After the half marathon on Sunday, I have been feeling a little sore, but very pleased with my efforts. Not wanting to put this good morale to waste, I was straight back on my bike again yesterday commuting to work. I wasn't looking for good times here, the morning ride was probably one of my slowest to date, and the evening ride, I certainly felt going up Shooters Hill. Still, it was just a case of keeping the miles ticking along, and keeping the legs as loose as possible.
Today, I started looking for some more challenges to put in between the Brighton and Amsterdam Marathon's. I've had my eye on the Great Langdale half marathon in the Lake District as a very challenging half nearer to Amsterdam, as well as the Humber Bridge half marathon in June. I can see how I can plan something around each of these, and still keep the family interactive around the events. All will become clear in due course.
Anyway, in all this looking around, I came across a marathon that is right up my street. It's also right up the street of many others I know. I first came across Le Marathon du Medoc in article written by someone who had just run it. She opens her writeup with, 'six hours, 42 kilometres, 23 glasses of wine. Not my normal race strategy, but then this was not a normal race.' That got my spider senses tingling, and I could do nothing, but read more.
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| A cutting from the banner on the official website |
The event is set in South West France, in the Medoc region, which, as I'm sure most people will be aware is full of fantastic wine. Around 30 vineyards open their doors to celebrate this race, and whilst running along, you can expect to come across a plethora of drinking stations, where you will get a snifter of all this wine, as well as a celebration of small French cuisine, such as foie gras, cheese, cheese, escargots, and cheese. I don't know if there is that much cheese, but I like the stuff, and would look forward to it tremendously with all that wine floating about.
What on earth can be better than that? You do have to run in fancy dress, to a theme of their choosing. I consider this a negative, there is a restriction in completing the race within 6 hours, 30 mins (to discourage the inevitable enjoyment of the hospitality at each station). Again, another negative, but most likely a positive. They even hold a massive dinner the night before, where it is described, 'that it's a wonder the 8,000 runners even make it to the start of the race.'
Oh boy, I may need to save some money for this one. Give it time, and I'm sure I can convince Mrs. Banks it's a good idea for us to travel to the southern French vineyards for a weekend holiday.
Just do me a favour, and not tell her what the plan entails.
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