Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

Managed to escape with no hangover. I did the race yesterday ignoring the fact I had a cold. My body is getting its revenge today.

Marathon du Medoc

The marathon du medoc hit its 29th year this year. A full marathon course, the marathon weaves its way through the vineyards of medoc, near Bordeaux, with the vineyards supplying refreshments on the way. 8 members of HBT made up the 8,500 starters, with Robin 'YP' Thomas joining us for the fun (none of the many HBT medical folk would be foolish enough to sign a mandatory 'fit to race' certificate for him).

Fancy dress is tequested by the organisers, and this year the theme was sci fi. Ray picked up something from armstrongs for me, and I fashioned something out of silver material for him. At the race maybe 5% of boring gits made no attempt at dressing up (they stood out a mile, and must have felt pretty embarrassed) and a further 10% only went as far as some deely boppers and a silver survival blanket. The other 85%, trotters included, went for all out outrageousness. If Ray's outfit looked slightly camp when he tried it on at home he needn't have worried. There were many people 10x camper!

So it was surreal to line up at the start with so many hilarious costumes. I had a cold, and a dodgy Achilles. The priorities were not to get more injured and if possible make it to the finish within the 6:30 hours cut off.

The start was a bit of a bottle neck - we set off walking down a road for the first km. after 30mins we had got 2k, and to the first refreshment stop. At the standard refreshment stop ( every 2k-ish) there always water, coke, crackers, oranges, apples, bananas and fruit cake. On top of this there were also 21 wine stops, serving the wine from the vineyards you were running through. Most of the vineyards were old wine estates with beautiful chateaus, and it was a really scenic route.

The first wine stop was about 4k in. Ray was jogging alongside me, and was determined to try the lot. I was a bit concerned I might have to walk a lot of the course, so had decided to keep going for as long as possible so ran through most of the early wine stops. I probably drank about 4 of the wines in the first half, mainly when there was a good view of the chateau to enjoy. It was really surprising that all of these grand vineyard open their grounds to thousands of runners to neck their wine, and piss amongst the vines (there were about 5 portaloos in total on the whole course). You weren't required to saviour the wine either - most just knocked it back too, thought 'hmm, tastes a bit like red wine' and ran on.

The k's ticked by nicely, and I was mostly doing 8:30 min miling where I got running in the first half. I passed half way in 2:23, which wasn't bad, considering all of the walking at the start, and the refreshments. If I wasn't injured, my pb would still be do-able (it's that bad!).

So we had 4hours to do the rest of the course. Just as well. It was getting slightly undulating, never good for Achilles problems. It was also more off road, dusty, gravelly tracks through the vineyards (which makes the 2:20 record even more impressive!). The winner each year incedentally has been a member of one of the vineyard's teams of representatives (farmers, bottles, retailers etc) and there is great pride for the vineyards to have their representative win the race, or their teams to take the team prize. They are forgiven for taking it seriously.

I walked the first bit uphill at just after half way, and the nice locals were handing out chocolate brownie and rocky road. Yum. 23k the vineyard had sandwiches and a samba band, so we loitered, had a few dances. 25k, chateau lafite Rothschild, one of the most famous wines, so we had a few here, and we chatted to a Swedish guy who's outfit was just like Ray's, but way camper.

The vineyards were coming thick and fast now and we had adopted a strategy of run between them, and loiter for a dance while enjoying the wine. The snacks were getting more elaborate. Pâté on toast, 30k was chips, 34k shrimps and a pretty good rock band, 36k some folk music and a pretty chateau with two different wines, 37k we came out if the vineyards and ran along the sea, where the champagne started, followed by cognac. All you could eat oysters and more champagne at 38k, BBQ rare steak at 39k and more champagne. Ice cream at 41k.

The running got harder as time went on. I felt great - loads of energy - but my legs were getting stiffer. I could have forced myself to run but it would not have been wise, and I walked the last 4k. This didn't matter in the slightest, as if you are confident you can finish in sub 6:30, what's the hurry? There were no limits to how much you could eat and drink. I had to drag Ray away from the steak.

We finished in 6:16, some other trotters in 6:24 and the last lot times it even better finishing in just under 6:29. Finishers get a medal, rucksack, bottle of red and a plastic half pint cup, which immediately gets filled with more wine... Ray did me proud, drinking at every stop, but I was a bit worried I would have to carry him near the end. It wasn't until a few hours after the finish (and after a fair few more half pints of wine) that we had to start carrying him, thankfully.

The next day and I hope I have avoided any serious injuries. I would highly reccomend this race. Reasons why it was so good:

The views and the route were spectacular
Everyone was partying - participants and marshals
The fancy dress was so entertaining you didn't notice the running. And there was something so nice about the way noone took themselves seriously. Young old fat thin elite everyone was just having a laugh together. My fave outfit was the man in in his 60s who was just wearing a g-string and a yellow string vest. Not at all sci fi but totally hilarious.
The food was really good. Excellent fresh, chilled oysters, the steak was yum, and all races should have a chips stop.
The vineyards really seem to enjoy the hosting. I will look out for medoc wines in the future, as I have great memories of the race, and the cheery producers.

Tips:

If you want to do it entires full up quick
Try to get accommodation quick too, in or near paulliac is best.
Go for more than just the weekend - it's beautiful


This race is unsuitable for:

Anyone in serious training / racing mode
Anyone going for a pb
Anyone into their sports nutrition
In fact anyone on a diet
Anyone that doesn't like red wine
Anyone that doesn't like fancy dress
Anyone that needs to use a loo, not just go in the vines
Anyone like the bloke I heard some Brits talking about, who didn't come apparently as 'it costs a lot to enter and all there was in the goody bag was a bottle of wine'

I'm not sure anyone has turned up to a marathon worse prepared than I am...

I fact not only am i injured, I have had a really sore throat and headache all day. The race looks totally mental though. Fruit, juice, water and biscuits every 2.5k, cheese stops, oyster stops, a steak stop, a haribo stop, an icecream stop and 60 wine tasting stations, as you run past the vineyards where the wine is from. Everyone, including all the marshals in fancy dress (theme sci fi this year). Big party at the finish. And some hbt friends. Why organise a marathon any other way? I might reluctantly have to take my physio's advice. Get to the first wine stop, sit down, get comfy and get stuck in.

C • perhaps 2

tired.

Was going to be a run but achilles not up for it. Shame. Plenty of frustrations to get rid of, but I am trying to be sensible...

They were up for drills though.

Oh dear, still not enough sleep. Late night run didn't help, but it was nice. And no stiffness in the achilles this morning either. The night splint thing is really good at minimising the pain first thing. Its meant to be good for plantar fasciitis too.

C • Night splint 2

Felt truly shocking on this run. Legs empty. Not a good day for many reasons.

Headwind in. How annoying. Tired, but was up late last night making fancy dress (FFS!).

C • For yourself or the kids? 2

Was going to go on the way home from work but was too stressed at work so ran later. Good idea. I felt much better this evening. So the queens drive from home. Hilly, road, and I was going faster than I should have but fun. No time for physio now either. Oh well. Back to sensible training tomorrow.

First run of the year in the dark - spent ages digging around for a reflective vest. It's always good to be seen in the dark though.

Not the nicest cycle in. Ferocious headwind. Got stung by something. But bumped into Fran, which is always a good thing.

Set off late after titting around at work.

Ep, ratho, ratho station, then the bridle way that goes from the Broxburn roundabout to wueensferry, then dalmeny estate, crammond,along the front to leith links, loch end, restalrig and home over the as road.

Very windy. 28 miles. Way better than aquajogging.