This has possibly been my best month of training ever: 390km of solid running (97km of those pushing the buggy), including four progressively long runs of 24, 26, 29 and 32km.
I’ve only done one race, the Boulevards de Colomiers 10km, where I finished in a very sluggish 40:48, but this month has been all about consistency in training.
I’m particularly pleased to be finishing this month feeling so strong, as one year ago it was a very different story. In September 2021 I underwent PRP therapy (injections of platelet-rich plasma) on my troublesome left knee, which forced me to have six weeks off running. Naturally, that was utter torture for this self-confessed exercise addict. Twelve months later I’m incredibly grateful to be fighting fit and pain-free!
The weather has been beautiful, the kids are back at school and as I’m “between contracts” in my temping job, I’ve absolutely made the most of my free time this month.
But why the high mileage you might ask? Well, it is no secret that I LOVED the buggy marathon I did with my daughter back in May…. so I am training for another one! It’ll certainly be my last big race with DD (who turns five before the end of the year), so I am relishing every moment of this final build-up.
The only fly in the ointment is that I’ve been unable to find a race that will accept us! My target is late November (to give a 12-week total training block from the start of the school year), but the most promising-sounding, flat, relatively local race (le Marathon de La Rochelle) has refused to let me participate with the buggy, sob! I have enquiries out with two more organisations (Nevers Marathon and the Zurich Maraton San Sebastian) but, having not heard from them, I am gradually losing hope.
So if you are reading this and have an idea for a November or December buggy-friendly marathon then please get in touch. And given the hours I’ve spent researching this topic, I’ll post below my summary of autumn marathons accessible from Toulouse, in case that is useful for anyone else out there.
I’ll keep you posted on my hunt for a suitable race… and keep your fingers crossed for me that I find one!
Autumn 2022 Marathons in France
| Date | Name | Drive from Toulouse | Parcours | Training time remaining from 4th September | FFA Label? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24th September (Saturday) | Marathon de Millau | 2 ½ hours | 220m D+ | 3 weeks | No |
| 25th September | Marathon de Tours | 5 ½ hours | Flat and fast. | 3 weeks | Yes |
| 9th October | Marathon des Landes | 2 ½ hours | 200m D+ Two laps. | 5 weeks | No (measured) |
| 16th October | Marathon de Vannes | 6 hours | 6 weeks | ||
| 23rd October | Marathon des Villages (Cap Ferret) | 3 hours | 300m D+Rough terrain in places. | 7 weeks | Unsure (measured) |
| 23rd October | Marathon de Rennes | 6 ¼ hours | Flat and fast | 7 weeks | Yes |
| 30th October | Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes (Nice – Cannes) | 5 ½ hours | Flat (one hill). Costal. (Windy?) | 8 weeks | Yes. Buggy accepted. |
| 30th October | Marathon de Guécélard | 6 hours | 8 weeks | ||
| 19th November (Saturday) | Marathon International du Beaujolais (Villefranche-sur-Saône) | 5 ½ hours | 11 weeks | Yes | |
| 20th November | French marathon Championship (Deauville) | 8 hours | 113m D+ | 11 weeks | Yes |
| 247th November | Marathon de Nevers | 5 ¼ hours | 300m D+ bit lumpy? (“assez roulant”)Point-to-point (wind?) | 12 weeks | Yes |
| 27th November | Marathon de La Rochelle | 4 hours | Fast and flat (2 laps) | 12 weeks | Yes BUT REFUSED THE BUGGY!! |
| 4th December | Nature Marathonman (Saint Mathieu de Treviers) | 2 ¾ hours | 486m D+ | 13 weeks |
