Marathon des Deux Rives · 4 September 08
So I did it. I ran 42.2km (in French) and cut 15 minutes off my best (and only) full marathon time. 4:35:53 is what I did in Québec on Aug 24, 2008. 4:50:51 is what I did in Victoria on Oct 7, 2007. So, that is a pretty great improvement, if I do say so myself! WOO!
It was something like 33 degrees and VERY humid and people were dropping like flies. The next morning the newspaper said 50 people were treated for heat related health issues and one 51 year-old, experienced marathoner, actually died 3kms from the finish line. Yikes! I watched no less than 5 of my fellow runners stumble and collapse in front of me. Which, I can’t lie, did worry me.
Myself, well… I was seeing double when I crossed the finish line and couldn’t really speak. But after I sat down in the massage tent for about 15 minutes, with a bag of ice on my head and put a litre of water in my belly, I was more or less fine.
The next day I was up and walking around Québec like a real tourist and 3 days later Ellie and I went on a 25km bike ride around Montréal. A successful marathon AND a successful vacation. Just what I always wanted.
Below is a Google map (generated by my awesome Garmin Forerunner 305) of the route. We started in Levis and ended right smack dab in the middle of Veux Québec. It was pretty picturesque running along the St.Laurence, I must say. Crossing the bridge was very cool too. Though once we were on the Québec side of the river there was no shade and it was getting close to noon and the hottest and sunniest part of the day.
uff its incredible the castle of quebec.. and the city, and the view throw the castle…about the marathon try to do it in winter… summer its too light
— calzado 21 October, 09:38 am