5 replies to this topic

[thefear]

I've just entered L Trail de Paris; 80km ending on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower. Apparently it has been going for 5 years or so, has anyone done it? I'm looking for some tips.
Cheers.

[MrUniqueName]

Looks fantastic! Will definitely add this onto my to-do list!

[hidalgo]

I did the short version last year as my first ultra.  It was ... long.  And hilly.  The scenery was pretty incredible, especially the start (the 50km option starts in the gardens of Versailles) and at the last aid station you can see the Eifel Tower in the distance and you just have to wend your way there through all the back streets and along the Seine.  The atmosphere's nice too because they print your country's flag on the bib which makes for good chattering to people.  The buffet at the finish line was magnificent.  Make sure you have your doctor's certificate clearing you to run!

[thefear]

Thanks for that. Do you know if the aid station set-up is the same for the 50 and 80? I was sort of wondering about what happens with food and gear. What food is at the aid stations, can you access gear (change clothes, head light, jacket etc) do you need a support person to bring this for you, or do you have to carry everything you'll want with you from the start? I ask b/c it seems from the website that you just need to bring everything yourself but then looking at the photos some of the runners don't seem to be carrying anything at all.
Cheers.

[hidalgo]

thefear, on 18 January 2012 - 07:00 PM, said:

Thanks for that. Do you know if the aid station set-up is the same for the 50 and 80? I was sort of wondering about what happens with food and gear. What food is at the aid stations, can you access gear (change clothes, head light, jacket etc) do you need a support person to bring this for you, or do you have to carry everything you'll want with you from the start? I ask b/c it seems from the website that you just need to bring everything yourself but then looking at the photos some of the runners don't seem to be carrying anything at all.
Cheers.

I think the 80km gets one extra aid station, so they'll be at: 22km, 56km, and 70km, the last two would be shared by the 50km event but we started earlier than the long course last year.  They had cheese and crackers (of course), water, coke, hot soup, dark chocolate, bananas, oranges, sultanas, pain d'epices (sweet dense gingerbready cake), perhaps potato chips too.  I think you have to carry all your stuff with you from the start - they had a baggage drop but that went direct to the finish line.  I suspect most people who looked like they were travelling light just didn't bring all the stuff on the mandatory gear list!

[thefear]

OK, that all makes sense. I'll get in some training with a back-pack then, finding some hills to run up will be more difficult (living in Amsterdam at the moment). Looks like I shouldn't have to carry too much in the way of food though; soup, bananas, cake and coke should do the trick. I just hope it doesn't rain. Thanks for your advice. Good luck with your next adventure!