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<p>Nice to Cannes for those who just want to know where.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was part 2 of my I am a Vet Marathon adventure. Last week as a senior man I ran a 2.56 for little drama.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We flew out Friday and Rach had us in a hotel near the airport and 6kms from the start of the race. The expo was very smooth and I was registered in minutes with my preferential start. One mistake was I forgot to buy bodyglide. Whoops!!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Saturday and we decided to have lunch in Monaco blimey not cheap but was great to stand on the roads knowing that F1 happens on these streets. Sports shop spotting was a fat zero though so we headed back into Nice where I got some stuff. Evening meal was all planned except one small thing, the target restuarant was SHUT. Quick replan and pasta bolognaise was found at a Novahotel nearby.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Race morning: being one of the lucky ones I had breakfast at 6am(2hourse before the start) this works for me, bread coffee and OJ NICE :¬) The taxi arrived as planned and we gave two other chaps a lift to the start. 7am came and I stopped drinking and moved into the toilet routine use and requeue etc…….</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the pen and waiting we were delayed for 15 mins due to transport issues.</p>
<p>The start was a big city hate fest as the idiots behind pushed past and went too hard too early and the French Championship VETS who got to start in front of me were like mobile chincanes!!!! The first few kms were a living hell and I was a little annoyed, by 2kms it had improved a little but it was a full 5kms before I was running clearly. After that though it was just smooth as I moved through the field sticking to my pacing rules and gel plan. Half way appeared in just over 1.25 which given the start was cool, at this point I was moving smoothly through the field and pretty relaxed. From 15 miles the course although not hilly starts to roll and twist at a few points, many runners days ended here whereas mine was still getting better. It was however not perfect as just after 35 kms I got a hamstring twinge but today my mind was set on a target so backing off was not an option. At 38kms I had to stretch it out(5 seconds) and was straight back on the pace. 2 kms to go and planned target was there to take if I just pushed it on. Pace picked up and I was moving faster than I had during the rolling section. Second cramp stop and stretch less than a km from the line was annoying but 2.51 was achieved.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We got out of Cannes fast to avoid the masses, there are pluses to being a sub3 runner(empty trains). Hotel for a shower and then off into Nice for pizza. Happy days.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reflections</p>
<p>It is not fast but shows I am improving and that my recovery from races is pretty good. Luton is next in about 3 weeks as I stick to my winter base with pace plan(new for 2010), the target will be another minute or two faster again but this will have to be achieved without over compromising my base training.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So I am now a Vet40 and what has changed ? Nothing actually :¬)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Big weeks with big hours of training followed by a marathon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is safe to say the Dark Jogger is back in the game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I know it is a trek for you guys but if you want to see the south of France and get a race in you could do a lot worse than chose this one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was part 2 of my I am a Vet Marathon adventure. Last week as a senior man I ran a 2.56 for little drama.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We flew out Friday and Rach had us in a hotel near the airport and 6kms from the start of the race. The expo was very smooth and I was registered in minutes with my preferential start. One mistake was I forgot to buy bodyglide. Whoops!!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Saturday and we decided to have lunch in Monaco blimey not cheap but was great to stand on the roads knowing that F1 happens on these streets. Sports shop spotting was a fat zero though so we headed back into Nice where I got some stuff. Evening meal was all planned except one small thing, the target restuarant was SHUT. Quick replan and pasta bolognaise was found at a Novahotel nearby.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Race morning: being one of the lucky ones I had breakfast at 6am(2hourse before the start) this works for me, bread coffee and OJ NICE :¬) The taxi arrived as planned and we gave two other chaps a lift to the start. 7am came and I stopped drinking and moved into the toilet routine use and requeue etc…….</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the pen and waiting we were delayed for 15 mins due to transport issues.</p>
<p>The start was a big city hate fest as the idiots behind pushed past and went too hard too early and the French Championship VETS who got to start in front of me were like mobile chincanes!!!! The first few kms were a living hell and I was a little annoyed, by 2kms it had improved a little but it was a full 5kms before I was running clearly. After that though it was just smooth as I moved through the field sticking to my pacing rules and gel plan. Half way appeared in just over 1.25 which given the start was cool, at this point I was moving smoothly through the field and pretty relaxed. From 15 miles the course although not hilly starts to roll and twist at a few points, many runners days ended here whereas mine was still getting better. It was however not perfect as just after 35 kms I got a hamstring twinge but today my mind was set on a target so backing off was not an option. At 38kms I had to stretch it out(5 seconds) and was straight back on the pace. 2 kms to go and planned target was there to take if I just pushed it on. Pace picked up and I was moving faster than I had during the rolling section. Second cramp stop and stretch less than a km from the line was annoying but 2.51 was achieved.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We got out of Cannes fast to avoid the masses, there are pluses to being a sub3 runner(empty trains). Hotel for a shower and then off into Nice for pizza. Happy days.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reflections</p>
<p>It is not fast but shows I am improving and that my recovery from races is pretty good. Luton is next in about 3 weeks as I stick to my winter base with pace plan(new for 2010), the target will be another minute or two faster again but this will have to be achieved without over compromising my base training.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So I am now a Vet40 and what has changed ? Nothing actually :¬)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Big weeks with big hours of training followed by a marathon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is safe to say the Dark Jogger is back in the game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I know it is a trek for you guys but if you want to see the south of France and get a race in you could do a lot worse than chose this one.</p>
</p>
