Orléans - Océan day 5

A long (70km = 43.5 miles) and hot (30C = 85F) day. It's not the prettiest stage, but nevertheless some nice bridges and villages to look at nestled along the Loire. We're now at Oudon, which is my favorite campsite. Just two more stages of 62km and 24km, and we're done. I will be a happy camper on Friday.

There were no changes in the rankings after today's stage. I was lagging badly before the halfway mark, but managed to get my strength back and edged into second place by the finish. Each day now, I consistently run the first marathon in 4hr30mn, and then hope to hold on during the second half of the stage. It seems to be working OK - but I am super-tired!

Location:Neuvy-en-Mauges,France

Orléans - Océan day 4

Another longish (64km = 40 miles) day done for both of us. Claire resumed and completed another ultra, but this time had to deal with back problems which reduced her to walking to the finish line. I hope - no, I insist - that she sits out tomorrow's longer stage. What is it that Hindus say about pain moving around the body?

My run was unspectacular but good enough to keep me in second place. I'm feeling tired tonight - not surprising after running 150 miles in four days though. Christian continues to look strong in first place; unless he develops an injury, I won't catch him. Thierry is still in third, and had a much better day; he would've finished ahead of me today if he hadn't taken a wrong turning at 35km. Yvonnick is in fourth, but probably can't make up the time he lost on stage 1. All super-nice gentlemen to be competing with.

Just 2.5 days to go, when we will see the Atlantic Ocean. Rest after that will be very much appreciated.

Location:Chemin de Halage,Ste.-Gemmes-sur-Loire,France

Orléans - Océan day 3

The very good news is that Claire is feeling much better, and is even threatening to run again tomorrow. Selfishly, I'm hoping she doesn't, as it's very nice having the services of her as a full-time soigneuse! But on balance, it's great that she is healthy again.

Today's stage was long - 73km (45 miles). Despite a couple of brief, heavy downpours, the weather cooperated. Headwinds helped to keep temperatures a little below 80F. My legs felt a bit heavy after running nearly 120 miles in 3 days, but hopefully an hour or two of "tent time" now will help them recover by morning.

Thierry (yesterday's race leader) struggled today, but Christian (who had been in third place) was flying. Yvonnick is not far off the podium, so we'll all need to keep pushing for the next 4 days to maintain our places in the CG.

Orléans - Océan day 2

Let's start with today's high points. No storms overnight; slightly cooler temperatures; another lovely scenic day of chateaux, sunflowers and vines; I managed to stay on the podium (barely!) with a slower but more sensible 4hr30mn first marathon; and we're staying at a very nice campsite with plentiful showers and toilets.

The low point: Claire was forced to abandon at the 30km mark today - urinary tract problems that started yesterday and became very painful for her today. Poor thing. Clara our cook checked that she has no fever, and has prescribed cranberry juice; Claire's hoping to rejoin the race in a couple of days, but we'll see.

Location:Route Historique des Dames de Touraine,Montlouis-sur-Loire,France

Orléans - Océan day 1

Today's low point: Strong winds, lightning, thunder and pouring rain at 4 a.m. Lying in our puny tents under big trees felt like we were auditioning for The Wizard of Oz. Scary stuff...but thankfully the weather calmed down in time for our 7 a.m. start.

Today's high point for me was at about 45km, when my brain suddenly registered that today's stage was "only" 59km (36 miles), not 69km (43 miles). That was good news indeed. I had run the first marathon a bit too fast in a shade under 4 hours, and was not looking forward to another 17 miles on tired legs.

Claire did well, but found the high temperatures and humidity a challenge. She finished the stage with new friends Annick and Bernard, and was happy to be done. I ran alone comme d'habitude - I don't like my pace and effort level decided by others.

Apart from the heat, it was a very nice stage. The Loire is as lovely as I remembered it from last year, but the paths are busier with cyclists as the race is taking place a week later than the 2012 edition.

Resting now in my sauna-like tent before another sumptuous dinner provided by our wonderful, resourceful chef Clara. Tonight she's feeding 50 people a 3-course meal using only a small portable cooker, a single gas ring and a microwave. How is that possible?!

Orléans - race -2 days

Cars, trains, metros, buses, taxis...a very long airplane-free travel day got us eventually to Orléans. Paris was wretchedly hot, as we struggled with many suitcases to reach the Gare d'Austerlitz. Unfortunately the metro was closed after the Bastille stop, so we had to take a shuttle bus, and missed our tight connection as a result. But at Austerlitz, after not too long a wait, we managed to find another (hot, crowded) train which brought us to Orléans.

Along the way we passed through the somber spectacle of Bretigny station, scene of a very recent fatal train crash. Crews were still working hard to repair the damage, and the destroyed train was still sitting off to one side of the tracks. A poignant reminder of the randomness of fate.

Now in Orléans - where our race starts on Saturday - I have so far managed to acquaint Claire with (a) the seedier side of town near the railway station, (b) sangria in a Tex-Mex restaurant, (c) the river itself and a part of the course through town and (d) a tasty pizza washed down with a pitcher of rosé. Life is good.

Here am I standing in my bright yellow running shoes on top of a LAV (Loire à vélo) sign. These signs will guide us along the way to the Atlantic coast over the next week.

Location:Venelle de la Paix,Orléans,France

Back to the Loire...

 ...in 10 days, for a second helping of beautiful scenery, a wonderful race organization, and a week of hundreds of running miles with old and new friends.  The race is called Orléans-Océan, a shorter 7-day version of its 17-day sister race La Loire Intégrale.  This is the first stage race I've ever run more than once - testament to its sublime quality and coolness.

Next Thursday we will take a London train from our boat moored in the Essex countryside, thence via the Channel Tunnel to Paris, and then finally on to Orléans for the start of the race which kicks off next Saturday.  I'm happy to be avoiding airports for this journey; air travel has become unspeakably nasty and fraught.  Let's hope the trains manage to stay on the tracks south of Paris.

The weather has been unusually hot here for the past week, and with luck it'll stay fair for the entire duration, as we'll be camping every night and camping is definitely "fair weather sport".  Claire and I are both going into this race somewhat undertrained but thankfully healthy and uninjured.  My recently diagnosed anaemia has responded well to iron pills and Guinness.  New shoes have been purchased, packing has begun, and I'm getting very excited.  I can't remember the last race I was looking forward to as much.