Day 287 – EU – France [Grandcourt to Cambrai]

16/01/21

46.4km

  From Grandcourt (France) to Cambrai (France)

Europe

First snow of the world run! Company for the start, beautiful sunrise and a white finish

As I set out in the crispy cold at 8am, I was met by Stephane, Celine and Cedric on the run and Oceane on her bike. We ran through the village and a few people braved the cold to cheer us up from their doorstep (no doubt having been informed by my hosts!) and that was very touching. We ran into one of the most beautiful sunrises I have seen so far. The picture cannot depict just how beautiful it was, but the whole sky was a painting that was changing by the minute. Stunning.

The company ran with me for about 12 kilometers before we parted. As usual, kilometers go by very fast in good company. I ran the next ten or so kilometers watching the sky in expectation: snow was due to fall all morning and I was expecting it with a very childish form of excitement. When I hit km 30 it started. Slowly, snowflakes dancing around. Then it became thicker and thicker.

I had a blast! This is the first snowy day of the world run. The snow really stuck to the ground and it was a fun experience to run with BoB the stroller through it. It feels like running in a giant marshmallow. Not that I have ever tried, but I’m pretty sure it would feel like it. By the time I arrived in Cambrai, the whole city was covered in white.

My host tonight is Anais and I am staying in a typical house, made of red brick, with cobblestones in the yard. The house is 200 years old and has (thankfully!) been renovated, it is cosy and warm, perfect for today’s weather. I will probably have to adjust my departure time tomorrow, to make sure I don’t go out in the dark if snow is still covering most of the roads.

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: