The Race That 20% of Geneva Runs

Happy Monday! Bo and I are so glad that we stayed in Geneva this weekend to partake in the L’Escalade festivities. We were out and about with friends all day Saturday and then spent yesterday relaxing together.

Unfortunately my week hasn’t started off well as I’ve slept more today than I’ve been awake and have been plagued with stomach issues and cold symptoms all day. Hopefully the day off work today and lots of sleep will allow me to be back in the office tomorrow! There are only 9 more working days before Christmas vacation begins so I don’t have time to be sick!

Instead of dwelling on the way I feel, let’s go back to this weekend’s race – Course de l’Escalade. In its 37th year, the Course de l’Escalade literally takes over the Old Town of Geneva for a weekend of racing events. In fact, over 40,000 people take part in the races which equals more than 20% of Geneva’s population! The weekend is an annual festival commemorating Geneva’s defeat of the Duke of Savoy in 1602.

The event is truly for everyone with distances ranging from 2km to 8km depending on category and activities including walking, running and Nordic walking.  It should be noted that the women’s distance and men’s distance are different, 4.8 km for the women and 7.2 km for the men. When people emailed organizers requesting why the difference, they stated that they assumed women wouldn’t want to run the longer distance.

Regardless of differences, we all had a blast running on Saturday! The women’s race includes two laps of the course which goes through the hilly, narrow, cobblestone streets of  Old Town Geneva while the men’s race is 3 laps of the same course. We were able to catch a glimpse of the 17-19 year old group running as we headed over to the starting area to meet the girls. Those guys were FAST!

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The three of us running met 30 minutes before our race, at 2pm, in order to get into the corral area and warm-up.  I opted for a holiday themed running outfit, sporting as much red as possible. Red was not a common color as most other runners were wearing either black or neon colors.

imagephoto 1 (2)As usual, there was an official warm-up before the start including fun music and group led stretches and exercises. The three of us opted to chat and catch up versus focus on the warm-up as we were all aiming for a PR in fun. Our goal was to take in the sights and sounds of Old Town as this truly is one of the most fun weekends in Geneva. The city felt alive with the influx of people, live bans filling the streets and scent of mulled wine lingering out of every bar.

Due to the packed streets and large group of women running, we could barely move for the first lap through Old Town as you can see from this picture. The loop took us through the old medieval portion of Geneva, around the Russian Church area, past a few small parks and through Parc Bastion. The entire course was lined with people cheering, ranging from children asking for high fives to families banging pots and pans or shaking cowbells!

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By the second lap Kerrie and I were flying through Old Town, taking our pace down to what felt like an 8:30 or so. You can tell from my smile in this picture that I was happy to be running faster and have the crowd behind and in front versus next to me. We definitely spent the first half weaving through runners, as best as possible, trying to push forward.

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We finished in 29:02, a 9:33 pace, which was perfect considering we chatted the whole way and started towards the back. I grabbed a warm cup of tea and goody bag before we each parted ways. Our plan was to meet back up to cheer the men on later in the day. Bo and I wandered through the participant area and enjoyed a warm bowl of soup before heading back home.

Bo and the rest of our guy friends didn’t run until 5pm so by the time their race started there were white twinkling lights and torches lighting their path. There were more people out lining the streets than earlier and the entire area was buzzing. There were a few of us standing together cheering for the men, sipping on hot, mulled wine and laughing at ourselves as we screamed French motivational phrases at the runners as they sped past.

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As you can tell from the neon blur above, our friend Ranald, kept a wicked fast 6:48 per mile pace while Bo and the rest of the guys all finished strong and had a blast!

The Course de l’Escalade race was a wonderful way to end the Fall running season in Geneva which included three great races following the Berlin Marathon. We are already looking forward to next year!

Your turn: Have you ever participated in an event which has different distances for men versus women?

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A New 10k PR

Yesterday was the perfect afternoon for a 10k race in Geneva!

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As soon as Meghann and Derek planned their to Geneva, I started searching for local road races. How much fun would it be to run a race with Meghann when she was in town and check off “run European race” her bucket list!

There was only one option, a local Fall 10k race in a nearby town. This was the 14th Foulees Automnales de Meyrin race which includes multiple distances – 10km, 5km, 3km for school children, 1.5km for kids and a 14 km nordic walking course.

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We didn’t know much about the course except that it was primarily on paved paths and had a later than normal start – 2:36pm! We had a late breakfast of steel cut oats, cranberry sauce, and almond butter! It was the perfect pre-race brunch, enjoyed around 11:30!

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We arrived at the bib pick-up area at 2pm, the last possible moment to pick up bibs. All of the races I’ve run in Switzerland thus far start near a school or other area where runners can use restrooms, change clothes, relax and stretch inside versus waiting outside near the corrals. It was quite nice since yesterday was colder than forecasted. It felt like 37 at the start and was a damp afternoon. Perfect running weather for us, but quite cold for Derek, our great spectator!

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At 2:30 we joined the 550 other runners, ready for a great race. We each had our own plan and therefore weren’t going to run together. Bo was focused on finishing as yesterday was his first race more than a year and his first race since his ACL surgery on August 12th. Meghann was fighting a cold, so focused on just enjoying the sights. Once upon a time I thought I’d spend November using Run Less, Run Faster to train for train for a 10k PR. We all know that I’ve spent November doing lots of cross training but very little running. Therefore, I told the gang that my goal was to run as strong as possible and see what was possible.

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At 2:36 on the dot we crossed the starting line! The first half mile was really crowded due to the narrow path. I did my best to move to the right and push forward while being conscious not to waste too much energy on weaving.

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I’ve never spent time in this town so I had no clue where the course would lead. We spent the first half navigating through a few neighborhood streets, a small park and then on the sidewalk along a highway which included a tunnel and finally into a large park which took us past CERN and through large fields. From the beginning, the course was undulating hills. Even though I was running without a Garmin, I could tell that I was pushing my pace. I know that I’m not the strongest runner when the running becomes tough. After the first kilometer I chose a “rabbit” or person in front of me who I wanted to do my best to keep up with or pass. She was wearing this year’s New York City Marathon shirt and looked happy and strong. Perfect! For the next 9 kilometers I focused on enjoying Taylor Swift and pushing through each hill with my arms and putting any pain out of my mind. As Theodora has told me many times, PR attempt should feel hard, because they are! Every time I approached a hill, I also repeated “what goes up must come down” to myself.

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While it felt like the longest 10k I’ve run in ages, I finally crossed the finish line, giving the last few meters every bit of energy I had left! I ran a strong race, pushing until the very end. A new 10k PR was mine!

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I ran the race in 55:42 or an 8:59 pace! Over a 2 minute improvement since setting my last 10k PR in Central Park in July 2013!

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I wasn’t the only one who had a great race yesterday! Meghann loved the change of scenery and versus Florida races and Bo finished feeling strong, ready to start training for a Spring race! This 10k race was the exact motivation I need for this month’s 5k in Atlanta and the next few races in the New Year.  I’m ready to start incorporating speed training into my regular workouts and see what’s possible!

What’s your preference – pancake flat or rolling hills?

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My First Half Marathon Trail Race

Today, while many of my friends were running the Chicago Marathon, Staten Island Half Marathon and Run for the Parks Half Marathon, I slipped into my Salomon trail shoes and threw on my Berlin Marathon shirt in preparation for a relaxed half marathon.

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The trail race, Run Evasion Rhone Half Marathon, was the smallest half I’ve done, including only 555 half marathon runners, including 103 females. In addition to the 555 half marathon runners, 154 people were signed up to run a half marathon relay. Renaud and I headed to the start with his wife and son about an hour before the start. Since we live just a few miles away, we arrived with plenty of time to check our bags, use the restroom, stretch and enjoy the live band before the start. I also had a chance to say hello to a few members of the Geneva Runners, a local running club, who were also running this race.  While I’ve yet to make it to one of their organized practices, their Facebook group is incredible and a great reference for all things running, cycling or triathlon in the area!

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No race start is complete without good luck kisses, especially from an adorable toddler sporting a puppy sweater!

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Right on time they called us to the starting area, complete with an announcer and live music. I made small talk with the runners around me, asking if they’d run the race before. Many of them said they run it annually and warned that the “undulating hills” are killer and to take my time. Renaud also said that I should expect my time to be around 3 hours, 1.5 times as long as my half marathon PR. 

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Renaud decided to use the race as good speed training, even though he ran more than 25 miles on Friday before work along the same trails. I told him I’d give it 100% and see him at the finish line! With a loud cheer, we were off, ready to enjoy 22 kilometers or 13.1 miles of trails along the Rhone River. Since this is a local race,  many of these trails are ones that I can run again in the future though I’d probably get quite lost. 

According to the race website, 80% of the race was on trails or gravel while the other 20% were on small roads. I considered this when deciding which shoes to wear for the race. I’ve worn my Salomon’s for 5-8 mile runs but never a half marathon distance.  However considering that it rained off and on for the past three days and 80% of the race was trails, I figured wearing trail shoes was the safe and smart option.image

As we took off, I could tell this was going to be a fast pack of runners. I kept a 9:40 for the first mile, more than respectable in many races especially considering the incline, and was already in the back of the pack. I reminded myself that I was doing this race for trail experience, enjoyment, gorgeous views, and to keep my legs in half marathon shape – nothing more. I switched my Garmin face to watch mode and started focusing on the gorgeous views along the trail. The path was marked with kilometer markers as well as white markers, hanging from tree branches, to remind runners they were on the right path.

The next 14 kilometers or 8.7 miles flew by quickly. The trail was less muddy than I expected, but some of the steep inclines & declines made me thankful for the shoes, especially in the areas with loose rocks. We had company on the trails in the form of pigs, horses and cows, whose cowbells cheered us on.  I naturally fell into a pack of ten runners who were all around my pace. We motivated each other to jog, even on the climbs, and keep moving forward.  We uttered no more than a few words to each other during our 5 or 6 miles together, but their company was exactly what I needed.

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At kilometer 14, there was refreshment stop and the relay transition point. Unfortunately, it was at this point that 8 of the ten runners waved goodbye as they veered towards the relay transition area. Damn, there went my crowd support. I walked through the refreshment stop, topping up my water bottle and savoring half a banana. By this point, I was feeling my hunger as I was, unfortunately, running without fuel. I made a novice mistake and used the bib belt we were gifted by the race during bib pick up yesterday and mistakenly put my Gu packs in the small holsters without checking that they were secure enough. At mile 5 when I went to take my first Gu I found empty holsters instead of 2 Salted Caramel Gu packs. Live and learn my friends, live and learn.

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I set off, ready to finish the final 8 kilometers on my own in the drizzling rain. My legs were starting to feel the course by this point, but I just focused on the fact that I was here to finish and nothing more. There was no time I was trying to beat, personal record on the line, or even a reason to hurry. Bo was doing a 50 kilometer long ride while I ran so I knew he wouldn’t be at the finish line for at least another hour. To break up the silence around me, I put one headphone in my ear and turned on some music, hoping it would distract me from my tight calves and quads.

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By this point I could only see a few people around me either heading up the narrow foot path or making their way through the vineyards behind me.  After a short time on a small footpath I crossed the coolest bridge and headed back onto the trails.

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The next bit wasn’t memorable, as I was surrounded by trees and vineyards with the gray sky peering down on me. I felt alone at moments, worried that I’d gone off path, only to see a single marker  within the next few seconds, confirming I was still moving towards the finish line. A mile or so later, though it felt like ages, I heard volunteers cheering. Before I knew it, the path opened up towards the vineyards, where I could see that the final 2 miles were finally here. I’d heard from others that the final 3 kilometers take you up through the vineyards including a climb with more than 15% incline. By this point, my legs were beyond dead. They were feeling the Berlin Marathon in every single step, and my calves were tightening. Up until this point I’d refused to walk, having made a promise to Renaud that I’d run as long as possible. Sure there had been lots of jogging, especially on uphill and downhill sections, but I’d kept moving, one foot in front of the other, the whole time.

By this point, I had to stop and walk up the steep incline. The views were incredible, taking my mind off of everything. Never did I imagine that I’d be running a race through vineyards with mountain tops peeking through the heavy, Fall clouds. I never thought that I’d enter a trial half marathon just for fun. Just as I was taking in the views, I saw a tall blue figure run towards me screaming. Renaud, my dear and incredible friend, had crushed the half in under 2 hours and instead of relaxing, chose to run back towards me to lead me to the finish. Bless him, as this is exactly what my soul needed. He motivated me to run by taking pictures and video along the route. He picked fresh grapes to give me as fuel and promised that the finish was near.

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The path led us out of the vineyards and back into the woods before emerging towards an open field and the finish line.

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But, before I’d finish Renaud would motivate me to do something I so rarely get to do, pick off another runner. A poor guy was struggling ahead, but he served as the perfect motivation for me to run the final kilometer into the finish. Renaud prodded me to increase my speed so I could pass him and run victorious into the finish line.

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Finally, in just under 3 hours, I reached the finish line of my first trail marathon. The miles never came easy, but each and every single mile was beyond beautiful.

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My final time put me in dead last out of the 103 females and 480th place of the 484 runners, and I couldn’t be prouder!

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I can’t thank Renaud enough for supporting me today and helping me make my way to the finish. I accomplished what I set out to do and am inspired to run more trail races, though I think the half marathon distance is the longest I care to conquer at this point.

Your turn – Trails or no? If you’ve run trail races what is your favorite distance? If not, where would you most want to run one if you could?

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