Prologue

Anticipation, excitement. We were feeling all these things – and this was before we had even left Chez Morley @ 5.45am on Saturday April 7th – the day BEFORE the Paris Marathon! The “we” were; Phil Morley, Ginni Booker, Karen Dann et moi. Tony Sheridan was being couriered to the Airport in a private taxi – his family!

We all met up at Heathrow in good time and boarded the plane. Sheridan wanted to stay “chilled” for the race, so it was suggested that he be stowed in the hold. Air France declined this request, on the grounds that it was “a cruelty to animals issue”. So, unfortunately, Tony was allowed on board, but under strict orders not to look up the stewardesses’ skirts – largely as it wasn’t his turn!

(Sorry, Ricards suffering from hallucinations, due to excess Easter Choc!)

Both the flight over and the relay into Paris were pleasant, if uneventful. Beside the Bus Stop at the Avenue de Carnot, maps in hand, we assessed where we were. This done, we checked our bags into the Fertel Etoile (The gang of four), and then escorted Sheridan to his abode.

Once Tony had checked in, we made our way to the Marathon Expo, to collect our numbers and chips. After queuing in the wrong place for twenty minutes, Detective Sheridan located the correct place, where we signed for our chips. Ricards, the non-runner, tried to explain to the chip-hander-outer that he wasn’t running and thus had no need of the chip. Due to a lack of French on his part, he strolled away with the chip and his number, a lowly 2538.

The afternoon was frittered away, and the evening became an eating frenzy! By 10.30pm, we had gone to our separate rooms (& hotel, in Tony’s case!), with wishes of “Good Luck” and “Sleep Well”, never so earnestly meant.

The Race Day

AND SO TO THE RACE MORNING – 6am, the alarm bell rang, the gang of four gathered in Chez Morley’s for tea, excitement and post-race arrangements.

Ricards departed @ 8.15am to RUN DOWN The Champs Elysee – much to the confusion of the locals (bearing in mind that he was wearing a Paris Marathon T-shirt!). Dave had arranged to meet some friends at The Bastille (a subtle hint?) for 9am. Having run 4k in 20 minutes, it was deemed slightly quicker to take the Metro. This worked. Dave being only ten minutes behind schedule – a major improvement on his usual performance!

The three supporters (Sue & Neil hail from Guildford), took up location at the 6k marker. Wind and drizzle did not deter them from various attempts at photographing the WVR team. Sheridan was the first one through the checkpoint, alas, both he and Morley were travelling too fast for this erstwhile photojournalist. As were the girls.

Sue, Neil and Dave then moved to the far side of the Bastille, to catch the runners at the 24k mark. This would have been marginally more successful, had Ricards been a better snapper: He missed Tony, nearly snapped Morley and made two passes (attempts) at the girls, all failed alas. He did, however, shortly before the WVR gang arrived, take a photo of the leading group! (See photo).

The supporters then took the Metro to find a suitable location at the Finish. Thankfully, by this time, the sun had begun to shine. We found a good position and saw both Sheridan and Morley achieve a strong finish. However, once again, we missed the girls.

Author’s note: ask for directions to the Optician’s, then request help to find it!

Post race memories A collection of thoughts and feelings.

“None of it was as bad as we believed it would be” Ginni Brooker, Sunday 8th April 2001.(Champagne glass in hand!)

“Psychologically better coming back along the river” – between 25 and 35k.

Karen got a stitch at 37k, Ginni cajoled her along. Tony also had a bad patch at around 37k. At 42k, Ricards stood within a foot of him to take a photo – and Tony didn’t know anything about it until after the race, such was his state of concentration over the last thirty metres!

There was general agreement that it became harder after 30k, though there was “light at the end of the tunnel”, as there were only “10k to go!

Drinks stations were a little nightmarish – people just stopped in the middle of the road – with the obvious implications, near pile-ups and vented frustrations. There was one unusual drink station along the way – giving away Red Wine – guess who nearly stopped!

The traffic was not stopped from driving around the L’Arc de Triomphe. Despite the fact that the Start was on one side of it and the Finish the other!

Tony found the last 5k very hard, Phil said the same of the last 10k! “Me too!” pipes up Ricards “The Metro was mobbed!” Running through the tunnel – cold, dark and generally not nice at all.

The girls scared a limping Frenchman, when they ran alongside him and Ginni reached for her left breast! She claims this was to offer him a plaster for his foot!

MONDAY MORNING was a relaxing start to the day – unlike the previous 24 hours – baths, make up, text messages, phone calls – and that was just the boys!

The gang of five visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and a particularly pleasant restaurant, where we spent a well-lubricated hour or two! We were served by a French-speaking waitress, who spoke perfect English (with an American accent) and originally hailed from Russia!

To quote the motto of one of our local running clubs:
“We are definitely a drinking club with a running problem!”

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE – WHAT A BRILLIANT WEEKEND!” – Ricards.

The Paris Marathon – as organised by the WVR Social Committee