It Ain't Easy Being Megan: May 2018

Wow it's been almost a year since I've updated this blog. A lot has happened in the last year. I started a new blog about living part time in Paris! This post is about both running and Paris.

On my 39th birthday I ran the 10k bois de boulogne. It's a 10k that took place in a park in west Paris. My first international race. I was suppose to run the Paris marathon, but due to lack of training I thought it best not to run. I really just started running again last month. I figured a 10k was a good distance plus I was going to be there anyway so why not?!?!

The race and packet pick up were in the Park. You couldn't pick up your packet day of so we had to go the day before, which was kinda nice because I had no idea where we were going. We took the metro and then had a short 10-15 minute walk. I think the entire trip took about an hour.

The race started at 9:30, my wave started at 9:55. We got there in plenty of time! Just like races in the US, they had someone giving out race instructions and keeping the runners energized. The only problem was it was in French. I had no idea where the start line was. In fact we found someone who spoke English and she didn't know either. Two minutes before the start the crowd started moving toward the start line. I do what I always do, follow the person in front of you.

I think there were 5 waves of runners. I just kept moving up when everyone else did. When it was my waves time to run I did hear one minute to go. Guess my French is a little better than I thought.

Start line

The gun went off and we started running! Usually when running in the US, the start of a race means running around slow runners so you end up adding distance to the run. Well the nice surprise was the French run in the correct waves. The French may not get out of your way when you are on the sidewalk and it's like playing chicken as to who is going to move, but they sure do know how to line up for a race.

The race took place in a beautiful park. The best part was the trees provided shade, so we weren't in direct sunlight for most of the run. Overall I ran the best I could. My calves were cramping up. I blame this on the stairs at our apartment. Walking up and down them all day long is one hell of a workout. I did take a few walk breaks. We kept going down hill so I just assumed at some point we would go uphill. We only had one hill which I was thankful for!

There weren't a lot of spectators, but the ones out there know how to cheer you on. I did know most of what they were saying!

Toward the end of the race we came around a corner and there it was the Eiffel Tower. Seeing that never gets old. And it kinda gave me a little boost to go faster.