Sun peaked in early and my body on alert for the first sign of dawn. No traces of worries. Senses all tuned in on getting those laces tied and for collecting footsteps - enough to make my first official marathon. Routines set in motion, bananas and a chocolate smoothie to to up the reserves, eye of tiger in my head, slowly wobling ahead on my bike as the shooting start closed in.
The sun was blazing hot for a late May day in Copenhagen. Feeling of entering a sauna after a cold shower hit my mind. People had allready crowded up, sunscreen being applied to white scin, a shoot goes off. People with great hopes and determination sets out to take on the streets of Copenhagen - me included.
Being close to my desired level of pace setters was my plan. Soon to be realized that running in a big group on narrow roads was not something I had trained for. A bit pushing and showing and extra energy used to close the gaps people made by getting infront of me and not keeping up with the pace setters. My mind on water. It was a hot day. Around 30K I see an increasing number of people collapsed, laying down and some being carried away on stretchers into ambulances. I say to myself, I joined a marathon run and not a marathon walk. Pace is high, the heat seems threathening, my experience level low. A conservative decision is made. I pace down a lot. I want my first one to be a good experience. I want to cross the finish line with a plus on my mental account. The last ten was suprisingly easy and fast. Legs were of course a bit more stiff than when I started, but the meters and distance sign was showing up one after another without an ocean of time had passed in my mind. I take a deep breath. This is going to last. I have tested myself and endured. Hands raised high, victory roar. Finish line is crossed. I am already thinking about the next one.
