Which way to San Marco?

5:30 woke up to be ready for 7 when Giuseppe will arrive. Bozena wanted to sleep for little bit longer. Before 6 I have woke her up. She wasn’t too happy. I knew that. Not blaming her. 9:40 marathon start and we were leaving at 7. I have prepared my gear for a run. We had small breakfast. And went down the stairs, to wait for Giuseppe. Couple minutes later still no sign of him. Bozena asked me to text him. I actually have checked text which I have received night before… and didn’t want to say to Bozena what I saw in that message. Yep, text was saying that Giuseppe will pick us up at 7:50. Small mistake. But we could sleep about 50 minutes longer. Bozena wasn’t impressed. And I just felt stupid. Could be less tired with longer sleep. Ok, happens sometimes. Our Friend has arrived. We have checked with him if there is any chance for Bozena to be on the starting line with us and then take bus to Venice to cheer us at the end of the run. Unfortunately all roads leading to Venice were close from 10 AM. So, Bozena took the bus same time as we have left the B&B. We were on our way to Satra?? where was the starting line. We have picked up one of Giuseppe’s friend Alesandro. Three of us arrived at the start. Little bit stretching, bag drop and with 8000 other runners to start. 5 entrance gates. I’m in last. Maybe that’s good cause won’t be racing. Just easy run. Just wanted to get to finish if possible in 3:35. Should be doable. Idea was to keep same pace all the time… Start. No, wait. National anthem of Italy first. Surrounded by all these proud Italians screaming their lungs out what most of them thought was singing gave me shivers… Can we start that tradition in Ireland to sing anthem before big races?

When looking at route profile route was actually quite nice. Flat, scenic. Maybe 12 km going via industrial estates wasn’t appealing but that was small part of the course. Start at Pissina ??? Palace. Then steady, flat route towards Venice. That part was heading via couple of villages. To my surprise there were many people out on the streets cheering for us. Shouting very loud. Every 4 km we were passing band playing for runners. Again surprise. Many of these playing heavy metal. Was funny to see runners running and banging their heads same time in the heavy rhythm. Huge support. Starting in the last group I had to first pass many runners before getting to participants who were running similar pace as me. I have passed balloons for 6 hours, 5:30, 5, 4:30, 4:15, 4. Wasn’t too hard to do that. Was doing my math in head and went to conclusion that if 5 min/km pace will be kept I will be able to get 3:35 and should overtake couple of balloons followed by groupies. For now I was enjoying the run. Great support, comfortable pace, super surroundings and nice weather. Weather… yes, that was totally different story. Dublin quite miserable, rainy, windy and quite chilly ?? time to time. There, for whole weekend, almost 20 degrees, sunny, maybe little bit clouds at the end of the day. Nice misty, mysterious mornings. Main land Venice is such a nice place to live. Not surprised that so many people wanted to move to rural Italy (are we same?). Ok, drifted little bit now. I was still running same comfortable pace. Supporters were lifting the spirits. As usual some runners were struggling but I’m sure whole atmosphere was giving them strengths to keep going. Was nice to see happy, smiling runners. We have passed couple of villages which we visited day before. We run quite close to our B&B. With every step we were closer to bridges of Venice…

Closer to Venice but still that less interesting part of the route – industrial estates – before us. I have been warned by Giuseppe that this part won’t be anything special and you just need to run it. But even there you could experience nice views (time to time) and still quite amount of people on the side of the streets. If you wouldn’t experience such a great cheer from supporters on the previous kilometers would wouldn’t mind to run that part with little less noisy surroundings. But when you already knew what Italian fans can do you kinda missed them. That bit of the route is quiet. Not like the rest of the race. Almost all of the time you can here chats, laughter (runners) or cheers and shouts (supporters). For the first time I have seen pacers actually talking all the time. I know that they suppose to engage with runners, talk to them, encourage them but in here I think that Italian character was shown. Gesticulating, loud speaking and mouth not shutting. That was it. That was so nice. Even at this point of the race, in the industrial business they were very loud and I think that was helping other runners. Especially these who were struggling…
Suddenlywe have found ourselves in the San Guliano Park. Park where we have picked up our racing pack day before. And in that park we had to climb first small hill. Not too steep, not too long neither but after running 30 km on the flat that was something different. Park done. Last climb before long entrance to Venice. Twist and turns and we were on the bridge. 4 km, just 4 to Venice. On both sides Mediterranean Sea, in front of your eyes towers of Venice. Giuseppe has warned me that this part of the race is taunting. Draining your energy, beating you up. That was mentioned as well in the marathon brochure. Said that of that part claimed biggest amount of DNFs. I couldn’t imagine why everyone is saying that. 4 km bridge was flat, no wind , so why? And… 10 seconds slower per kilometers than average when on the bridge. From what I saw all of us have slowed down. Why? Don’t know. Head can’t get around long flat with buildings in the distance. And with every step you would expect shapes of the buildings getting less blurry and much closer but this is not happening. Head is the problem of struggles on that part of the race. But as soon as you get from that bridge and run into town you are picking up the pace again. First running through Port of Venice, terminal, custom building and then eventually canals of Venice. We are running on the pier having Canale Della Guidecca on or right. First bridges passed, more people again cheering for us and you are running in Venice itself. Spirits lifted. Event these bridges were just piece of a cake. Passing churches, small restaurants, water taxis, gondolas parked on the pier. In front of you San Marco Cathedral. You will get there running via pontoon bridge over the Grand Canal. Piazza San Marco in front of you, you will be doing lap of honour there. Getting in there doing small loop at the Piazza and back. But in there you can hear constant roar. It’s not shout any more. It is roar. All supporters and tourists are making noise I haven’t heard on the marathon yet. If you tired you will get second wind, if you still running ok you will get strength to sprint that last mile. Couple of bridges later you are finishing happy. You have run Venice, you have breathed Venice. Great feeling…

Medal… could be nicer but can’t complaint. Little bit of resting and of we go back to starting line to pick up our car. Chat in the water bus then in shuttle bus. Apparently 2.28 that day was enough just to get to position 12th. Hmmm… Serious running then. Trip back was actually quite long but Bozena, me and Giuseppe were chatting all the time. We have been introduced to his running friends say well. Running in Venice is very popular, plenty of runners. Got to the car and from there to our B&B. We have agreed that 7.30 would be ideal time to go to ‘fish food’ restaurant. Quick shower and nap (Bozena not me) and we were ready. Giuseppe took us to small restaurant in one of those three streets large villages. Owner of the restaurant is Giuseppe’s friend, he has offered us a sea food tapas. And must say that this was a great idea. We could try almost everything they had in the kitchen. Tat was nice way to end up that day and the trip to Venice. Next day was just for waking up and getting to airport to catch plain back home. Yep, was getting back alone cause Bozena was heading to conference in Asia…
Great time spent in Venice with my Wife and Giuseppe. Definitely thing to repeat. Pictures to follow…