Running Training : Chasing Tour de France
One thing I changed after my first Chasing Tour de France is to put running first in the day. Running exploring a new place is the best. I can recall dozens or runs around Tour de France that I never wanted to end. After all the body is less fatigued and the racing doesn't even start until around noon and it doesn't finish until almost 6pm. Add in traffic jams and the need to get to the next destination running has to come first.
Second thing is going with the terrain. There are hilly stages, flat stages, lush and beautiful stages to run in and near. A structured training schedule goes out the window very quickly.
Third and final thing is the way we watch Tour de France. Sitting at the finish minding a spot by the fence with 100m to go while watching the big screen tv used to be ideal. Free goodies from the caravan sponsors are thrown at you. Never hungry from Haribo sweets or salty snacks or thirsty from drinking Vittel water or in the past an ice cold Nesquick.
One thing we missed was watching the helicopter scenery from comfort of a lounge or bed in Oz.
These days we might collect all the goodies at the start or finish or on course, watch in bed from comfort of the car 50 metres away from the action (nearby motel if the weather is tragic), check the internet if we are either cunning or lucky and run close when the caravan passes and again when the riders pass or finish.
After 92 Tour de France stage visits we know what works for us but it doesn't work for everyone.
Whatever the way, running comes first.
Second thing is going with the terrain. There are hilly stages, flat stages, lush and beautiful stages to run in and near. A structured training schedule goes out the window very quickly.
Third and final thing is the way we watch Tour de France. Sitting at the finish minding a spot by the fence with 100m to go while watching the big screen tv used to be ideal. Free goodies from the caravan sponsors are thrown at you. Never hungry from Haribo sweets or salty snacks or thirsty from drinking Vittel water or in the past an ice cold Nesquick.
One thing we missed was watching the helicopter scenery from comfort of a lounge or bed in Oz.
These days we might collect all the goodies at the start or finish or on course, watch in bed from comfort of the car 50 metres away from the action (nearby motel if the weather is tragic), check the internet if we are either cunning or lucky and run close when the caravan passes and again when the riders pass or finish.
After 92 Tour de France stage visits we know what works for us but it doesn't work for everyone.
Whatever the way, running comes first.
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