For a long time, I've always wanted to run the marathon but always felt that 26 miles or 42 kilometres was way beyond my limits. How could I put my human body through such a strain and what type of damage was I likely to incur? Training was an issue. Finding the time to prepare for such an event seemed an impossibility and even if that time was found, how would I know I was ready?
There were more questions than answers but when I signed up for the marathon in Kosice back in May, after seeing a friend's marathon finishing post on Facebook, I knew there was no way out. It was time to tackle this beast and succeed or be broken.
My training schedule didn't quite go to plan. The target was two smallish 10k runs a week and one longer one. That was the goal but it didn't really work out so well. On average I managed two runs a week and only one 25k run before it was time to do the whole thing. You can imagine I had my doubts that I could do the extra 17k to complete the run.
Still, I had signed up so I had to at least give it a try.
All of the excitement and stress hindered my early progress as the large mass of people jogged quite slowly in the old town in Kosice. How was I going to 42 k? Just focus on the first 10 I told myself. I knew I could do that and even more than double that. I could do 25 but after that ... it was unknown territory.
The atmosphere in Kosice was fantastic with people lining the streets clapping and cheering the runners. It certainly helped to motivate me and so I ran to be with the pacemaker with the 4 hour finish time. As I needed to use the toilet I went a bit ahead and then indeed did my business. I kept the tempo up - under 5 minutes. I could manage it. It was my usual tempo. There were quite a lot of people but it had thinned out a little. With no music in my ears I was free to take a look around and absorb the sights. Some of the track was not so interesting - just roads and blocks
What was tough was seeing the half marathon runners finishing but knowing that I had another lap to go after 21km. It was so tempting to stop.
The second half was harder. This time I turned on the music in my headphones. Anything to keep my mind occupied and to stop it straying. Having other people around was a great help and now I was due to finish it at 3:30 as the pacemaker's flag stated. I was going beyond my usual limits but felt okay so why not? Everyone talks about a crisis and mine began at around the 35th kilometre. I knew that what was left wasn't much but it still had to be done. To go so far and stop was agony and was something I didn't want to do. The last two kilometres were the toughest by far. So close and yet ... not. All sorts of doubts told me to stop going, to take a seat and be proud of my achievement. 1k left and I don't know what was pushing me on. I was in a black hole. I could't think anymore but I couldn't let myself stop. Again I focussed on people around me and what I could to keep up. My mind wanted to go faster but it was not possible just like in that dream when you want to run faster.
The finishing line, a last sprint by some runners and that was it. It was done. I didn't have to run any longer. It was all over and my time was way faster than I had thought possible at 3 hours and 29 minuted.
When I finished I tried to stretch but my muscles were so stiff. Relief and excitement was what I felt. Finally i had done it. All the bad feelings evaporated when I crossed that line. I couldn't believe that I had done it. Such a long dream but finally true. I had finally done it.
Looking back, more training would have helped but I would recommend it to anyone who would like to have something to aim for and of course who loves running and who wants to push themselves a bit harder. What next? At the end of the run I thought to myself that there was no way I would put myself through that again, the pain, the longevity, the endurance and now but now I am thinking of Vienna.
