#ParisMarathon 2015

We have just got back from a long weekend in Paris - a memorable emotional weekend.

The Paris Marathon is a superb marathon event - 54000 runners - massive. It is run over a brilliant course - starts on the Champs-Elysees past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower and finishes under the Arc de Triomphe. It is fantastically supported with allez allez allez the call and many lively bands help keeping the runners tempo up.

We all entered this marathon over a year ago. My three sons trained so hard. Son George is a more experienced runner and set himself the holly grail target - a marathon under 3 hours. James and Richard put the miles in too. Me - I did a half marathon earlier in the year. I realised pushing my knees twice as far was unrealistic and silly. However I will admit the decision not to prepare for Paris was a hard one - felt in some ways like failure - but head wins over heart most of the time.

It left me and George's partner Laura to a support, photographer and spectator role - a role we were very happy to fulfil to support the boys.

We drove to Paris via the Dover Calais ferry, parked up at Versailles and travelled into Paris centre by the excellent and cheap Paris Metro. We had rented a lovely apartment for 4 nights in the area of Sentier - so we could walk to the start.

Friday night was relatively normal. We ate out - George had a beer - but tension in the air. Saturday we went to the Marathon Expo. A huge event. The scale left you in no doubt how big the Paris event was and how big extreme running is. There were masses of stalls - lured by many. The Beaujolais Marathon - free wine and pate - the Swiss Marathon - free wine and cheese!

Saturday night dinner in. Pasta. I am going to load a family video here. It is a bit intrusive but it does everyone credit and it gives an insight into the mood.

http://youtu.be/65k1NQkq2g4

Sunday morning - the boys were up early and well prepared. We walked the 20 minutes to the start. The start was staggered - even George's category were let away in stages. James started 50 minutes after George = based on pens determined by estimated finishing times.

Laura and I rushed to the 5 mile mark by metro. The numbers passing were massive and eye boggling. The brass band were fantastic. Eventually we picked out George. He seemed behind schedule but at that time we did not know about the staggered starts. He seemed to be grimacing - not running freely - ominous and upsetting given there is so little margin of error when trying to run even clocked miles. We missed Rich - we discovered he was bombing along later - caught up in the euphoria.

Laura and I then ran down to the metro again. Off to the 20 mile point where we thought they might need the most encouragement and in the knowledge that the finish area would be difficult to access. We got a great view. George came past. He was on time. He was grim faced but smiled. He is gone in a moment. Very emotional. I had tears in my eyes from relief it was going well after all. Laura headed off to try to get to the finish in time. I stayed for Rich and James. Rich came through. He spotted me - not me spotted him. I thought he looked ok - but the reality - he later suffered from desperate cramp and was helped while on the ground with foot stretches by another runner. James came through - he was doing well. I shouted just 5 more miles thinking that would help. He told me afterwards it had the opposite effect!

Eventually we meet up after the chaos of the finish. All the boys are tired of course but the euphoria can offset that. George a fantastic 2.57. Mission accomplished. Rich a fantastic 4.0-37. James a wonderful 4.25. It makes me tearful now just writing it. 3 brothers each so different - but what a moment.

The rest of the weekend - chatter, pain, humour, brilliant food - expensive beer - the Eiffel Tower and a cruise on the Seine. Facebook I have to admit added a lot too. The boys put a massive amount in as every marathon runner does. We all took a massive amount out. Wonderful.