I started training in January, so I had 4 months to prepare. I normally like at least 5. I thought the race was at the end of May. Oops. I made out my training plan, I really wanted to add in strength training. But then I went and got a job and my training plan went out the window. My training wasn't horrible, but it was less than I did for the my previous marathon and no strength training. After a 20 mile training run, my knee started to really bother me. Not good.
Not only was my husband and dog coming, but I had 4 friends coming as well. I really wanted to have a good race, but was not too optimistic because of my lack of training. I put a lot of pressure on myself and get really disappointed if I don't do well. I only do 1 or 2 marathons a year, so I can't have a bad race. I had a good race at the Lucerne Marathon (PR of 4:01), so I really wanted to break 4. I told myself I would be ok with anything up to 4:15.
The race was on Sunday and we got there Saturday afternoon. We meet our friends that also came down, grabbed my race packet and had a super early dinner. Hamburgers! I am not a good example of what you should eat before a race. I didn't have a beer, so I have some self control.
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| A list of all the runners. |
The morning of it rained a little. It was supposed to rain on and off for the entire race. I put my phone in a ziplock bag and hoped for the best. I have never ran a race without music, and didn't want to start today.
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| Prerace hang out at a gas station |
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| Trying to stay dry |
We meet up with 2 more friends, and I got to the start line a hole 10 minutes before the race. The race didn't start until 9:45am, that is so late compared to US marathons. They started the race in waves, so I was in the second wave (which started about 2 minutes after the 1st). I started a little behind the 4 hour pace group. I have never ran a race with the pacers before and I thought I would try. But when I caught up with them at mile 2 it was just too crowed. They slowed down at a water stop and I kept going. I can't run in big crowds, and pacers always have a crowd of people around them. I was really nervous about my knee, but after the 3rd mile the pain went away. In fact, I had no pain of any kind through out the entire race. I felt really good.
It started to rain about half way through the race. But it wasn't too bad, and I didn't feel it necessary to put away my headphones. The rain did cause some mud on the second half of the course.
The course started in Geneva and went through 12 villages and ended back in Geneva a few miles from the start (see map below).Unfortunately the 12 villages were mainly farm roads and there was no way for spectators to get there (even with a car). Buses weren't running (and if they did it was only once per hour). So my husband, friends and dog spent 4 hours in the rain. They walked 7 miles and only saw me in the middle and at the end.
The course was very flat. I enjoyed the views, but I miss the spectators. It was a relatively quiet run. No signs, decorations, bands, cow bells or spectators cooking out and drinking.
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| Poor wet puppy |
My crew did a lot of walking and waiting.
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| Finally! Here I come. |
I felt great until about mile 22. The last 4 miles were a struggle. But I knew I only had to run the last 4 miles at a 11 minute pace to break 4 hours. I ended up finishing in 3:58! I was completely spent at the end, I did not even try and pick up the pace in the home stretch, and I thought for sure I would throw up.
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| Done! |
If I hadn't slowed down at the end I could have shaved off another 3-4 minutes. Maybe that will be my goal for the next Geneva Marathon. It was a boring race, but it was so flat, fast and close to home that I won't say I will never do it again. There aren't too many city marathons in Switzerland, so I can't be too picky.
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| My friends made shirts! |
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| Keep Calm and Marathon |
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| I think Tuck would rather stay home next time. |
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