So, what does my love for France have to do with tomorrow's "Make a wish, share your dream" theme at the Runners' Lounge? Well...my running dreams involve running in France, which doesn't seem much of a dream at first. I mean, I have been to France. And while I probably didn't run while there, I am sure I skipped at some point during my excitement.
Now I have a question for you: what do you get when you add 26.2 miles, wine tastings, and rest stops that serve fresh-shucked oysters and grilled beef?
Why, the Marathon du Medoc!
(A future keg stand champion. Just look how proud her mom is.)Just listen to this description courtesy of Forbes.com:
...le Marathon du Médoc, a 26.2-mile race and wine tasting tour through the most famous vineyards of France. That's right, wine tasting. Every year 59 pedigreed châteaus with names ranging from Lafite Rothschild to Léoville Las Cases host 9,000 runners who set off from the quaint town of Pauillac in southwestern France. Rest stops along the route serve them such refreshments as fresh-shucked oysters and grilled beef. Musicians serenade them as they pass. Le Marathon du Médoc bills itself as the longest--meaning slowest--marathon in the world. Its registration form explicitly discourages applications from persons obsessed with speed records or from anyone "sad, unfriendly or stressed out." Unlike other marathons, which typically honor those fleet of foot, this one gives you a medal if you cross the finish line (back in Pauillac) within six and a half hours. But nobody runs le Marathon du Médoc for speed. They do it for the wine.
How could you NOT want to run this? I thought about trying to run it this year, but Pauillac seems out there. As in, I would probably have to rent and car and figure out how to drive in France. By myself. So yeah, I am going to have to think about that for awhile. I am going to do it. I am. One day. But I will need to get the logistics down first.
OK, next question: where can you swim, bike and run with the rich and fashion conscious French?
Well, at Ironman France in Nice, France!
While I have not completed even one triathlon yet, I already have my sights set on completing an Ironman one day. One day far far in the future. Because I am no where near ready for that. And I would somehow need to figure out, between now and the far future, just when I would find all that time to train for it. And where I would store a fancy bike. But assuming I was weathly and had a ton of time on my hands, I would love to do complete the Ironman in Nice. How amazing would that be? Complete an Ironman AND get to relax in Nice? Almost too good to be true.
Marathon du Medoc photo by Nicholas Babaian on flickr.
Ironman France photo by Sacred Destinations on flickr.
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9 comments:
Fresh shucked oysters & grilled beef at the rest stops along with wine?
THAT is an awesome dream.
Sounds like fun to me!
heheheh "the longest marathon in the world" so funny. i wonder if there is a large international group who runs it? sounds like a huge attraction!!!!
That sounds like my kind of marathon! Great post.
Wow, I've never seen that particular marathon before.
Nice!
Glad they don't expect much of a pace. LoL
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Wow that sounds like an awesome marathon to run!
That looks awesome!!!!
wow thanks for introducing me to yet another race I want to try!
The mom with the camera is the best part. Ha!
I didn't think anything could compete with IM in Kona, but France might be close. Wow.
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