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Paris/Barcelona Marathons:- Differences plz

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  • 14-06-2015 2:05pm
    #1
    Bruz82
    Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭


    Hi All,
    Completed the Barcelona Marathon in March this year and am getting the urge for another next year. The Barca one blew my mind , found it an unbelievable experience.....weather, scenery, even the running surface was amazing. Im thinking it might be hard to beat.
    Anyway I was looking at the Paris one next April and was curious as to anybody with experiences in running both and if they had opinions on good/bad (if any) on each individual race e.g. which did they prefer and why

    Thanks

    Richard


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    #2
    Bruz82
    Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭Bruz82


    Or if anyone has any opinions good / bad on Paris alone would be helpful.
    I heard/read some areas of the course might have bottlenecks , not good for people going for P.B.'s


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    #3
    Jmcmen
    Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭Jmcmen


    Bruz82 wrote: »
    Or if anyone has any opinions good / bad on Paris alone would be helpful.
    I heard/read some areas of the course might have bottlenecks , not good for people going for P.B.'s

    Done both, PB in Paris in 2014, I would have it ahead of Barcelona. Sign up

    My race report can be found here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057120534&page=6

    Good Luck


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    #4
    Run and Jump
    Registered Users Posts: 159 ✭✭Run and Jump


    Bruz82 wrote: »
    Or if anyone has any opinions good / bad on Paris alone would be helpful.
    I heard/read some areas of the course might have bottlenecks , not good for people going for P.B.'s

    Paris is a fairly flat course (apart from some sharp down-and-ups for underpasses along the river in mile 16) and once the race starts the huge field is well-managed in wave starts and a wide route. Any bottlenecks I remember were due to temporary roadworks, and the course seems mostly the same as the years I did it.

    Things to be aware of are the potential heat (the first year I did it, by midday the temperature was mid-20s and sunny), the discarded orange peels on the ground at water stations (a real slipping hazard) and the lack of support along the course compared to London or Dublin, especially in the last few miles.

    In general I'd say it's good for PBs. I got a long-standing PB there and went close another year.


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    #5
    Bruz82
    Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭Bruz82


    Cheers for the tips guys......
    Great read Jmcmen, I think a lot of it depends of the time you get and if you achieve your goal. I achieved mine in Barca and was over the moon, hence what I thought it was amazing. Do you recommend taking the gels before the race then ??

    Run and Jump:- I usually would have the music on for the last few miles so don't tend to hear the support even tho I can see it. I suppose it would be nice but not a "deal-breaker". I would be going for a PB myself.
    Thanks all


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