Running Prague

This year I was nominated to pace 3:45. Last year I wouldn’t been even think that time could be a challenge. But now with IBS still lurking and form being crap I was little bit concerned. Have I mentioned that in Prague was very hot. Had to buy shorts for myself. Never thought that it could be so, so warm in Czech when we were leaving Dublin. Same routine like last year. Meeting point – Praska Brama, before 8 AM. From our hotel we had just about 5 minutes walk. That was very handy if you compared that to last year 30 minutes walk (or slightly more). Even that we stayed so close to meeting place when we arrived all pacers were there already. All happy. Some runners I knew from last year, some I knew from Facebook. As usual some of them were running in wigs. After all greetings and small chitchat there was time for ‘press’. Many photos were taken. I was feeling really good. Still concerned but ok. Last visit to ‘toilet Jimmy’ and I was ready. Of course when I was ‘doing’ my last preparation rest of the pacers went to starting line and they were officially introduced to runners. As usual I have missed something.

In Prague there are 2 pacers per time for 3:15, 3:30 and 3:45 After that there are three pacers. Last year I was pacing 4 h in great company of Michal and Martin. Thought that maybe this year Martin and I can pace together again (Michal wasn’t running Prague). But no, Martin finished this year marathon 30 minutes behind me. I was paired with Roman. I know that he was running last year as well but I couldn’t remember him. Anyway, when we both were standing besides each other that probably was looking very funny. Roman is at least higher than me by length of head. We had couple of photos taken with ‘our’ runners, couple pep talks and questions about running tactics. Have met in the crowd two lads from Donadea AC. Nice that runners from Ireland are coming to Prague. Oh, Bozena has asked me to do whole stretching routine, including lying on my side and stretching legs. Full motion, apparently that looks funny. Just before run Roman told me that we will be running slightly faster first half. We should be hitting 21.1 K with exact 1:52:30 but Roman wanted to do that distance below 1:50. Why? If you are running flat course you can afford to run constant pace. And that was my tactic. But I have never took into consideration temperature and sun (that what is happening with you when you live in Ireland, you just forget that such things even exist). So, idea was to run faster first half and when runners will be tired we could slow down. That was fine with me. Same music during start, when you slowly marching towards starting mats. Already 6 minutes passed since gun gave sign to start when we passing staring mats. Even that there were many runners with us there was no problem in getting straight into running pace and rhythm. Streets wide enough to accommodate such an amount of runners. I was checking my watch for pace and was trying to keep proper one but could see Roman was going faster. So, I have followed him, which was actually good move cause first 5 K showed on my watch as run quicker than supposed but actually we were on time. Probably too many twist and turns on the beginning as well as trees and buildings disturbed GPS signal. At least I knew that I will need to run slightly faster than watch was showing and had to pay attention to km markers and check time then. First 4 km it’s small loop to get runners run through Karlovy Most. View from that bridge is very nice. Can see old town in front of you. On the side river. Behind you park with Palace. And where ever you look towers and spires. After that small loop next 9 km would lead us to starting line again. This time we would be passing starting line opposite direction. Same 9 km runners are running at the end of maathon. That part of route kind of reminded me Szczecin Marathon. Wide streets, high temperature, sun, no clouds and no shade (besides short slip road tunnels). Must admit that thought about Szczecin was making me uncomfortable. I was suffering there cause of weather and lack of any shade. This time in Prague I have used the ‘shower’ to cool down. We had opportunity to do that 3 times and belive me, it felt good.

After we passed starting line on the 13th km we have run part of town where we staying in hotel. Now, when I knew nearby streets I could tell exactly where we were running. Last year year I knew roughly where we were. This year no surprises. We run then via street with big label shops. Cross Old Town again and back besides river. This time running south direction on the east bank. That bit of the route is here and back, so we could see top athletes passing us already. Czech runners were trying to get Rio qualification time, which was 2:15 for men (sorry, no info on women time). I know that they did it and will run in the Olympics. So, we were on our 16th km and they were already coming back passed 25th mark. Small loop again. Time to shout ‘Hi’ to slower pacers. And back running at the river side towards half point mark. When we passed 21.1 km we had 3 minutes cushion. Didn’t want to have so much but at the end it was ok. Now, we could slow down little bit. But till that time I have been asked many times by runners if we are running for 3:45 or maybe quicker time. They were little bit concerned seeing Roman so far away. Forgot to mentioned that Roman was whole time in the lead. Probably 100 – 150 meters in front of me. I was catching him usually on each water station. I wasn’t stopping, drinking when running. Him and his group was stopping but just after another 2 minutes they were in front of us again. That is until 24th km when Roman said that he has stomach cramps and need to use toilet. I have just asked him if he will continue after pitstop but he said that he’s done. Ok, not a great news anyway. I was the one who possibly could DNF with ‘guts’ problem and now I was the only one pacing 3:45. Now whole responsibility has been put on my shoulders. Loud shout that I will be leading now and that we have some spare time and we are on our way to finish that marathon. I could feel the heat already, so I knew that runners running with me are feeling that as well. 26th km and we were on the west bank of the river. Running between higher buildings, having place to run in the shade. Cheers all over the place. Supporters were great. Marathon is quite hard thing to accomplish and to do that in 27 degrees heat (yes, for Irish person it is heat wave) you need all help you can get. And that’s were supporters energy plays the part. West bank, going north, towards Revolucyjna Aleja on the top of Old Town to start last 9 km. Same 9 which we already run before, same 9 km without any cover. Just blue sky and sun. I could see runners were tired. We had some time to spare so I have slowed down. Asked them to stop on each water station now, take at least a zip of water. On the last 3 km there were two water stations. To give runners a break I have stopped for couple of seconds. I think that most of them was doing that anyway. On their faces I saw that they were tired but behind that there was happiness hidden. Just one more turn and just 500 m to go. Did exactly same thing like last year. Stopped on the 500 m to finish marked and was cheering for runners passing me by. I was showing them way to finish. Shouting that they have less than 500 m to go and that below 3:45 is waiting for them. Again on that spot I felt what running is about. Happines, freedom and helping each other. Saw all that there. I was greeting and cheering for them and they were thinking me for me pacing. I was standing there for more than a minute. After that I have slowly run towards finish line. Was still shouting at group to give it all. I was trying to get crowd to cheer them as well, to be as loud as possible. On some stage I was running even backwards, with my back facing finish line. That was funny. Slowed down again to push another group of runners. When we had just 150 meters to go crowd was very loud. 50 m to go and I have stopped again to applause runners. They all were going for time below 3:45 even that timer over their head was showing already 3:50+. Ohhh… and the plane has landed. Was lonely pacer for over 18 km but that was ok. Roman joined me when I was standing on ‘my spot’ 500 m before finish. Asked him if he was ok. Said yes, but after pitstop he hasn’t continue run. I got my medal, didn’t need the thermal cover. It was just too warm. Saw Bozena. She told me that she missed me on the 4 km mark (saw my flag running away) but sa me on the 33 km. She was on the bridge when I was running underneath. I was happy. Now, the plan. Pass my flag to other pacer who would be going to ‘Running Mall’. Waited 15 minutes or 4 h pacers. Saw their flags going towards me. Oh, that will save me some walking. But suddenly lost them from my site. Damn you. I won’t be waiting for Martin with rest of 4:15 gang. Will bring flag next day. Rest of the marathon day was assigned to task called relaxing…