I didn't have to go, but I wanted to be there again. I didn't expect the heat when I signed up for this. I just though: I want to race it again because is a fantastic course, most nature path with trail and only a few kms on the asphalt, hilly and challenging, the surrounds take the attention and is for me a very enjoyable race.
My morning started at 4:30 am, with a breakfast at 5, before the family is up. That is what coasts me most when I go race. They could sleep a little longer on Sunday and I just force them to stand up 2 hours earlier. But " Why Mama? I am still tired..." because mama will run a marathon today. It sounds so selfish. And it is. So I only race a few times per year, but that means so much for me.
The drive took us two hours, which I used to take a nap, hydrate and take one more snack. It was already warm enough at 8 am.
Picked my bib and got already the t-shirt and the medal. " So we can go home" (ahah) . For sure not. It's time to earn it. I took an easy 10 minute warm-up. Incredible warm already. If this would happen at one or two years ago, I would even not go. I am not a warm appreciator, unless I am laying but I wanted to test me. I knew if I would find that hard race that tests me to the point of give up I would have one more reason to challenge myself. I though that day at Winterthur would be that one, the one testing me as runner and teaching me to become a stronger runner.
To run a marathon in the heat with 21°C at start? Holly day, I come for you.
Shortly after Km 14 I started to feel stomach cramps and I though: this isn't going well. At 15k I found Matthias, who gave me a bottle of water and showed compassion for the situation. The heat was not to take it easy. I decided don't take a gel and keep going, I was thinking in stay at half-marathon. Live and feel the frustration of give up. But soon I was feeling better and between the hesitation between right or left, I decided to keep testing until where i Hold it.
11 am and so hot. the sweat was all over and in every station I was taking something. Banana, water, isotonic or a refreshing sponge. I didn't miss any but I am sure I was smart. The heat was not the worse, the worse was my physiologic needs. Yes, there was a lot of forest, trees, leaves and even toilets on the way, but stop was not an option for me. " If I stop, I will need lots of time and probably I won't finish it because i will feel too lazy or bored to pick it again" - my thoughts... So I kept going, walking when the pain was intensive but I didn't see Matthias anymore, he said was too hot for watch the race. (LOL) I had realized that on second round, the crowds disappeared and only on the shadows you could see some, most bathing on the river.
This race is so well organized. friendly and funny people on the stations which itself is a great support, motivating words and even tips. My pain was coming and going, which lead me to walk a little with a runner who was complaining about the heat. Yes! It's too hot for run a marathon but we are almost there! Once you see the last water station, you forget the pain. You hold it a little longer and run. In a instinctive reaction I started clapping on the last meters in though of all who I saw running in that hot day. In though of all who didn't stay home because was too hot. I was happy, in finish it. I wasn't counting in finish with such a reasonable time for a hot day even. I though 4 hours wouldn't be enough and I surprised myself in walk sometimes, fighting with my stomach and cross it at 3:48.03,9 . If you ask me: it was tasty. I feel me proud, I respected my body, but the most of all, I faced a fear: Run in the heat. And that's the most important of all.
We meet us again in Winterthur next year and it really doesn't matter how hot it will be.
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