Paris Photos

A few photos in more or less chronological order.

(left click any picture to enlarge - back button to return)

This made up for all the pain (no not bread en francais!)

Ready to leave Northend Friday noon

Breakfast on Saturday 

So Ben does exist after all ....

..and is immediately useful!

Ready to collect race bibs etc.

The usual suspects.

Team Baincinq plus 1

Derek, Laura, Hazel, George, Jolene, and Ben

Checking out the start

Tourist pose.

Lunch stop Saturday - already looking worn out with all the tension...!

Sart line 08:40 Sunday

We started back there ...

and then ran all the way down there.

There go the fast boys ( where's George?)

Derek sees a camera!

George, Hazel, Jolene, and Laura have taken 11 minutes to cross the line but are now on their way.

George at Km11 (the only one who was paying attention at this point)

and again at Km21 - nearly half way and the sun is getting warm

John and Moira spot Hazel and Laura who spot the camera

Derek and Jolene slipped by unnoticed

Hazel at Km42 only 195m to go... Laurence standing behind looking for Laura

Laura with head down for the final run in - you can see it is hurting!

But it was worth it!!!!!!!!

Back in hotel showered and exhausted.

On the way for meeting at restaurant (Laura still talking...)

Chez Chartier for a late lunch for Team and supporters. (beer wine and red meat!!)

Team Baincinq plus 1 minus Derek who had left for earlier flight.

Medals proudly held.

Results

All of Team Baincinq survived the Paris course and recorded the following times -

George 4h 26m 07s

Derek 4h 40m 57s

Jolene 4h 47m 35s

Hazel 5h 07m 05s

Laura 5h 12m 37s

Plus 1 Ben running his first marathon recorded a very creditable 3h 31m 08s

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! 

Hiiiiiii Hooooooooooooooh

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,

Its on the plane we go,

With our luggage full of kit

and a hope that you're all fit

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,

(repeat for next 72 hours)....

Click on the following links to be inspired

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJzcUvS_NU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7Vu7cqB20

 

See if you can spot yourselves in the videos

Me? - I'm the pianoplayer

Hambe Kahle

Paris progress tracking

Last year there was a system for tracking runner's progress by sms.

The link is http://marathondeparis.jetmultimedia.fr/index_ang.php4 but registration only opens tomorrow.

Not sure how many can use this but if similar to New York may allow some to follow progress.

FUNDRAISING PLAN

OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE NOW AVAILABLE!

BainCinq merchandise is now available at http://baincinq.spreadsheadshirt.net/-/-/shop/

Dreddi

TGITTTD

With 26 days to Paris and only five to the Bath Half I guess the hard work is either now done or it is too late to worry about pushing for those extra training miles.

On sunday I ran the Devizes 10k in 58m 31s which was 3 seconds slower than my pb, BUT there was a barsteward hill in the middle and it was blowing a gale. (and of course I am saving myself for Paris.....) 

But I came third in class - winner was TEN WHOLE MINUTES faster( she is an ex pro I reckon) and second only two minutes ahead of me was my coach, two minutes behind me was the person who beat me in Broughton Gifford last year. Competitive Moi???

AND another medal for the trophy board!

This week will just be a couple of shortish runs before the half and then there are just two weekends before the race. (Tonight Jolene will be able to show me whether those early morning runs before work were fact or fiction...)

As one is supposed to have a rest after a full marathon, and by extension half a rest after a half then it seems that I can find a good reason for not beating myself up between Bath and Paris - hence the post title...

Thank Goodness It's Time To Taper Down.

Love Flossie Flatfoot

Hazel Hamstrung

In this post Purple Hazel will keep you updated with her latest injuries and treatments and the rest of us will give (probably unwanted) advice and sympathy. 

Open question: Should Hazel a) give up like her husband did for the Bath Half last year, b) stop training and have complete rest until race day, c) carry on and bravely tough out the pain d) spend loads of money on whacky treatments e) something else.

When's the post race party?

??

Ben needs some inspiration

Ben, stop wingeing and pull your finger out, barely four weeks to go.

I generally dislike gurus and their books (see Hazel for a fine selection of those). But, one of the things that got me into running was visiting a specialist running shop called Run & Become in old London town. Like the one in Bath, they make you run up and down a busy alley in shiny white trainers (being in Victoria, most people are mostly wearing suits at the time, looks very funny the first time you see it). The shop was clearly started by a couple who were inspired by a guru who preached about the higher qualities of training and sport, Sri Chimnoy. His mantra was:

'Run and become, become and run, 

run to succeed in the outer world, 

become to proceed in the inner world'

So, run and become dear boy, run and become.

Alternatively:

'Take it to the bridge' - J.Brown.

Well, I tried. 

Dreddi

Anyone else done this yet?

It must be groundrush, a first for me...out at 06.30 around the Bathampton loop and then out again this evening for Bannerdown/Bathford. I get the feeling that this is what was needed three months ago, but I've started my training programme properly now!!

(PS. I'll wager Georgeous can trump this)

A lovely day at Saltford Marina

I can recommend this run, it has everything, road work,canal tow path,footpath and lovely river views. Pick up the tow path at Churchill Bridge and onwards to Newbridge just before the bridge go right over the old railway line down the other side and onto the river side footpath. Follow this and eventually you reach Saltford Marina. Return the same way or as I did go up onto the bridge at Newbridge turn left and follow the road into Queen Square and home! Job done. 2hrs 20mins
Don't ask me how far it is, any idea Hazel?
My flabber has never been so gasted , I really must try harder to go slower during the early stages, but it was such a nice day!
Georgeous

Almost made it!

Well team, I set off with good intentions 17 miles or bust. Well I was doing really well, I thought I would do the Park and ride run, back to my place for a quick drink and maybe a date, then continue on for a few more miles till I got fed up.All was going well till I got back to my house. Incidentally timed at 1 hr 47 mins. Jane had gone next door for a cup of tea, so I staggered in there and there they were. Toasted tea cakes with jam and a cup of tea. " That's good timing, darling " said Jane.I replied that I had no time for that as I was on a mission and had some more miles to do! Her argument was persuasive, the tea cakes looked great, I weakened, and before I knew it I had sat down and was devouring a tasty tea cake. What else could I do. My legs seized up, I was stuck!There was no going back, and that was the end of my run. I really must try harder next time.

Owww

Still suffering with injury problems; can't walk today, after running 16 miles yesterday. Owww.

Regular physio visits, including acupuncture, are keeping me going, but it's a close run thing (pun intended).

Hardest part was trying to look cool, fit and pain free when I passed Georgeous and Dreddi at the end of my run yesterday...

Hazel

More Pounding

Barsteward Hill last night on my own. 44.27. Thanks for the encouraging drive-by comments George.

Dreddi

Pounding the Mean Streets of Bath

Last Sunday saw a re-run (ho ho) of the Northend-Newbridge-Northend run by Georgeous, me and our specialist pacemaker, Emmanuela. We ran out to Newbridge at a decent (Emmanuela driven) pace, getting to the turnaround point in a healthy 54 mins. George put in a dramatic acceleration on the way back and opened up a 100 yard gap on us. We worked hard to drag ourselves back but unfortunately, it was our pacemaker who fell back this time instead of me (she has not run for 2 weeks due to injury). I carried on keeping pace behind George who eventually stopped and graciously waited for me this time. We kept up the pace on the way back but I was feeling it down the London Road. Sprightly George still had running in his legs and pushed on for a sprint finish, very impressive indeed. My time was 1h 54m. 

Dreddi.

Poetry in motion

There was a Baincinqer called Hazel
Whose running was laboured (and nasal)
"Training's easy!" she'd laugh
But then injured her calf
So she's now on the physio's table.


[Any comments in limerick form only please. Thank you.]

THATS AS GOOD AS IT GETS

Well 8 o'clock Sunday morning Derek ( late again) myself and our Sardinian friend Emanuela set off from Dolphin House. Derek had decided we should do the Newbridge park and ride run. We could also show Emanuela the Bath Half course.
1 hour 50 minutes later Manuela and me lurched to a halt outside Dolphin House, I did most of the lurching, a few minutes later Derek arrived saying that he had stopped for a cup of tea and a tea cake, why didn't I think of that, maybe because I was trying desperately hard to keep up with Emanuela. I was flat out , she, I suspect, was just cruising.
We all finished feeling very pleased with ourselves,enjoy it while you can, is my motto.
Some technical details:no toilet breaks,no drinks just lots of gasping!We also went anticlockwise around Queen Square( I hope you did that Hazel) , So I'd like to think we did 13 miles but of course we would need Hazel"The Watch" Edes to check this.
Hopefully see you all during this week.
I understand that Lawrence "The Toe" Edes is not now running the Bath Half, I'm sorry to hear that Lawrence I hope your back in action before too long.
Cheers George

Cream crackered

Ran 13.25 miles today. It's a long way. I'm exhausted.

Hazel

A Nice Cup of Char & an Emergency Meeting

You can't beat a nice cup of char round at Laura's, it's almost enough to take your mind off the stupid amount of pain we are going to inflict on ourselves! 

We had our emergency meeting called by Laura but minus the hard working Jolene and, of course, the mysterious one known only as 'Ben'.

TRAVEL

George and Laura/Nigel need to book their flights, a train, a coach, a ferry...something (Laura, it IS TOO FAR TO RUN THERE!).

Jane has decided catching the occasional glimpse of a sweaty husband is not her idea of a romantic weekend in Paris - fair doos.

WE MUST BOOK A HOTEL! 

See my email

CHARITY

We are going to support whatever charities we individually choose to support. I think we agreed to set up joint Just Giving websites for any charity we support, eg. a single site for all of us to jointly support Dorothy House, The Magic Garden etc. Derek might do this.

Hazel is going to check with the Magic Garden if money raised for them will go to a local project.

TRAINING

Mondays - usual Templars run at 7pm, possible joined with a pre (6pm) or post (8pm) run - check with Derek or George on the day.

Tuesdays - 9.20AM from George's

Thursday - 7pm from Georges, or request a space to accompany Derek to the University for hill reps whilst Freddie is swimming (leave Derek's at 5.30pm).

Saturdays - 7am long run from George's (approx 2 hours.)

Sunday - 7am long run from George's (if not on Saturday).

MEDICAL CERT.

Don't forget, I saw today they need to receive the cert. by 14 March, or you have to take to the expo.

Back in Action

After a 2 week lay off I have just completed my first run. That flu was a killer! I managed to get around the Cleveland bridge loop. Only one short stop half way up the b.........d! only because I dropped my glove!
Sounds like you had a good run on Saturday, I'll be with you soon. Nice to see you back in action Sharon, I thought you had retired!
I didn't know that holding up a stone wall was part of the training!!

Also Jane has decided that watching me run around Paris would be like watching paint dry, she saw me in the Bath Half, so she will not be coming to Paris.

Onward and upward...

As noted by Derek in the earlier post, on Saturday we mounted a sucessful ascent of the 'double barsteward'. On the basis that "Hillwork is speedwork in disguise" we managed to keep on going and ended up completing a tough eleven miler to kick off 2009.

As you can see from the photo, we were all still smiling at the end. What you can't see from the photo is that we were all so exhausted that we stayed in that position for over an hour... ;-)

Doing the Double Barsteward

Hazel, Laura, Sharon and I headed out on Saturday to do the double barsteward, which is running down London Road, over Cleveland Bridge and then up up up North Road (ie. barsteward 1) to the University Campus, backdown and then up the original barsteward hill to Bathampton and back to Northend. I think this was their first time going up North Road and I think they enjoyed it immensely (sort of!), Laura pumping her arms in fine style approaching the top followed close behind by Purple Hazel and Sharon. Barsteward 1 conquered, I expected to head back down and home but I was shocked and impressed that they were going to continue on to come back via Combe Down, a much longer route. Sadly (with tears in my eyes!), I had to get home sharpish and elected the most direct and flattest route home, via the canal and London Road.

My first 7 miles for me of the year completed after a lazy Christmas.

(Dreddi)

Jolene and Derek Go Shopping

I bumped into Jolene last Saturday waiting for a bus into town with a friend to go to the sales. I was also on my way to the sales but ran off feeling a little bit smug by running in!