Late deals
I WAS standing in the middle of the Champs-Élysées on a perfect spring morning when something magical happened.
More than 43,000 people shared the moment as Vangelis’s musical score from Chariots of Fire started playing above our heads.
It’s normal to be nervous on a marathon starting line but this was the first time for goosebumps.
When the track finished, runners representing 146 nationalities were told: “Paris is yours”.
What unfolded over the next few hours was the highlight of a whirlwind weekend in one of the world’s most captivating cities.
It started less than 48 hours earlier at Parc des Expositions in Porte de Versailles.
An expo is standard for any major city marathon and the scale of Salon du Running was impressive.
I arrived straight from Charles de Gaulle airport and collected my race pack after handing over the mandatory medical certificate.
Over the next couple of hours, I browsed the latest gear and collected flyers for future events, including the celebrated Marathon du Medoc.
It features wine refuelling stops every mile and requires a different type of stamina.
My base for the weekend was the three-star Campanile Hotel on Avenue de Flandre, La Villette.
At just £59 a night for a superior room, it was clean, comfortable and just half-an-hour on the Metro from the city centre.
The following morning, I joined 3000 runners in sunshine for the traditional 5km Breakfast Run.
The pace was relaxed and the route took us past the Louvre and along the banks of the Seine before finishing near the Eiffel Tower.
Afterwards, we were treated to croissants and pains au chocolat Flying from Glasgow to Crete on May 16 for 7 nights self catering at the 3-star Christina Apartments in Rethymnon from £197pp Flying from Glasgow to Costa Del Sol on May 27 for 7 nights self catering at 4-star Sahara Sunset Club in Benalmadena from £227pp Flying from Glasgow to Costa Dorada on May 28 for 7 nights half-board at the 3-star California Garden in Salou from £297pp For these deals and more, please visit www.barrheadtravel. co.uk or ring 0141 222 2223 as preparations got under way for the annual children’s races.
My next stop was the renowned Coutume cafe on Rue de Babylone, which sells beans from Brazil, Colombia, Rwanda and Burundi.
My Grand Crus espresso did not disappoint and, after a second breakfast of yoghurt and fresh fruit, I was ready to explore Paris.
Still in my running gear, I made my way on the subway to Sacré-Coeur, the spectacular basilica that overlooks the city.
A one-day visitor pass for zones 1-3 will set you back only £9 and it’s ideal, unless you want to travel further afield to the airports or the impressive Palace of Versailles.
Sadly, since my last visit to Paris in 2003, the security situation has changed dramatically and queues are now the norm at the city’s most popular attractions.
This is especially true at Notre Dame, where no baggage is allowed.
One thing that hasn’t changed was Berthillion, which can be found by crossing the bridge at the back of the spectacular cathedral.
My three-scoop tub of wild blueberry sorbet, gooseberry sorbet and – the top seller – pistachio was as good as ice cream gets. My final
port of call was the Arc de Triomphe. After climbing 284 steps, I reached the summit as the sun was setting.
As I took in the magnificent views, I spotted the marathon finish line on Avenue Foch. It was empty but the stage was set. Less than 13 hours later, my fifth marathon got under way with a dash down the Champs-Élysées towards the Big Wheel at Place de la Concorde.
The route took us past Place de la Bastille to Bois de Vincennes, the largest public park in the city.
As well as the congestion at the start, there are crowded sections which can make it frustrating if you get caught behind a slower pack. But the support throughout from the estimated 250,000 spectators was amazing and shouts of: “Allez Paul!” were massively appreciated.
I also can’t fault the route, which is largely flat and features several blockbuster attractions. A section along the banks of the Seine took in Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay and the Grand Palais. The Eiffel Tower can be seen across the river on the stretch along Avenue President Kennedy.
The heat – it reached 18C – made it tough going, especially in the latter stages with two tunnel sections.
By the time I reached Bois de Boulogne, I took strength from the crowd. Minutes later, I caught sight of the Arc de Triomphe. I pushed hard and found one final burst of speed to cross the line in 3:23:02.
After lonely hours of preparation, it was a memorable moment.
Unlike London and Berlin, Paris does not have World Marathon Major status.
But there is not much between it and the prestigious Boston, Chicago, New York and Tokyo events.
Also, you don’t need to get lucky in a ballot to secure a place. It may be an extreme form of sightseeing, but if you are a marathon runner, Paris is a must for your bucket list.