05.10. Season-final Marathon
Sparkasse 3 Länder Marathon at Bodensee
Running is my passion and hence a marathon as the season finale is just the best thing to do. Of course, not without a goal. Based on the last result (Frankfurt 2013 – 3:14h) and my performance improvement in these past two years, I agreed with my coach on a target time of 3.08h, which corresponds to an average of 4:27 minutes per kilometre.
Yes, I was in rather good shape after this year. But, as the devils wished, a tsunami in form of an infection swept 8 days before over me. Total failure for 24! Luckily; I obsess over a very well-functioning immune system, I recovered rather quickly and felt already much better on Monday. However, some aftershocks during the week, issues during my surgery prep (planned kindney surgery on 07.10), on Friday still tragic mood; a start put into distance memory. But after the warm-up run Saturday morning I decided, that nothing, really nothing shall stop me now! Even though I suffered suddenly from heavy knee pain and if I bring pain specifically into language it’s real pain. Maddening, this week before the marathon.
Raceday had come. Traveled highly motivated and enthusiastic to Bregenz on Sunday Morning, from there by boat to the starting point on the island of Lindau and punctually punctually at 11.10Uhr we were sent with cold and pouring rain on the 42.195km long route through Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Under the motto, “only” 42.2km and then this madness-season is over, I rushed into the pleasure, which unfortunately did not last really long.
The knee pain, which I tried to ignore came back punctually at km3, where my accompanying cyclists as “3. Woman” took me in reception. I did not expect this at a not quite small and international event. A podium finish in sight, even if there were still 39km to run. Conditionally I felt (all the way) super, the first 30km I could keep my pace of 4.27min / km even if the pain increased disproportionately. At km 32, the instability in the knee was so bad that I was more limping the running. I had to realize, that the desired end time of 3:08 was gone, but was at this time incidental. The decision to abandon or to save the 3rd place with a “safety run”, was extremely difficult, but I was once more able to get my act together.
Resume:
In spite of the 3rd overall place I was firstly disappointed with a 3.14,52h because it is below my expectations and my performance capabilities. But that’s sport, the day counts; did nothing similar happen to Anna Hahner last week in Berlin? I am not a machine and for a nearly 39-year-old woman, who performs the sport at this level only since almost 4 years, still a very respectable time. And then in the context of the solid top performances this season! Hence, all good. Here (LINK) you go for the rest of season review! Worth reading, I am lifting the potential secret of success 🙂
And the knee: Initial investigations speak for nothing good, can hardly walk. But because I have to go to hospital on Wednesday anyway, I will spare an MRI. Should it be not better after the next 3-4 weeks recovery, I have to take measures.
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