I stop my watch as I make the last strides on another beautiful evening run around Iten. “1:11:something” shows the display of my watch. Another training day, 2.400 metres above sea level is over.
I walk on and suddenly I meet Elisha beside the road. Looking at me, he asks shyly “No rest today?”. One doesn’t find many runners around on a Sunday evening in Kenya. Sunday is the traditional rest day. There may be a little jog in the morning if at all. Visiting relatives and going to the church is the main thing on the agenda. And so also Elisha is taking it easy on this sunny last day of the week, just out strolling to break the boredom at his camp down the road.
We walk on. He asks me if I ever ran a marathon. “Yes”, I reply. The next question, as always, is about the time. “What is your PB?”, he wants to know. Knowing that he will be amused with my reply, I tell him that I ran “2:50”. He stops walking. Looking critically at my sunburned post run legs he says what sounds simple and is straight forward. “2:28. You can run 2:28 – no problem. Just train!”
I smile as he looks at me. Elisha goes on “I ran 2:20 at my first marathon with no special preparation. In Turin. Italy.” Looking at the name beside the number “1” at the results of some Italian half marathons in the last two years, you’ll find the name “Elisha Meli”. Just training for three years, he has achieved some respectable results. The highlights, for him, include wining the 2008 Turin Half Marathon and pacing his fellow countryman John Komen to a new course record of 2h08’13″ at this years Venice Marathon. With the trademark Kenyan-style mix of tranquility and eagerness to compete, he is looking forward to race his first “competitive” 42k this year, when and wherever that may be.
Elisha and I are chatting on as we are strolling down the rocky backroad. Finally we are standing in front of his camp. After some jokes we shake hands and before i turn around to walk on, he looks at me and says “Just stay with us for three months. 2:28 – no problem!”
And here we go. After waiting for 3 hours at the Parc Expo in Saint Etienne the race is on. 5,600 head torches are dribbling through the quite and sleepy town. Most of the 17,500 resident are in bed. Not surprisingly as it is 12 o’clock. 12 o’clock at night. The early rain showers are gone and everything is set up for the 69 kilometre journey through the Rhône-Alpes region. Final destination: Palais des Sports, Lyon.
As i didn’t have any previous knowledge or any expectations for that run i sticked to Donnas advice and ran with Adrian, a well experienced Ultra runner who was over with us for the race. Beside Adrian and me there was Eoin, another member of the Irish-German travel contingent who made the way for the “season-ender” to lyon.
We started off nice and easy. I didn’t have a watch with me and was just running by feeling or to be honest by Adrians speed. So we cruised along out of town and into the Massif Central. The first climb was quite early and we took it easy. Saving energy would be key – nothing secret as a close look on the course profile reveals.
The first part was on the streets and just a normal jog out of Saint Etinne. Shortly before the start I decided to wear my gore-tex rain jacket as the temperatures on top of the hill would get close to zero. I feared to get caught in a storm or to hit the rain. All members of the team were running with jackets so I was sticking to the advice and experience of the others.
Shortly after the 8k mark we were hitting the first trail. The terrain was rougher than I expected. Very rocky and technical, especially when you run at night and the visibility is poor. Beside that the paths were steep, sometimes very steep we took it handy and walked them fast. The legs felt good and the company between the three of us was brilliant. We weren’t talking so from time to time we were shouting out each others names just to check if everybody was still there and fine. The sound of the name was then just followed by a short “yo”. roll on…
Kilometre 16 saw the first aid station. We stopped got chocolate and tea in and ate and drank as we were walking on. The legs were still fine and i felt great. It was a special feeling to run at night and to run on trails. I enjoyed it a lot. The scenery, as far as I could see and the landscape was amazing and thrilled me a lot. I loved the mixture between rough trails, paths and back roads.
Our little group went on and the aid station in Moreu was the last one we reached together. Eoin felt good and on a uphill he was gone. Adrian asked me to run with him. I was nervous to join him. I felt good but I still had respect for the distance. I didn’t know whats happening after 3.5 hours of running. I stayed with Adrian which was a brilliant idea. He helped me a lot with his economic running and his patience.
After a little while and a downhill section were I nearly crashed again (I was hitting both of my toes 4 to 5 times…) I lost adrian. I felt good so i carried on with the rhythm I was running. Still on trails, still downhill, uphill, left, right, through a forest, over a rock around a tree around a bear!! NOT!!… But still brilliant and very exciting. I was always waiting for the next highlight to come. My highlight would be some of the good back roads that were leading us from trail to trail. I had phases were I loved the trails and parts were I just wanted to stay on the road for another hour. Size 13 plus lunar trainers were a bad and miserable combination. Rocks went in the shoe and I felt the croppy stones. As it was at night and in the dark I couldn’t see some of the obstacles so I felt the entire course.
The feed station in St Genoux was a special one. An old barn in the middle of the Massif Central. roughly 80 runners full of mud and keen to get calories, drinks, gels and fruits in as fast as possible. I entered the old shed and was happy to get my mug filled with tea. I felt the pain and I started to feel the tiredness. It was 4 o’clock in the morning and I still had a good bit to go. Earlier on, from top of the mountain I saw the lights of Lyon. And I wanted to see those lights a bit closer now. I leaned against a wall and all of a sudden Adrian stood in front of me. We were happy to meet again and after empting the shoes from little stones we surged on.
However I didn’t get back into my rhythm. It was hard for me to follow Adrian as he was setting the pace. When we entered a trail I couldn’t stay with him anymore. I had to slow down and get back my motivation and power. The short uphill’s really hurt at this stage and mentally it was tough to keep the faith. The muscles were destroyed and my sole as well as my soul were sore from the rocks and the stones. It was hard fighting.
Km 45 was there and the aid station was like the next dealer for a drug addict. I needed my energy to load the tank. I got 3 mugs of tea, 2 cups of coke and numerous chocolate bars together with my gels in. When i stepped out of the tent my legs felt a bit like coming out of T2 at the ironman – spongy!
I tried to get the legs moving and it worked. I got the rhythm back and running on the streets made it more easier than the madness on the trails. I felt my energy coming back and what happened then is still a miracle for me. the legs started to feel great, the tank felt full . I was running smooth and effective up and downhill. It was like changing gears. I was amazed and hyped by myself. I was pushing, not to hard, but I was forcing the speed. In this phase the only guys that passed me where the relay guys that started later and were hammering down the field at this stage. Those relay guys helped me a lot. I followed them as often as I could and it worked out pretty well. The next aid stations in Beaunant and centre Lyon didn’t exist for me anymore. I was on a high. I had pain. the knees, all muscles and the sole was hurting but it was too sweet to give up now.
The scenery when I entered the old part of Lyon was amazing. the cobble stones together with the steep downhill’s gave my legs the rest but I didn’t care. when I was running through the empty streets of Lyon I was so happy to be there, to be in that kind of condition that I just enjoyed it. The last stretch to the Palais des Sports was boring and I thought it would never end. When i entered the stadium I was happy and satisfied. I was wrecked. Eoin was waiting just beside the finish line. I sat down and just enjoyed the relief.
Zero au soixante-neuf = Sept heures et vingt sept.
Fini avec plaisir.
Thanks to Aisling, Rob, Liam, Adrian, Eoin and everybody travelling over – it was a remarkable trip!
headed out with the sunrise this morning. stunning views over the wickow mountains as the sun went up.
parked the car above lough tay and jumped on the wicklow way for an “out and back” run. took the route of the wicklow way trail (a IMRA run in april). beautiful running overall. met the first people on my way back to the car.
the first week with decent training is over. the legs are still in great shape and im glad that i have one more race ahead of me – la saintelyon.
these days i try to get as much cross training in as i can. swimming is fun. during my triathlon days it was a necessary but sometimes annoying thing. at the moment i really enjoy a dip in the pool.
im just back training after a two weeks break. the legs are brilliant. it seems that they really needed the break. running at the moment feels so easy and relaxed. i didn’t expect that after 2 weeks of (nearly) no sports.
the next goal is just around the corner – boston marathon.
i wanted to run a marathon early in the year. training throughout the irish winter is not a real problem so a perfect preparation for boston should be doable.
to tune up the legs for the “big one” i picked the following (main) races in 2010.
The light, chilling rain splattered down on the pavement as Bill Rodgers and his wife, Ellen, eased their way through the lingering Boston Marathon crowd in Cleveland Circle at 3:45 yesterday afternoon. Out on the course a steady stream of runners turned down Beacon street for the final four miles of the race.
“Jack,” shouted Rodgers as he spotted newscaster Jack Hynes amid the group, but there was no response as Hynes kept going, onward to the finish. His mission accomplished with a record Boston run, Rodgers was walking slowly up Chestnut Hill Avenue toward his store.
First, a few runners noticed him, all but stopping and shouting out, “Great race, Bill.” By now, the word was out and before he reached the entrance to his basement store, the spectators had turned their backs on the runners, applauding the Marathon Man on his journey home.
It was dark and cold when i stepped out of Uli`s house in Manhattan on Sunday morning. I switched on my ipod in shuffle mode and the first random song that pumped my headphones was Bob Marley’s “stand alone”… the call for the day!
I walked a couple of blocks to get the Central Park Track Club Bus to the start. Thanks again for having me. The journey went very smooth and after a couple of minutes on the, unusual, empty NYC roads we arrived on Staten Island. From the bus stop it was just a short walk to Fort Wadsworth, the start area. Everything went easy and the atmosphere was very relaxed. I grabbed a bagel, coffee and water and relaxed in my warm sleeping bag on the grass. The morning was luckily dry so it was no problem to stay out of the tents and have a bit time for food and a little chat.
45 minutes before the start of my wave i made my way to the assigned section beside the impressive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. I met another German guy while warming up and we chatted along until the start of the race. The hole start procedure was so easy. I expected a pure mess but it was perfectly organised and no rush at all. I got rid of my last “warm up throw away clothes” and the race was on. As standing in 4th row in the green area together with the local elite it was no problem to run relaxed after a couple of seconds.
On the first meters the usual start up hectic went on and everybody was just searching for the best groups to stay with. It was important to get a bunch of runners as the wind was hitting hard on top of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It was a brilliant scenario. On the left thousands of runners waiting for the start and cheering us on. After that the view on the bridge – stunning. I just took a couple of seconds and was watching the Manhattan skyline where the race should have an end in a couple of hours.
I had problems finding a decent group at the start. People hitting out like crazy and i don’t want to get caught in that start hysteria. So i relaxed and waited what going to happen. Just shortly after the 1st mile mark i saw a good group and jumped in. There were some NYAC guys and CPTC guys in there as well. All familiar local team colours i could rely on. The route made its way towards Brooklyn. After the bridge downhill we ran a bit on a highway and then made the way into Brooklyn. We left the highway and from that on it was just crazy. People and music everywhere. Just fantastic and electric. Starting out to fast is so easy in this environment. Our group was good and after a short chat i found out that one of the guys was Uli`s neighbour. 40.000 people in a race and i meet the person that’s living beside the place I’m staying – crazy. We chatted on and he told me it was his 9th NYC marathon. I couldn’t get any better guide around the city. We worked well together. Drafted as the wind was heavy on the long stretch through Brooklyn.
The pace was good. We passed the first 5k in low 19 minutes and worked our way in front of crazy supporters on the streets. That’s road running in perfection. So nice and motivating. No quiet corner anywhere. People shouting, bands playing and so on.
Just shortly before the half marathon mark on Pulaski bridge a couple of guys picked it up and i didn’t respond. We passed the 13.1 mile marker in 1:21 and i felt great. The running in the group made my life easy. Great camaraderie on the aid stations as well. People charred drinks and helped each other out. I got a good amount of Gatorade and water in on all aid station. That used to be a problem for me in the past but not in this race. I got a good amount of fluids in and also was able to handle my gels like i planned to.
After 15 miles the queensboro bridge was just around the corner. As i was reading and listening to lots of story’s about the bridge i took it easy and didn’t follow the lads who where hammering up the bridge. I could judge the whole thing and as i wanted to have (more less) fresh legs for 1st avenue i didn’t increase the tempo. I was feeling the race and the tough course alight and just didn’t want to push hard at this stage.
Queensboro is a long bridge. It was crazy. Running in the noise around the streets and then being on this huge bridge in complete quietness. Another very intense moment in that race. One of the most stunning feelings followed after the downhill of Queensboro. I’m a decent downhiller so i could relax the legs a good bit and caught some guys in front of me. I turned left and couldn’t believe my eyes. People everywhere – stunning. There was no one in front of me at this stage so the people were waiting for runners. I took the left turn and raised my hand. The echo was phenomenal cool. Shouting and screaming! I took the next left turn into 1st avenue and was shocked. I expected people but not that many. Great and noisy atmosphere. It was so loud that i even couldn’t hear my parents. They were standing just 5 metres beside me on the road and shouting, i didn’t hear them.
1st avenue is long. Very long. And its uphill. So the course and especially that long straight road into the Bronx was grinding me down. I started to struggle. Couldn’t hold the speed. Now it was time to fight. That’s whats the marathon is about. The first 20 miles are easy but the the race starts after that…
On the climbing of the bridge that leads into the Bronx Simone caught me. He still looked fresh. We chatted a bit and he tried to convince me staying with him. I couldn’t. He was faster then me and i didn’t had the legs to stay with him. Shortly after him Joan Benoit Samuelson passed me as well. She was to fast and i was a bit pissed of that i couldn’t stay with her 😉
The Bronx is a crucial point in the race. Not surprisingly as it is between the 20 mile and 21 mile mark. I struggled big time on the ups and downs around that place. I tried to get my rhythm back. I had to fight. On the climb of the bronx bridge into Manhattan the German guy i was talking to at the start came by and shouted at me. When i saw him i kind of woke up again and got into the rhythm again. I pushed as much as i could. The next long uphill stretch was on the way soon enough. The 5th avenue towards central park. It just seemed so long and so tough. Mentally this was tough but the legs came back and i could push. I was happy to enter the park. I know the roads from training so that gave me some power and motivation back.
The people in central park where amazing as well. Just brilliant to run there and have the crowds. But the hills in the park are the last killer part in that race. Those guys hurt – a lot! I went on with my grimy fighting face and the last kilometres are the toughest. To see the statue at Columbus circle and then the finish area is just great. It was tough but as you see the end it gets better.
I crossed the line in 2:52:46. Shattered but kind of happy. I was opting for a sub 2:50 time but also for a place in the first 500. i didn’t get the time i wanted but was more less happy with the place. This race is tough and on a flat course a sub 2:50 is reachable. I loved every minute of the run as it is such a special race. I have to come back in 2010 – that’s for sure.
Thanks to Uli for hosting and mentoring me. Thanks to my parents who made the support stop-over and as always thanks to all the nice texts, emails and phone calls etc. – it really helps! THX!
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