Run Marathon Man

Distance runner Ray Christensen

MENUMENU
  • About
    • Running Gear for You!
    • Find a Race: DE / Philly Area
  • 2002-05
    • 2002 Training Log
    • 2002 Philly Distance Run
    • 2002 DE Distance Classic 15K
    • 2002 Dublin Marathon
      • Dublin: Sightseeing
      • Dublin: Pasta Dinner
      • Dublin City Marathon
      • Dublin: Celebration
      • 2002 J.I.M. Bermuda
      • 2002 J.I.M. Disneyworld
    • 2003 Icicle, CR, Broad Street
    • 2003 Marathon Training
    • 2003 Humpy's Marathon
      • Alaska Trip: Travel and Cruise
      • Alaska: Humpy's Marathon
      • Alaska: Talkeetna, Denali
      • Alaska: Team Cobey Hiking
      • Alaska: Sightseeing Anchorage
      • Alaska: More Photos
    • 2003 NYC Marathon
      • New York City Start
      • NYC Triumph
    • 2004 Icicle Run in Wilmington
    • 2004 Caesar Rodney Half
    • 2004 Paris Marathon
      • Paris: Delaware Runners
      • Paris: Notre Dame, Louvre
      • Paris Marathon – Race Day
      • Paris: Cemetery, Eiffel Tower
      • Versailles & Paris Sightseeing
    • 2004 Bay to Breakers
      • BTB in San Francisco
      • BTB Naked Runners
    • 2004 Races & Training
    • 2004 Chicago Marathon
      • Chicago Expo, Sightseeing
      • Chicago Race Day
      • Chicago Congratulations
    • 2005 Winter Races
    • 2005 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus Trip
      • Boston Marathon – Race Day
      • Marathon Press Recap
    • 2005 Summer Races
    • 2005 Twin Cities Marathon
  • 2006-10
    • 2006 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus Trip
      • Hopkinton to Boylston St.
    • 2006 Steamtown Marathon
    • 2007 Big Sur Marathon
    • 2007 Marine Corps Marathon
    • 2008 New Jersey Marathon
    • 2008 Breakers Marathon
    • 2009 Disney World Marathon
      • Disney Marathon Trip
      • Goofy Challenge Races
    • 2009 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus, Expo, Rebels
      • 113th Boston Marathon
      • Boston Globe Photos
    • 2009 California Intl Marathon
    • 2010 Country Music Marathon
    • 2010 Wineglass Marathon
  • 2011-18
    • 2011 Garden Spot Marathon
    • 2011 Marine Corps Half
    • 2011 Philadelphia Marathon
    • 2012 Bob Potts Marathon
    • 2012 Hartford Marathon
    • 2013 Vermont City Marathon
    • 2014 Ave of Giants Marathon
      • 2014: Northern California
    • 2014 Monster Mash Mar.
    • 2015 River Towns Marathon
    • 2015 Richmond Marathon
    • 2018 Baltimore Marathon
  • Contact Ray

2004 Paris Marathon – Delaware Runners

Marathon starts on Champs d'Elysees
Marathon photos
Place de la Concorde

Glory in Paris: April 4, 2004
17 people made up the team of runners and support staff representing Pike Creek Valley Running Club and the state of Delaware for the Paris Marathon on April 4, 2004.

Our week-long adventure in France captured the flavor of Paris while sighteeing, enjoying restaurants and bars, and of course running 26.2 miles through the city streets. After losing 2 participants to injuries, eleven completed the event, where several posted personal records. 3 members made their debut at the 26.2 mile distance.

Marathon Man smashed his PR by 10 minutes!

Paris Flight, Metro, Sacre Coeur, Hotel K+K Cayre

– – – Ray’s chip time: 3 hrs. 31 mins. 24 sec. – – – – Place (per chip): 7,898 of 29,700 overall – – – Place: 7,806 of 25,449 men – – – – Cool and clear low 50s – – – – Total female runners: 4,250 – – – – – – Team Delaware Rocks!

Wednesday 3/31/04 – Team Delaware boards 2 planes
Most of our group flew on US Air, while Ray was joined by Mike and Lorri’s family on Air France. It was a busy day, since my overnight shift allowed for only a 2 hour nap before a brief 4 mile farewell run at Delcastle. Rich was also at the park for a last minute warm-up. Along with Lorri, Jerry and Maria, I shuttled to Philly airport in plenty of time for our 6:15 pm flight to Charles De Gaulle.

After a one hour runway delay, the seven hour flight was decent, though cramped. The Russian sitting next to me spoke little English. My right kneecap grew sore due to no leg room and the French wine gave me enough of a headache to prevent good sleep. So I watched “The Last Samurai” and enjoyed the food.

Paris - Eiffel Tower
taking the Metro into downtown Paris

Thursday 4/01/04 – Metro to the Hotel, Sightseeing Sacre Coeur, Hotel K+K Cayre

Mike and I walked around De Gaulle airport changing money and asking numerous people for directions to the Metro train. After buying a 47.50 Euro 5-day pass, we finally located the train for a pleasant ride into Paris. We switched lines once and rose from the subway in the midst of a labor demonstration. We marched with them for a while, while getting conflicting directions to Boulevard Raspail. After a 45 minute walk, we entered the lobby of the K+K Cayre Hotel to find most of our teammates waiting.

I shared a nice 5th floor room (and a single electronic key) with Don. At around noon, we were wandering the streets, enjoying a great sandwich lunch and window shopping on Blvd. St. Germain in the Latin Quarter.

Most of the team took the Metro to Sacre Coeur (aka Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre), where we climbed a long but colorful winding staircase to get to the foot of the hill that the church is built on. More steps brought us to the top of the hill. We toured the interior and then searched for the entrance to the tower for yet another climb up a spiral staircase to the top. The outstanding view of Paris was worth the effort. Greg probably wouldn’t agree, due to lingering leg problems.

Back on the ground, we enjoyed a pasta dinner in a large courtyard area filled with artists selling their wares. Some delicious crepes topped off the evening as dusk settled. We were a tired group upon getting “home” to the Rue du Bac station, just across the street from the hotel.

map of Paris

Jerry, Lorri, Maria, and Jack at indoor mall

view from Sacre Coeur

Metro pass - 5 days!

Sacre Coeur Ray at Sacre Coeur

team at plaza near Sacre Coeur view from Sacre Coeur

team at Sacre Coeur inside Sacre Coeur

more steps to Sacre Coeur Lori, Maria, Jerry at Sacre Coeur sightseeing

winding staircase to metro Paris Metro system Chris, John, Rich in lobby Erin, Lori, Ray in lobby

Paris next page

Boston Marathon finisher medal

Contact Ray

Webmaster Ray builds websites



(paid link)

Home
About Ray
2002 Dublin
2003 Humpy’s
2003 New York City
2004 Paris
2004 Chicago
2005 Boston Marathon
2005 Twin Cities
2006 Boston Marathon
2006 Steamtown
2007 Big Sur
2007 Marine Corps

2011 Philadelphia
2012 Bob Potts
2012 Hartford
2013 Vermont City
2014 Ave of Giants
2014 Monster Mash
2015 River Towns
2015 Richmond
2018 Baltimore
Contact Ray

Find a Race
Wilmington / Philly Area

The Lord is kind and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in compassion.

302-633-1482

Running Gear
#ad

© 2002 – 2023 Run Marathon Man – running journal of distance runner Ray Christensen of Wilmington, Delaware. Fitness, training, trails & road races.

Site by Attraction Web Design

Scroll Up