Eco Trail de Paris (16-17March 2013)

Hello,

I'm currently planning my 2013 race calendar and after hearing several mutterings from friends and having recently completed the Eco trail van Brussel - i'm really interested in this event.

Have any other forumites done it and can offer experience/advice? Are there any forumites planning to run it this year?

Poop. This is on my list, but I've gone and booked the Reading Half for next year...

I think James Adams wrote a good report for this one - yep it's here http://www.runningandstuff.com/blog/2010/3/22/eco-trail-de-paris.html.

Hope you have a better time than he did

I've heard it's excellent too

@PMO - I've been thinking about this race for a while and deciding between 50-80km. Thanks for that blog but the page isnt there....?

@James - are you considering it as well?

Try it without the full stop on the end Emmy : http://www.runningandstuff.com/blog/2010/3/22/eco-trail-de-paris.html

Also... 80k. You know you want to!

Lol - Thanks WiB - that's worked.

80km would be great but it's a long way

Agree with WiB, if you're going to do it do it all - unless you want to do it twice...

@WiB - have you done the 80km before? Can you give me some advice about the route? It's saying 90% trails -are they visible trails or is it lots of woodland with no distinct path?

Hi Emmy - I did the 50k this year, and friends did the 80k. Very well marked and amazed there was so much woodland close to the centre of Paris, quite hilly and this year was in the blazing hot weekend we had in March so felt quite tough. The last 10K or so is along the Seine which isn't the prettiest, but finishing at the Eiffel Tower was good, and for the 80Kers they got to run to the first floor of the tower, tough stuff. The trails are distinct, narrow in places so you are in single file, only a couple of aid stations so you need to be self supported. I was very good at fuelling up afterwards though! One tip, don't have any of their electrolyte drink, it tasted like an old people's home.

Hi Kate.

Thanks for the tips. Did your friends enjoy the 80km? I'm used to the 'self sufficiency' from this weekend but wanted to check as i've heard that there are 2-3 stops on the 50km route.

@RR - I was thinking of that. I'm worried about doing the full 80km as it's relatively close to Paris.

There are 2 stops from memory on the 50K, I think it didn't seem like many on the day as it was so hot. Mr F also used Paris' equivalent of a Boris bike to follow me round which was very amusing, but he was no use with refreshments as he turned up with half a roast chicken in his bike basket. My friends have enjoyed the 80K enough to do it twice.

Thanks for the info, Kate. I like the idea of having friends on a bike.... although where did he get half a roast chicken from? I presume that it was already cooked?