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Healthy Habits

RACE REPORT: Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris

Apr 18, 2019
by Jani du Toit
Comments: 0
Tags: ASICS, asics running, ASICSFrontrunner, asicsfrontrunnerza, imoveme, internationalrace, mptherrunner, paris, parismarathon, winthelongrun

Event Name: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC MARATHON DE PARIS

Date Held: 14 April 2019

Distances: 42km

Venue: Arc de Triomphe

Website: www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com

My first time in Paris but hopefully not my last. I’m more a trail runner than road but when the amazing opportunity came to go to Paris for the ASICS FrontRunner international conference I jumped at the chance.

Paris is truly amazing! It is the most beautiful place I’ve been, no-jokes! And it’s absolutely amazing to think that people, normal people live there every day? They get to see that every day?! The amazing characteristic the city has, something to see after every corner, and everything is beautiful and in its own way. Walls are painted out of the ordinary, random street art makes the city colourful with beautiful trees in between the historic buildings.


Underneath the ground lies the metro – connecting the city so efficiently and harmoniously making the entire city yours to see. Apart from getting lost the first day along with having a meltdown in the store when I finally found someone speaking English, I had come to love the metro, noooooo Traffic! I think it’s just because I drive so far to work and back every day that I would love to have something like this in our city, the Gautrain come close though

Last year November I ran Lesotho Ultra –  38km in the Lesotho mountain with  3000m + elevation and some serious altitudes and descents at 8 months Postpartum. The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris was for me one of my hardest runs. I’m not the best on road and although I have to train on road allot I still prefer running on trail.


There was nothing in particular that went wrong or right or made the run hard for me , it just felt like I really was giving my all and like my grandmother said to be when I told her it was hard –

“My dear, really anything that we do that is meaningful and worth doing is going to be hard “


The race was beautiful, I truly loved running through Paris, cold weather and all! The first 21km I ran with Alesia Ruthven, she ran the most constant pace I’ve ever experienced, we ran between 4:49- 5:37 per kilometre, and at some point I started doubting if I would see 42km if I continued at this pace but I held onto her for as long as I could, and at 25km I finally lost sight of her. But it was ok, I was more than happy with what I had achieved in 21km! I ran my PB on the half marathon 1h 59min! The last time I ran 21km I was 12 weeks pregnant, had to stop to pee a gazillion times and the only person who knew I was pregnant was my running partner Carien , hahaha at 3km to go my hips hurt so much I literally had to walk but I finished 2h 9min  so I’m glad to have shaved of 10min on my 21km.

I look like I’m going sky diving! lol – it was so cold – this South- African girl is definitely not used to cold weather!


A little after 30 kilometres I started to doubt myself and like I knew they would, my hips started to hurt  I tried to ignore it as we ran next to the Seine river, I started to feel home sick and really wished someone I knew was there and then this guy with Long dreadlocks like me started speaking to me. I paused my music and tried to understand him, me – “English?” , him – “No..” then he just grabbed my arm and we ran together for about 1km I think, then I must have gotten to slow, hahaha coz he let me go and ran in front of me. I then saw the 4h15 min buss and tried to stay with them, but after a few kilometres I had to take a break, walk or something, the worst was just for me that I wasn’t tired or didn’t feel unfit, my body just wouldn’t go anymore. The last 6km of Lesotho Ultra I literally sprinted and it was amazing to finish that strong, I kept telling myself that, that was so much harder and that I have to keep going!

I think at about 37km I took my South-African flag out of my hydration pack – and held onto it for dear life as it began to become really hard to run, I started to get cold because I was running too slow, so I had to put my jacket on again but I still felt really cold, But it was quite cold though, about 9 degrees I think, even 5 degrees at some point in the morning.


At this point I was very emotional and kept searching for a familiar face in the crowd, I was about to give up, and just finish no matter what my time was, then this really old skinny guy came running past me in his ASICS Dynaflyte 3’s and tied to his back was a flag, it was pink and said 4h: 30min  I was still in the game then by some miracle I managed to hold on the his pace for the last few kilometres, adamant to finish under 5hours.

Then with 1km to go my watch said I had already done 42,2km but WHY was I not done yet?!? That broke me a little, and made the last kilometre feel like it took forever! But then the board read 500m , then 350m, and then I saw the ASICS photographers and a big green sign that said ‘BRAVO!’ 

It was over, it felt unreal all I wanted was some coke, on the route they just had water and fruits along with some cake and I thought I’ll have a coke at the finish, but apparently the French just have fruit and water at their finishes, haha. But it was ok. 


The walk back to the ASICS tent was long it felt like 2km, it possibly was. There I found coffee but with soya milk, it was fine, I was so tired and cold, I would have anything. It was nice to see everyone there, congratulating me and giving support, haha my legs were done, I couldn’t walk properly. But it was worth it.

On this run I did learn a little more about myself, and I also basically decided what it is that I want to do and concentrate on from now on, I don’t think I will ever do a marathon again and I’m almost entirely sure I will NEVER do comrades , never. Being about 1 year and 3 weeks postpartum I want to concentrate on my trail running, and maybe do things that are a little faster, a little more adrenaline for me now, I want to feel as fast and confident as I felt before I got pregnant. I now know what I can endure and for how long I can endure it. Now I want to see what I can do in the shortest amount of time possible, I Dunno let’s see.

Got really home sick during and after the marathon,I just missed Paul so much! Every time I saw a supporter with board saying “ALEZE MAMA!!” – I just started to cry ,haha, but the race and the remainder of the conference was amazing, so many different cultures so many languages, so many stories.

Paris and traveling alone thought me allot!
I learnt how to explain myself to someone who doesn’t understand me at all, order coffee and food in French , helped a Mexican make it to go see the Notre Dame, before the disaster that burnt it down.

I shared a room with the ladies from the Netherlands , I drank Vodka with Russian runner –
Antosha_Valuykin , and had Beers with the British Team which was allot of fun, I don’t know what hurt more the next morning my head or my legs (lol) and I finally met @annarunsmarathons, who’s beautiful little girl is 7 months old and she ran a 3H : 48min Marathon?! I have to say meeting her felt strange because it felt like we knew each other already From all our Instagram conversations.

The British Front Runners.


I want to thank the entire ASICS FrontRunner team and the French ASICS FrontRunners for hosting such an amazing event! For making me part of something bigger than myself, to be part of this team truly is amazing, and truly inspiring! Proud to be part of this movement!

Thank you to all the awesome photographers during the entire conference! I think you Ran around just as much as us! Follow links below to there amazing profiles!

Photo Credits:

 © Teddy Morellec – La Clef

© NICOLAS JACQUEMIN

© albindurand(@_albin_)

Happy Running!

Jani

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Crazies!😜🤪 . Tonight my husband and I just h Crazies!😜🤪
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Tonight my husband and I just hopelessly laughed at the dinner table at how things were just going wrong🤭😅🙄 I think we laughed to keep us from crying 😂 I think we both felt a bit exhausted at the end of today and we just didn’t have the energy to deal 🤦🏽‍♀️
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Paul is at a point were he is CONSTANTLY talking 😵😵obviously my child because he just doesn’t know when to shut up🤭😂🤦🏽‍♀️he just continues, weather you are listening or not😶😶he has also started tapping me on the arm or on the leg now and then he says “Mamma!! Luister jy?!, Mamma Luister, mamma!!” 😐😶😂 and I block him out so well that hé gets sooooooo upset when he realizes I’m not listening 🤭
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So you have two tired adults, and a kid at the dinner table that won’t keep quiet, along with Lily who grabs anything and EVERYTHING!😮😬🤦🏽‍♀️ everything has to be at least 50cm away or she wil go for it! And she is so fast😶😜😣she also refuses to sit stil in her high chair, so much that she climbed over onto the dinner table , grabbed the open jar of mayonnaise 😮🤭luckily I grabbed her and my husband the Mayo so there wasn’t to much of a mess, she then had her dinner sitting on the table, she threw the boiled egg on the floor and at me , stole my avocado samie only to spit it out again, as she tried to grab my mug, I tried to stop her , only to bump over a whole glass of water 🤦🏽‍♀️😂😂😜so then we just laughed 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️😂😅😅
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These kids are crazy but I can’t imagine what else my husband and would have been doing tonight if they weren’t here😂❤️😍🤷🏻‍♀️

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Threshold Run ⭐️⭐️ this mornings run was n Threshold Run ⭐️⭐️ this mornings run was nothing short of fun! 🤩🥳 
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Again I was not sure if I should go or not... Being a woman has a few annoying let downs and during certain times of your cycle your body reacts differently and going for a run might not be as beneficial as you might think.🤷🏻‍♀️😕
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So I almost did not go... or I was thinking about that...🤷🏻‍♀️😅 and I’m so glad I went anyway, cramps and all😂 it was such a great run! And I felt like I wanted to fly!🥳🤩 but coach kept pulling me back😂 which is probably good if I’m gonna run 18km Saturday 😬😬😬😮 a bit nervous, these hips of mine are not what they were pre baby...
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Join me at 1pm today for a coffee date with @carlawestfitness on Instagram IGTV about everything Mommy running and running and breastfeeding, or just breastfeeding or just running 😂 ☕️ 🌸🌸 it’s gonna be fun! 🤩

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

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I Did it!🤩🤩🤩 . Small victories! 🤩I did I Did it!🤩🤩🤩
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Small victories! 🤩I did it! I actually got my ass out the house for a solo run😋😋😅it was quite a argument with myself I have to add, after dropping the kids at school and getting back to a oh so silent house it is so tempting to just sit down and have a peaceful cup of coffee...😋☺️ the cup of laziness I call it! 😒😒😬🤦🏽‍♀️ the cup of coffee that delay’s my entire day, makes me feel tired and prevents me from having a amazing day, haha, the lie! That makes me think that if I just sit down for 15min, I’ll be recharged...🙄😒😒uuuuummmmmm WRONG!! 
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The run was amazing, I’ve been doing group runs for a while now, and forgotten how much I love music on my runs!🤩🥰🥰 so we had a little dance party on my run today, Mr @pitbull and I 😍 such a sucker for his music on a run🥳🤩🥰
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Now I feel like I’m on top of the world! Breakfast, shower , nappies and then work😋😋⭐️
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#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

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Hiiiillllllssss ⛰ . So firstly, I’m surprised Hiiiillllllssss ⛰ 
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So firstly, I’m surprised by how I manage to get up and go for a run this morning and it was probably only because I knew that @virgullesteenkamp  was waiting for me😂😂 and that’s perfect! That is just the accountability I meed at this point of my life 😂🥴
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Lily had a rough night, and I’m not even mad or annoyed, I feel so sorry for her🙁😰 het teething at this point is super intense and I’m also confused weather she had flue symptoms because of flue or because of the teething, anyway, she has such fever spells, her voice sounds funny, and you can see the cuddle baby as she is, those cuddles have just increased 🥰 not complaining, but shame man, the poor thing!😞
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For the first time in weeks I feel myself, And thats weir because my dishwasher is broken, 😂and I’m still coping 🤣 I basically had a pajama day yesterday, looking after the kids and just doing nothing, and my husband comes up to me and says “I like your hair!”😋😋 and I was like huh? I look terrible, dirty shirt, no Makeup, hair super messy, but yes newly dyed at home with some stuff I from from someone, not even blow waved or anything 😂😜
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But I suspect it doesn’t really have anything to do with my hair... maybe its just an outward symbol of me feeling better, and he can see that? 🌸 I dunno, 😅🤷🏻‍♀️
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Ready to get lots of stuff done this week - please let it just not rain...🙏🏻😒coz that might throw me 😂

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

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MotherHOOD😎 . Saturdays run was fun, the last 5 MotherHOOD😎
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Saturdays run was fun, the last 5km was tough I have to say,😅my hips and pelvic floor just isn’t the same after giving birth, and I know I have to keep doing exercises, I know, but flippen hell man!!😩😂that shit hurts...😒😕
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But the run was made much more tolerable for me because of the conversations I had, and it honestly felt like I needed it. ⭐️ the last 7km back was a proper vent and chat session with another Mom that is not the same age as me, we don’t have the same occupation, we didn’t study the same stuff, our lives were pretty much different... but it also wasn’t 😕
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I’ve been talking to allot of other Moms and some are close friends and other are Mom’s I’ve gotten close with over Instagram and haven’t met them at all before! And the discussions are the same, the things we go through are the same, 🥴😅motherhood is hard and we’re all going through it, in different ways, but also pretty much the same same 😕🌸 allot of the times I find myself feeling hopeless, like this is an endless cycle of shit shows😅😒followed by amazing heart bursting moments 💗💗 & then crazy crap again 😂🙄 & in these moments we can get caught up in feelings and emotions, 
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☺️but remember it gets better again - I see you there mama, trying your best. I see you showing up each day, even though you feel exhausted. I see you making tough choices for your family even when your not sure if they are right. I see you working tirelessly, even when it seems never ending. I see you doing an amazing job, even though you doubt yourself. I see you mama, and you are more than enough.💗 and if you see another Mommy struggling, go ahead and remind her of this too!😉⭐️
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Whenever you’re feeling hopeless, hug your child. It’s amazing how they remind us our life is always full of Love! 💗

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

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Symphony of Cries 🙄 . I feel a little shell sho Symphony of Cries 🙄
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I feel a little shell shocked to be honest 😐😂🤦🏽‍♀️ my afternoon did not go as planned 🤦🏽‍♀️ 
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The plan was- take kids for a run to waste time, make dinner, eat, bath, bed...🤩 easy peasy!
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But then out of nowhere there was Thunder and lightning...so no run🙄🙄 so my afternoon went - no run, get fussy kids in house, out of rain, get AALLLLL the washing off the line while kids cry and moan...🤭 then proceed to try and make dinner - from there on both kids were super fussy 🙄 no flippen idea why, then I had the smart Idea to bribe them to stop crying by giving each a piece of chocolate, 🤦🏽‍♀️Lily freaked out , practically screaming coz she wanted more ...🤦🏽‍♀️ then we had dinner and everyone calmed down, then we played Legos and Lily broke Paul’s house, Paul grabbed the legos from Lily🤦🏽‍♀️, big tantrum. So we went to have a bath eventually everyone calmed down again, 🙏🏻 I managed to heat up my coffee, and then Paul proceeded to spit Lily in the face with water, again, and again... and again 🙄 then more tears..🤦🏽‍♀️
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I dress Lily, give het a book and fetch Paul, I dress Paul and have a huge fight with him, coz he doesn’t want to sleep in a disposable diaper hé wants his ‘Dudu-Doek’ (a cloth nappy) 😐🤦🏽‍♀️ I try and explain that everything got wet in the rain and is not dry yet.😐do you think he cares?!😔😔😣 eventually he just forgot about it.
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Then I pick up Lily for story time, and then as I bend down with her in my arms, Paul jumps up on the bed and they bang heads - Like hard🤭🤭🤭😱😱 like I was concerned hard🤭😐 how do you comfort two hysterically screaming kids 😵😵😵
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Finally everyone is ok again, Story time done, I sit down to breastfeed Lily and ask Paul to lean over and put of the lamp - and then after Lily latches Paul slips off the bed and falls in the dark on the floor and again bangs his head 😲😮😶😶Lily detaches from the boob and also starts crying hysterically 😐😐 WTF...
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Enter Husband  back from his business trip 🙏🏻 Thank goodness 🙄🙏🏻💗
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Everyone is fine now⭐️ and my coffee is cold again...
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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant ##breastfeedingmom #momlife
13 Months of Breastfeeding, 395 Days , 9490,01 hou 13 Months of Breastfeeding, 395 Days , 9490,01 hours 🤍 #breastfeedingrunner 
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Cracked nipples, clogged ducts, engourgment, Running with two bra’s, coordinating runs with feeds, sleepless nights, cluster feeds, leaking, teething, biting spells, nursing strikes, no privacy, pumping, milk shortage, lactation cookies, formula supplementing, Mom Guilt, bonding, cuddles, so much love, and always worth it 🤍🤍
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Some days I wish it would end and others I’m so thankful that we’re still going. 🤷🏻‍♀️🌸😅up and down like a Yo-Yo! Breastfeeding is tough but rewarding and something I’m thankful for being able to experience, two very different experiences with both kids 🤍

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 
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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant #newmom #clothdiapers #plasticfree #jbrobinblog #workingmomlife #breastfeedingrunner #shoereview #10monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #asicstrabucomax #asicsrunning #momlife
First proper Trail run in months, and it was great First proper Trail run in months, and it was great 😜🥳🤩 joining up with a group has been the best so far , #runningworxclub 🤩 I felt like myself again this morning and our morning family routine was also great 😌 I ran with one of the stronger guys in the group and it was nice to have a motivation to keep moving, not to rest to much💪🏻⭐️ I’m very happy, and excited to start next week’s training 🥳🥳🥳
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Although the kids basically destroyed the house while I was gone...🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ not sure if they woke up before my husband and decided to just do their own thing or what, but there are toys everywhere, especially looks like Paul probably woke Lily and threw all the toys and dolls into her crib🙈🙈😂 but everyone was alive when I got home, clean nappies and all💪🏻😅 
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Rest of our day has just been peaceful time at home, playing with the kids, swimming and painting, and now, everyone is gonna nap... so I can take a shower and prep lunch, flippen starving after this mornings run😅🥳 which I’m also greatfull for , because when I don’t run, I don’t always eat, and food like running makes me happy, 😂

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 
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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant #newmom #clothdiapers #plasticfree #jbrobinblog #workingmomlife #breastfeedingrunner #shoereview #10monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #asicstrabucomax #asicsrunning #momlife
True 🤍 Love . I think that what kids are 🥰 . True 🤍 Love
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I think that what kids are 🥰
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Lol amongst other things too, 😅😂🤦🏽‍♀️but thats the part that sticks 🥰

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant #newmom #clothdiapers #plasticfree #jbrobinblog #workingmomlife #breastfeedingrunner #shoereview #10monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #asicstrabucomax #asicsrunning #momlife
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