The atmosphere was exciting already when approaching the city center and it was easy to recognize co-passengers who were heading to the same event. When we climbed out from the bus all we had to do was to follow the stream of runners. On the way towards the arena we saw people in their running kits sipping coffee in the cafés on the sides of the prom. It all felt kind of unreal. The streets were decorated with tapes, signs, marshals, and advertisers. Everything was ready for the big event. We were early and it was quiet as went in to the arena to leave the bags and get prepared.
Just a while later when outside again a few hundred people had multiplied into tens of thousands of people and the music and hyping was on. It was huge. I got worried about where to go and went to check where my start group was supposed to assemble. It was clearly marked and still empty. The rest of the warm-up time I spent in a toilet queue missing the supervised warm-up gymnastics and the good starting place. I ended up behind the masses and was far from the elite up in front. It took five minutes from the gunshot before I reached the start line but I didn't care. It was here and now, my first mass marathon and I was about to enjoy it!
The first two miles I concentrated mainly on avoiding elbows and kicks but then after passing a thousand runners or so it eased up and I could start to enjoy the running. To my surprise the first miles had gone far below the pace I had planned despite the folks and I tried to slow down. Running felt good and after a while I totally ignored my pace and heart rate monitor and I just ran. Like Forest Gump, I just ran and enjoyed it. After four miles or so came my biggest highlight of the day as Haile passed me. Oh yes he did, on his way back. The route did a short loop and came then back along the same road some miles or so. So Haile was only a few miles ahead. The leading runners came across one by one whereas I met an endless line of runners when running back myself.
Running was fun throughout the race and the atmosphere was fantastic. There were several bands, orchestras, high five zones, supporters and so much cheering during the run that it was almost impossible not to enjoy it. Miles from nine to eleven were uphill and less pleasant but after managing that far it was just sprinting into the finish. Two kilometers left and I start to run against the watch. But I forget that the last kilometer is indeed longer than the others and have to push a bit harder at the end. When reaching the finish line I feel awesome. 1:27:47. I go home and look for the next half marathon. It will be Liverpool.
