Viking roar

Supposed to be in Szczecin that day. I have already told Adele that Viking marathon is not a go cause marathon in home town… you know. So, that would be Szczecin, but with date approaching all started to be blurry.  Tickets price way too high and bad form I couldn’t risk to disappoint runners who would count on me. And there was other thing. When I have eventually contacted Szczecin marathon there was just 5 h spot left for pacers. So, with just couple of weeks to go I have contacted Adele again to ask her if there is still any spot for me. She was really surprised but said yes. Last year it was 4:30 so I was hoping for 4 h maybe. But… landed 3:45. Straight away I was trying to remember the route. Are there any tricky parts, any drags. Remembered couple of these and was really hoping that I was just over exaggerating or my memory is bad. But not, during run I was reminded that there are some challenging parts. Ups and downs and ups again. And of course seaside. Very beautiful but you can count on the wind. And how would you try it will be most of the time in your face even if that part is here and back… But I was so happy. Last year together with Dave we helped some of the ‘poor souls’ to get to finish in 4:30. Plenty of pushing done on the last 2 miles. Damn you park. You know that you are so close, can hear all sound made by people at the finishing line but still path in the park is taking you away from all that… Ok, but back to this year.

Whoever tried to get a room or B&B in Waterford during Summer knows that it’s almost impossible or possible but very expensive. So, this year I have decided that it would be nice opportunity to try airb&b. And have found room for one night for nice price and really close to starting line. No need for morning drive. View from room straight to bay. Nice. After arriving and saying ‘halo’ to my hosts I went for quick walk into town. To just see again all these narrow streets and quays. Viking ghosts all over the place. Can feel that. Boat, museum, marathon. All that gives you nice feeling. And next day would try to run with runners marathon distance in 3:45. Gear was prepared when I was going to sleep. So stressed that I wasn’t able to fall asleep for next 3 hours. So, instead of good night sleep it was very short nap. In the morning my usual routine and just less than 5 minutes walk to marathon HQ. Adele and rest of the gang already prepared all t-shirts and balloons. Went through my stretching exercises and I wasn’t ready. There was no second pacer for 3:45. Deepak was missing. Damn it. For now I was the pacer who possibly could drop in the middle of the race. So, where the hell was he. 5 minutes before we were suppose to take usual pictures at the starting line he appeared. Last year when we took the picture I was laying down on the ground in front of whole pacing group. Cause last year was was good decided that will do same this year. When we have done with ‘shooting’ some pacers came to me asking if that was me last year. Yep, there is just one silly one who would do that. And after couple of ‘helo’s’ to people I know I went into the crowd. Found Dipak and we were ready. On the beginning we had quite a big group. I was leading the pack and Dipak was little bit behind. Kinda keep this way almost for whole race. From the beginning I saw with my mind all the hills, bigger and smaller, sharp inclines and drags. After the start and into next hour I was feeling quite comfortable. But still in the back of my mind was idea that all marathons are same. Great at beginning but then you feel the ‘heat’. I knew that even if I will fail that Dipak will follow with the group. But maybe that was keeping me more relaxed than I should be. But still hills were kicking everybody’s asses and head wind was very annoying. First couple of turns in the town, quays and out from the town. Than after 4 miles back to town and then up. So far so good. Split between half, full marathoners and 10 K. Called here again mini marathon. After finishing 42.2 km we can say that we did 4 marathons today 😉 Stretch, turn stretch again. After that park. Group was going strong. Most of the runners kept with Dipak little bit behind but all in the sight. Out of the park, long-long street (with roundabout) and turn around for half marathoners. And from that moment run is starting for good. You know who is trying to get to finish line in 3:45. This long road… ups and downs. And still that steep incline which should get you through 13.1 mile mark. I heard that groups was very pleased when they heard beep when they were going over timing chip mat… or was it the information that we won’t be getting over that hill on the way back. Nice then. Up to roundabout, left to Tramore. Decline but at this stage route run just besides sea so it is windy… We were going down but on the way up was already Dolores going for her PB. Good on ya. Loop in Tramore and then back to roundabout. This time seaside but incline. Really tough. Group was getting smaller but still with us. This time after roundabout very long straight. Ups and downs which could get on your nerves at this stage of the race. Tired runners and we hit traffic. Huge group, some ‘wearing’ washing machine on the back. Unfortunately not all were willing to allow us to pass them. Just the quirks. That long stretch is taking you to Kilbarry Park. At this stage, after all inclines and declines, I was followed by just one runner. Fecking park. You almost there. Can hear finishers names over the speaker. If you running this marathon you are thinking that it will be over in couple of minutes and your garmin is broken. And you happy but truth is that there are still over 2 miles to go and park is not flat. I have caught couple of slowing runners. Encourage them. For the first time I saw John McManus struggling in the marathon but was able to push him little bit. He was able to get there in the end. He wasn’t the only one who I got over the line. Waited for whole group with Dipak. Let them pass me and made sure that there all runners who had chance for 3:45 are in front of me. Got myself through the line. Happy that I was able to help so many runners and it is really nice to hear that without me ‘kicking ass’ he couldn’t get to finishing line. Thanks for that John.

After the job done need to go down to car. Still over 20 minutes walk. Wasn’t very pleasant walk but didn’t care. Marathon was great.