Cannes Urban Trail

Nicky and I deliberated for all of 10 seconds as to whether it should be Helsby or Cannes. We have run in good conditions at Helsby but both also in wind, rain, snow and ice. Whilst it was perhaps a touch warm at Cannes, reading the comments about Helsby we, perhaps, got the better weather.
Nicky did the 26k race. Don, I and George Livesey the 13k and Nicky’s sister, Liz, the 8k. Mixed reactions. Nicky who ran excellently and won her age category by a mere 16 minutes really enjoyed it. The three of us in the 13k, which had twice as many runners were less satisfied, we wasted a lot of time queueing and some of the paths were too narrow for the numbers. This was the first time the event has been held and they might re-think.
The route started on the promenade but then we did a longish stretch along the beach which was soft and heavy work, made worse by having been churned-up by the two earlier race, not dissimilar in some ways to Boggart Hole Clough. After leaving the beach we climbed steadily up to the hills at the back of Cannes. The next 6k we undulated in the hills before descending back to the front. For reasons we did not understand, just as we approached the finish, we were already over distance, we were directed into an auditorium, down the aisle between the seats, across the stage and back out onto the prom.
As always at French races the post-race food was good and free; bread, cheese, salami, ham, bananas, apples and cake.
Nicky did 2:26 for her 26k. George 1:44, Ian 1:50 and Don 2 hours for our 13k and Liz 1 hour for the 8k. Ate well, drank sufficient, superb accommodation at Nicky’s villa overlooking the sea. Accompanied by Liz’s husband, Simon and Anne.