29th Annecy Marathon - 13/04/08 - 42.195 km - Annecy (dep.74)

Here is the account of my race last Sunday, the 29th Annecy marathon:

For this second test on the mythical distance, my goal was to beat my 3:45 of spray in June 2007 and specifically to go under 3:35.

So I opted for an endurance athlete training plan 604bis with 4 sessions weekly for 9 weeks. I arranged with my group of course, "Ferrie" in reference to the name of the street where we all live! Raphael, Alexis Aymeric and I was often accompanied by 2 or 3 times a week, damn AC drives especially when you are surrounded by serious amateur like them, thank you guys!

We insisted on the threshold sessions + 85% of the VMA with 1000m and 2000m, which were not foreseen in the program ... it makes me awfully well and made me feel more comfortable in my acceleration in the race.

In short, let's get the facts: We arrived Saturday afternoon, deposits bags at the hotel where we learn that there will be showers and breakfast offered for runners, cool it! Time is mixed it smells rain the next day ... I got my start number 155. A tower stands and towards the pasta party at the IMPERIAL PALACE, a luxurious hotel where we expect a good last meal.

Anecdotally, we ate next to Florence SCARINGELA who won the marathon last year and will end the first and second in the scratch in V1F this year! She gave me great advice and we highly enjoyed our evening.

Florence in the top left, Celia and I on the right (source Nesbit )

A good night's sleep, got up at 6am with a time ... perfect! On the starting line is cool but the sun is already present, I'm going on long sleeve anyway and privateer but I'll be hot on the limit.

Start at 8:30, there are over 1600 registered and a great atmosphere:

I spend the first kilo between 5'12 and 4'40 and 4'50 kilo until the 30th (I pass the semi in 1h42'07). No acceleration, I control, I have my pace, I run alone or surrounded by very little Zen ... but I fall a little scheme on the 30th where I'll run 5 'to the 35th of 30 kg.

The sudden drop arrives at the 35th, fortunately it is a "small bar", a club because I am not technical kb and continues at a slower rate during elevated but still, I spent the kilo to the finish in 5 '15 5'20 see, I would even sprint for the last 100 meters but I feel my legs falter ...

The stopwatch displays 3h28'33

I am very happy especially since I see my wife at the finish. I finished 443rd on 1414 arrivals.

And here new record and what's more I went down below 3:30, but I dreamed I did not do so before the thirties, it's done!

Next goal, half-marathon in Sydney September 21, 2008 to be held a week after our arrival in Australia ... will follow a year of training with only maybe a few races in the corners that we pass during our road trip ...

Before leaving, I scheduled a few appointments as the rise of marmots, a 12.5 km cross near my native village, a trail of 29km and 1200D + and some other cross ...

Thank you to all the bloggers that leave me encouragement of posts each day, you gave me surmotivé!