The only other time I've been to Paris was in April of 2001 when I ran the Paris Marathon. Travel mates were Matt Bergin (16 year DFMC veteran who also ran the marathon) and Heather (another DFMCer, our translator and cheerleader.) Good memories, indeed, as the Paris race is my marathon PR. However, running Boston ONE WEEK after racing Paris that same year was a real killer to the quads. There actually is a half-marathon in Paris in March which Tyler and I think Jack should incorpate into next year's training schedule. Forget New Bedford, let's do Paris as a tune-up!
So over the next couple days I need to choose some Paris-relate
d literature in anticipation of the trip. I already have Heminghway's A Moveable Feast and Adam Gopnik Paris to the Moon. For Kallie I picked up the fluffy, yet entertaining, Weekend in Paris by Robin Sisman. I was considering purchasing a novel about the Medieval tragic romance between Heloise 
and Abelard, however the castration aspect of that story is a bit gorey - quite the price to pay for a bit of passion! 
Any suggestions of books some of you might have read that capture the spirit and beauty of the Parisian life, history and landscape? How about restaurants or museums that we "must see"?
4 comments:
Sarah, there are so many runs in Paris that I would love to do; unfortunately the last time I was there I wasn’t a runner so I’m dying to go back and run around the city, to be running through the streets as the city comes to life would be pretty cool.
One run that I think would be interesting is to start at Arche de la Defense and then run east, down the Axe historique, ending at the Pyramide de Louvre. You’ll see all sorts of monuments, get to run down the Avenue des Champ Elysees, around Place de la Concorde, through the Tuileries Gardens and end at the pyramid, probably a good 5 mile effort.
If you haven’t visited www.mapmyrun.com, you really should check it out. Not only can you find running routes that other people recommend, you can also plug in the address of your hotel and build your own route. From there you can print out copies of the map, notate landmarks and directions. While it’s fun to get lost in a new city, doing it while running might become a bit more challenging.
Have a blast!
Here you go: The Marathon de Medoc. Ben Cheever writes about it in Strides, but the idea is that you drink wine at "water" stops for 26.2 miles. Definitely not a run for a PR.
Oh, and if you want to try the Nirvanas, Marx has them at 20% off right now b/c the next edition is coming out, so they're not so blasted expensive.
As a runner, you really have to read Art Buchwald's classic, "The Six Minute Louvre." It's very, very funny but also tells you "the big three" must sees at the Louvre, whether you're 16 or 60. Venus De Milo is really something as is the Winged Victory of Samothrace and of course, the Mona Lisa. Your daughter will enjoy the prose at the very least and I think you should probably play the mom card and make her visit all three, in six minutes or less.
I'd also take a 16 year to the Ritz. It's quite a place and she'll hear enough if she hasn't already about Princess Diana's last day. Like it or not, it's part of history now.
I'd also go to Hermes. Even a non equestrian has the appreciate the most gorgeous sadles and leather in the world. Vanity Fair ran a story a couple of months ago(Last year??? time flies)about the history of Hermes. I'm partial to the scarves myself and your own Hermes on Arlington across from the Taj has a fine selection.
I think the most important thing to do is listen to her, enjoy her company and remember the trip as an investment in memories. Notre
Dame may or may not be her thing. You might rent Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst to see before you go and that'll help her with her history a bit.
Have fun and do report back!! Good to see you at the DFMC meeting the other night. Happy training, all the best, and I'll see you Marathon Weekend.
Leslie Barron
Great suggestions! I had a bit of trouble trying to locate the "Six Minute Louvre" but it was WELL WORTH the hassle. We will definitly try and do that speed workout!
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