Marathon du Médoc
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Official Result |
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My 3:21:22 in the Marathon du Médoc was a Personal Worst (of some 21 Marathons in 28 years) by nearly 10 minutes but nevertheless it was a unique, very enjoyable and memorable day in the sun.
Many have heard of the wine tasting available on the route (my Tesco-trained palate was extremely disappointed by the Château Lafitte Rothschild) but I refused the less well-known offerings of ham, steak oysters and ice-cream in the last miles.
The vast majority of the 8500 field competes in fancy dress. I was disguised as a Bedford Harriers' MV60 but I did not notice any participants obviously sponsored for charity.
The course is undulating and certainly not fast with some stretches of rough paths and shingle tracks (think Grizzly beach) but the winners return very impressive times - Nathalie Vasseur won the Ladies race for the tenth year in succession with 2:54.
The day after the race there is an 'recuperative ballade' and meal for competitors and companions. The 8km walk through more vineyards may be recuperative for tired muscles but ample supplies of the local product ensure yet further assaults on fragile livers
Bob