Faire du Jogging

This past Sunday, I ran alongside 30,000 other athletes in the 19th edition of the Semi-Marathon de Paris.  Every form of running- as sport- is called "jogging" here, which is terrible when I have to talk about my interests. Saying that I "make jogging" doesn't even sound like it should be a sport, and removes any sense of challenge that "running" invokes.   

Just another stop along the Metro...no big deal, it's only a castle

Another view of Chateau de Vincennes, where the race started.

Despite the lack of appropriate french vocab, I was impressed by the turn out of runners. The slowest start line category you could be in was 2:10, and the course closed at 2:50 after the start. No semi-marathon walkers allowed in Paris, apparently! We began the course at 10am in front of a castle (how European), ran through a huge park and into the city along the Seine, to the Bastille and back through the Chinese district.  All sorts of ethnic bands played for us along the way while fans yelled "Allons y!" and "Allez allez!"  They even printed everyone's name on their bib, so we could receive some personalized cheering. :)  

The ridiculous white trash bags we all got to stay warm

In the wake of the start

All the white trash bags discarded. Tom watched as an industrial
sweeper machine sucked them all up in less than five minutes

Running towards the Bastille

The free-sample-loving American in me was a little disappointed by the post-race fare: oranges, bananas and Powerade. I could've done without the plastic trash bags before and after, in exchange for a peanut butter bagel or breakfast burrito. But everyone else seemed more focused on the free post-race massages, which was a decent perk.  Overall it was a great race with excellent fans and beautiful weather; what more can you ask for? 

I did it!  1hr51min

Tom loved these urinals. It's really unfair that nothing comparable exists for women.

Semi-marathoners! Marcos, myself and Juan Pablo