Finisher! weekend I was in Cologne. And in the first instance to the wonderful family O. to visit what I had been promised for a long time and delayed time and again. It was really very very beautiful. So beautiful that I come to find quite a pity that Cologne is so far away. In any case, the small, 14-month was N. a very charming entertainer and the parents as wonderful hosts. Pension with half-board and KVB good connection. Fully and completely recommend!
The other reason why I had chosen this weekend in Cologne, was the 14th Cologne Marathon, which took place on Sunday. This run I had in the summer for my marathon debut chosen because it was recommended to me because of the great atmosphere warmly.
As the day approached it, I was left amazing. I knew that the preparation but only because of the periosteum and later because of Fußgeschichte was not ideal, but have developed very good and made me sleep but reasonably quiet. I would reach my minimum goal to stay under 4 hours, it had I really do not doubt, but then I made even before you realize that I alone again come to the finish could be proud of.
the morning of the run then I packed my things together, ate breakfast the usual muesli breakfast and went to dress comfortably tax. In the small inlet lap I felt really sluggish initially, but I also knew that I need general information for at least 3-4 km, to some extent at all to get going and self-doubt, I have forbidden me to this point easily. Fortunately I had on the starting grid. The runners were classified according to their previously MUCH reference times in starting blocks which then were allowed to start a time delay. Since I had had any reference time, I had to start course in the last starting blocks. There, however, I managed to stand almost in front. When my then green blocks or 20 minutes after the first runners start finally was allowed, I had before me an almost completely free rein.
The first 5 km were not more exciting. It was a wonderful route lined by many viewers, but I was in the beginning not so important. Shortly after the start is a 'you can do it "to read, does not calm a file. In the first few kilometers I actually just trying to get loose and run inside, above all, not too fast. My race strategy, I would welcome a pleasant 6 min per km pace. But how this is so, the route is free, spectators cheer them on, one wants to even be no nakedness .... So I am the first 5km in 27:08 min run. Little faster than planned, but anyway. Had something to do with the fact that I collect from the long wait in the start area, at temperatures around 20 ° C and bright sunshine, after the first km the urgent need for the first cup of water had, and it was just at the supply level at km 5 . Verpfegung there was still many points in the race, most unfortunately, only water or tea, which I found very sad. In Dresden's last year was almost always something to drink isotonic. The good is the water, however, that it can be also easily pour over his head and T-shirt if it gets too warm in the sun.
The second went about 5 km further into the pace. 26:42 min. So still slightly below plan envisaged that 5:30 min / km for the route, which was also laid out very carefully.
The following three sections were in retrospect probably the sections that may have prevented an even better result. The next 10 km I am in fact running smooth 5 min / km, the following 5 in 5:10 min / km. Actually this was quite relaxed, too. I was always runner to me a bit more than Pacemakers were led by a team of two that are very skillfully kept pace. In the 6th
Section, however, came the backlash. Between km 27 and 28 I noticed that your thighs are acidic. I guess that was the tribute to the still relatively fast 15 km before it. Actually I see at the moment has slowly swim the skins away. I'm still hoping that some miraculous effect magically lactate from the muscle and all the loose again, but makes set inside I've since been on a long fight, and more slowly becoming km times and in the end maybe even feared that it might eventually goes no further. In that section is then also with small groups of two broken apart. This unfortunately led to the fact that the one I already had identified clearly as the faster, fitter, had suddenly no longer cared to take on its running mate and is up and pulled away. Although I am still a bit despite aching legs on to him, but eventually I got him but then let them go. Surprisingly, and although the following km really is no fun anymore and really degenerated into cruelty, I somehow actually managed a pretty good pace to run constantly on. 5:20 min / km in Section 6 and 7 So it must have felt like really not at this point in the race. Funnily enough, I have somewhere around 32 km even a guy out of date, who started with me at the beginning of the green group, and I was then shortly after the start of it.
Such moments of recognition there was more than once. Above all, yet another with a group of two. The two had a T-shirt on with the memorable words: "smiling through the finish." For the first time I've surpassed, as the pain was still relatively fresh and I was like "nice it would." Sometime in the 8th Section of line, I guess just after km 35, the then overtaken me again. I did not forget, have overtaken back again and am running off the front, a few km later the same Game again. In the end I was at least in front of you at the finish even if I have not smiled determined at the finish.
The last 7 km were then again really hard fight. Several times I thought that would go but now ne nice alternative, but every time I've overcome me again to continue. Also, because I knew that if I even begin to, shall cease to run. That was after the forced walking breaks at the food stalls hard enough. Even when it was clear that I am the minimum goal to stay under 4 hours would probably also create continuous manner, then my pride was too great to let loose. Moreover, because actually helped the audience enormously. If the page any strangers "in going's Fox," "You can do it Fox" call, because you see your name on your bib number and cheer you personally, then pushes the fact much more than I would have thought of before. Even in these last 7 km I am to believe, but true, actually not much slower now. In fact, I have at the end of even a small sprint comes with a nasty little weasel, who said shortly before the end, he could still run at all times over. But not without a fight. Common, I'm at the end I had him suspended again before the final meters but vorbeigesprintet is again. But no matter. End time well under 3:45 h.
the finish I was certainly over it. Of food intake was thinking hard, even though I knew it was urgently necessary. But shortly after the finish I had my stomach first prepare it for a while. Suddenly I felt then, that not only the thigh hurt, but also the back. But to lean on the implementation of the idea myself to put somewhere and back against the wall was not at all think. I got my butt does not get 5 cm towards the ground, because given the thighs already complying trying. What was also good, because I probably would otherwise never come up! The calves WHILE the way, have no problems and after the race prepared. I guess that was also due to the compression stockings.
Today, the day after I unfortunately still be found. rise above all the stairs. Goes down really fast backwards. Aches I feel now not only on the thighs, but also on the calf and shin, and, interestingly, of the abdomen and back. And the previously beautiful mekernde foot logs back to word, but not more vocal. And muscle soreness goes away. In the meantime, I will at every step of my bodies on the performance reminiscent of the weekend and this is actually quite good.
The Sun was now much more detailed than I had planned. Practically a small marathon for the reader. However, the interested reader the advantage of being able to divide the reading into stages and a time measurement is not with me. But if it were this far in reading is that the line has now already in mind.
's go reader, you can do it!!
Guats Nächtle.
