Hi everyone,
quite late with this report, but I have a lot going on at the moment. Better late than never I say. This report will be quite short anyway, you will see why. I was really looking forward to this Marathon, since it combined running with Karneval, which is a neat idea. For those of you who don't know what Karneval is - it's where people in Cologne get dressed up, drink beer and sing funny songs :) I'll let you do your own research if you want to find out more. I was also able to sleep in for a change, since the start time was 11:11 and it was only a 5 minute drive away. I bought my costume the week before. It needed to be something light and unrestricting. I went with a fancy blue vest and a cylinder hat, which I had planned to wear only for the first and last laps of the course, but ended up wearing throughout, since it did not bother me.
So we drove the short way to the suburb "Esch" and collected my bib. There were only 50 runners and a few helpers, so all quite familiar and relaxed. Almost everyone was dressed up, which was great to see. Someone who didn't know, what was going on, would think we were a Karneval club. Not about to run a Marathon. The weather was quite fresh and there was a light drizzle, so standing around made me quite cold.
The district mayor held a small speech and we took a group photo before we all rallied at the starting line. We started at 11:11, which is also the starting time of the "5th Season" in Cologne - Karneval. We ran 500 Meters in one direction before turning around to make up the difference and get to 42.195 Kilometers. Then I was off to lap 1 of 15 around the Escher Lake. The course was quite easy and nice, but even so, after a few laps, it really started getting repetitive. At the start of each lap there were a few meters of downhill and towards the end there was a small climb, but nothing worth mentioning really. After each lap I had a drink and a snack and the helpers crossed of another lap on my bib.
I ran the first three laps by myself. Christine and Flori watched me run the first two before heading off to do some shopping. I started with a moderate pace of about 05:20-05:30 per Kilometer. I pretty much did no running between the last Marathon and this one and therefore it got quite hard quite soon. I attached myself to an experienced group and we ran the first half together. After that we split into two groups, since another runner and I couldn't keep up anymore. After we split, we slowed down the pace a lot. We pulled each other a little until about KM 35, before he got a cramp and I had to continue on by myself. I didn't end up walking that much, but due to the slow pace, it wasn't surprising, that I didn't achieve a great result, but after almost no training, I wasn't expecting anything else and was happy that I finished this very different Marathon.
We even had an anniversary. Christine's Dad Ignatz attended his very first Marathon! I trudged across the finish line and got a very pretty medal. Then it was time for a Kölsch (Beer), which is what you SHOULD be doing on Karneval, if you are normal. I thanked the helpers and then we headed home.
Summary - A very unique idea with a very nice audience. As with my other lap Marathon, I didn't mind it too much. Every round I had a "goal" of reaching the end of the lap for another small break and that helped a little. With enough training, I probably could have made top 5.
Time: 04:25:45
I very much look forward to my last Marathon. I'm not sure where it will be yet, but likely it will be in Wuppertal on the 30th of December.
Below are some good photos, or so I hope.
Thanks!
Stefan
My costume.
Selfie with Christine.
Selfie mit wife and mother-in-law.
Group photo: I believe everyone was dressed up.
The "Starting area".
After the first Kilometer, it's time to run the first lap.
And here I have completed the first lap, only 14 to go.
Getting my lap crossed off on my bib, so that I don't end up running more laps than needed.
Same bend, 12 laps later at the end of round 13.
Quick break and a walk with the parents-in-law.
This was the lake that we had to run around 15 times.
The very cool medal.
And my 11th certificate.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen