Bastille Day is the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.
And to commemorate this lovely occasion, Jess and I ran the Bastille Day 8K in Lincoln Park, Chicago. It was unique in that this race was run in the evening. It was a lovely, not-too-hot summer evening. The course followed the lakeshore path; while the calm water, boats, and setting sun were inspiring, the fishy odor wafting up to my nares was nauseating, and our near-death by cyclists was frightening. However, this did not stop Jess and I from finishing our 4.97 miles in about 43 minutes.
At the finish line we were handed a French flag and a mini cupcake sprinkled red, white, and blue. The best part: the t-shirt. It's the only real reason to run road races. And this may be the best race shirt I have ever received. Soft, heathered blue, Eiffel Tower.
Thanks Mom, Dad, and John for cheering us along at the finish line. :)
1 comment:
I think Bastille Day is my new pick holiday. Who wouldn't want to run with a baguette and a beret on their head?!
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