Berlin Marathon 25.09.11

On the way to the starting line I remembered a quote that said 'the hardest thing about a marathon is signing up' what a load of bollocks the race is much harder, but very fun too. As the digits countdown everyone begins last minute checks, scanning over your body checking everything is running smoothly. Then the gun sounds followed by a mixture of cheers and strangely enough The Pirates of the Caribbean theme. The mass of people ahead accelerate as they step over the starting line and then I'm across looking at all the spectators holding up banners like 'no pain no glory' (I would remember this later) the Berlin victory column gleaming ahead. The first 14 miles were going well, I was running at a medium pace and still heading for a under 3:30 time, but the inevitable happened, my leg gave way and I had to walk run the rest of the way, frustrating but I had prepared for it, what I wasn't prepared for was the heat luckily there are aid stations every few kilometers and fire trucks spraying water at you acting like a shock to the system helping to wake you up from the arduous rhythm.

I love running and pushing myself like a dog loves his walks everyday, but I must admit at some points during the marathon I seriously considered walking to the side and calling it a day fortunately peculiar things enter your mind in the race, a scene that used to scare me in terminator when the machine keeps on coming no matter what kept playing back in my head. this is what I needed to do. The final kilometer of the race is funny, you push with whatever you have left to run under Brandenburg Gate it feels great finished... but wait.. why is everyone still running? then you see further ahead the actual finish line the longest 500meters Iv ever run. When I finally crossed the line a felt a surge of emotions that I will categorize and simplify as; Elation, Emptiness and Humility. Elation is the most immediate, Iv finished finish, its over I did it. The Emptiness hits  like a sinking feeling because now there was suddenly a hole in my life, all the hours of training, all the plates of nasty wholemeal pasta, all the injuries had been for this and now it was over, had I done my best?  The final feeling and the one that lasts the longest sets in when you look around and are humbled by all the people that have done this with you; young, old, fat, thin, I have the utmost respect for anyone who attempts a Marathon. My final time across the line was 04:10:41

What is a foolish thing to do the day after a marathon, apart from another one? how about a 6 hour walking tour of Berlin, that was interesting.. Some people were wearing they medals around town but it really wasn't necessary, you could immediately spot the runners by just looking at the stairs of the underground. Walking down stairs was very painful, and you use the tube to get everywhere in Berlin so we clambered down the stairs like a metal old man. In the evening we had our first celebratory beer with other travelers from the hostel that turned out to be a great night out, although I had even more awkward dance moves than usual.
Thinking back to running I now face a dilemma; originally I had intended to run the marathon tick it of 'the bucket list' and be done with it, but seed has been firmly planted.. I know from my training that I can get a faster time and need to do another one or maybe a triathlon, don't get me wrong its not for the glory or the bragging rights, its just that when I am running is when I feel most alive. 

The Road to Berlin

I am sat on the edge of my bed staring down at my knee contemplating what condition my body will be in a week from now. Back in March myself and 3 friends enthusiastically signed up for the Berlin Marathon, I was optimistic but under no illusion, I knew this was a big deal and have since trained hard for it. The race is now looming less than two days away and out of the 4 that signed up only 3 are competing and only one is racing uninjured.

A Marathon is 26.2 miles, it takes roughly 40,000 strides to complete, each step exerts forces of 2-3 times your own body weight and after the event you are around 2cm shorter than when you started. Its not surprising that eventually this sort of punishment takes its toll on a body. Endurance wise it is difficult to explain what the longer sessions feel like until you have actually done one for yourself. Fatigue is a strange thing, it sort of creeps up on you like a great wave building in strength until it crashes all over your body but if you keep pushing eventually it passes. During my training iv heard many stories of black toenails, bleeding feet, people fainting meters from finish lines and others running directly into bollards. For me its been shin splints and calf injuries however these only hurt to a point and then the pain plateaus mixing with the infusion of endorphins and adrenaline that helps take the edge off. I received my latest injury in the form of a damaged knee ligament about 3 weeks ago and it has steadily worsened. Unlike the other afflictions that just require mental focus to overcome, the ligament injury has weakened my leg so it gives way after so many miles. Thus I have reluctantly rested for just over a week. all I can think is I should be out training!

The most difficult thing is the acceptance that it is very unlikely I will be able to complete the Marathon in the time I have been training for 3:30. The new goal, simply to finish without injuring myself further.
The conditions are far from ideal but thats ok, I dont think it would be right if this was going to be easy or comfortable.