On the lookout for a enjoyable and distinctive approach to spend an October weekend in Paris? In case you’re a lady, it is best to positively take a look at La Parisienne-a women-only 10km race with free workshops and actions all through the weekend. Not an enormous runner? There’s additionally a 7km run or 7km strolling competitors to get pleasure from!
This was the start of my thirty ninth journey to France. It started in Paris and ended two weeks later in Toulouse! I lined 1000 km and noticed so many lovely villages and had many extra distinctive experiences. Right here’s a hyperlink to my itinerary: Journey #39 to France: Autumn Adventures In Paris And Occitanie.
1. The 10km La Parisienne Race
(a) Registering For The Race
I’ve acquired some nice information! It’s truly very easy to enter a French race lately. As I described on this put up, “PPS: New Medical Certificates for Paris Marathon & French Races” increasingly races in France are not requiring you to submit a health care provider’s certificated to enter. It was a problem getting the word and paying for it, however now, you simply must ensure you’re wholesome sufficient to take part. No additional price and really quick affirmation.
Along with the 10K race that I entered, there’s additionally a 7K race and 7K stroll. I liked the race itself, however I additionally actually loved additionally the chance to participate in ongoing actions (exercises). The entry charge to ranged from 25€ to 47€ (relying on if you registered) and sure, I acquired a t-shirt, swag, and medal.
(b) Climate
The climate in October will be fairly good with cool mornings and evenings however nice through the day. However it may be unpredictable too. Simply ensure that to pack layers! It was cloudy and chilly the weekend of the race, round 13° C, however fortunately, it didn’t rain. I regretted carrying a jacket as a result of I acquired too heat, however I used to be glad I had it afterward as a result of I acquired chilly. I ought to’ve simply checked my jacket and grabbed it on the end line.
(c) Race Theme
The 2024 theme for La Parisienne was “Flower Energy,” and it was all about embracing the Nineteen Sixties vibe. The organizers even inspired members to decorate like they have been from that period, with “peace and love” vibes in all places. On the race village, which was positioned at Stade Emile Anthoine, there have been big shows selling the theme. Folks have been taking tons of selfies and photographs with these tremendous vibrant and amusing inflatables.
(d) Race Village
I picked up my race package on the village, which included an orange t-shirt, snacks, and samples. The medal they gave out on the finish of the race was cute, becoming the “Flower Energy” theme.
Across the perimeter have been meals vans, cubicles promoting sports activities gear and vitamin, and pop-up shops promoting girls’s merchandise. They even gave out free samples and low.
2. La Parisienne Race Weekend
The La Parisienne race started in 1997 and has been going down in Paris for the previous 27 years. Their fundamental purpose is to empower girls, promote the advantages of sports activities for ladies, and assist girls’s well being and well-being. A wholesome physique and a wholesome thoughts, proper?
(a) Weekend Program
The village had leisure and sports activities actions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There have been singers, match boxing, physique jam, cardio exercises, Pilates, and yoga. The one paid workshop was for yoga, which I signed up for.
(b) Yoga By The Eiffel Tower
Yoga happened within the open-air area of the race village, with the Eiffel Tower towering over us. It was the day earlier than the race and was open to women and men for simply 10€.
Sure, I introduced my yoga mat to France. I actually debated if I ought to convey it or only a towel. In hindsight a yoga towel would have been positive and positively much less of a problem leaving me extra room in my suitcase.
There have been a number of hundred individuals who took half on this 1.25-hour exercise that was led by Elodie Garamond, creator, podcaster, and creator of Tigre Yoga Membership and authorized pilates trainer, Lugdivine Meytre.
Though their directions have been in French, the yoga poses have been common, so I simply adopted what everybody else was doing. Sadly, it began raining about midway by way of the occasion. That’s the draw back of collaborating in an out of doors occasion in October…the climate will be unpredictable. I left early as a result of the rain was too heavy, regardless that I used to be carrying a rain jacket.
This was my seventh race in Paris. In case you’re fascinated with doing a race in France, take a look at my different races on this put up: Working In France: Distinctive Marathons And Races.
3. What I Appreciated And Didn’t Like About La Parisienne
(a) Appreciated
Focus On Girls
The environment round La Parisienne throughout race weekend is extremely uplifting. It’s all about girls supporting girls with actions, merchandise and sources devoted to girls. I’ve solely carried out races with each women and men, so searching on the sea of girls gathered on the staring line was actually inspiring.
The Race Course
I actually loved the route of the La Parisienne race. Among the locations we handed by and the streets we ran on have been actually cool. I like beginning on the Eiffel Tower, working alongside the Seine River, by way of Place de la Concorde, and crossing Pont Bir Hakeim—the most effective locations to take photographs of the Eiffel Tower.
The race begins on the Eiffel Tower and follows a scenic route alongside the Seine River, alongside well-known roads like Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Champs-Élysées, by way of Place de la Concorde, alongside Rue de Rivoli, previous the Louvre Pyramid, and crossing Pont Alexandre III and Pont Bir Hakeim earlier than seeing the end line at Stade Emile Anthoine.
All through the race, there was quite a lot of assist, not simply from households and properly wishers yelling out, “Bon Braveness”, but additionally from many bands and singers. It saved everybody’s spirits up and gave us the power to maintain transferring to the end line!
(b) Didn’t Like
I ought to preface by saying that I’d run this race once more with out hesitation. I’m simply mentioning a number of issues concerning the race which can be truly typical for a lot of races in Paris.
Cobblestones
Like many different races in Paris, working on cobblestones is inevitable. It’s Paris, in any case! Town is outdated and cobblestone streets are simply one of many issues that makes it so particular. I’m simply not loopy about working on cobblestones. My largest worry is slipping, particularly whether it is raining or has rained. So that you simply should be additional cautious.
Bottlenecks
Supposedly there have been 20,000 members all the weekend with about 7600 within the 10km race. There have been begin corrals, the place runners have been grouped based mostly on their estimated end time. This facilitated a better begin so every group left at designated occasions. The start of the race, nonetheless, was nonetheless crowded and sluggish. There simply wasn’t a chance to run quick till many minutes into the race.
Like all the opposite races I’ve carried out in Paris (just like the Paris Marathon, the Semi-Marathon de Paris, and the 20km de Paris), there have been bottlenecks when the course narrowed or when runners entered tunnels. Everybody slowed down! So if you happen to’re seeking to get your quickest time, you may not be capable of do it.
Accessing The Begin Line
At one of the best of occasions, the realm across the Eiffel Tower is fairly busy, however on race day, it’s loopy! The race begins on the Eiffel Tower, and plenty of roads and pathways are closed. Attending to the race can take longer than regular.
You simply should construct this into if you’ll go away your lodge to get to the beginning. The volunteers on the race village have been tremendous useful in giving recommendation and clarifying what roads can be open or closed on race day. They usually spoke English if you happen to wanted to talk in English!
Water
I used to be actually shocked there was just one water station, positioned on the 6 km mark with bananas and water. I understand it was solely a 10km race, however I anticipated maybe another station. I used to be glad I introduced additional water. On the end line there was extra water and fruit bars.
Intrigued sufficient to think about working this race? The date for subsequent 12 months’s La Parisienne race hasn’t been confirmed but, though it’s often mid-October. If it’s like this 12 months, they’ll most likely announce it mid-December.
Here’s a hyperlink to the race web site: https://la-parisienne.internet/
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