Blog of the Friend Ricoré

Here is the account of my race last Sunday, the 29th marathon of Annecy:

For this second test of the mythical distance, my goal was to beat my 3:45 to spray in June 2007 and in particular to go under 3:35.

So I opted for an endurance athlete training plan 604bis with 4 sessions weekly for 9 weeks. I arranged with my group of course, "Ferris" in reference to the name of the street where we all live! Raphael, Aymeric and Alexis have often accompanied by 2 or 3 times a week, damn AC drives especially when you are surrounded by experienced amateurs like them, thank you guys!

We stressed the sessions threshold + 85% of the VMA with 1000m and 2000m were not included in the program ... it makes me awfully good and made me feel more comfortable in my acceleration in the race.

In short, let's get the facts: We arrived Saturday afternoon, deposits bags at the hotel where we learn that there will be showers and complimentary breakfast for runners, cool it! Time is mixed It smells like rain for the next day ... I collect my race number 155. A tower stands and towards the pasta party at the Imperial Palace, a luxury hotel where we expect a good last meal.

For the record, we ate next to Florence Scaringella who won the marathon last year and second in the scratch and finish first in V1F this year! She gave me great advice and we highly enjoyed our evening.

Florence in the top left, Celia and I on the right (source Nesbit )

A good night's sleep, got up at 6am with a time ... perfect! On the start line it's cool but the sun is already present, I go on long sleeve anyway and Corsair but I'll be hot on the limit.

Start at 8:30, there are over 1600 registered and a great atmosphere:

I spend the first kilo and between 5'12 and 4'50 to 4'40 30th kilo (I pass the semi in 1h42'07). No acceleration, I control, I have my pace, I run alone or surrounded by little zen ... but I drop a little scheme on the 30th where I'll run 5 'to the 35th of 30 kg.

The sudden drop arrives at the 35th, fortunately it is a "small bar", a club because I am not a technical knockout and continues at a slower pace but still ongoing, I spent the kilo to the finish in 5 '15 5'20 see, I would even sprint the last 100 meters but I feel my legs falter ...

the clock shows 3h28'33

I am very happy especially since I see my wife at the finish. I finished 443rd on 1414 arrivals.

And now the new record and on top of that I went down below 3:30, but I dreamed I did not do so before the thirties, it's done!

Next goal, half-marathon in Sydney September 21, 2008 to be held one week after arriving in Australia ... will follow a year of training only with maybe a few races in the corners that we pass during our road trip ...

Before leaving, I scheduled a few appointments as the rise of marmots, a 12.5 km cross near to my native village, a trail of 29km and 1200D + and some other cross ...

Thank you to all the bloggers that I leave posts of encouragement every day, you have highly motivated!