Duathlon de Bois de Vincennes - 5km/20km/2.2km - June 3rd 2017
Race reporter: Karen On Saturday I participated in the new FFTRI Duathlon event in the Bois de Vincennes. The format was 5km run / 20km cycle / 2.2km run. I picked it because of location; I could cycle to and from. Also the 1st ever ref event I worked was the IDF Challenge Duathlon in Senart Forest. I remember finding the event physically beautiful (as was the setting) with the run, bike, run flow. Potentially the higher level of athletes added to the effect. Though my worst ref nightmare came true on my 1st time out – it poured down rain with wind and cold and I didn’t know you could wear a raincoat under your chasuble – it lodged in my mind the desire to race in a duathlon. This one was part of a weekend of activities called ‘Tournoi International Paris’ organized by the FSGL (Fédération Sportive Gaie et Lesbienne). The duathlon in particular was sponsored by 3 athletic clubs: Les Dérailleurs, Athlétic Coeur de Fond and FrontRunners de Paris. It was their 2nd annual; they chose to involve the FFTRI this year so they could learn to run it with improved organization. In 2018 the duathlon will not exist as the Gay Games will take place from August 4-12th. Dossard pick up was in the gorgeous halls of Hôtel de Ville. In the square room with the fireplaces (for those who know) was a bar offering free drinks including beer as well as snacks. Oh you beer lovers who should have signed up…there were also free drink coupons for Sat and Sun night parties. First stop was check in to get an accreditation to walk around. The ‘goodie’ bag was a Quetchua backpack filled with a multi-colored (obviously) pen, magnet, sticker, pin, bracelet, drinking cup, instructions on safe sex, a fairly graphic explanational on some sex techniques…as well as a variety of condoms. After verifying registration, on to the amazing long hall where I had a year ago seen Jean-Paul Martins (adjoint sports) and this year saw the Mayor speak. All the way down on both sides were tables representing the different activities of the weekend. It was hard for me to figure out as going over that day I thought this was only a duathlon bib retrieval. This place was a festival. In fact 3.000 people were picking up dossards for any of 25 sporting activities (Swim, Pétanque, Rugby, Roller, Tennis….everything) to be held in 25 locations around Paris. There was an opening ceremony at 18h30 on Friday evening that I didn’t stay for so not sure if, though their name was on the invitation, JP Martins or the Mayor turned up or not. I was busy being stuck on line 7 waiting for a colis suspect to pass inspection trying to get to swimming at Butte aux Cailles. Saturday morning the bike park was in a space between the Allée Royale de Bois de Vincennes and the polygon bike track. It was a regular event style set up with the usual bike racks numbered by dossard. There were two refs manning the park in a serious way. For this race there were two dossards for those that didn’t have a belt (about 75% of the 50ish participants were in tri suits) and plastic panel to attach in the front below the handle bars that had the number and first name on it.
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