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| Preparing for the unexpected on a vacay run... |
Running around Paris starts to feel like a chore after a
while. I’ll do my loop around the Canal or into the Buttes Chaumont. I’ll hit
the Coulée Verte, the renovated railway that serves as a peaceful oasis in the
east of the city. I’ll head towards the Eiffel Tower along the Seine as the
boats float on by and the tourists snap their photos. This all sounds romantic
and idyllic until about the 50th time. Then even the most devoted
runner and Paris enthusiast needs a break.
While most Parisians leave during the summer
because, well, it’s what you do, I’ve been lucky to sneak away a few times to
experience new locations, new roads, new trails, and new challenges. Running in
the shadow of the chateau at Chateaudun, once owned by a friend of Joan of Arc,
and hitting the beaches of the English Channel in St. Malo have proved to be
the perfect way to spice up marathon training. And a future trip to the
Mediterranean means some serious coastal coasting with plenty of SPF. A boy
needs help getting under that 4 hour mark…
But running in a new place isn’t always as peachy as it seems. Yes, there are new things to see and smell, the air may be cleaner, and the people might be friendly (they say bonojur as they run by!). But not knowing the terrain can be cumbersome when embarking on a 21km early in the morning.
