Checkin' in on Kel

I know how you've all been waiting with great anticipation for my cracking marathon time in Paris. Well, folks, wait no more. Deep breath... Exhale. Seriously, I hope you will indulge me as I totally toot my own horn. As you may or may not know, I ran Dublin marathon in October 2003 and managed 3 hours 56 mins or there abouts. In Rome the following March, I ran a very similar time after hitting the wall and having to walk for 3 km or so (a true feeling of despair, let me tell you). October of 2004, Ben and I ran the Loch Ness marathon. A first for him managing 3 hours 30 minutes and also a personal best for me of 3 hours 47 minutes. And now, the Paris marathon has been and gone and I am stoked to report that I smashed my personal best by 11-12 minutes and ran just under 3 hours 35 mins and 51 seconds (let's not forget those bloody 51 seconds. That put me at 189th for the senior women category (not sure how many women that includes), 384th of approx 5125 women in total (that's top 7% !) and 8200 overall out of 35000 odd competitors (top 23% overall - nae bad considering that includes over 28000 men!). I tell, you, I could have nearly reached 3 hours 30, but I blame the following... Firstly, trying to bob and weave constantly amid 35000 odd plodders. Secondly, my feet got wrapped up in a bloody bin liner at 3km and I went for a superman flight across the road. Ouchy. Thirdly, at every 5km there were orange quarters and banana halves to 'feast on' as you plodded away. Can you imagine anything more comical than trying to run over bloomin' banana skins? I was amazed there weren't more comedy slips and falls. Oh and the fourth reason I was pipped of an even better time was being man-handled by a policeman coming up to 41km (with 1km to go). He yanked me off the course thinking I was some renegade runner, when infact, my number was just on my back to get it out of the way... grrrr. No apology, he just shrugged his shoulders and took his froggy paws off me. Sure fuelled my aggressive finish over the line.
As for Ben, I ran passed poor ol' Benno at about 17 miles as he had pulled his calf muscle. I had some moments of indecision whether I should hold back and run with him or just keep ticking along. After making sure he was OK, he insisted I go... so I shot off (what a selfish cow). But he still hobbled in at 3 hours 55 or so which is a grand effort with a buggered leg!
So that just about ends my account of the marathon... there's so much more, but I won't bore you any further with split-time break downs nor reminiscences of favourite stretches of the course. God only knows you're snoozing already. And of course, there's so much more to share with you about being in the beautiful city of Paris... Staying with my fabbo friends, Alan and Lisa, just off the Champs Elysee; feasting on fine French cuisine and wines; shopping in divine stores; strolling the streets of Montmatre; sitting in the church pews of Sacre Coeur; a day of culture in the Louvre; admiring the local art in Place du Teutre; lazing about in the sun on the grassy banks of the Trocadero looking out over the Eiffel Tower; and some very fine romance. But you don't want to hear about all that ;)

Just a blip to let you know I've just been working, studying and running since the Lakes trip. Not much news there. But tomorrow afternoon I fly to Paris. Oooh la la. Really looking forward to seeing my dear Irish mates, Lisa and Al, and being in that lovely city again. The pair live just 10 minutes stroll from the Champs Elysee. Lisa is taking this Friday off work to spend wandering the streets of Montmatre with me. I'm primed for the marathon, and hoping for a time of around 3 hours 45 minutes. Ben is looking to get close to 3 hours with his predicted times from the last half marathon we ran. Corr blimey. But what I'm most excited about is Sunday night. Marathon is run, body rested and showered, and then let the champagne flow. Oh yes, you better believe there shall be fizz!