Running while Paris is still asleep! Who could resist that temptation? Definitely not me! Just over a year ago I took Eurostar to one of the most romantic cities in Europe and could not wait to run my next marathon.
I shared my Paris Marathon training on here, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have you spotted any of my updates? More than 3 months of hard work and preparations were finally supposed to peak in running 26 miles in the city which I love and adore.
Who would have thought that 2 years ago, when we took our two daughters to Paris to celebrate my older daughter’s 10th birthday, I would be running my next marathon here the following year?
Anyway, when I was invited to run the Paris Marathon by the Paris Marathon Team, I had no idea how well I would be looked after. Blogging sometimes brings opportunities to me that I could only dream off.
I love it when I get rewarded for all the hard work I have put into blogging in the past 10 years, and this marathon trip is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my blogging career.
But back to my Paris Marathon Memories. Grab a cuppa and enjoy reading!
Paris Breakfast Run
On Saturday morning before the marathon, I joined 5 other online influencers ( including Charlie from The Runner Beans standing right next to me in the picture above) and 3,000 runners who took advantage of a rare privilege for this new edition of the Paris Breakfast Run.
A five-kilometre run in the heart of the prestigious monuments and places which epitomise Paris’s history — the Carrousel du Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Pont Alexandre III, and a magnificent finish on the Champ de Mars, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
And the Parisian-style breakfast, served at the finish facing the Eiffel Tower, gave the French, American, British, Australian, Brazilian and Mexican marathon runners an opportunity to exchange views.
70 nations were represented in total, including Czech. Make sure you join in on the Saturday before the actual marathon and enjoy the video below to see what it was like last year!
Touring Paris
After the lovely 5km Breakfast Run we were treated to a wonderful tour of Paris. We also visited the Asics Europe headquarters, who kindly provided all our running gear for our marathon training and the marathon.
Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris 2018
43,537 runners took part in the 42nd edition of the Marathon de Paris on Sunday 8th April, and I was one of them. This colourful community was made up of 26% women, 32% foreign runners (from 115 nations) and 36% of newcomers to the distance, which wound through the world’ most beautiful city in spring-like weather conditions.
My day started by enjoying breakfast with the other influencers at Ladauree. Not only I fueled my body with some yummy fruit, granola, yoghurt and croissants, but I also paid a few visits to their super luxury toilets as wanted to avoid the ones on the course …
When it was closer to the time I was supposed to get in my running wave I said goodbye to the lovely Paris Marathon team and was getting super excited.
Entering the crowds made me feel a bit nervous, but excited at the same time. I could not wait to start
Not sure if it’s every year, but last year it was very hot and I didn’t have a hat. I never run with hats and was worried that it would irritate me. I was trying to run in shady bits of the course and avoid at least some sunshine, but of
It was amazing running through the streets of Paris with so many spectators from all over the world. I knew that my hubby and our two daughters would be waiting for me on two spots, and was trying hard not to run too fast to get to see them soon.
The first half of the marathon felt somehow easy, as expected. The only thing I ould say it that there was definitely not enough water provided on such a hot day. It was frustrating to be getting to the stations finding out there was no water left, and that we had to run a bit further to get a drink.
I always try to drink wisely, and never throw a bottle away unless it is empty, and can say that it definitely helped me get through the bits when many were thirsty and struggling without water. It does not weigh that much, and just imagine how many water bottles could have been saved … that way there would have been enough water for everyone, even the slower ones like me.
Anyway, that was the only downside I would have everything else was great.
I definitely recommend running the Paris Marathon in spring. The city was in full bloom and I will treasure my memories forever. Who knows, maybe one day I will run it again.
Au Revoir Paris! Good luck to anyone running in 2019!
Leave a Reply