There was something very special about the 2024 Olympic games – it was the first time any Olympics had included a mass participation event. While normally the Olympics are reserved for spectating the best athletes in the world, this presented a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually take part! So when I first heard back in 2021 about the plans to include an Olympic mass participation marathon, I just knew I had to try to get a place! Getting the ticket itself was quite the adventure, which I talked about in detail at the time, and consisted of me racing against my hero Eliud Kipchoge over 5km along the Champs Elysees to earn a much coveted spot on the starting line.
Nearly two-and-a-half years later, it was finally time to head over to Paris for the main event. The marathon would be the finale of the Olympic games, with the men’s elite marathon race to be held on the final Saturday morning, the women’s elite race on the Sunday morning, …… and the mass race overnight between the two! Yes, that’s right, this would be my first overnight race, with a start time of 10 pm I could expect to be running into the early hours of the morning. In fact, a number of details had come to light about the marathon that made me quite concerned that this would be my hardest race yet! In addition to the long sleepless night of running, the race would take place in mid-August, sure to be very warm at any time of the day or night. Also, the route had been released and seemed to be a rather hilly trek out to Versailles and back, with at least double the elevation of any race I had taken on before. This was looking like quite a daunting challenge, but I remained determined to succeed.
I took the Eurostar over to Paris and spent a rather beautiful couple of days acclimatising to the city. Paris was in the full swing of Olympic spirit, and everywhere you turned there were people from all nationalities decked out in their country’s flags and banners. The atmosphere seemed to be buzzing and jubilant. I went to pick up my race bib from a delightful little spot near the base of the Eiffel Tower, and strolled along the canals soaking it all in. Saturday morning came around and it was time to watch the elite mens race to see exactly what we were in for! It certainly looked to be quite a punishing route, and seeing Eliud Kipchoge drop out of the race on the second main hill was rather worrying – but there was no backing out now!
After a strange Saturday trying not to expend too much energy, and worrying what to eat, I made my way over to the start of the marathon. We huddled into our starting pens in the stifling heat as the sun set over the Seine. Neon lights turned on, and the party music started as Paris came alive to cheer us on our way over the start line!
The first 15km took place in the city. We meandered along boulevards, and through the gardens of the Louvre, where the illuminated Olympic cauldron rose into the air shining with golden light. We ran past the Eiffel Tower adorned with the Olympic rings and shimmering with lights, before heading out westwards. Here, as soon as we left the city, things suddenly changed. Gone were the cheering crowds, replaced by quieter country roads and the first main climb, a grueling 6km long drag all the way up to the halfway point at the 21km marker. It had passed midnight by now, and with the initial excitement gone, this phase was more about bedding in and reaching the summit while hopefully keeping something in the tank for the many miles that still lay ahead. A very welcome gentle descent followed, as the hot summer air finally started to cool, and we eventually made it to the Palace of Versailles; our furthest point on the course before turning back towards the city. Well into the early hours of the morning now, I ploughed on, knowing that the greatest challenge was still ahead, Then suddenly at the 30km mark looming, there it was. The Hill. Steeper and longer than anything I’ve had to tackle on a marathon course before, the hill rose sharply up almost like a ski slope, with the run route flowing through a rainbow tunnel of light that by this point seemed like a fever dream Running this kind of incline was completely out of the question for me, so like everyone around me, we hiked the solid mile or so uphill until the final peak at 32km. From now, it was supposedly the home strait downhill into the city, but exhaustion was starting to catch up with me. On tired, heavy legs, the final 6 miles were excruciating. I almost cried with relief to pass back under the Eiffel Tower legs and lungs burning, the spectators chanting ‘Allez Allez!’ to give me that final push. The blue carpet was in sight and I had made it over the line in six long hours. I finally had earned my Olympic Marathon Pour Tous medal, complete with official Olympic rings
This marathon turned out to be the hardest and slowest one that I have ever completed, and I don’t think I would choose that combination of heat, hills and sleep deprivation again in a hurry! But how many people can say they took part in the Olympic games? And came home with a medal no less! This race was never going to be about the finishing time, but the whole journey from earning the place to the physical and mental determination that kept me going when times got tough. A truly once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Paris 2024.
Monday Running 
Leave a comment