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.