An Aussie running across France

After that rather dire last email, all is somewhat better. Was sick of Paris weather (very much like Melbourne back in the days it rained) and back was giving me hell. Anyway Monday off to Montparnasee (the main railway station) and the train to Roscoff. 4 Hours of intermittent rain later we get to Morlaix and the smaller train to Roscoff, catch up with 3 other Trans Gaule runners locals Xavier & Bernard and Jim from the US (a 23:38 Western States runner and one we will see next year as he has missed the ballot the last two years), off to the Sports Hall and a night of rest, after a wander around town (and for me fish and chips), very nice little fishing village (noted for it's healthgiving seaweed), above is a picture of the town taken from off the pier, i'm just hiding the start line in the distance.
Next morning i have a osteopath arranged, know the exact problem being where my spine and rib cage join.
Of course it is hard to explain the problem when i speak English and he French but eventually it's sorted.
That night it is dinner with all the runners at a very nice restaurant, as well as some very nice red wine (sort of enough to make me forget that a 26 minute phonecall to Australia cost me 35 Euros ! will i never learn).
Next morning after a restless nights sleep it's a 5AM breakfast then a 15 minute walk to the startline, first big mistake after presenting the runners individually to the mayor i am freezing by the start (and non competitive first 6Ks) at 8:30.
Funny enough i am first for that run to St Pol Leon so it means i must wait longest and 9:05 we start with 15 degree temp, sporadically it rains and then gets cold, and i question my running singlet and also the rather chafing running shorts. Spend the last 13 K's running with a local girl who speaks good English and am happy with 6:28 for the 62 K's overall 9th with the winner 5:40, very tired but thankful to be in before the next downpour, last runners in 9:10, we had dinner in a veritable feast, salad, pasta but a dodgy gut means i stay from the wine. Off to bed at 9.
At 3 am awoken by pouring rain, though thankfully this has eased by 5 when we get up for breakfast, use a larger camelbak as it looks like rain and also bike shorts as very badly chafed and this time racing flats not happy yesterday with cushioned Brooks Trance 6.
Finally at 6:30 we begin, feel good until it rains again and very thankful to see drink station with coke and coffee and veritable banquet at 15k's, again it rains and gets cold and am happy at 40K when Pierre-Michel (who beat me by 2 minutes yesterday) suggests we run and walk together for a while. Have a feast at 52 K's and then the heavens open up, put coat on and finally finish in 7:06 11th place and behind the winner in just under 6 hours.
3K lift to our accommodation and i see this pub with the net so walk back (and have a couple of Heinekens while typing), in all pretty happy but now for a long day tomorrow