Paris Roubaix 2014

Second Sunday in Paris means Paris Roubaix. Probably the main reason we came was for this race as it often clashed with the Marathon de Paris. Since ASO now organises both races something had to change for the television to work. Last year Paris Roubaix immediately followed coverage of Marathon de Paris on the same channel. This year we can participate in both live.

We moved to the airport for the last three nights. It is here we hire the car for tomorrow and a very easy out directly onto the A1 peage. We will travel to the forest of Arenberg to watch the race and caravan pass. There will be a big screen just before the entrance to the cobbled section of the cobbles. I expect we will be 1km down the cobbled road and hope to catch some carnage although the weather has been fine all week and no rain expected to make things slippery.

Today we caught the train to Marches des Puses. It is a huge flea market where an entire section of town (2-3 sq km) has been converted to shonky counterfeit goods and memorabilia of Bob Marley. On the ground floor of apartments the units have been gutted into storage for market day goods. There are some antique shops and and artist section but beyond that there is really nothing artisan.

I tried a run two days ago. 15 minutes in all to the marathon finish and return. I may try a short run tomorrow but am waiting for return to oz to sort my body training out.

In Canberra at 630am, a few short hours away, Australian Running Festival commences a second day with marathon and half marathon. Good luck to all.