It’s a very strange feeling to go to marathon run outside Ireland being alone. Even that both of us (at the moment that is the plan) should run we are getting to Paris separately. Bozena had business meeting yesterday in Orly. So, when I writing these words, sitting in the shuttle bus heading towards Paris, she already has been enjoying capital of France for last 24 hours. My Wife probably will say that it wasn’t anything pleasant cause of the strikes in here for the last two days, time spent travelling from meeting to hotel and the weight of the suitcase. Anyways, now I’m just 75 minutes from Porte Maillot. That is just 3 km walk from our hotel. Of course I will be there before checking-in time but… yeee it is Paris. Time to enjoy the city. Neither my Wife nor me ever been to that city and now we have a chance to use the marathon as an excuse for a visit. ‘Peage’, just saw that sign over the motorway number. We are so familiar with that – paid motorway. When in Nice we always have in car change for toll (sometimes change means 10 euro). Now on the motorway to Paris. Will see if that’s the city of lovers. That marathon will be my second on French soil. Mentioning that cause would like to join Globetrotter Marathon Club in the future and to do that I need to run marathons in 10 different countries. To be provisioned for a member you need to run marathons (or longer) in at least 5 countries. At the moment it doesn’t look too simple for me. I have Ireland (obviously), France, Malta and that is it for the moment. Still in plans – Czech with Prague marathon, Northern Ireland (hopefully treated as UK or separate) with couple of runs including Belfast 12 h, Italy – Gargano if everything will go according to the plan. There is of course US with New York marathon which I’m already sign for but… additional costs are huge. And the last but not least first marathon in Szczecin. September, don’t know if that won’t collide with any other runs but I would like to running this one. Would be a pleasure to race in my hometown. That will give me 8 – if all would be a go. Still missing 2 countries. Spain, Netherlands, Germany, England if NI is treated as separate country? Relatively close, marathons should be in nice places. But that probably next year or even later. Ohh, plans and future. Now I need to focus on the run in two days. I’m still have cold, probably flu as well but… run is a run. Yesterday (Thursday) I have managed to run over 10 km on the lunch break and (another toll on the motorway now) felt good. Pace was ok. Enough for marathon, even much faster than expected. In the evening second session on the treadmill – 15.2 km. Was really hot and running inside was a struggle when breathing. Yesterday I have as well printed document needed to pickup race no. It was so funny to see predicted finishing time (given by me 10 months ago) – 3:45. Now I’m much slower cause thinking more about distance not speed but back then 3:45 would time which I was setting as average for marathons. Long way since my first marathon in Cork… still not even a year.
Can’t wait to see my Wife. Journey is quite long now. Considering that I was up at 3:15 today (in bed just after midnight) and now is already 10:25 CET I have been awake for last 6 hours (little sleep in plane but that really doesn’t count). Oh, and Thursday. Bozena was flying out to Paris. Similar time of waking up. Gave her lift to airport. So, Thursday was as long day 3:30 AM to 12:10 AM. Almost an hour into bus journey. Looking outside the window. Weather – sun behind the clouds, temperature about 17 already. If will stay like that we can prepare ourselves for tricky run. Definitely sun glasses needed. I think that slowly we are getting to Paris now. First industrial estates, tunnel, traffic getting heavier. Maybe it’s because of sickness now but I think I have deja vu. Strange feeling that I know that what is outside the bus, that I was here before. Maybe that’s just a France that I love so much? Who knows. Smog – there is no such a thing in Nice. In here you can see that from miles away. Especially now, when sun is high and shining strong. Would that be a problem during run? Don’t know yet. Just want to get out from that bus. Read more
