Eric

This race also served as the beginning of my preparation for my first marathon (Paris 2023) right before my 40th birthday. Started gently amidst the crowds, a light warm-up and the second km climb.

In the downhill that follows, I manage to speed up again and regain places. At the 13th km, it starts getting tough and my small group leaves me, and I lose some places.

With mental strength, I manage to maintain a certain pace, not the aimed one, but up to the finish line. Two minutes short of the goal, but felt like I gave it all 😁😁

I had done a half marathon alone, a half in a race, and a 10km race.

I went from 4 to 5 workouts a week, so I didn't have time for strength & conditioning. I felt it during some workouts and also at the end of the race. Some workouts were very hard with the heat or low form state.

I wanted to do about 1:18:30 on 20km, it also served as the beginning of my marathon (Paris 2023) preparation just before my 40th birthday 🙂

Started gently amidst the crowds, a light warm-up and the second km climb. In the downhill that follows, I manage to speed up again and regain places.

Fueling at the 6th: couldn't drink smoothly from the bottle, felt like I was going to vomit. I was afraid to take bottles at the following fueling stops, so I stuck with my small isotonic drink bottle. I wonder today if I suffered slight dehydration at the race end.

At the 13th km, it starts getting tough, my small group leaves me, losing some places. Finished with mental strength, kept a certain pace, not the aimed one, but to the finish line.

Two minutes short of the goal, but felt like I gave it all 😁😁

5 km: 20'19"; 10 km: 39'35"; 15 km: 59'54"; 20km: 1:20'55";

Validating workouts week after week, the challenge of each workout, and observing progress each week.

I'm starting the prep for the Paris Marathon 2023 in 24 weeks!