BUNGAY Black Dog runner Ian Taylor was amongst 31,373 competitors in the Paris Marathon on Sunday, April 5. It was run in perfect weather conditions and the route took runners past many famous locations including the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, which was striking 10.

BUNGAY Black Dog runner Ian Taylor was amongst 31,373 competitors in the Paris Marathon on Sunday, April 5.

It was run in perfect weather conditions and the route took runners past many famous locations including the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, which was striking 10.30am as Taylor ran by.

The course also included two wonderful long sections through Bois de Vincennes and Le Bois de Boulogne, two of the most famous city parks, and several miles alongside the River Seine.

There were also two underpasses to run through, which are not usually available to pedestrians.

Taylor was the 1,071st finisher in a time of 3-00:34.

The vital seconds were lost in the opening stages of the race due to the density of runners which is always a problem in big city marathons.

The first kilometre took Taylor 5:40 to complete against his usual average of 3:36. All the same, it was a fine performance of which he felt justifiably proud.

The other Black Dog running was Bob Jack, who was running his 50th marathon.

At 12 miles Bob had a recurrence of a thigh injury which slowed him down but he still completed the race in 6-38 in 25,271st place. At 18 miles, as he was limping past an outside cafe, a couple waved him over and refreshed Bob with two glasses of red wine!