Last Saturday, 29 March, I successfully completed the ecotrail. Successful, because I finished and because I bettered my objective of 11 hours. I also set a new PR for distance.
The weather was unseasonably warm with clear skies and a temperature of about 60°F (15°C) for the noon start. Into the afternoon, it continued to warm up and rose to well over 70°F (21°C). That was warmer than I was accustomed to for so early in the year and made the mid part of the race more challenging than expected.
Gaby dropped me off at the start area at the park in Trappes. There were 1582 runners at the start line.
Here is a link to the course map and elevation profile: http://ecotrail.livetrail.net/parcours.php?course=80km
Copied image of the profile:
There were 4 aid stations on the course and here are my entry times at each:
| passage point | km | speed (km/hr) |
+elev. (m) | race position | time | race time |
| Trappes | 0 | 12:00 | ||||
| Buc | 24.3 | 10.39 | 281 | 779 | 14:19 | 02:19:42 |
| Meudon | 22.6 | 7.07 | 637 | 801 | 17:31 | 05:31:22 |
| Chaville | 11.2 | 6.55 | 217 | 828 | 19:14 | 07:14:18 |
| St Cloud | 12.5 | 7.86 | 262 | 847 | 21:13 | 09:13:21 |
| Trocadero | 9.6 | 6.24 | 94 | 820 | 22:46 | 10:45:53 |
The first 12 km is flat and makes for a good warm-up. With all the other runners you have to be vigilante and avoid unexpected obstacles like holes, ruts, and branches while at the same time be careful not to be tripped by other runners as you jostle for position in the crowd. The track was on compacted dirt and gravel.
I was feeling good at the 1st aid station but probably did not drink enough for the warm race conditions. I started out with a full 2 liters of water and still had some left when I got there. I topped off the tank and ate some bananas, chocolate, crackers, and peanuts. I recorded a video with my phone: 2014 Ecotrail Paris Buc 24km I was out of the aid station relatively quickly in less than 10 minutes.
The next section was long and difficult with numerous short but steep uphill climbs during the warmest part of the day. Positive elevation gain was a significant 637 meters over the 22.6 km length. I had to do quite a bit of walking to keep from exploding. After successive climbs I was suffering both physically and mentally, with thoughts of abandoning entering into my mind. I was thinking about how I would be able to get home once I reached the next aid station. People were passing me right and left.
I trudged into the aid station after about 3 hours of effort and runners were scattered all over. I realized that everybody else was suffering as well. At the chateau where the aid station was located, there is a dominating view toward Paris and the observatory which is just across a short valley. I tanked up again, got some sustenance in me and recorded this video: 2014 ecotrail paris Meudon 47km
After a good 15min break I got my legs going again, down into the valley, through the town and up to the observatory at Meudon. There again, there is an esplanade with a beautiful view of Paris in the distance. I told myself that I’ll have to come back and enjoy the view in a more leisurely manner. Over the ups and downs of this 11.2 km section, I was walking quite a bit and had an average speed of 7.6km/hr (taking into account the 15 min I rested at Meudon). I got to Chaville 1h 30 min later as the sun was setting.
At Chaville I got some hot soup, found a chair and took this video: 2014 ecotrail paris Chaville 58km.
Mentally I was in a much better state of mind at this point and was having no negative thoughts. It helps to chat with other runners. I was sure that I would be able to finish. I put on my arm sleeves to keep warm and after making a pit stop at a portable toilet I left the aid station after a 25 min rest.
The next section to St Cloud was 12.5 km and had a few hills at the beginning, then some nice downhills that I was able to run. For this section I had my head light on. The trail was not very rocky and fairly easy to negotiate even in limited lighting. I arrived at St Cloud in the darkness at 21:13, a 8.0 km/hr pace (taking into account the rest at Chaville).
The aid station overlooks Paris in the distance with a nice view of the Eiffel Tower all lit up. I got some more hot soup and laid down in the grass and darkness and shot this video: 2014 ecotrail paris St Cloud 70.6k.
Out of the St Cloud aid station there is a nice downhill section that leads down to the Seine river and from there the trail follows the river all the way to the finish at Trocadero. The trail goes onto the Ile St Germain and thru the park and also on the Ile aux Cygnes, before crossing the river at the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, then up several flights of steps toward Trocadero.
I was able to cover the 9.6 km at a 7.9 km/hr pace. I was feeling tired obviously, but was able to keep running almost the entire time. I was even passing some walkers and bettered my overall race position by 27 runners. That always helps the morale.
Here I had to walk after getting up onto the bridge.
The finish line is in sight!
The final sprint!
And deliverance!
In my category v2, I finished 124th out of 283 starters and 228 finishers. There was an 18% abandon rate in my category. Overall I was 820th, in the middle of the pack.
Here is the video I recorded at the finish: 2014 ecotrail paris finish 80k.
My garmin measured the distance as 77.3 km, but it samples only every 20 meters or so, so I think it “loses” real distance traveled considering all the twists and turns on the trail.
Physically, I was really tired, but I had no cramps or injuries. I consumed 5 or 6 salt pills along the way and I think that helped me avoid my habitual cramps. My feet held up ok despite the usual pain in my big toe. After 2 or 3 days of rest the body was fully recovered.
Overall, this is a relatively easy ultra with the flat start, the short hills and the downhill / flat finish. It is a good confidence builder for the more challenging races coming later this year. Stay tuned.