Four members of Grantham Running Club were set to cross the Channel for their marathon debut at the iconic Schneider Electric Marathon in the beautiful city of Paris. Unfortunately, for one of the quartet, Harriet Bacon, months of gritty winter training were undone just weeks be-fore race day by the dreaded runner’s nemesis – injury. Down but not out, the remaining three, Paula Ebbins, Natalie Hardwick and Emma Weighill, packed their bags, laced up their trainers, and rendezvoused in the City of Light.
Race numbers were collected from the bustling expo on Friday, followed by a Saturday sched-ule that would make any running coach proud: a gentle recon of the start and finish area, some strategic carbo-loading (via the finest local Italian cuisine, naturellement), and an early night. Because if you’re going to run 26.2 miles, you might as well do it on a stomach full of pasta and optimism.
The day was threatening to be unseasonably warm, which would have been troublesome for the runners given all the cold winter training. But the weather gods were with them – mainly cloudy with odd show of sunshine and tops of 17 degrees, the meteorological equivalent of a supportive pat on the back.
Sunday arrived, as it always does, whether you’re ready or not. With a mix of nerves, excite-ment, and isotonic drinks, the trio prepped for the big day. Bags were dropped, portaloo queues heroically endured, and then came the long wait at the top of the Champs-Élysées, shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of other runners. Their wave start time, 11:37. Actual start time. Midday – because in true Parisian fashion, even a marathon starts fashionably late.
Once underway, the atmosphere did not disappoint. The cheers of “Allez, allez, allez!” were immediate and infectious. The course was a feast for the senses: iconic landmarks, leafy parks, scenic riversides, and cobblestones that tested both ankles and temperaments. Crowd support was electric, and the girls’ personal cheer squads popped up at key points to offer hugs, encouragement, and the all-important snack refills.
Fuel stations along the route were impressively stocked – some runners may still be full from the boulangerie-style buffet. As the miles ticked by, each runner settled into their own stride, running solo but united in spirit.
Paula led the trio from way ahead for most of the race but was rudely interrupted by gastric issues around kilometre 40. A lesser runner might have curled up next to the Eiffel Tower and called it a day, but Paula reset, rallied, and still finished strong in 5 hours and 21 minutes.
Natalie also battled stomach cramps in the second half, but with steely determination and expert pacing, she crossed the line in 5 hours and 37 minutes.
Emma faced a low point at mile 20, possibly triggered by the traumatic death of her phone (and thus, her playlist). Whether it was the lack of Benson Boone or the cocktail of gels and electrolytes sloshing around, nausea hit hard – but luckily passed, and she pushed through to finish in 5 hours and 1 minute.
All three were met at the finish by their families – who, thanks to the open-access course, were able to share the final section of the journey up close (sometimes a little too close, especially during those narrow sections where it felt more like running a conga line). But it meant the world to the runners, who had leaned on their supporters through every long training run and every “why-am-I-doing-this?” moment.
It was, they all agreed, a day to remember and a race to cherish: the sights, the sounds, the sweat, and the satisfaction of completing a marathon in one of the world’s most iconic cities.
Vive la France. Vive les runners de GRC!
Report by Emma Weighill