blues quite a bit.

What next? A lot of people have asked me ‘what next?’ For those who know me well, you will be aware that every few years I like to do something that pushes me well beyond my comfort zone. This year it was the Tan Ultra. Last time it was being part of the crew on the Endeavour for the passage from Albany to Port Lincoln (that adventure could be its own entire blog! An incredible and life changing experience!). Prior to that it was cycling and camping from Adelaide to Canberra (1233kms). The list goes on.

At the helm of the Endeavour in the Southern Ocean in gale seas

Arriving into Canberra – 1233kms later!

Why do I like to challenge myself in this way? Behaviour change theory suggests that it is through significant interventions that lessons can be learned and behaviour can change. This does require me to be receptive and open to the lesson, of course. So I find that significant challenges introduced at certain periods of my life help me to grow. Sometimes the lessons I learn about myself are a bit of an awakening, as I know I am not a shining beacon of light, but at least they also provide the opportunity to change and improve myself.

So, in short, I do not know ‘what next’ as yet.

Will I ever run another ultra? Quite likely. I loved all of the very long runs. I think the 45km run in London was one of my favourite runs I have ever done. Will I ever have a crack at a 100km. No idea. I know how much training is involved for a 50km run, so can appreciate that it is incredibly more for a ton. I am sure if I planned it out and focussed myself I could do it. Whether I want to or not may be another story.

Time will tell.

Week 28: ultra marathon part 2 – success

You will always be
The one I remember
To give my thanks to
For my success – Christina Aguilera

Today I officially ran 50kms. Unofficially I ran 52.94kms, but more on that later.

52.94kms

In this much anticipated post I want to talk about success.

Success means something different to all of us, and is framed by past achievements and, let’s call them mis-achievements shall we? What we all consider success is also shaped by our beliefs: in ourselves, in what others may think of us, and of what we feel we have some control over.

This week at uni in a seminar on Behavioural Change (I l.o.v.e. my Masters program), we spent a lot of time looking at the Theory of Planned Behviour (TPB) from Icek Ajzen. In summary, an individual’s behavioural beliefs (thoughts about ourselves on taking a particular action or behaviour), normative beliefs (what we think others may think of us taking that behaviour or action), and control beliefs (how much control we believe we have over the action or behaviour) shape intention and thus theoretically behaviours or actions. Sounds a bit academic, eh? An example:

• I’ll feel better about myself if I am healthier and fitter by running a lot (behavioural belief)
• Running a lot will make me look good in the eyes of other fitness friends (normative belief)
• It will be easy to run an ultra marathon if I develop a realistic training plan (control belief).

In this example, these three beliefs suggest that I would have a positive disposition towards running an ultra marathon, and increases the likelihood that I will do it. But I pose the question: is my success the achievement of the outcome of running the ultra marathon? Or was it all of the steps, lessons and experiences that lead to the final result?

source: http://foodloversodyssey.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/italian-hot-chocolate-at-carnevale-in-venice.html

After the run today I went to a local restaurant I like, La Camera, for an Italian hot chocolate (I love them – they are so decadent – the spoon nearly stands upright in them. Super treat days only!!) and some cake with some of the support crew that were there at the end. My mum’s partner asked how I felt after the run. That is such a large question, as it encompassed all of the ‘success’ criteria noted above. I didn’t give an answer that satisfactorily addressed that, but just talked about the physical aspect (felt fine – body was in good shape, etc), and a bit about how it felt to be running the race today (the camaraderie of other runners, warm weather, support from random strangers around the track, ease of the first 11 laps, challenge in the last 2 etc).

But now I want to try to tackle the larger question: how do I feel after all of the cascade of success that lead to me finally crossing the line this afternoon at 1.20pm?

• Overwhelmed by the belief that others have in me, even from the start in many instances
• Honoured by the support of my friends, family and other new connections who have so generously given encouragement as well as financial support
• Like I have been given a few reality checks for when I have pushed myself perhaps a little hard at times
• Sad that the run is over. As like all great journeys, planning and embarking on the new, novel and exciting is always more thrilling to me than coming home when it is over. I am sure I will have the post-ultra blues over the next couple of days/week(s)
• Afraid that I will not be able to do something so significant again – until I set my next BHAG I guess ; )
• Joyful in each moment I experienced when running that involved truly engaging with the world around me. I know I will miss seeing the sun come up as I run along the river most mornings, and the sight-seeing distance runs when travelling
• Anticipatory of ‘what next’ – and slightly anxious at the same time
• Surprised that I was capable of all of the training, knocking off the 50kms, and not having a single injury along the way!!!
• Frustrated by having to justify why I was planning to run an ultra marathon
• Pride in my final achievement, as well as in the long runs and quick runs I did along the way
• Closer to others in the running community (hello Google+ friends!!), and to those who supported me throughout this journey
• Relaxed in the knowledge that I can do anything I set out to do if I really want it enough
• Respectful of all those who are taking their own challenging journeys (hello 12WBT friends and many of my friends and family!)
• Appreciative of all of the space given unrequitedly by my partner so that I could go and run for hours on end by myself instead of doing things together
• In love with the beauty that I have seen and heard on so many of my runs (kookaburras, parrots, squirrels, oceans, stars and crescent moons in ink black skies, the list goes on)

I hope that answers the ‘how I felt’ question a little more.

So what about the run?

I was blessed this morning to wake to a partly cloud sky that promised to clear. After a week of pretty full on rain, things did not bode well for the run initially. What that did, however, was to bring a depth of green to the grass and the parklands that would otherwise not have been there in this often dry city.

My morning routine involves about 15-20 minutes of stretching and strengthening work. That was done as per usual, and my foam roller and I had a lot of intimate time.

source: http://www.atlanticsports.co.nz/shop/60-629-large/gaiam-muscle-therapy-foam-roller.jpg

Breakfast for this creature of habit was porridge with walnuts, chopped banana, cinnamon and a couple of teaspoons of maple syrup. I went wild and added some pumpkin seeds on top. Such a rebel.

Then it was time to slather all bits that rub with Body Glide, get the kit on and walk up to the Tan. Handily I live only about to 10-15 minutes walk away from the Botanical Gardens, so running that course as well as walking to it, was not a day’s journey!

I picked up my bib (lucky number 519 – I would hear that number called out by the marshals 13 times throughout the run every time I crossed the line, so if I didn’t know it at the start, I certainly did by the end!), and did my pre-race prep: found where to pop my drop bag (extra food stuff for me in case I wasn’t enamored with what was supplied – not needed, as the event organisers had a brilliant spread of snacks and drinks!), head to the bathrooms one last time (I did not need to go once during the 5hrs 20mins! The answer: prunes before dinner the night before and dandelion tea as well), do some extra stretches and generally check out the other runners (hmmm…no placing for me today!).

Race bib – lucky number 519!

I was astounded that my mother was at the race before it started! I knew she was going to come later to see the end, but when I saw her not long after picking up my race bib, I just burst out laughing. Mum is almost never on time for anything, so to see her there half an hour before the start  – well, I wondered if she had gone to bed at all! A couple of others rocked up to see me off – thanks Annmarie, Michele and Liv! It was great to have your early encouragement, especially Michele and Liv who stayed all day – a long day in the sun! My dad and one of my brothers, Pete, also turned up during my 2nd – 4th laps, and mum’s partner, Mez also rocked up towards the end with mum when I had 2-3 laps left. Having a few people there to cheer me on was fantastic.

Early in the run – beanie and jacket now off!

I was also very moved by the encouragement of so many others who did not know me at all. The partners and friends of other runners would clap me as I passed, or say some words of encouragement, asking how many laps left, telling me my form was strong etc. And most of all – the other runners. They were amazing. From the fittest to the ‘back of the pack’. From the ‘hats off to them’ 100km runners to those doing a single 4km lap. As our race bibs all had our names on them, you could address each other by name. It was common to hear ‘Looking great, Dianne’, or ‘Doing a good job, Dianne’, from runners as they passed me, or I whom I passed. I had initially thought the name on the bib thing was a bit odd, but very quickly warmed to it!

Two laps left!

My attack on the track and the distance was planned out. I was going to do my usual run then race walk cycle (4km, 400m), and re-fuel at every third race walk period. I did adjust the exact distances a little, as there was no way I was going to walk up Anderson Road Hill (the Hill). That was for running only. A lot of other runners chose to use the Hill for their own walk breaks, but I knew from experimenting during my training that my shins don’t like walking up that Hill. Thus I was left with no alternative but to run it. Every single time of the 13 laps. To be honest, the first 11 ascents were ‘easy’. The 12th was somewhat slow, and the lucky last 13th was a corker. I was about half way up on the last lap and I thought about how tired my legs were getting, especially my calves. That lasted about 30 seconds. I shook my head, set my jaw and ploughed up the last stretch of the Hill with my mind focused on the joy of the slight gradual downhill that appears immediately afterwards, which also equals the road home. I knew that all I had to do was get myself up the Hill that last time and I would be able to knock the race off.

Some people have commented on how uninteresting it must be running around the same track 13 times. I guess if all I did do was look at the ground, that would probably be the case, so it is an understandable comment. However, as the Tan circumnavigates the Botanic Gardens, there is always something to look at. Also, it goes right past the Shrine of Remembrance, which often has some military event or another happening (a few weeks back it was a 12 gun salute with cannons – rather loud to run past!). Today there was a rather large event to commemorate the execution of the operation that liberated Malta. It went for about 4-5 laps somewhere in the middle of my race. It meant I did have to run through and around crowds a bit, but that is par for the course if you run the Tan!

And now it is done!

I finished the 50km run in 5 hours 20 mins (roughly – I do not have an official time yet). As noted earlier though, my unofficial distance was 52.94kms for that time. The extra nearly 3kms came from dodging, weaving, and going around and through crowds on the Tan – people, dogs, prams, military parades, etc. No matter how hard you try to run a straight line, it is not possible on this track! My actual 50km time was around 5hrs 5mins. For those interested, my marathon split time (how funny that I am referring to that as a split!) was 4hrs 15mins. That is 5 minutes faster than any of my official marathon times. Nice! Happy with that!

So I had a very successful day.

1. I managed to finish the race
2. I managed to not injure myself
3. I managed to finish in less than five and a half hours (my goal)
4. I managed to not come last
5. But most of all, the end result reflected the culmination of successes accumulated throughout the journey – not the least of which is the grateful love and support of so many people.

To you all, I give my thanks.

Week 28: ultra marathon part 1 – the night before

(written on Sat night while out at dinner)
It’s funny how completely rational and intelligent people hang onto superstitions.

For example, the night before a long run or a race I always eat pasta (lasagne or spaghetti bolognese) or moussaka. I usually go out for the meal, and try to eat early.

Tonight I am dining at Il Primo Posto on Southbank. I have a small table by myself at the back of the restaurant. It is jam-packed with other early diners – mostly families, and probably some theatre goers, noting the proximity to so many arts venues. The waiting staff are alert and managing to deal with the insanity of dozens of family groups with no bookings (the restaurant won’t take bookings on a Saturday night). Side note: why do parents dress their children in identical outfits when they are not twins? Were there specials on? Does it make it easier to spot them in a crowd? 

Lasagne, salad and garlic bread at Il Primo Posto

I have ordered Dale’s homemade lasagne and a green salad with a balsamic dressing, and have some garlic Turkish bread to accompany it (read: to mop up the sauce if it is good, as it would be uncouth to lick the plate in public). I am not sure who Dale is, and suspect he did not really make it at home, but hey! A little artistic license never hurt anyone. Post meal comment: It was a stock standard lasagne. Not brilliant. Not awful. Tasty, but just ok. It pales in comparison to the splendid lasagne served at Emporio della Pasta in the Crown Casino complex just a few minutes walk away. Roughly the same price, but definitely not the same quality.

After dinner I will stroll back home, work on a uni paper and do some chores before having a shower and heading to bed. As I will be getting up at 5am, I aim to be in bed by 9-9.30ish. Bet it stretches to 10-10.30pm (post script: yep, sure did). I do tend to faff a little when getting ready for bed. One of the pre-bed routines will be to lay out my running gear for the morning. I do this almost every day I run or go to the gym as I get up so early. The few minutes taken at night give me a few minutes extra in bed in the morning. I will also lay out my gels, snacks, electrolyte fluid and the like.

Once more – superstition: I will wear the exact same gear that I have done every long run in during my training for the ultra. It has proven it works, so no point changing it now! So from the ground up:

Shoes Asics Gel Nimbus 14’s. ordered from the US especially for the occasion. They are the exact same limited edition model I bought in San Francisco last year when I was running around the world. Lots of miles and memories. And they are purple.    : )

Asics Gel Nimbus 14s limited edition

Socks 2XU knee-high compression socks. Some articles I have read from other runners are dubious on the value of ‘expensive’ running gear such as compression wear. I used to be in the same camp. Then I bought by first pair of Skins leggings. Never looked back.

Leggings 2XU thermal compression leggings. It is still winter here, and it takes a good few kms for my legs to warm up. Also, the compression aspect aids in looking after my quads, hammies and calves (esp with the socks underneath!). I used to dread the idea of running in leggings. No way would I ever have the body for that. Ok, I still have cellulite and a few odd bumps and curves that look a tad funny, but I am approaching that stage in my life when I care a lot less about what others think about how I look. The leggings are practical, and help prevent chaffing to boot, particularly when accompanied by a good slathering of Body Glide.

Underwear Bonds cotton hipsters. Black. Simple. Comfortable. Don’t ride up my arse. Is there really any other function they need to serve?

Sports bra Moving Comfort Rebound Racer. At $89 for a sports bra it had better be good! It is. Nothing moves. Nothing. As the tagline says, “Support your girls with the best”! And they look good! Sometimes I wander around the apartment in just my leggings and the sports bra at times in my fantasy of being an athlete, and the kit plays a big part.

source: http://movingcomfort.com.au/product/detail/350037/005

Other undergarments 2XU white compression vest. It will be cold early, and as I don’t want to wear two long sleeve tops, it will aid in keeping me warm.

Running singlet Adidas v-neck ‘R4YL’ singlet. I have worn this in every race winter or summer. It has the picked synthetic material from where I have pinned innumerable running bibs (for the non-runners out there: the number on the front). It is still pretty much white as well, much to my amazement! Thank you Napisan.

Jacket 2XU lightweight running jacket. Great wind breaker. Slightly spray resistant. A good-sized zip pocket in the back. I can pop it on or off throughout the race with no problems and just tie it around my waist without it weighing me down.

Gloves Adidas. As it won’t be freezing tomorrow I won’t need the heavy-duty wind breaker gloves, but will still need the lighter weight Climacool ones. My Raynaud’s Disease dictates I look like my hands are going to the snow almost regardless of the weather.

source: http://i2.keller-sports.com/out/pictures/z1/adidas-climacool-gloves-rbead073-1_z1.jpg

Beanie my hair is short so my ears get cold. I will start the run wearing one of my lighter weight running beanies, which I will probably pull off around 5-10kms into the run, weather dependent. Then it will be tucked easily into the pocket in the back of my jacket.

I will also be wearing a Fly Active wristband or two with some Gu in it. I won’t need to wear my fuel belt as there are fuel stations every lap, so I can leave my drop bag with extra Gu, my electrolyte drink and some protein bars there. I prefer to run as light as possible and hate carrying anything if I can help it.

I think I believe that if I follow this schedule and plan, it will ensure I will be well set up for the run in the morning. I guess we will see!

See you around The Tan!

Week 27: challenge

This week marked the end of the month of July. A pretty awesome month in general. I will blog separately with a month in review. Of significance during July was a special challenge.

source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.plus

The “July Challenge” was held within a Google+ running group that I am in. Someone had the idea of a girls vs boys challenge to see who could run the most miles for the month. As there were more guys than girls, the equitable decision was made early on to take an average for each group each day (i.e. add up the miles for all the gals and divide that by the number of women, then compare with the male average), and it was all recorded on Google Docs for all to see.

There was a bit of jocularity and some flash hashtagging going on up front (Kristi is queen of the hashtags for sure!), but it settled very quickly into an encouraging daily routine. Everyone posted their run(s) for the day if they had done one, and it was rare not to have at least one ‘+1’ on your post, usually accompanied by some encouragement (or a bit of fun big talking).

source: http://www.saxonscope.com/entertainment/2012/02/08/hashtags-taking-over-langley/

In the end the gals won by an incredibly close 4 miles, however the guys had pulled out all stops with a lot of 2-a-day runs in the last week or so to try to catch up. For the month of July the 31 of us men and women ran a combined 4,358.81 miles (7014.82 kms)! That is a remarkable 140.61 miles (226.29 kms) per person! What is even more significant during the challenge is that many people ran PBs of distance, time or frequency, almost by accident.

I ran a total of 201.19 miles for the month (323.78 kms). That is more than 10kms a calendar day. On the evening of the 30^th July one of the guys had posted a comment that I had less than 9 miles to run to hit the 200 mile mark. My scheduled run for the next morning, 31^st July, was to be a leisurely 6.5kms (just over 4 miles). Spurred on by Ken’s comment, I revised my run schedule for the week and swapped a mid-distance run planned for later in the week so I could hit the 200. I went out in the cold drizzle of a Melbourne winter’s morning with 9 miles in mind, and part way through the run decided I would round it up to 10 miles (just over 16kms), just to be sure. That was nearly 10kms more than I had planned to run, but it was easily achievable as I had allowed the time, having risen at 4.30am and scooted out the door at 5am. I didn’t want to hit the 200 mile mark for any competitive reason amongst the group. I did it because it seemed a shame to be so close and not to have hit it when I knew I could. So I did, and it was all thanks to the encouragement of one of the guys.    : )

In regards to the PBs and personal achievements, I don’t think anyone really wanted to beat each other as it went along. And I feel that the results we all achieved were not even driven by any desire to necessarily better ourselves.

I ran that little bit more almost every time just because.

source: http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/61/6128/RRPF100Z/posters/mick-stevens-just-because-you-re-a-woman-you-think-you-re-tough-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg

Because it was OK to run, since everyone else was (ah – the power of normative behaviour drivers!!).

Because I was accountable to everyone in my team (#gothegirls) as well as the opposition, and needed to post something pretty much daily, except when I was travelling (I was on holidays in Singapore, Dubai, London, Brussels and Paris during this time as well – please read my Eat Travel Run posts for details).

Because I was part of a team and had responsibilities.

Because it was fun.

So I guess some of the morals of this story are that 323.78 kms on paper may look like a chore, and could have been a chore. However, thanks to the camaraderie of the virtual running group that I am a part of, I was able to overachieve without significant effort. AND had fun along the way! Strength can be unearthed through the encouragement of others, and there is no end to your own possibilities.

To quote Katerina’s Wish by Jeannine Mobley:

It won’t be a chore, it will be a garden.

Week 26: tapering

Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. You’re only here for a short visit. So don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. Walter Hagen

Wow. Week 26. Out of my 28 week training schedule. SERIOUSLY???

It has been 182 days of training to finally reach the point of tapering for two weeks. That is akin to slowly walking up a mountain with a full backpack (that feels like it is getting heavier on some days) and base jumping down the other side! The trick is: how ready am I to jump??

source: http://www.fdwallpapers.com/desktop.php?pid=2845

Tapering is a tricky part of race preparation. It is the second shortest amount of dedicated time to a given activity in training (recovery being the shortest), and is often overlooked or full of anxiety. I can keep running the same distances and frequency, surely! Have I done enough long runs? Shouldn’t I just get a few more short ones in now – it feels odd/weird/wrong running less? 

No. No. and No!

In A Step Beyond: A Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning, Kevin Setnes discusses Arthur Newton’s ninth principle of running: resting before the race (i.e. tapering). Newton was ahead of his time. Born in 1901, he was a forefather of distance running as we know it now, introducing standards we all adopt as common place such as the long slow distance (or LSD as I prefer to call it).

Tapering has been studied and refined by coaches and runners worldwide ever since. In short, the key is to drop back the mileage in the week(s) leading up to a race to ensure the legs are fresh and the mind is sharp. To quote Owen Anderson of Running Research News:

Tapering works by producing an incredible array of positive changes for athletes, including augmented glycogen stores, increased aerobic enzymes, expanded blood plasma, upgraded economy, better repair of muscles and connective tissue, improved neuromuscular coordination, and heightened mental confidence.

Upgraded economy??!! Count me in – love me a business class seat!

So how do you do it right? There are as many articles on this as my arm is long. It varies depending upon the race distance and the runner’s capabilities and fitness. Regardless, the goal is to cut back the kms run by at least a quarter each week. So for me, running 80+km weeks of recent times, I should drop to a max 60km this week (check – I clocked 58.86kms for the week), 4okms max next week, and finally no more than 20kms in total in the week leading to the run. Sounds like a plan!

source: http://www.runwashington.com/news/994/310/Tapering-for-the-Marathon.htm

OK, so I like to use running as a metaphor for life. How does tapering fit in? Tapering makes me think of stopping to smell the roses. So often in life I find myself ploughing full speed ahead onward and upward. This leaves little time to actually appreciate the pinnacle of whatever I am trying to achieve or the moment that approaches. Creating the space in life around an important event or goal aids me in ensuring I am in the best mental and emotional space possible to enjoy it or gain as much as I can from it.

Back to Mr Hagen – we’re only here for a short visit.

source: http://rosebilal.com/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/rose1.jpg

Eat Travel Run: Dubai 2

Back in Dubai for a couple of relaxing days before heading home. It was an interesting time to be in town with Ramadan being on and the considerations around that as a tourist and as a runner.

Eat

When I used to travel a lot for work during my time in the private sector I stayed in hotels not unlike the one we stayed at in Dubai this time around: the Sofitel. A common meal for me to eat if I was staying in and having room service was always the club sandwich. It was often one of the cheaper items on the menu, but also usually substantial enough for me. With Ramadan on while we were in Dubai and restaurants are closed until sundown, the best options for tourists are either to eat in the privacy of your hotel or grab stuff from a supermarket and make it in your room. We chose to order a club sandwich off the room service menu to share for lunch. It did not disappoint. We decided to have a ‘bed picnic’ as the bed was big enough to host a family, and besides, mum didn’t want to get out of her new favourite outfit: the pyjamas she was given in business class on the flight over from London!

On our last night in Dubai – our last night of our holiday we went on a desert safari (more on that below). As part of the safari, we ate a bedoin style meal at a desert camp while watching traditional dancing. The food was right to my liking – lots of middle eastern foods. Falafel, hummus, olives, lamb kofta, etc. Meat galore! Exactly what I was after following my marathon run earlier in the day! We were greeted into the camp with a cup of Arabic coffee and fresh dates. Once again, dates – mmmm! Fresh dates are so moist and sweet, as opposed to the quite dry ones we tend to have back home. Very very moreish!

Feasting at the desert camp

Travel

As promised from last visit, the spice markets were a serious destination for us this time. As it was Ramadan, they were not open until sundown, but that was perfect. It was cooler and the sights and sounds (and smells) are different in the evening in the older part of town where the souks are. We experienced the typical hassling of the vendors trying to steer you to look at their wares and entice you into their shop. We ended up going into a few. In each one they offer some samples of dates, nuts and other items to taste and smell. Once again, mmmmm…..fresh dates! We bought quite a bit of stuff for ourselves and as presents. Hopefully we can get it back into Australia, as I know the customs department are pretty picky!

The highlight of this leg of the journey has been the incredible service and experience at the Sofitel Jumeirah Beach. Other than a slight hassle with our reservation (not in their system!), nothing was too hard, and often they anticipated our needs or exceeded expectation. For example, the lady who checked us in at the front desk had noticed on my passport that it had been my birthday the previous day, and arranged for a beautiful chocolate mouse cake to be delivered to my room that evening. I did not spot it straight away when we got back from the spice souk, and was completely surprised when I saw it on the buffet in the room. Small actions such as this really made our stay at the Sofitel extraordinary and incredibly relaxing.

Mum in the foyer of the Sofitel

On our last night we went on a desert safari. I could write an entire blog and more on the safari. It was fantastic, and well worth doing if anyone is thinking to come to Dubai. We were picked up from our hotel at 4.30, along with an Australian couple, Guy and Alicia. Including our other tour companion already in the 4WD, Marianne, the five of us made up the group that our wonderful guide, Emam had to suffer with. We were pretty chatty as a group with each other as well as with Emam, so the drive out to the desert went pretty quickly. Incredibly, it rained for a few minutes on the way out there, which was amazing as we couldn’t see any clouds and it was 42 degrees outside! The first part of the tour involved a short and easy drive across a few dunes (where we spotted some oryx) to a small shaded area where we watched a falconry demonstration. Such beautiful birds! We then went dune bashing for about 45 minutes. What great fun! Our guide/driver, Emam, was clearly very experienced, and ended up assisting a few other vehicles that had gotten bogged in the soft sand. We stopped to take some photos in the dunes before heading to the camp for the feast, dancing, tattooing, camel rides, and shisha smoking among other activities. It was a great night. Our group did mix a bit with others – there were about 20 odd cars from the same company doing the same tour; but we mostly chatted and had a great evening together. Emails swapped at the end, new friends made, and memories created.

An oryx spotted during the desert safari

Mum and Marianne watching the falconry demonstration

Dune bashing with Emam at the wheel

Mum and I on the dunes at sunset

Guy and Alicia approaching the camp

Henna tattoo work on my right leg

Mum getting a henna tattoo on her arm

Run

I only did one run in Dubai, and chose to do that entirely inside. Smart move on many fronts. If it had only been a short one, I would have done it at night, but it was going to be a long one. My scheduled distance was 41.84km, so I decided to round it up to make it a full marathon (42.2km). It was Ramadan, so there were a few considerations that I needed to take into account. It is not possible for Muslim people to consume food or fluids from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan. Similarly, it is culturally impolite for visitors and tourists to consume food or drink in public either as mentioned earlier. I need to drink quite a bit of water and some electrolyte fluids during a marathon, as well as eat some food  (peanut butter Gu and a protein bar), so I spoke with the gym staff the day prior to work out how to manage this. I was advised to lock my food and water in a locker in the ladies change rooms of the gym and just would need to go int the change rooms and take any refreshment requirement needed in there, away from the eyes of any staff or others who may be practicing Ramadan. So I set up my locker with all of the odds and ends inside it for my refuelling needs, and headed int the gym to claim my treadmill. The gym was very well equipped. There were three treadmills, and as it was over 40 degrees outside, I didn’t think I would need to fight with anyone for use of a treadmill for 4 and a bit hours. Correct assumption. Only a handful of other people came into the gym for the entire time I was there. The most frequent visitors were the staff, who would pop in roughly about every half an hour or so and offer me a freezing cold moist towel (in place of water)! Once again, amazing service from the staff. Running on a treadmill for about 4 hours 20 mins odd can be a bit tedious. Thank goodness for cable sports channels and multiple TVs! I managed to see an entire match of rugby league, some motor racing. wrestling, a bit of soccer and some cage fighting. The time went pretty quickly with such distractions, and before I knew it, lunchtime had passed and I was finished. This was my last long run before the ultra. Now my weekend runs start to progressively decrease in length. I have enjoyed them, as opposed to dreaded them – something that I was surprised about to start with.

My locker set up for fuel

Next stop: home!

Eat Travel Run: London 2

Back in London for a couple of days, wanting to be in the Ashes atmosphere. Will my luck for random tickets and events come through again, or will we be playing tourist for the day tomorrow instead of watching the first day at Lords? Time will tell!

Eat

After doing the Jack the Ripper ghost tour (awesome, by the way), mum had a hankering for a sundae or something ice creamy of all things! The exclaimation comes from the fact that mum doesn’t really do dessert or fancy sweet things. Me, on the other hand…….MORE than happy to oblige her craving! We found a 50’s style diner (Ed’s Easy Diner) just around the corner from our hotel room and shared a stack of pancakes with ice cream and maple syrup. Yummo!

Pancakes at Ed’s Diner

It was my 44th birthday while we were in London. As a present, mum took me to the Georgian Restaurant at Harrods for high tea. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced high tea at Harrods once before, and adore their scones. For some reason I don’t seem to be able to perfect scones. I can cook. And am actually quite a good cook, having worked in cafes and restaurants years ago. However scones defeat me. So I always appreciate a quality scone! They did not disappoint. It is funny how memory can affect an experience. The best or worst of something can be made of a reasonable event, but our memory of the experience will taint it. The scones were as sweet, flavoursome and light as I recalled. They were accompanied by clotted cream and two jams – blackberry jam and a rose petal jelly. Just beautiful! A fabulous birthday lunch/brunch! We could not eat it all, so we requested to take the left overs home (ie for breakfast and arvo tea tomorrow), and before I knew it our wonderful waiter, Matthew, had brought out a little plate of some little cakes with a birthday message written in chocolate on the plate. A nice touch! Mum was quite bowled over by the rooms of the food hall in Harrods, so we went there again after high tea to ‘ooh!’ and ‘ah!’. Good thing we had already eaten our fill!

High tea at Harrods

One of the rooms in the food hall at Harrods

Travel

I think this may be part Paris/part London as it occurred on the Eurostar on the way back to London. Regardless. I surprised mum with an upgrade to first class on the Eurostar. This included a significant amount of leg room as we had a 4 seater table for the two of us. It also meant a breakfast was provided on board, and mum was able to read the daily English newspaper to read about the cricket preparations and whatever other news had occurred overnight. She quoted her father once again: ‘I wonder what the poor people are doing’, and asked me if I could be in charge of booking all of her urban train travel from Mordialloc to the city (hate to say, mum, but there is most definitely no first class on that train!). I read a few magazines (Time Out, Time, and the Economist), and enjoyed speaking some French for the last time in this trip to the train stewards. Such a beautiful language.

Mum in first class on the Eurostar

On our first night back in London we had organised to catch up with our friends, Ali and Winni-Mae again for a quick drink before doing the Jack the Ripper tour. It is always great seeing old friends like these lovely ladies. Each time we catch up it is like yesterday, yet there is so much news to share and hear. They had previously done the tour, so would not be joining us, but it came highly recommended. It was great. Only £12 a head for about an hour and a half walking tour of the area that the Jack the Ripper murders had occurred. Our tour guide, Lyndsey, was great. She had been doing research in the area for well over a decade, so knew the stories backwards. She was approaching it from a different perspective though, as she was seeking to clear the name of the most commonly named suspect, Sir William Gull. A great tour and very affordable!

One of the main reasons we came back to London at this stage of the holiday was to try to see a day of the Ashes at Lords. We tried to get tickets in advance through the ballot, to no avail. Sadly it was the same story here. We rocked up to the ground hopeful that we may be able to score a ticket or two. No luck. Scalpers were selling them for £300 each. I don’t think so! We did enjoy the atmosphere out there at the hallowed ground, and then decided to part ways for the day. Mum wanted to watch the game at a nearby pub, and I wanted to go to a running store called the Sweatshop. There is no extra room in my bags consequently. Awesome prices for running gear!

The ladies at Lords

Although we did not get to see the day’s play inside the ground, we did organise to meet up with a few friends who had managed to acquire tickets in the ballot. Georgie, Jess and Laura are all friends who we played cricket with over the years at Brighton Ladies Cricket Club, now Brighton Districts. Mum, Georgie and Laura still play on and off for the team, and I filled in a few times last season after retiring many years ago. It was great to see the gals and catch up on their own travels as well as recounting some of our own adventures.

Brighton District Ladies reunion after day 1 of the Ashes at Lords

My first ‘grown up’ corporate job was with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, GlaxoSmithKline. I joined them in 1986 at the tender age of 26. I ended up working for them for 12 years. Why mention this? Well I joined the company not long after Glaxo and Wellcome had merged, before the next merger with SmithKlineBeecham. The work of the Wellcome Trust and of Henry Wellcome in pharmaceutical development is quite well known (for example, the tablet form of medication was invented by Wellcome. Previously all medications were in powder or liquid form). Less than two blocks from our hotel in Euston was the Wellcome Trust building and the museum dedicated to Henry Wellcome’s work as well as aspects of medicine today. I had not noticed it the first day or so, but spotted it when walking back from shopping in Oxford street. It was a must to look at. The exhibit of Henry Wellcome’s collections was fascinating. The artefacts ranged from mummified body parts to lovely old glass medicine bottles to ancient amputation saws to Chinese torture chairs! You can spend hours in the exhibit, yet it was not daunting in size. Mum also went and looked at the exhibit the following day after I had told her about it as her father was a pharmacist, and mum had worked in his pharmacy as a young lady, watching him mix all of his magical potions. This exhibition is well worth a look if you are around the Euston area.

Some of Henry Wellcome’s collection of medicine jars and bottles

It isn’t a trip to London without visiting Buckingham Palace or some other royal spot. On our way to Harrods we detoured via Buckingham Palace so that mum could see it. I had run past it earlier in the day, and had seen it many times before, but it is always worth a look. Mum loved the atmosphere around the Palace. Gorgeous gates, polite police, tourists were not stressed or pushy. There was a very large collection of media tents around the square outside the Palace due to the impending royal birth, so we knew that something was going to be happening soon on that front. The birth had not occurred before we left town, so there was no chance of picking up a royal baby souvenir!

Mum at the gates of Buckingham Palace

Run

Run #1: 6.77km. Just a quickie! It was 31 degrees this afternoon in London, so I was happy to be running just a short run. Mind you I felt great, and also as we are staying in a different part of town, there is surely more exploring to do! Anyway, not long after checking into our hotel, which is very close to Euston Station, I laced up and headed out through a couple of back streets in the direction of Regent’s Park. I guessed that running there directly and doing a loop of the outer circle before heading back would be pretty close to the 6.44km scheduled for today. Pretty close estimate! It was a very pretty run around the outer of Regent’s Park. A lot of shade from large trees in the Park, which was much appreciated. The outer circle is flanked by a mass of very grand houses, apartments and buildings. There was a lot of gorgeous Georgian style architecture to enjoy. Also on the outer circle there is a running track (see pic below), a trapeze school (!!), and the London Zoo. I did venture into the Park here and there for a glance as well, but plan on running a bit of a web through the Park on one of my other runs while we are here. It was towards the end of the city workers’ lunch break, so the Park was full of people enjoying the sun. Looking forward to exploring a little more soon.

An example of the buildings on the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park

Running track on the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park

Circus School on the Outer Circle

Inside Regent’s Park

Run #2: 7.33km. I won’t write much about this run as I essentially did the same run as yesterday, give or take, plus a few extra streets. The highlight was how gorgeous and cool it was after running in 30 degrees the day prior. Running in the morning is the way to go in the middle of summer! It is going to be quite a shock to the system when I get back to Australia and have to run in dark cold mornings again!

Run #3: 16.29km – the birthday run! I thought it was time to head back down towards the Thames one last time before I left London, so I planned a route that would take me there as well as see a few lovely sights. I started my run in the same direction as the last two – heading towards Regent’s Park, but kept going until I hit Baker Street. From there I headed down to Oxford Street and around to Park Lane (Monopoly anyone?), which I took down to Wellington Arch. Naturally, being so close to the Palace, I could not resist running along Constitution Hill and right past the front gates of Buckingham Palace. There were not many people around yet, so I did not have to wade through throngs of tourists. After a quick wave to Liz and Phil, I headed down Birdcage Walk. Handily the royal guards were doing a marching drill in their parade grounds on this street, so I felt like the show was put on just for me as there was no one else around at all. Cheers! Anyway, if you follow Birdcage Walk it eventually takes you past Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Still incredible monuments to look at no matter how many times I might run past them! I did stop briefly opposite the Houses of Parliament for one last look before I followed the Thames until Blackfriars Bridge and turned left. This took me up New Bridge Road/Farringdon Road/Kings Cross Road until I was up near Kings Cross station. I then headed back along Euston Road, past our street and into Regent’s Park for one last visit. It is one of the parks that is still looking green in the current heat wave, so it is very pleasant. This was my last outdoor run in the sun, so I was very grateful for the wonderful weather England had been having.

The Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace

Inside Regent’s Park

Last London run done during the heat wave. Sweaty but happy!

Next stop: Dubai again!

Eat Travel Run: Paris 2

Back in Paris for a handful of days so managed to get a few runs in as well as enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of one of my favourite cities.

Eat

There are a few boxes that I like to tick foodwise in Paris. The croissant and coffee for breakfast at a railway station was done on the way to Blois from Tours when we were in the Loire Valley. Another I like to get in early on any visit is a caramel et fleur de sel Macaron from Laduree. Mmmm! I knew there was a Laduree outlet at one of the entrances to Printemps, so when mum and I hopped off one of the open top touring buses nearby, I made a bit of a bee-line to Printemps to acquire said macaron. Mum had a vanille macaron  while I had my fave. Sadly no picture of us consuming them as it was done with rapid reverence. But here is the empty bag to prove we were there!

The remains of our macarons!

We have enjoyed dinning in as much as out while here. Renting an apartment instead of staying in a hotel provides the opportunity through a fully equipped kitchen. Mind you, as it is summer here, we have just been making salads for dinner, and various sandwiches to take around with us. The apartment we are in has a collection of dry goods left from previous occupants – something I am sure we will contribute to. One little treasure that I found at the back of the cupboard was a bottle of truffle oil! Went very nicely on the salad I made with smoked salmon, mâché, tomatoes, goats cheese, carrots rappe, marinated beetroot, and walnuts thank you very much.

Dinner in our apartment. Smoked salmon salad with greens, goats cheese, walnuts and truffle oil (and chateau neuf de pape)

The other thing I have enjoyed (especially the days I have been running) has been a boule of ice cream. It is summer, so hey! Vanille, caramel, or speckuloos have been the flavours of the moment for me. Due to the heat my breakfast, typically porridge before a long run, has been yoghurt and fresh fruit. Being summer, all of the beautiful stone fruits are around. The cherries have been amazing, and I have felt quite indulgent enjoying a handful of cherries out of the fridge. Sweet and refreshing!

Travel

To help orient mum a bit, and to make sure she did manage to see all of the main attractions as they are spread out, we decided to do the hop on hop off tour for a few days. Our apartment is situated not far off Boulevard de Sebastapol, so we walked down to the river, crossed the bridges to the Isle de la Cite until we got to Notre Dame. We stopped in Notre Dame to sit in the square and eat our sandwiches while admiring this 850 year old cathedral. Extraordinary is an understatement.

Mum outside Notre Dame

We picked up the hop on hop off from here and did a grand circuit of most of the main sights: Musee d’Orsay, Place de la Concorde, Champs de Lysee, Arch de Triomphe, Grand Palais, Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, etc. Similar to London, mum said it was like being in a postcard. We paid for a 2 day pass as due to the public holiday on Bastille Day, we could score a third days use. On the second day of the hopping on and off safari, we headed out in the afternoon to go to Sacre Coeur. I have been here many times, but I wanted mum to see it. The steps were a little challenging initially I think, but she agreed that it was worth it when we were sitting in the church listening to high mass. We did take the funicular down though – it was going to be much faster!

Just before ascending to Sacre Coeur

As has been the case in most cities, I have caught up with a few friends. This time in Paris we went and visited my friends Andrea and Said with their lovely daughter Sarah in the 16e. I used to work with them both in Belgium a number of years ago, so it was fantastic to visit them. We were very spoilt with a beautiful rosé and a plate of nibbles to accompany the fantastic conversation.

On Bastille Day we rested a bit in the morning. Well, sort of. I ran 16.64km then rested     : )

In the afternoon we did a little more hop on hop offing (is that a verb?), before enjoying dinner together at home and heading out for a drink at a gay bar in the Marais (the area our apartment is in). The first place we tried was an interesting feminist bar, but as soon as we saw they served their drinks in plastic cups, I was out the door! Perhaps I may be a bit of a snob, but I like my coup de champagne in a glass, svp. We found another great bar/restaurant called Les Fouines, where we enjoyed a Bastille Day beverage. Very groovy spot – highly recommend it. After a couple of drinks we wandered down to the Seine just in time for the fireworks. They went for a mammoth 45 minutes!

Mum and I at Les Fouines

Bastille Day fireworks

A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to either the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay. Mum wanted to see the Louvre, so there was no objection from me on that. I planned our Louvre visit so that mum was not thrust straight into the crowds. That started by buying our tickets in advance so that we did not have to queue (that came later at the Tour Eiffel). Once inside, we headed straight for the Richelieu so that I could show mum the sculptures in the Cours Marly and Puget. It was well worth starting there as there is a lot of space, and a lot less people go to this section first.

Mum in the Cour Puget in the Richelieu wing at the Louvre

Selfie in the Cour Marly in the Louvre

After looking at the grand sculptures, we went to the apartments of Napoleon III on the first floor of the same wing. Truly worth a look if you have not seen that section of the Louvre before. The incredible artisan work on the furniture and objects of art are amazing. To ensure mum could say we saw it, after a short coffee break (is that a chocolate mousse filled eclair I see on your plate, mum?), we battled the mob to see the Mona Lisa. It is an extraordinary picture, and one of the first few pictures ever acquired by the Louvre, so it is worth a look, but you really need to steel yourself for the mob. We also looked at the large format paintings from the Italians and the French in the same wing in more leisure!

We had a lovely rest in the Jardin des Tuileries and ate our sandwich there on the way to the Tour Eiffel. At the Eiffel Tower we had to queue and queue and queue to buy a ticket to take the elevator up to the second level. We queued for over an hour and a half. I can tell you, I was a slightly grumpy thing by the time I got to the second level of the tower! Only ice cream and a sit down could calm me! The view was still spectacular as the second level is approximately 30 stories high. Mum is not so keen on heights, but wanted to tick the box of going to the Eiffel Tower. She really appreciated it.

Mum on the second level of the Tour Eiffel

Up on the second level of the Tour Eiffel

For the first time in all of the years I have been to Paris I finally made it to the Palace of Versailles. We did a half day tour where we went by bus with a group and had a tour guide who explained the rooms of the palace to us. It was well worth it. The crowds were vast, and it would have been near impossible to try to navigate the rooms with a guidebook. We did not have time to do the gardens as well As they are over 2,000 hectares. So a reason to return I think!

Mum at Versailles

Selfie at Versailles

Run

Run #1: 14.47km. My plans for my runs in Paris were to pick a different side and direction along the river each time and do an out and back. Nice idea, but not necessarily easy to implement. My first run this time in Paris was to be on the northern side and head east. So I ran down to the river again and instead of crossing the first bridge, just popped down to the Quai and off I went. Unfortunately there was some blockage along the way and I was unable to continue the same route, so I turned around and ran back towards the crossing to the Isle de la Cite and past Notre Dame to end up taking the same route as last time, but just went further. My fuel belt has proven to have been a great purchase, as no matter what distance I usually need some water in this heat (we have not had a day below the mid 20’s since leaving Australia), so carry at least one little water bottle with me in the belt. Drinking fountains are few and far between. It took a few runs to get used to wearing it, but as I am not actually carrying anything in my hands, it is fine. I was only planning to do 12 and a bit kms, but I was enjoying the sights, so ended up with a couple extra added on.   : )

My running belt with bottle cages and pockets for fuel and cash/keys

Run #2: 16.64kms. A poetic and perfect distance to have run in Paris on Bastille Day! 1664 is a well known beer made by Kronenberg in Paris. It is also the year that Louis XIV started building the palace at Versailles (where we are going in a couple of days time). Funny coincidence. Anyway, I headed out down towards the river and past the Hotel de Ville. I had planned to run along the north side of the river heading west, so I would see all of the setting up for the parade later in the morning. The plan started off well, and I trotted along the river until I reached the other side of the Louvre. Once past the Louvre however, the police would not let me run any further as it was blocked off for the parade, so I crossed the river and ran west along the south bank instead. I was amazed at how much work has been done to the Quai. Even last year when I was here and ran a similar route, this area was a little grubby with a lot of homeless people sleeping near the water. Now it is a trendy place to run, walk or hang out. There are a lot of pop up style bars built in old shipping containers and exercise areas, including rock climbing walls on the side of the Quai. I was impressed, and am keen to check the area out at night now, as I suspect it would be very lively. It was definitely lovely this morning in the sun. I am developing my summer running tan.   : )   Oh it is winter back home isn’t it? Hehe

Developing a nice summer runner’s tan

Run #3: 20.21kms. my last run in Paris (sob!) – well until next time at least! It was another gorgeous morning in the early 20’s. I headed down to the Seine and kept to the north bank in the westerly direction. This time I ran past the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Place de la Concorde, the Trocadero, past one of the three statues of liberty in France, and pretty much right to the end of the 16e along the river before turning around and running back most of the same way. However, once I hit Pont d’Iena, I took a right and directly approached the Tour Eiffel for one last good look, headed down to the Quai on the south bank and followed it all the way to Isle de la Cite before heading across the river, past the Hotel de Ville, back up Boulevard de Sebastapol and home. I have thoroughly loved running every km in Paris. Such a fantastic way to see a city, especially in other countries. I love saying ‘bonjour’ to passing runners as opposed to ‘good morning’, and hearing the same welcome in return. Running is a universal language, and as long as you learn a simple greeting I think you will be welcomed in the running community of the world.

Jardin des Tuileries

At Pont de la Concorde

Tour Eiffel

Hotel de Ville (taken Bastille Night)

Me after my last run in Paris (20.21km) – sweaty but happy!

Next stop: London again!

Eat Travel Run (actually I lie – no run this time): Loire Valley

It was only a short stay in the Loire Valley, but enough of a taste test for me to want to come back again in the future. As we were only there for the one night, we just took a back pack each for the journey, and I did not run.

Eat

At Tours Centre Gare, we had the typical French breakfast fare on the go: an espresso (hot chocolate for me) and a croissant. It really is the perfect simple breakfast. When I lived in Belgium I recall how even the smallest cafe would make their own croissants, even if they were a hole in the wall next to the train station. Walking home from the station at night the trays of rolled and shaped croissant dough could be seen sitting in the windows of the closed stores, proving overnight so that they could be cooked fresh in the morning. A plain croissant eaten for breakfast always brings back this memory, so the rich buttery flavour is infused with dark windows and small crescents of dough slowly fermenting with promise.

Travel

The kindness and warmth of strangers can never be over rated. In Tours we were fortunate enough to experience this. The premier reason we went to Tours for a short overnighter was so we could see a stage of the Tour de France come in. The secondary reason was so we could get to Chambord with less fuss in time to see the equestrian spectacular. Tours is a city larger than I had thought. It has the same population as Canberra – approx 300,000. So it is a little spread out. We walked from our hotel to the area where the stage of the Tour de France would be finishing. Mum stayed at the point where the riders had 1km to go while I jostled with the masses at the finish line. We agreed that I would come back to mum’s viewing point after I had seen enough. Watching the caravan and then the riders come in was incredible. I was standing right on the barriers, so had an uninterrupted view of the sprint. It also meant I had a great place to catch some of the give always being thrown into the energetic crowd by the caravan of sponsors. I managed to score a couple of odds and ends as souvenirs through the caravan. When the lead riders came up the last 500m, the crowd were at fever pitch and the riders responded as they threw everything they had into getting over the line first. It didn’t really matter who won the stage, as the finish was fantastic.

Mum at the 1km point of the 12 stage of the Tour de France

The sprint at the end of the 12th stage of the Tour de France in Tours

While mum was watching the Tour from her less crowded vantage point she met a local lady, Marie, who turned out to have a daughter living in Wagga Wagga (of all places). This did not surprise me as I expected mum would speak to everyone around her including the gendarmes. Marie very kindly invited us to come over to her home and meet her husband to enjoy a drink later that night. We accepted, and after mum and I had consumed an early dinner, Marie and Thierry were at our hotel to collect us. However instead of taking us to their place they gave us a guided tour of the highlights of the city, which was spectacular. So much medieval architecture in the old part of town. Really amazing. What surprised me more was that the old medieval homes were lived in by students as the rooms were so small. After driving and walking around a bit we took a seat in a square in the old town and enjoyed a drink together and some dessert that mum and I had organised. Another amazing coincidence was that Thierry was a manager of a company who was building the tram network in Tours, and had an office in Melbourne. Small world. We spoke for many hours in french and english and it was quite late when we got back to our hotel feeling very welcomed by people who clearly love their town.

The next day we went to Chateau Chambord, which was ‘in the middle of nowhere’ according to the Tours office of tourism. I don’t think they have lived in the Australian outback, so our understanding of the middle of nowhere differed somewhat. To get to Chambord we needed to take the train to Blois and were advised to take a taxi. I ignored the advice and checked out bus lines when we arrived, delightfully discovering a navette service that does a circuit of the chateaus in the area to a measly 6 euro each return. Yes please! As long as it got us to Chambord comfortably before the start of the equestrian show, I was happy. Chambord is an extraordinary Chateau. It is situated on over 5000 hectares of hunting land, and the chateau has 426 rooms, 77 staircases and an extraordinary 282 fireplaces. Leonardo Da Vinci was involved in the design of some of the chateau, so there are some quite innovative features that are not typical of architecture of the time.

Mum in front of the double spiral staircase inside Chateau Chambord.

The equestrian show was fantastic. It was a bit of an ordeal to book the tickets for it initially from Australia before we left, as it is not possible to book them online, so I had emailed requesting the tickets. However I was told that as it was entirely in French, it was not for foreigners! Red rag to a bull. I curtly replied (in French) that I spoke French, thank you, having lived in Belgium for some time, and could they please organise for the tickets. I was immediately called by the booking office and we did the transaction over the phone. Yes, the show was in French, but it was a visual event. You did not need to speak French to enjoy it, so mum loved it.

Archery during the equestrian show at Chateau Chambord

Next stop: Paris again!