The entries open and I am first in line to enter or so I thought. Signed up, little confused with the different entry types but luckily, we have friends who have done it in previous year’s and they can point us in the right direction. Advanced package, lets go! Advanced entry definitely sounds like it fits since I have done quite a few marathons 🙄. Oh yes, turns out I am not the first in line, the runners that signed up in the pandemic, have precedence. I am in the last batch 🤣.
First things first, get my training plan together. Easy, go to Garmin Connect and search the training plans, Marathon Beginner Plan definitely not, I am experienced marathon runner right, the Marathon Advanced Plan sounds more fitting to me, after all my entry is Advanced right. Scrolling through the plan, see running twice per day, some intervals and long runs on Sundays, looks good to me. Running twice a day might not be possible but that is fine, sure I will be okay with just one run a day, I have done it previously so should be fine right? Great all on track, stick to my diet, drink less beer and I am on my way to finish the marathon comfortably. Obviously with all these great plans I have in mind I reach out to my fellow runner friend and ask him if he wants to try my plan, I have a really good one. He turns me down and mentions he already got something in mind, and he is going to stick with his running coach advice, she is two-time world record holder and amazing runner, seen her in action on marathon, respect. Obviously, I respect that, send him well wishes on his training plan journey and patiently wait for my marathon training plan to begin as per date scheduled in Garmin Connect.
For those that know me well would know I am a “professional dog walker”, “dog sitter” and
“dog whisperer”. In fact, I don’t refer to them as dogs, they are either family or friends. Calling them dogs just sounds rude. My marathon start date falls on weekend that I am looking after someone’s “family” in Oudekerk, PERFECT! For any runner that trains for the marathon in Amsterdam, they have surely run in the direction of Oudekerk. You can continue for kilometers along the Amstel which is very beautiful and can easily reach your long run distance here. My marathon training is off to a great start, and I am super motivated.
My training plan started 26 May, not too far from summer. I am from South Africa and what do we love, SUN!!! What does summer mean, longer days, more sun and of course being more social, we only get this for a short time here in Netherlands so try to take advantage as much as possible. I fell back into old habits which is drinking at least three beers per day and on weekends even more. I can’t remember what exactly was being said but remember one of my close friends and my favorite long-time running buddy telling me “You tend to choose your social life over your running schedule” and he sure was correct. I didn’t make too much of it, what is a few beers to relax in this scorching heat, I will just run if off again the next day 🤔.
Just before we are on our way to our summer holiday, I started getting scratchy feeling in my chest and started coughing. First thing I thought, of course COVID!!! NO NO NO NOOOOOO!! Can’t be happening now, completely freaked out, go to dispensary and get self-test, do the test and NEGATIVE!! Phew! Ok will just give this few days, no running for now and will take it easy on our holiday, it will be over in no time. By the time we leave for our holiday I am way better but decide not to go running the next morning just to be safe. My wife went out, did her run and dedicated it to me, serious fomo and super jealous of course. By Sunday I felt way better and headed out, energy was low, struggled to breathe and pace not as it was in beginning of my marathon training. I accept this, it is understandable, this is what happens when you were sick and will just be patient as it picks up again. The following day the whole chest thing is worse than it was before. NOOOOOOO!!!! Decided to completely stop running until the chest infection is completely over which took about 3 weeks.
By the time I was all healthy again it was two and half months until the marathon. What I didn’t mention earlier is that my cousin from UK is going to join me for the marathon. We have done quite a few runs together and also a marathon three years ago. I decided to revise my training plan and settle for slower pace so we can run comfortably together and finish strong. Great, back on track and training is going well again under revised plan.
Fast forwarding to a month or so before marathon which means I am getting close to the end of my training plan I realise I have not done run longer than 30km’s. Well since I am an “experienced” runner this is definitely not good, according to my previous training plans there was at least one or two runs longer than 30km in the schedule. As I am scrolling
through Strava I see, “oh no, my friends are doing 30km runs and if not longer”. I am in trouble 😱 I reach out to my fellow running friend from down under (who lives in Amsterdam now of course) and ask her what plan she is using. Turns out she is also using Garmin Connect training plan. Rookie mistake, I should have checked my long runs in advance to be sure this “Advanced” plan includes these long runs. Oh well nothing I can do about it now; I will just have to stick to my LSD plan (Amsterdam is not all about LSD, come visit us, you will be surprised), long slow distance of course.
Finally, the marathon weekend arrives, 2 weeks prior to it finally arriving I decided to completely stop drinking, about time. The day before the marathon I picked up my race number from where fellow November Project runners are staying and we also decide to grab late lunch in the area. We found nice spot and drop a message to tell a friend I am in the area; he is the one that I mentioned earlier that told me my social life takes precedence over my running life. Whenever I am with my cousin, I can’t help but not to have a beer with him. My friend mentions that the guy that ran the fastest mile had beer before the run, so this made me feel better about my choices earlier in my marathon training. They joined for quick drink before they head off to the 10km night run where we all will be cheering them on.
Marathon day arrives, we all meet each other before the run, crack few jokes, some
take TukTuk’s to start. Since it is a point-to-point run, we have to take bus to start line,
this is always the worst to me since you actually see the “route” you have to run from
the bus. Just thinking about actually running the distance for the next +/- 4 hours is not
something I want to give too much thought at this point in time. I had my ups and downs
with training, no headspace for this as well. Not super confident about the run but going
out just to have fun and finish comfortably, let’s do this!
As mentioned previously myself and my cousin decided on easy steady pace, we just want to finish strong and have a good time. We both agree on 5:45 to 6:00 pace. We start off and our planned pace is going well. We have a bit of traffic since we started in the last block, but we love passing all the runners, confidence booster. 10km mark arrives and we are good on track and lots of fuel in the tank, we can easily do this. The first few inclines start, can feel more energy is used but we are feeling good. 16km the incline is increasing even more, it is tough, but we are doing it, what goes up must come down right.
At 19km the pace is dropping, and we are struggling, this is about the time that my cousin also complained about stomach issues, great!! Not even at the top of the hill I told him I can’t and have to walk to catch my breath again. Both of us are not having a great time. This is about the time I think to my myself, it is just a hill, get over it and all will be good again. That was not the case, from 20km the wheels came off. Not even halfway. My cousin decides to find toilet (with toilet paper, not easy find on marathon route) and I will continue, he will just catch up. So off I go leaving him behind. Run 1km and walking 1 to 2 minutes, this was my backup strategy. I just have to finish this!!! The only thing that kept me going was the timing mats where my friends and family tracking me on the app can see I am at least still going and alive. I would reach the timing mat, once I passed it, I would walk 1 to 2 min and run again. This strategy seemed to work and I am on track to at least finish the marathon. By this time my pace significantly dropped to between 8 – 10min per km. Honestly, I really didn’t even bother about pace anymore, I just want to reach the finish line.
All I kept thinking was what my friends who ran the marathon told me: THE REAL RACE
STARTS 2/3’s into the marathon. I absolutely couldn’t wait for this moment and after
doing rough calculation and realised I am almost there. By this time, I reached the
“motivational bridge guy” that told us we are approaching the end of the uphill. I sigh of
relief and excitement as I know the downhill slash flat part starts from here. By the time I
reached this my legs were shot, and the tank was empty, I downed bottle of water and
consume as much gels as I can to regain my energy. I manage to get my pace down to
at least 7+ min/km, feeling positive that I am almost there. The crowd support is
amazing as we near the finish.
As I am getting closer to the finish the excitement grows. I can see myself running into the Panathenaic Stadium, picking up the pace and finishing strong. The moment arrives, the waves of people outside the stadium on street supporting, cheering us on, smiles everywhere and finally I see the stadium, I run into the stadium and…CRAMPS!!! Stopped dead in my tracks with my hands on my knees looking down at my calve muscle which looks like tennis ball almost up to my knee, I start rubbing it and at this moment I see lady in the corner of my eye asking me: “are you going to be able to finish?”, looking up at her not even hesitating with a strong “YES!!”. Cramp gone and off I go, few meters to finish. The endorphins spiked big time, looking to my left searching for my friends in the crowd, don’t see them but I see my friend who picked up my bib and her boy cheering me on right in the front, absolutely made my day! Cross finish line and can feel the tears in my eyes. I made it. So much was going through my head but friends, family and that timing mat was my motivation to finish this marathon. Hands down the toughest marathon I have ever done. It came down to few things that played a really important role and will never forget this for my next marathon, nutrition, lifestyle choices, health and mindset.
So, to finish this off you are probably thinking what happened to my cousin. Well from 20km onwards where I dropped him, I was basically on my own, he never reached me again, and I was under the impression he took the “bus of shame” and didn’t finish the marathon. Little did I know he already passed me; we just didn’t see each other. What a champ! Another fun fact, he only did 3 weeks of marathon training and was sick week before the marathon. He sure is natural and may just be the next Pheidippides of the 21st century, only difference is he didn’t die.
Thank you, Athens and my fellow November Project friends, for this great experience! It
is truly one I will never forget.
Great recap Stephan! Such an amazing feat to overcome all that and pass that finish line!!