Nice-Cannes Marathon Experience
The Start - Nice Cote d'Azur. Perfect running weather, overcast skies and a slight breeze.
The 2nd edition (as they say in France) of the Marathon des Alpes-Maritime, aka Nice-Cannes Marathon, aka French Riviera Marathon (www.marathon06.com) took place on November 8, 2009. The course starts in historic Nice, France with its picturesque coastline at the foot of the French Alps. The course runs along the Cote d’Azur, the mystical and romantic Mediterranean Coast, and finishes in Cannes at the steps of the Palais de Festivals, where the movie stars walk the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival.
The course runs through five villages before reaching the finish line in Cannes. As much as I fantasized about running along the blue coast and losing track of how much time I was actually on my feet running, I was glad for the change of scenery when we went inland. The architecture is a nice distraction, with a mix of modern apartment buildings, ancient forts, and colorful villages.
Pre-race jitters, don't look for port-a-potties, they don't exist. If you find a bush, use it. Men are lucky they can line up at the sea.
Coming from a land-locked state, I was mesmerized by the number and size of the yachts in all the marinas the course passes. Hitting the hills with its lush vegetation around mile 15 took us up for some amazing views. After several miles of these hills dotted with million dollar homes, cafes and cheering spectators yelling “Bravo, Madame and Monsieur, Allez” you see Cannes in the distance. “Finally, the finish line” crosses the mind, but it is deceptively farther than is perceived.
As runners our site is always on the finish line, even when training, and training is an event itself. There are setbacks and gains, highs and lows, excitement and dread. I felt some guilt for leaving my family behind and taking this trip by myself. As a family we shared the flu for two weeks instead of my training. Unfortunately, the flu came at the peak of my training, so I missed the two weeks of my highest mileage. I had the conflicting doubt and confidence that I could do this, and do it better this time around.
Entering Antibes
I set a comfortable pace and was surprised my pace was faster than any of my training runs. I was breathing easy and my legs felt light. I live and train at 6000 feet and the benefits of training at altitude were immediate while running at sea level. I was surprised at how quickly the miles slid by and I was on a goal-setting pace.
I passed mile 20, the final 10K. I was loose and running the hills strong. I was pumped. Then, what seemed like instantly, I got tight. I tried to consciously get my hips to stay loose and keep them coming around full circle. It was getting harder. The mental game set in and I made adjustments to keep my IT band from hurting. It works for now but I can feel my stride getting shorter.
Fort Carre' - built 1565
Apparently this effort is not only perceptible to me but to an English gentleman who comes up to me and strikes up a conversation. He tells me he likes my shorts, their gorgeous, but having been in my own mental world for so long I have a hard time understanding his strong accent. He asks if I’m American, I say yes, and he says he figures with those shorts. It makes me laugh and brings me out of my fog and he becomes a much needed distraction. He is running his 85th marathon and I’m guessing he’s seen many a runner struggling like I am and he becomes my guardian angel. He is gunning for the 100 marathon club; he is running his 25th marathon of this year. He tells me he gets next weekend off, and it gives me some perspective. He drops back as we go through the water station and I pick up my pace again and regain my focus. But shortly afterward I am struggling. The pacer, with his flamboyant outfit and peppy attitude, passes me and I am deflated.
Cannes in the distance
My Englishman angel shows up again and tells me, “Bring it home, Angela, only 2K left.” He helps me set my pace again, which he can’t sustain and has to walk. I continue for him and I cross the finish line with a personal best by 10 minutes. Even with a bit of disappointment I didn’t reach my goal time, I am so thankful I still had a PR. I never see my angel again, but he gets my special thanks and best wishes that he achieves his goal of completing a hundred marathons.
As I’ve been writing this I’ve been watching one of the amazingly beautiful sunrises that Colorado can produce with the clouds hues of oranges and pinks set in an azure sky. I am happy to be home. This marathon was an experience of a lifetime, and I hope all of you reading this will push yourselves to also have such an experience in your lifetime, whatever your level of participation. The important thing is live the experience and take in all it has to offer.
Beaches of Cannes
Palais des Festivals - site of the Cannes Film Festival and the Finish Line
