‘Die, die, die my darling
Don’t utter a single word
Die, die, die my darling
Just shut your pretty eyes
I’ll be seeing you again
Yeah, I’ll be seeing you, in hell’
…and again Misfits/Metallica song, so adequate to situation which happened during the Szczecin marathon…
History in the making. First marathon in my home town, last large city in Poland without race of 26.2 miles, sorry 42.2 km. We are on the continent:) My first marathon in Poland. Strangely enough there was never occasion to run in any of the Polish marathons. Now, I know that will be back on the home soil again to run more races. Reasons later.
Friday was a very long day. Started at 2:30am and finished 11pm. During that time: flight to Szczecin, car collection, got to Szczecin (airport 60 km from city), visited expo, had lunch, back at expo for pacers meeting, meet with family. Oh jeez, busy. Anyway, I was happy to be a day before run in Szczecin. Bad form but that didn’t matter, I was in city where I was born and I was about to run first ever marathon here. Nice. Saturday 8:30am pacers supposed to pick up their balloons with times written on them. Would be ideal to just wake up after 7 (starting line is just 5 minutes drive from my Parents house) but not so easy. My Friends Michal (was pacing with me in Prague and again we were together in Szczecin) and his girlfriend Natalia arrived at 6 Am. It was nice to see them again. They arrived by train. Just after saying hallo we went to the car. On the way back I noticed one lad looking like a runner (still not sure why I thought so). I have asked him if he is here for the marathon. Answer was ‘yes’, so offered lift to starting line. He was quite surprised, same as Natalia and Michal. And I don’t know why… Later, when we were heading to my Parents house for breakfast they have explained that it’s not common to help strangers in Poland (still, unfortunately not much has changed since we left). You can say – cultural differences. Yes… So, breakfast. And then quickly to marathon headquarters to pick up our balloons. I have decided that it should be easy to spot as a pacer and went for very, very bright colour gear. Just for fun. Looking like a light bulb with two balloons strapped to my camera belt. Oh, yes. Forgot to mention, I was running with my TomTom bandit cam, won in their competition. Little bit heavy, ended up running with camera in my hand most of the time. Full gear on, looked little bit silly. But at least runners could easily spot me and that was the point. Although I was running in my home town I couldn’t recognise anyone. There was one friend from primary school, one from secondary school, boss from my very first place of work (photolaboratory when I was a student) the rest… unknown. At the starting line I have noticed my uncle. Familiar face, family actually 😉 His son was running as well. Haven’t seen him during run. Atmosphere was buzzing, everyone excited. Runners couldn’t stand waiting and supporters wanted to see the race and scream their lungs out…
Start… Slow, trying to get into rhythm. Almost fell when checking pace on my watch and got my foot into small hole in the road (remember, same happened in Prague – caught the cone while checking my pace). Pacing is very dangerous. Found my rhythm. And both, me and Michal started to entertain our groupies. Looked like everyone was excited about the run but at the same time little bit concerned with drag hill on the 34th km. Hill, 2 km drag, which costs many ‘lifes’ during that race (including me, there for the first time I felt pinch in my hamstring followed by quad). But for now, we have started. Everyone happy, chatty. Talking about running experiences, asking quite a lot of questions. Discussing tactics and laughing. Nice bunch of people. At the beginning we were running on the longest street in Szczecin for some time and taking turn towards city hall buildings and Blonia Park. Passing by newest mall addition and heading for castle. Before castle turn, slightly downhill and on the right Cathedral. Left it behind as we were making our way over the bridge to right side of the Odra bank and towards, as we call that part of the city, ‘Right bank’. When we were running through city you could see supporters along the way. Not as many as I would expect but still some. Not to loud but noticeable. Couple of bands and DJs on the way. But that has unfortunately changed on the right side of Odra. Last big group of supporters was on the 8 km mark. Young kids from evangelical school were shouting encouraging ‘made up poems’ at us. But after that, long straight, no turns for next 10 km (until turning point) and no support besides some people waiting at the tram stop or some on the bridges over the road we were running. But most of them haven’t got the idea what we were doing. That was a shame. So, 10 km up, 10.5 back without almost any support (there was DJ on the half way mark, covering two sides of the road). That part of the route wasn’t very exciting. I know that some of the runners actually started to feel fatigue while running that stretch. No support, long boring straight and couple of ups and downs. Morale wasn’t high at this point and some started to remind themselves that we have still that killer of a hill in front of us. Wasn’t great but I think that everyone was back to normal as soon as we passed the bridge and got onto left bank. More support, louder, more was happening, more distractions which were taking your mind off the run in that high temperature. Ohhh, almost forgot. During marathon I would say that easily temperature was about 25 degrees Celsius and not one cloud in the sky (I think that was one of factors which killed me). Left bank. More people, Bozena and Natalia cheering there, more interesting buildings, more history. Passing by Wały Chrobrego, Odra’s boulevards and heading to famous Szczecin Shipyard. Famous from it’s role during Solidarnosc strikes back in 1980’s. Now, unfortunately not very tempting and interesting (especially for younger generation, but that’s just my opinion). Still huge piece of Szczecin history. Most of the run through shipyard there was no tarmac on the ground so runners had to watch out where to put their feet. Just before shipyard we run via water wall which cooled us down just for couple of minutes. After shipyard same again. This time it suppose to be help before hard incline starting just around the corner. Hill, and not even one. When you saw something which looked like a top of the hill you were so happy but when got there you realised that there is small bend, 50 meters flat and up, up and away again. I think there were three nasty surprises like that. And when you were on the top top of the hill you thought that there should be sharp downhill but nothing like that. Slightly down, not much. Where the hell is that downhill? Climbing for so long and getting that tiny way down. I think that most of the runners were thinking that we will get that downhill eventually but little they knew. As soon I we have passed hospital that was it, whole slide down. Little bit flat and again up. From hospital to finish was about 3 km. At this stage my quad was already acting up. I was trying to keep my composure but knew that if I will make it without walking it will exact 4 hours or just over. I have asked all runners who were still following to speed up little bit and try to get to Michal, who was about 150 meters in front of us. Told them that he will get them on time and there is risk that we won’t make it if they stick with me. Some of them were able to speed up but most were already so exhausted that they stuck with me and no words of encouragement could force them to run faster… And then it has happened 2 km before the finish with 11:30 minutes to 4 hours (actually was a good chance to be there in time) I had to start walking. Quad hurts quite a bit. Had to limp a little bit. Took down my balloons (no point of having these when you won’t make it). When started to walk funny thing had happened. I felt tired and quite hot. During whole run haven’t felt that. I think that body wasn’t actually taking that into account focusing on the run until I started to walk. Tried to force other struggling runners to give it the final push to the finishing line while limping towards 4:05.
I was very disappointed with my run, with what has happened. Glad that is was over. Crap run but for the first time on the finishing line there was more people than usual cheering for me. My Wife, always there for me. She was already very concerned about me when she saw 4 hours on the clock but not me on the finishing line. My Sister, who was responsible for promotion and media contact for marathon, gave me huge hug right after I passed finishing line. Younger niece, surprised me with a hug and words of ‘I’m so proud of you Uncle’. And my Mum, confused about what just happened. Why I was angry with myself cause I have finished, right? There was as well Michal and Natalia asking if I’m ok.
What can I say? Disappointed with pacing, haven’t managed running in high temperature. Fourth week running hilly marathon is kind of killing me now. On the bright side. Marathon was organised quite good. It was the first attempt, never will be perfect. Nice race pack (value for money, but apparently it is norm in Poland), atmosphere great, little bit disappointed with police behaviour when maintaining the marathon route. Sometimes runners were actually running through the cars. One more strange thing – bikes. Supporting crew riding the whole time with runners and with water and Powerride supplies. Very disturbing for other runners and dangerous when traffic was passing us and somehow at this time bikes were outside running cones, directly on the street. Bright side again. Now all runners know that Szczecin Marathon is a tough one and nobody will just come here to tick the box . You need to have it in you to finish this one (there was quite a few DNF including elite runners – that says something). Will be back again defo and hope to bring more Friends from Ireland. Theresa you are in already, Michelle you have skipped this one (not sure if your excuse was enough but ok), Cezary counting on you… So, let’s meet in Szczecin next year, this time probably in June. Who’s with me???
