Race Reports

Kathie Baggott: Paris Marathon
April 11, 2010

Bonjour! All the anxiety behind me with a 5:37:08 finish in Paris!

Despite the volcanic eruption in Iceland and its rippling affect at airports globally, I am home. Paris is a feast! I am "processing" the experience even now.

My very dear friend, Jackie Tyner, is a wonderful traveling companion; and we could not have packed more into the time. We did a class at the Cordon Bleu, and each produced a 12 inch fruit tart with almond-based crust and almond paste filling, topped with glazed fruit. This was a masterpiece! (Thanks to the French chef who guided us and the English interpreter at his side.) We returned to the hotel and made a hit with staff and other guests as we shared this Cordon Bleu delight. (We opened the box, and there was an audible gasp.)

We mastered the Metro and the Euro and arrived at the race Expo, where I was relieved to hand over the required "doctors permission" slip and pick up my race number. We did a preliminary examination of the race start at the Arc de Triomphe and a little shopping (mostly window shopping) along the Champs Elysee.

On race morning, I joined the 4:30 corral (which was the last one). The race began on cobblestones along the Champs Elysee. With roughly 31,000 participants, it took an unnerving 18 minutes for me to cross the start and trigger the timing chip on my shoe. I passed numerous landmarks, including the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and continued along the Seine. Very impressive. Still, I confess, after running 26.2 miles (or 42 Kilometers), the finish line was a particular highlight that day.

Jackie surprised me with a celebration dinner in the Eiffel Tower restaurant! We lingered, overlooking the Seine and the city at large. As we sat in the restaurant, we took time to examine the marathon medal. The couple next to us asked about it, and I explained that I'd run the Paris Marathon. This woman saw the gold color and assumed that I'd come in first! "And you got the gold!" she exclaimed. I let about 3 seconds pass before explaining that all finishers get a medal.

Next day, we toured Notre Dame and Sacre Cour cathedrals. Google Sacre Cour and note the steps in front. Now think - post marathon! It was worth it! We met a colleague's relative, Jean Maurice, who took us to an outlying area, Reims. We toured the countryside and the cathedral as well as champagne caves cut out by German prisoners during World War I. The following day, we visited the Louvre - primarily the Italian wing (with a nod to Mona Lisa), and the Jardin du Tuillaries. Next, it was on to Versailles with its opulent interior and gardens.This is an UNESCO site commemorating the history of Louis XIV and where the Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, was signed. (For the full UNESCO list see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list.)

We enjoyed the "cafe culture" and became quickly endeared to the hotel's daily breakfast, including (potent) coffee, croissants and assorted cheeses. Again, Paris is a cultural and historical feast, and just when you think you can't take in one more thing, you learn of another site, and it calls you back for just a little more.

Paris travel brochures market romance. They talk of nurturing love in Paris. What really happens is, you fall in love WITH PARIS!