My team Saint Jean de Mont wanted me to do this race but unfortunately, it was the same day as the Boise 70.3 Ironman. 

Video Grand Prix de Beauvais

There are some other great Tri videos like last year’s Grand Prixs and some Ironmans on this site as well: http://www.triclair.com/videos/telechargement-videos-triathlon.php

The day before races can be tough when rest is the prescription of the day.  Not so when entertainment is available in abundance.  With the Tour de France opening up in Monaco with a challenging TT I was captivated to French TV all day.  After watching talented rider after rider tear up the course the favorites started taking their shot.  Seeing Fabian Cancellara obliterate the field by 20 seconds was stunning.  I put my hand on the TV while they showed replay after replay of his dominance in hope of absorbing some.  I scrutinize his form for any secrets that I might incorporate.  Yes, this would surely make me faster for tomorrow’s Triathlon in Le Mans.

Knowing little about this race other than the competition would be good with Stephan Bignet, Gregory Bouttier, and Christian Mac Cartney and that it was a river swim, I was excited for the new experience.  The woman got a 10 minute head start and I watched Hortense go off with the front of the pack.  It was several minutes later before they let the men enter the water.  The refs ever present in their authority.  The men packed the entire width of the river a few scores deep while I lined up in front on the left side.  You couldn’t see far down the river because of a quick left turn followed by a right.  The gun went off and I was challenged by Bignet and Allen for the lead.  My speed in the beginning proved to be enough as I took the lead and kept the pace honest the rest of the way.  It was cool to see the crowd running and fast walking along the river bank to keep up and see the swim take shape.  I did my best to make the spectators run. 

It always feels good to be leading a race but there was some unnecessary fatigue.  Concentrating on my form kept me in front but Bignet and Allen were enjoying a comfortable draft.  The three of us had gaped the rest of the field.  That surprised me a little being that the down river swim was more likely to keep everyone close. 

Thinking ‘Cancellara’ I hoped on my bike and took off like the famed Tour de France rider.  Well, OK, maybe if you add another 200 watts to my output.  Especially, considering my legs and lungs did not seem up for the task of speed.  A short ways into the bike leg Bignet took hold of the race.  Five miles later and Bouttier rode by staying on the horizon for a while before pulling out of sight. 

Allen and I rode in third and fourth the rest of the way.  I rode in third the majority of the time and always felt like my effort was too easy or to slow.  However, my body didn’t want to be talked into anymore than it was already putting out.  It’s funny; leading into this race I would have thought my race would be better than the week before in Saint Jean de Mont.  It was not to be, the sun, and travel, and training had enhanced my fatigue.

In the last half of the first lap on the bike I saw Hortnese in front of me.  It revived me to see her and made the suffering less so.  It was good to see her so close to the front of the race, riding in 5^th position.

With about 5 kilometers to go I entered a round-about and turned down the wrong street.  Oblivious to my mistake I pedaled on.  Allen followed me.  Then, something didn’t feel right and the road looked unfamiliar.  I heard some shouting, horns, and whistles.  Allen had realized the mistake and was turning around.  Augh!  I turned around and 200 meters ahead I saw Mac Cartney correctly navigate the round-about. 

The mistake had cost me effort and time and put me in 5^th position.  Miffed, I charged ahead, caught back up and passed the two riders with less than a kilometer to go. 

Christian was first out of T2 and his pace was too much for me to match.  Allen and I hung around each other a while before I faded.  And faded, and faded, and faded.  The humidity was stifling me and I could barely jog.  It surprised me to be so completely exhausted but I trudged on as best I could. 

Down the finishing chute I let the bad feelings and suffering wash itself away and managed a smile.  The crowds are really something in France.  A race that stared out well and went sour none-the-less rewarding in its experience.

Starting in on several cups of coke, water, OJ…like 10 Hortense was already in the finishing area.  She explained to me how she was DQ’d.  Her race belt had fallen off during the bike, which must be on you at all times for the bike and run.  A ref found it on the side of the road.  Coming into the second lap on the run a ref held up her ‘found’ race belt and gave her a red card.  To be honest, if her second lap was going to be anything like mine was…she was fortunate.  But she was hungry to do the second lap anyway and disappointed.  I had to talk her out of running it, ‘just for fun’.

Results

Photos

Exploration is an activity that awakens my soul.  Two things happen that fill me with joy; it involves traversing new space.  The physical act of moving brings delight while encountering new terrain engages the mind.  The action being one of heart rate inducing endorphins whereby one is biking, hiking, swimming, kayaking, running, skiing, walking or any other way to scamper over land and sea.  Add to this a new environment and presto…mind, body, and soul bliss. 

With traveling comes this opportunity to explore.  Harmony ensues. 

Awaking early on our first morning in Saint Jean de Monts, Hortense and I don simple running attire and turn left onto the small road in front of the house.  The break of day rays pleasant on our skin with sea breeze air refreshing in our lungs alerts the senses.  Minutes into the run we cross a road and start on a dirt trail intimately woven with the forest.  The closeness in the trees is calming and quiet.  Several rabbits scurry into thick brush hoping not to be followed.  A favorite dish around these parts; there instincts serve them well. 

The flatness of the area as a whole gives way to rolling landscape and stunning cypress trees.  Parts of the trail feel like running through a cave, ducking branches to stay untouched.  We are motivated to make our way to the beach, knowing it could be around any corner.  The trails wander this way and that, down little valleys, up hillsides, and into clearings.  We zig zag through the forest.

Running into a quaint meadow our footsteps startle two deer.  Startled too, my senses focus on their fluid, supple, agile, and elegant movement.  I’m envious of their athleticism.  It appears nature is victorious in flourishing the deer’s skill for survival.  Within seconds they are out of sight, seconds more out of ear shot.  I run on hoping nature victorious in flourishing my skills. 

The summer solstice morphed into one of the shortest days of the year for Hortense and me.  Transcending worlds apart in a few short hours always takes the body a few days to adapt.  Leaving Boise early on the longest day of the year only to bury my head in a book on some random seat next to strangers going my way, made the days linger.  My only entertainment being the Lord of the Rings, I imagined myself as Frodo venturing off on his epic journey.  Day turned to night and minutes later the sun was teasing the horizon with bright eye catching rays.  I felt cheated, having not slept a wink. 

While I arrived at 6:30am, Hortense was on another flight arriving at 9:30am.  Augh, hanging out in the airport with my bike box and other luggage with a lack of sleep hangover was not enticing.  I threw my imagination back into Frodo’s voyage through the unknown. 

By 11am Hortense and I were sitting in the sun, soaking up a summer in Paris in Catherine and Pierre’s lovely back yard.  Ahh, summer in Paris.  The flowers, striking in their vibrancy, took over the back yard.

Shortly after that I took a 5 hour nap in the middle of a beautiful day, but I had no choice.  Hence, the reason for this writing which started around 4:22am.  Unlike yesterday, the sun peaking on the horizon is a welcome sight.  Birds singing the most unique songs grab ones attention making elaborate calls for mates or territory.  After 2 days of little more than meandering through airports I look forward to some running this morning along the river Seine.

My running attire was complete with just shoes, socks and shorts on this brisk morning, perfect for trotting along the quiet streets of Paris.  Running along the Rue de Perronet towards Seine exhilirated my senses.  Running itself felt like a new experience, with graphic stimuli speeding past my visual cortex.  Hardly a soul, the streets are mine, the freedom of movement, blood pumping, pavement stomping, big breathes, exploring…yes, I love this.  It is beautiful, life is beautiful.  

Coming up to the river I notice the first glimpse of the suns nectar on a footbridge crossing to an island.  I run to the middle only 6mins 50 sec into my run, and stop.  There, before me, the rivers path is glowing warm with the low rising sun just visible.  Looking east, directly into the sun, my eyes smile.  The mental snap shot stays with me while I run along the river, grateful to be an object in motion.