Paris marathon

2016, April the 3rd

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My race

I was selected in October 2015 by COMPEX company following my application on their website to join the COMPEX Team for the Paris marathon 2016. After having received a COMPEX SP 6.0 on loan at the beginning of December, I therefore started to use electro-stimulation.

After a short time of adaptation to the electrical stimulation and the sensations which are particular, the first tests are conclusive !
Finding myself injured at the same time (Achilles tendinopathy), I used the COMPEX almost every day for the core workouts, muscle strengthening and also the pain relieving mode. Many programs are available to cover the maximum use with durations varying from around twenty minutes to almost 1 hour.

After a chaotic preparation, I'm on my way to Paris on Thursday March 31. Time to put my bags down at the hotel and I head to the running show to collect my bib on the COMPEX stand. I take advantage of the evening to go around the stands and watch the various events. I thought there were people, but in fact it was nothing compared to Saturday ...

I take advantage of my presence in Paris to visit all Friday and Saturday morning. With all this walking, my Achilles tendon hurts a little on Friday evening. I hope I will not worsen this injury on Sunday because I want to start and finish this 40th edition!

I've been training lately with my pair of saucony stabil, but I'm starting to wonder if my problem with my tendon is not due the shoes. After thinking about it, I decide to start with another pair (Zoot trainer). The bet is risky because, even if I have already run with it, I have never used them on long runs.

On Saturday afternoon, I return to the running show for an appointment at 3 p.m. on the COMPEX stand to take a photo with the whole team.

After a good night's sleep, wake up at 6:15 am, have a quick breakfast then head towards avenue Foch to join the COMPEX team under the tent. I don't stay long because the departure time is approaching and I have to warm up. I'm going for a little walk, then I decide to return to the corral. Little moment of stress because I can't find the entrance, but finally a volunteer will guide me.

The start is given at 8:45 am, shortly after the handicap departure. The start is fast, I get carried away a bit but quickly I decrease the intensity to run at a speed of 13.5 km/h. During the first 5 kilometers, a lot of questions cross my mind ... Do I make a mistake in running a marathon for my tendon ? Did I make the right choice to take other shoes?

The kilometers pass, I feel good, I accelerate slightly by running now at 14km/h and stay tuned to my sensations. From the 10th km I understand that my feet will suffer along these 42 km. I feel the front of the foot compressed, the toes pressed against each other, and the bottom of the left foot begins to be painful.

The advantage is that these pains focus my attention and I don't think about my tendon. From the 8th to the 23rd I am stable in my pace except in the 16th km I have to stop in the Bois de Vincennes to empty my bladder… I am now starting to feel a little discomfort in the tendon, I decide to decrease the pace and returns to 13.5 km/h.

The atmosphere is really extraordinary all along the course, there are a lot of musical groups, and the public, numerous, encourages all the runners. I keep going until the 29th before slowing down to cross the 30th wall ... my legs hurt, I have to walk a bit. Then I run again.

The pace dropped, but it doesn't matter, I didn't come to beat my personal best, but I came to enjoy Paris. I am now running at 12 km/h. In my head echoes an article that I read few days before which described the course: "at the 34th a beautiful hill awaits the runners", I think only of that, so much, so that when the 34 km sign arrives, I stop to walk even it's perfectly flat as far as the eye can see…

The mind is not there.

I hydrate myself correctly at the food supplies, gather my strength and after having walked almost one km, I run again to climb the beautiful hill of the 35th. I loved the musical atmosphere at the Bois de Boulogne, it was refreshing. I feel weak again in the 41st, then I re-motivated myself to finish running. I cross the finish line in 3H22', delighted.

My tendon was not too painful, I know that I'm not yet healed. I’m going to let time to take care of myself and I hope I can get down to business in June so that I can be ready to beat my personal best in November at La Rochelle marathon.

Conclusion :

A very big atmosphere on this marathon with many spectators, many runners. Running this marathon with Team COMPEX was really a plus.

Route

Elevation profile

Pictures

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Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. Henry Ford

Crying can give you sympathy, sweat will give you results. Laurent Vicente

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