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The
Choice
I made my choice to run the marathon in Cork in November although I actually wanted to run in Regensburg this year in May. I had
to change my plans due to the fact that Karin planned her wedding on the weekend of the marathon in Regensburg. I needed an alternative race – I didn't care because it made no difference
to me whatsoever. Hey wait a minute…
Of course it did – it made a great difference so to
speak. Running in Cork meant combining business with pleasure – I’ll be able to
run my next marathon in a foreign country – the home of my favorite beer –
Irish Stout (the brand makes no difference to me either!), after the run Tina
and I would finally be able to go on a long-awaited vacation (we’ve been having
Ireland on our mind for a long time!) and we would also be able to meet up with
Xoan and so many other Warriors Of
The World – so, how cool is that?
I’m really looking forward to this marathon because
this one is not going to be hilly at all – it’s going to be nice and flat. I’m
feeling great at the moment and this time I was able to keep hold of my
physical fitness which I had gained training for the marathon in Bad Arolsen.
This time I want to break my record - and I mean
really break it! I want to run the marathon in 3:30 – I can’t believe it
myself, but I’m going to try my best. We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we? But
I mean, he who does not try has lost already...
I’ll be training using a 3:30 training
schedule – I won’t run any intervals but I’ll be doing runs at my anaerobic
threshold.
The First 30 Days
Training
The first 30 days are over and I am not satisfied at all. I didn't run enough. Ok, I did run a couple of faster runs - but still, will they be enough. Shit, I'm pretty disappointed at the moment, but I just couldn't get it done any better. My legs are cool - totally relaxed. Well, who gives a shit anyway - the start of the next 30 days was great
- 21.1 km in 1:45:05...
The Second 30 Days
Training
Ok, I'm done with the second 30 Days of training. I was able to do a bit more running but I still have the feeling that I haven't done enough - others thing in my daily life kept me busy otherwise. Funny enough - I did have a couple of highlights though. I was able to run the 30 km distance faster as the first time - being able to run the last 3 km at a pace of 4:50 per minute. A couple of days ago I ran 1 km in 3:23 minutes. Well, whatever - we'll see. The last 30 days began fantastically. I took part in a competition - the Kirbachtal Run - which went over 22.2 km with a difference in altitude of 577 m. I was able to keep my pace under 5 minutes per minute (4:54 minutes/km).
That was really good and lets me hope for the best - I mean the marathon in Cork is totally flat, right?
The Last 30 Days Training
It is done! I was able to run two "over 30" long jogs in a time span of only 4 days - that gave me a lot of self confidence. I feel great - my legs are fit and tomorrow we'll be flying to Ireland so my mood
is more than fantastic. Everything else we'll see on Monday - even the weather forecast is promising a pleasant day...
My Training for Cork
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The
Marathon
We had already arrived in Ireland on Saturday
- but more about that here http://www.master-of-the-wind-eng.de/Irland2009ENG.html - and the day of the marathon actually began beautifully. I had slept great and felt like I was in a very good condition. The day before I behaved properly and had granted myself
"Guinness for
Strength". Sophia had made a great runner's breakfast consisting of turkey meat on toast and a couple of cups of coffee.
Afterwards Tina, Xoán and I left for the starting line - Xoán actually only lives 3 minutes away so it was all easy going. We met up with Kostas who got up extra early so that he could be there with us. It's great to have friends like that! I did a little bit of warming up and then it was hey ho - let's go!
My goal was set, but the outcome was more than uncertain. The sun was shining brightly and it was getting hotter and hotter. The first kilometers were very nice and easy going. I started off with a pace of 4:50/km which I ran easily. The route was very even and extremely beautiful.
What I had noticed from the very beginning was the grand atmosphere along the route - thousands of Irish were standing there and cheering us on our way non-stop! That was encouraging and was a lot of fun. And I'd like to give a special compliment to the organisation committee - everything was set up perfectly. They had kilometer markers along the way and they handed out 0.25 liter bottles instead of those shitty cups of water, where most of the contents get spilled anyways. That was fabulous!
And then the temperature had risen up to 26 ° C in the shade - the problem was there was no shade. I drank a lot of water - I even had to make three stops - and ate my chocolate bars. After 26 km the first real inclinations started - who the fuck needs inclinations after running 26 km - I don't. Well whatever, my legs starting getting cramps which sucked because I had to slow my pace down. It was now at 5:00/km.
Somehow I recovered and my mood lightened up because I was able to speed up again. Until we ran around a corner after about 35 km. I then saw a 5 km long avenue that was making a constant and steady inclination. The damn road seemed to never end - I couldn't even see the top of it. So we ran in the baking sun upwards with a nice amount of head wind to make sure we would not be able to speed up...
I got cramps again and had to slow down - shit! The last two kilometers were again very nice and even but there was just no way that I would've been able to speed up my pace again. I crossed the finish line after running 3:35:57 hours at a pace of 5:06/km.
I had of course missed my goal but I had run 15 minutes faster than my fastest marathon and I was content - very content!
I could of course start asking myself if I would have achieved my goal had the temperature been 16 ° C instead or if I had gulped a couple of beers too many while training for the run - but I won't - it turned out to be the way it turned out to be on that day! And I love everything what life has to offer far too much to relinquish anything. Tina was proud
of me - I felt that - and her smile beamed at me!
Xoán and Kostas were happy as well and the world was the way it was supposed to be! The run was now history - I was ready for the party and for our vacation - and hell yeah -
"Oh My Goodness Guinness..."
See You in
Athens!
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