Hamburg Marathon - RunMarathon

At 8:15 I said goodbye to my girlfriend, Jette, at the entry to my start gate. There where not many participants this early. I went all the way down to the start line. It wasn’t so crowded here, as it was the second start group scheduled at 9:05. The 4 hours pacemaker was standing with his balloon, but I couldn’t see the 3:45 pacemaker. Later he showed up without his balloon, as he had lost it. I had a brief talk with Lennart, the 3:45 pacemaker, and told him to drag me to at least 25 km. If I failed he should turn around and shoot me. He accepted happily.
The weather was fine, but there were some wind. The sky was blue and the sun was out. I was standing in the sun and was going through the race in my mind. My plan was to follow the 3:45 pacemaker as long as I could, hopefully to at least 25 - 30 km. From thereon time would tell. The plan was of cause not to get passed by Dietmar, the 4:00 pacemaker. As I was standing in the sun, thinking, I discovered that I didn’t care about my finish time. If I could only enjoy the race, I would see it as a victory. But there was something in the back of my head, compelling me to finish within 4 hours. More on that later.
As time went by, more participators came to the start block. We were two streets away from the main start, so we didn’t hear the starting signal at 9:00. One minute before our start I took off the old sweatshirt I was wearing to keep me warm, and lay it on the fence, next to a dozen others. The speaker did say a lot of nonsense, which I didn’t paid attention to, but suddenly he started to count down from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BANG! The race was on, and it felt good to get those old legs moving. The spectators was cheering, yelling and making all kinds of noise. I guess I was one big smile.
In Hamburg the start are from 3 different streets, so for the first mile it was like we were the leaders. Then after a mile or so, we are weaved into the other start groups, but there were still plenty of room around me to follow Lennart. He had told me that he would keep a steady pace for the whole race, but gain a minute or two in the first 5 km. The pace pleased me; it was not to fast, more like a little to slow. I knew that I had 42 km ahead of me, so no need to hurry. After 4 km I was getting warm, so I took off my cap and put it on a little girl who was giving me high five. Just before 5 km I threw away a company T-shirt, now I was in my race outfit; a running T-shirt and a singlet.
The first water station was a 5 km, this year I would drink at all stations. Water are served in paper cups, so I just squeezes them so I could drink without spilling the contents all over myself. I was wearing my Polar S625x watch, with wrist unit and foot pod, so I could keep track of my heart rate and pace, but Lennart held a very steady pace. I remembered some of the places we went by, but it looked a lot better this year as the sun was out. At 12 km we were running in a wide area with lots of spectators on both sides and on the bridges crossing the route. The support in Hamburg is fantastic. Suddenly I heard my name and turned to see Jette and some others from my local running club. They were waving and screaming, what a great support. It was like being carried along the route. At this time I was in front of Lennart, only by 10-15 meters. It was a bit crowded behind him, so I just passed the group. Here I had more room, and it was a great feeling to run to my pace without looking after Lennart all the time. Every now and then I looked over my shoulder to check that I was not picking up speed. But Lennart was politely enough to stay close behind me.
The 12.5, 15 and 17.5 km mark passed by and at 20 km there were the first food station, I was handed two pieces of banana and got a greeting along on the way: “LOOKING GOOD, HANS - KEEP RUNING!” Our first names are printed below the race number, and it is very uplifting the way the helpers and spectators and calling our names. With a banana in mouth and one in my hand I was looking forward to the ½ marathon mark. I looked at the watch when I passed it, 1:51:27, right on time. As I passed the 25 km mark I was feeling so good, that I thought about an ironman. What a stupid idea, the marathon was not even begun. I knew from my first time, that it starts at 30 km. I was still running with Lennarts group as we approached 30 km, what a great feeling to cross the mark with that group in 2:39:21. Now it was getting harder to follow, and I felled a little behind. At 32 km I lost track of Lennart. When I came to the water station at 35, I took a cup and walked while I drank it. This was the first time I had ever walked in a marathon, and it wouldn’t be the last I’m afraid. I did it again at the next water station at 37.5 km and a couple of times later. But even that I was walking, my pace was higher than last year where I was running. That says something about my pace last year. When I was walking, the runners and the spectators called my name and said: “Come on, Hans – only 3 km to go!” All I could do was to smile back and start running again.
41.8 km, still running, the last corner and I could see the finish line. I looked at my watch and saw that I couldn’t miss the magical 4 hours. And then Dietmar passed me! No way that the 4 hours pacemakers should finish before me! I took a few long steeps to get into a quicker pace, just to get beginning cramps in my legs. No way, I couldn’t run any faster. Dietmar was dancing on the far side of the route cheering up the spectators and pointing at his group. All I could do was to smile and enjoy the great feeling of finishing in within 4 hours. Jette was standing 200 meters before the finish line and shouted my name, as I turned and waved back she took some pictures of me smiling. I knew that a time below 4 hours would give me a pleasant bonus. More on that later.
I crossed the finish line in 3:58:02. A lot better than last years 4:20:28
After the race I got a medal, had my picture taken and went to get some water and some other refreshments. Then I walked to the meeting point and waited for Jette. She came a little later with my bag so I could get a well deserved bath. She gave me a big hug, and after that I fell on my knees and asked her the big question. She accepted, but only because I finished within 4 hours :-)
Thanks to Lennart for dragging me to 30 km and to Dietmar for not passing my sooner.
Bottom line: great race, personal record and a ring on my finger. Can it get any better?


Train more and not walking!

None specific, went to marathon foto and got my picture taken, then to refreshment, drank some juice and water. Then just sitting in the sun waiting for my girlfriend.


Training


Hamburg marathon are the tenth biggest in the world, with app. 28000 participants