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Sunday 30th September 2018 Route de Vin Half Marathon No 14 Luxembourg

Sunday 30th September 2018 No 14


Richard 01:58:18 Jackie 02:16:39

So this is halfway we have had a week off since Stockholm but now we have five in a row .We were looking forward to this as its a short flight another first visiting Luxembourg and the weather's getting cooler . The race called Route du Vin has been going since 1962 so this is its 57th year an impressive heritage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_du_Vin_Half_Marathon

The area round Remich and the Moselle River was wonderful we were blown away by the scenery and the tranquility . It's very much a tourist area but the season was ending and it wasn't overcrowded as I imagine it would be in the middle of summer . We stumbled across a small owner run cafe/bar/ restaurant and the food was so good we returned for a second night . Pasta was a specialty and it was the best I have had and not expensive .

  



So everything was great , the area the food the accommodation plus the t-shirt and bottle of local wine included inn the entry .


 

So now onto the race . It was well organized, as has been all of them and it was a straightforward follow the river for 10.5 km turn round and run back . Easy !! . It was warm I set off too quick doing 10km in just over 52 minutes, the road was closed and very wide and I was unaware that sections were climbing , not a great deal but still a hill . I attempted to keep a good pace going presuming it was flat but was finding it hard . I  pushed on for 10km at times going at my 5km pace but was knackered at the turn round point and Strava makes sad reading . I just sneaked in under 2hrs due to the fast start . Jackie also struggled and awarded it the "WORST YET " award . Lesson learnt I hope . The scenery which we both made an effort to take in was wonderful and just about made a difficult race worthwhile . Its unlikely we will attempt it again but there are some good trail races in the area.



  



We also got to visit Schengen which was 6 km away and very interesting and Jackie got to meet some top Kenyan runners .





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