Paris Marathon 2016
Photos by Jillian Andrei- Leu
‘Hail, we are the winners !’
Paris #Marathon 2016 eve was rainy and windy. ‘What a pity for the long-distance runners!’ I thought. When your mindset is to #run and run and run and reach the final line, having rain water pouring into your running shoes is not such a pleasure, is it?
However, the #Universe had prepared a different Marathon Sunday in Paris, not only -to allow all the 43 317 athletes ( 160 nationalities) to feel the soreness of their back and feet- but also to encourage them throughout the legendary 42, 195 km ,with sunny- bright sky!
From west –side — #ChampsElysees avenue Start to the east side of Paris, Bois de Vincennes, back to the west , along river Seine -to the Bois de Boulogne, and again to the east – #FINISH on Foch Avenue (just by #arcdetriomphe ), the 40th anniversary of the Parisian athletic event, with the sportive women and men of all ages/ skin color/ religions and cultures boosted by their husbands/ wives/ kids/ parents/ friends/ colleagues/ companions/neighbors and fans, can be described as being a great victory for the city of Paris
The official male #winner is Cyprian Kokut ( 2h.07.11 – Kenya) and the #female compatriot Jepkesho (2h.25. 53).
Yet, the Winner was Every runner who had in mind one big thing: to succeed in crossing the Finish line. All these marvelous athletic runners, wearing a Green T-shirt and a symbolic #medal, rewarding physical and mental effort, #determination, long- steady #training hours, #endurance, #passion deserve our full admiration!
Walking among the athletes and their fans in the Triumph Arch area, I could catch on my camera the immense #satisfaction on their fatigued faces, the warm welcome of all those who accompanied their favorites or the solitude of a runner even after the race… but happy and delighted.
As the Greek long-distance runner Pheidippidis said in 490 BC, announcing the victory of the Greek army upon the Persians, after 42 km running from Marathon field to Athens:
‘ Joy to you, we’ve won!’- in Paris 2016!
Paris Marathon 2016- joy& peace among people!
‘Hail, we are the #winners !’