Paris Marathon

Last weekend Steve Fowles, Mike Taylor and Julian withers also travelled over the water, but went South to France to take part in the Paris Marathon. On their own admission, their training prior to the event had been a bit patchy and they were not really expecting to do too well.
The start was amazing with the masses racing down the Champs d'Elise and across the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. The race then went out into a forest to the east of the city before turning to head back towards the crowds who lined up along the river Seine and then along to the cathedral of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower before entering the park by LongChamps race course and on to the finish on Ave Foch and in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
The only downside to the race was the celebratory beers which cost them 9 euros (£7) a pint, but they had probably earned them.
Steve was first home in 3hrs 27min with Mike Taylor not far behind in 3hr 31min and Julian Withers also beating his prevoius time of five years ago by a minute, to cross the finish line in 3hrs 46min.