December 10, 2018 Velars-sur-Ouche, France
Race Review: La Madone 14km Trail Run
Last month, I did a
14km (8.74mi) trail race in Burgundy called La Madone. The race is named after
the gold Madonna statue at the top of the hills we ran around, and is one of
the more popular events in the region. There were about 700 participants across the four distances offered: 25km,
14km, 8km, and 3.5km (the 25km was unique to this year, since it was 25th
anniversary of the race).
I decided to do the 8km
just a few days before the run—since I’m only in Dijon for a year, I wanted to
take advantage of the iconic Burgundy trail races while I could. But, I didn’t
want to strain myself too much; my more serious racing season had concluded
with the Lyon Half Marathon a month before.
On race day, however, I
decided to switch from the 8km to the 14km. According to the local friends I
went with, you would only get the see La Madone up close on the 14km and 25km
courses (as it turned out, not even the 25km went up to the statue). I was a
little hesitant to switch, but it just didn’t seem right to run a race named
after a statue you didn’t even get to see haha.
Since I'd really struggled with a 12km trail run just a few weeks before, I thought that La Madone would be a repeat of the aching legs I'd experienced. That grueling trail run was my first real workout after 2 weeks of rest though, so timing wasn't ideal. This time, I'd more or less recovered my lost fitness level.
We ran just for fun, or PP (pour le plaisir) as they might say in France. My official time ended up being 1:42:04, which was definitely more of a back of the pack finish. Even so, I didn't mind since I really did enjoy the run and the gorgeous fall landscapes.
Here's my take on the race:
Registration:
You can sign up either online, by mail, or in-person the day of. Online registration closes a couple days before the race. I signed up the day of, and it was 3 euros more expensive than signing up in advance (original prices ranged from 9-15 euros). On the day of the race, they only take cash or check.
Since entry fees are pretty cheap, you really don't get much swag. We were given a decent race belt though--you could snap your bib on and also put your keys in the little pouch (I'm wearing the belt in the first photo).
As is customary in France, you need a physical or medical certificate to run any race. All the document needs to say is that you're healthy and that running won't post any risks to your health. Make sure to bring a copy of this physical to give to race organizers, as they need them for insurance purposes.
Course:
The trails are incredibly scenic, but great views often only come with big climbs. According to my phone, there was 1078ft of elevation gain. There were two major hills that I remember, and most participants walked up them. Fun fact: apparently you're supposed to walk up hills during trail runs, since it's an inefficient use of energy to run up them.
Some spots on the course were unfortunately pretty muddy since it had rained recently, making the hills a little slippery. But I suppose hills and mud should expected on a trail run :)
Also typical of a trail race, there are no kilometer/mile markers, so you really do need a GPS watch or phone to track your distance.
Overall, the scenery really is stunning, especially with the fall leaves. As you'll see in the next photo though, the Madonna statue isn't anything super special (it was actually under construction). Still, I'm glad I picked the 14km since we got the views at the top of the hill.
Fuel:
There's one fuel stop, right before the second big hill. If I'm not mistaken, it's around 5-6km in (the Madonna statue is around 8km). For the rest of the race, you're on your own.
At the mid-race fuel station, there were bananas, oranges, dark chocolate, multigrain crackers, and pain d’รฉpices (basically gingerbread, but in pound cake form). To drink, there was water and coke. The finish line fuel was basically the same, but there was also tea and hot chocolate.
Random Perk:
One cool perk is that they hire a professional photographer, and you can download the shots for free (instead of paying 14 euros per photo, as is the norm). Unfortunately, the albums aren't sorted by bib--the albums are based on certain time frames, so you have estimate where you were at that time and dig through all the photos. I didn't mind too much though--at least they were free!
I have a special talent for taking ugly race photos; these gave me a good laugh. I can't tell if I look like I'm smiling or grimacing or constipated in the one below.
Photos by Nicolas Goisque
Tips + Summary:
- Only the 14km goes up to La Madone, so be sure to sign up for this distance if you want to see the statue. It's not super impressive, but the views at the top of the hill are stunning.
- Sign up online at least 3 days in advance to avoid the 3 euro price increase on race day (or don't sign up in advance so you can change your mind on race day, like me haha).
- Take a copy of your physical or medical certificate to turn into race organizers.
- Bring your own water/fuel--there is only one fuel station about halfway into the 14km.
- Track your run with your phone or GPS watch since there are no distance markers.
- Smile pretty for the free photos! (not like me).
If you want to run a scenic trail race in Burgundy, I highly recommend this race. La Madone takes place in Velars-sur-Ouche, just short drive from Dijon. If you get in contact with any of the running clubs in the area, people are sure to be participating and won't mind giving you a lift.
Until next time,
December 2, 2018
My Resumรฉ of Failures
In a fellowships interview, I was once asked to describe a time I failed. It was a standard question, and I launched into my usual response: "Well, I had to go through three training cycles before I was finally able to run a marathon..."
My interviewer cut me off. He didn't want to hear about a failure that became a success. He wanted to know a time I really failed, totally blew it, and that was it. Just failure.
Caught off-guard, I had to fumble for a response.
Like many people, I'm not attuned to disclosing my "pure failures," especially in a professional setting. We're taught to emphasize our achievements, skills, and strengths. Even when we're asked for the less-savory parts of our character ("What is your greatest weakness?"), we're told to filter out the unappealing weaknesses ("I have a hot temper" or "I'm lazy") and opt instead for a weakness that could also be seen as a strength ("I'm sometimes too detail-oriented that it slows me down").
So, the first time I stumbled upon a resumรฉ/CV of failures, I knew I wanted to make my own. Our tendency to selectively share success is equally prominent in social media, what many people like to call their "highlight reel." I think it's important to be reminded that our lives are far from our curated Instagram feeds, joyous Facebook photos with friends, and celebratory announcements on LinkedIn. Behind every success and happy moment, there's a story of struggle.
The concept of the resumรฉ of failures is attributed to Melanie Stefan at the University of Edinburgh. It was popularized by Johannes Haushofer from Princeton University, when his CV of failures when viral.
I'm not a professor (perhaps something my parents would consider a failure haha), so I've decided to vary my resumรฉ a little, adding a section for extracurriculars and lack of skills. Hopefully it'll give you a good laugh and make you reflect on your own experiences.
If you want to make your own CV of failures, you can download mine from Google Docs and use it as a template (just click "File" in the top left, then "Download as" a Word document). If you want to see my "success"/real resumรฉ, you can add me on LinkedIn.
And if you're wondering how that fellowships interview ultimately went, let's just say that it's in the above resumรฉ :)
Until next time,
November 28, 2018
3 Ways to Wear an Overalls Dress (Fall & Winter)
About a month ago, I had a sudden urge to buy things. While I typically purchase second-hand, there were some pieces I'd been eyeing that I knew would be too tough to find in thrift stores. Exhibit one: a corduroy overalls dress.
It's funny how you grow to love styles you once found geeky or tacky as a kid. I used to hate overalls and turtlenecks, for instance, and now I proudly sport them several times a week. I was worried about pulling off overalls though--more body-hugging bottoms aren't the most flattering on my athletic frame. Luckily, this dress was pretty roomy (I'm typically a size S, and it fit with room to spare).
I've since worn this guy several times, and I love how versatile the overalls are. Here are my top ways to style an overalls dress:
1. Over a chunky sweater.
Overalls dress, Shein | Sweater, flea market (Club Med) | Scarf, Paris thrift store | Boots, Silky Toes
2. Over a turtleneck
Turtleneck, thrifted L.L. Bean | Scarf, Mom's
3. Over a light sweater and under a cozy cardigan
Sweater, thrifted H&M | Cardigan, flea market (Griffon Frรจres) | Scarf, thrifted in Ohio
You might've noticed a sort of pattern in these looks--my formula is more or less = (turtleneck or chunky sweater) + overalls dress + silk scarf. (The math major in me emerging haha). I've become a huge fan of silk scarves and highly recommend picking some up in your local thrift store to spice up your outfits.
You may have also noticed that this dress is from Shein, a popular online retailer based in China. Buying from a fast fashion retailer was definitely a moment of weakness. I definitely recommend looking elsewhere first if you can, both for ethical and quality reasons. I was happy with the dress, but the other items I ordered felt cheaply-made.
So where else can you look? Some popular secondhand clothing apps are Vinted, ThredUp, Poshmark, and Mercari. I've only personally used Poshmark, and I've had a good experience with what I've purchased--my favorite vintage Coach crossbody bag is actually from there, and it was a steal at $16 including shipping.
Unfortunately, most of these apps are only US-based (other than Vinted I believe), but a French alternative that one of my roommates has tried is Micolet. (By the way, the word for overalls in French is "salopette").
How else have you styled your overalls? Another combination I've tried and liked was overalls + button-down/flowy blouse. Would love to hear your different ideas and "formulas" :)
November 17, 2018
On Being Asian in France: My Experience
I speak French, thank you.
In the more touristy parts of France, shopkeepers and restaurant employees often address me in English, before I've even spoken. Because of my ethnicity, they simply assume that I don't speak French. Some people may argue that their actions are justified--if most Asians who frequent their stores don't speak French, it's easier to start with English (would you speak in Mandarin to a white person in China, for example?). But, you can't deny that this is only a reminder that you "don't belong" and that people perceive you as different.
Not microaggressions, but more like plain rudeness or lack of empathy
Bad customer service, or racism?
The Bottom Line:
November 7, 2018 Lyon, France
Race Review: Lyon Half Marathon 2018
Last month, I ran the Lyon Half Marathon. It was my 7th half marathon (including the one race I paced), and definitely one of my favorites--look at that big grin despite the rain and cold!
For several reasons, I didn't have high performance expectations. There was the nasty weather, for one (we were graced with showers and temperatures in the 40s to 50s when of course it had been sunny and 70 the day before). I've also been in a bit of a slump since fall 2015, both pace-wise and energy-wise. While my PR is 1:44:03 (7:57/mile), I hadn't run under 1:55 in THREE YEARS. A lot of my runs had been feeling heavy and joyless, and I wasn't sure if I had just peaked early and was getting old or something (I know how ridiculous that sounds as a 22-year-old).
So, my primary goal was just to enjoy the run and hit around a 1:50 if possible. But when I go into a race with a more lax "let's have fun and see how it goes" attitude, I'm often pleasantly surprised.
I ended up finishing in 1:45:07 (8:01/mi or 4:59/km), almost within a minute of my PR. My pace was pretty steady throughout, with my first 10km just about a second faster per kilometer than the last 11km. While the weather wasn't a spirit-lifter, it felt badass to dash through the (moderate) rain with the 10,500 other runners. And it felt badass to finally be close to my PR again!
I think my summer speedwork in Boston definitely played a role in my race performance--I did a handful of 800m and mile repeat workouts across 1.5 months, and while they didn't feel great at the time, they made running a consistent quicker pace easier in the half marathon.
My race stats--was 2700/10,514 overall, 215/3266 women, and 15/156 women in my age group
Race impressions are intrinsically tied with performance, so I definitely had a positive experience at the Lyon Half. There are some things, however, that I wish I'd been more prepared for. If you're thinking about running Lyon, here's what you should know:
Expo:
You can't pick up your bib the day of, so plan to spend at least a night in Lyon. The city is gorgeous, so I would recommend staying longer anyways!
The expo was at Place Bellecour, a square at the heart of the city. It was outdoors with a bunch of tents for different vendors and packet pickup. Pickup itself is well-organized and quick, though I walked by again within a couple hours of closing, and lines were huge. I also did hear that they ran out of size small 10k t-shirts by midday on Saturday. So bottom line: arrive as early as you can! There aren't a ton of freebies at the expo (I think I only picked up a couple pastries and a sip of smoothie), but the energy is good.
A random tip: French races require a physical to participate, and they are strict about checking these at the expo--you cannot race if you don't have this medical clearance, no matter how many races you've done. To save some time at the expo, I uploaded a photo of my physical on the race's online platform, Time To, and got approved in advance.
Fuel:
Unlike American races, French races often don't have sports drinks or gu (even for major marathons like Paris!). The is, however, no shortage of water and fruits (like bananas). We were also given a small stick of Stimium (the French equivalent of Honey Stinger I think) in our race packets, so I took that along and had it around 11-12km.
Since the race was so large, you could easily get stuck at the aid stations. A tip a friend gave me was to grab refreshments towards the end of the stations--that way you skip the traffic jam at the beginning.
You should also know that aid stations are less frequent, about every 5km. If you need fuel more frequently, plan ahead.
The refreshments at the end of the race are another story though--I've never seen so many options! There was quinoa salad, cherry tomatoes, fruits, granola bars, energy chews, soft drinks, etc. And, you take all your heart desires.
Course:
We ran primarily along the Saone river, which was relatively scenic and quiet. The course was a quasi out and back, but we crossed over and came back on the other side of the river.
It definitely felt like a fast course to me, and I don't recall any particular incline. A few things to watch out for though:
1. Your starting time is based on your estimated finish time. The slower the time, the later you start (this is to avoid congestion at the beginning). I put down 1:45 as my estimated finish time and started the race 15 minutes after the first group. I'd never run a road race with a staggered start before, so this was surprising (in the States, there's usually only a separate corral for the elite runners).
2. There weren't consistent kilometer marks--there were signs maybe the first 5km and the last 5km, but we were totally on our own for the rest of the race. Since I don't have a GPS watch or race with my phone, I had to rely on the beeping of the GPS watches around me to figure out when we'd hit another kilometer (I did bother someone once for the distance, but I didn't want to keep asking when we were all in the zone haha).
3. There is a long 1-2km tunnel within the last 5km of the race. It's really easy to be caught behind people here, so plan ahead and try to pass people beforehand. This part is probably the toughest, as there are no spectators and it can get pretty stuffy and boring. On the bright side, there's no rain :)
4. Speaking of spectators, there really aren't a lot along the bulk of the course. There are quite a few when you run in the city center, but the river section is pretty quiet. I've read this observation on other blogs in previous years, so I don't think it was just the bad weather that made people stay in.
For some comic relief, here's some very attractive race photos that I shared on my instagram story last month:
- You must pick up your bib in advance, and you need a medical certificate to participate. Upload yours online to save time, and get to the expo by midday to avoid long lines.
- There are multiple different start corrals based on estimated finish times. The slower your estimated time, the later you start (you could wait as long as 30 minutes after the official start!)
- There is no gu or sports drinks, so bring your own salt and electrolyte replenishment. Go to the back of the aid stations to avoid getting stuck in the crowd of runners.
- The course is flat and fast, but not well-marked. Run with a GPS tracking device if you want to know what distance you're at (or listen to the beeping watches of other runners).
- Be prepared for the stuffy 1-2km tunnel in the last section of the race, and don't expect a lot of spectators throughout.
- The post-race refreshments are fantastic and portable--I took a prepackaged quinoa salad, a container of cherry tomatoes, a couple granola bars, and a banana.
Despite all these surprises and points for improvement, I absolutely loved the race. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a fast course with good energy and pretty scenery.
If you have any questions about my race review, definitely leave a comment or shoot me an email. If you've run the Lyon Half Marathon yourself, I'd also love to hear your thoughts!
Happy running,
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