Running in Paris: 8k Along The Seine

Last weekend I went to Paris. 

(I still think it’s so cool to say that – I’ve been an American-in-London for the past 14 years and have a British passport, but even so I still think there is something special about being able to get on a train and go to a different country!)

Last weekend was also the first weekend in the build up to my next big physical challenge.  James from Kinetic Revolution has provided me with a plan and, if all goes well *and* if I stay free from malady, malaise, and harm, the plan will prepare me to cross the Egmond Half Marathon finish line on Sunday Janury 8th 2012.

My first ever half marathon.  *And* the training to take me there.  *gulp*

It’s great to have a new goal and focus for the autumn into winter.  And I’m super excited about it.

I get to continue some things that I started in the summer – like the hill training I’ve been doing with Coach T. 

I love running up Parliament Hill.  It makes me feel like I’m about 8 again, the last time I can actually remember running *and* having fun at the same time. 

I also get to try some new things.  Like the treadmill.  I had my first ever treadmill run on September 20th, when James basically held my hand and showed me how to run on the treadmill, how to keep good form, how to start and stop and not fall off, and how to use it to good effect in my training.

*And* I get to do some things that I have normally only done for races – such as running long. 

My approach for the past few years has been to minimise my run workouts as a way to manage my tendinitis and to minimise my risk of injury.  But with the biomechanics correction and resulting change to form I am doing with James, my risk of injury is getting progressively lower as I focus on strength, improve the way I use my body, and see step changes to my overall run form.  After a bit of consultation (doctors, physios, coaches) I decided there was no real reason not to try for a longer distance run in “the off season” (non-triathlon time).  And I also think that the build to a longer run could actually help me to embed and improve my running for triathlon (note I do not expect improvements to my speed – just my endurance and form). 

Last week was “long run number one” in the plan.  8k.  Since I have done 8k more than a few times before, this didn’t phase me.  But I had a different type of challenge.

I knew I was going to be in Paris, so I had to figure out where, and when, to get my run done.  Thankfully running really only requires shoes (and for me – ankle braces) – so the how was easy.  And I knew I could fit a run into my plans on Saturday morning, freeing me up to enjoy the rest of the weekend in Paris – the when was answerable.  So I was left with the “where” part of the question. 

Enter the power of Twitter.

Thanks to Caspar I got my hands on an 8km mapped run route.  Along the Seine, a perfect way to sightsee *and* to get my run done.

The Route

This was a fantastic route.  Ideal in so many ways – including being perfect for a run/walk method.  Basically, I ran for as long as I felt comfortable, and then walked – no fixed plan.  To do this, I ran from bridge to bridge (save for a few photo stops).  I ran anywhere from 2 minutes to 7 minutes at a stretch (shorter durations due to traffic lights and crossings).  Fantastic.

I actually started this run at point number 10 on the map – Pont Bir Hakkeim.  Gorgeous.  But here are the instructions Caspar gave me as annotated to the map. 

1: When you hit the river you can run the loop in both directions. However, I prefer to run clockwise. don’t know why?!? So that’s how I will describe it. Run on the sidewalk on the river side at street level. You can run at the river level, but here it is rough cobblestones and they are a pain for your ankles, so we will leave the river level for later.

2: After having crossed the road at Pont de l’Alma, run down the ramp to river level, past the river cruise boats. Continue along the river and under the bridges.

3: When you are under the pedestrian bridge, turn right into the little tunnel, up the stairs and you come out in the Jardin des Tuileries.

4: Go straight ahead until you come to the main concourse and turn right, past the fountain, up the steps and out of the park. Then turn right and go to the traffic lights.

5: Cross the road at the traffic light and turn right along the river.

6: At the pedestrian bridge, turn left and over the bridge.

7: On the other side, at street level, turn right and continue along the river. When you do the run on Sunday, between 9 and 5, the roads at the river level a closed to traffic and open for pedestrians. In that case, on the pedestrian bridge go down the steps to the river level, turn right and continue on the road along the river

8: If you’re at street level, a little after crossing the road at Pont de l’Alma again, you come to another pedestrian bridge. Just before the bridge, take the stairs down to the river level and continue along the river.

9: After passing all the tourist river boats, run up the ramp to the Pont Bir Hakeim (where the metro crosses the river above the bridge). Turn right over the bridge.

10: after the bridge turn right going down the ramp. Cross the ramp to the other side (away from the river) and at the bottom of the ramp, take the pedestrian tunnel. You will now end up again at street level along the river.

The Sightseeing

This was a fantastic route for sightseeing.  I now have photos of about 20 different views of the Eiffel Tower viewed from various locations along the Seine!

This photo is probably my favourite – the Eiffel Tower as seen from Pont Bir Hakkeim, the start and finish of my run

I won’t bore you with all the photos I took during my run, but let’s just say that nothing about this run was boring.  Especially the Jardin des Tulieres.  Sure, the route could have probably avoided this bit and just continued along the Seine for a while, but I am so glad it didn’t. 

The gardens were fantastic, and who can resist a Roman?

When I finished I headed back to my hotel room, which just happened to be about a minute’s walk from the bridge where I started and finished my loop of Paris.  I had plenty of time to get ready for the rest of the day – which of course was full of great food and wine. 

A room with a view – of a perfect day in Paris complete with sunshine and blue skies.

It is kind of hard to top this kind of start to my 16 week training plan, but I plan to keep on trying!

Thanks again Caspar for the fantastic plan for running in Paris.  It made my weekend – as well as the start to my half marathon training plan – truly spectacular.