This autumn, after disappointing WOC in August, I decided to use my training kilometers for not orienteering competition. My goal was Košice peace marathon, held on 2nd October. It is oldest European marathon, and also is organized in my second home town - Košice. Goal was time under 3 hours, what looks quite easy for good trained runner, but asphalt ground is not my typical training surface, so I was bit worried about my legs. I started my preparation on 25th August with easy 9 km training on asphalt road. Afterwards I pushed hard and ran some shorter (6x1 km) and longer (4x5 km) intervals and long tempo (10-15 km) trainings. Everything on asphalt. My legs were bit surprised by this change of surface, but I tried to give then more regeneration than normal. After some long trainings I felt weak pain in my achiles tendon, but I tried to massage my calf, to reduce pressure.
At first two weeks of september my orienteering shape went rapidly up and I won Slovak long and middle championships with nerly clear performances and good flow in terrain.
Two weeks before marathon me and my and few of my o-friends ran a road race called Sečovská desiatka (10 km).
Course was fast and at second half of course we ran together with my teammate Adam, who according results overspurted me at the end. Truth was, that we make a deal about similair cutting of finish line, but probably finish referee didnt like it
Our time was 35:33 and hopefully next time I will be able to run under 35 minutes. This time I was too slow, because it is enough for me to run over 4 min/km at marathon, so I skipped faster trainings.
After race we had a nice summer afternoon at Bukovec lake, where we enjoyed last summer sun (we thought) and sauna. All participants were satisfied
One week before marathon I participated at orienteering world cup in Liberec. My orienteering shape was great, but for good result running shape was more decisive, so I finished after two goo o-performances 56th at middle and 46th at mass start, where I gained many places in last 15 minutes of running.
It was curious, that my legs ran faster last uphill after 110 minutes on Sunday, than after 40 minutes on Saturday. But before marathon performance, it was pleasant fact.
After sundays race I eat a lot of healthy things, to refill my energy and lost minerals and vitamines. Last days before marathon were accompanied by nice weather and training went well: rest on Monday, Orienteering training on Tuesday and 6x1 km (4:08-4:10) on Wednesday. Then I took two rest days, what wasn't probably best choice, because I didn't killed all bacillus which attacked my body by running heat and on Friday morning felt that something is wrong with my throat. But I eat a lot of garlic and other natural medicament and on Sunday morning I was ready to run. My goal was time under 3 hours, what means 4:15 min/km average speed. I found in one book interesting table, about how fast can you run marathon, if you are able to run halfmarathon, 10 km and 5 km in some speed. From that table, my expected marathon speed was 4:08 min/km.
So I fixed in my brain, that speed under 4 min/km in first 35 km is dangerous and I will try to move between 4:00-4:15 min/km. As always most critical was first km, where everyone run aroun 3:30 km. At start I was few meters behind African runners, to not lost time by passing slow runners.
After start signal mass started to move and in first kilometers many runners passed me. My coach Jozef Pollák, who ran marathon in 1996 under 2:30 told me, that key to success is to have feeling of easy jogging after halfmarathon. I followed this plan and my half marathon time was 1:27:31. problematical were mainly parts, where we ran on north, because wind blew against us, so after 21st km I get to the good group and saved some energy. A eat nerly each 4 km energy gel and drank ion drink at refreshment station. After 26th km I ran out from my group and from that time I passed many runners, who started too fast. My speed was still around 4:08 min/km. After passing 34th km, wind started to blow agains me, so my pace bit fall down to 4:10-4:15, but passing of runners continued. Most critical were last 4 km and in last 2 km I counted each hundred meters to the finish line.
I felt real pain in whole my body, but my motto was: ,,pain is relative,, ,so I speed-up to 3:40 min/km pace in last kilometer and few meters before finish line passed another runner. My overal time was 2:55:21, so mission was accomplished and 40th place between 775 runners was success for me
After passing finish line I fell on the ground and felt really strange. I was lucky, tired ,felt real pain and I was close to cry. After few minutes, I moved to swimming pool, where changing rooms were located. My plan was easy jogging, but legs decided to not cooperate. After long and painful walk (0,5 km - around 15 minutes) I get there, sat into the shower and drank all energy drinks I had.
I told myself, that I will never run asphalt marathon again. We will see if it will be true, or I will change my mind sometimes.
I must say big THANK YOU to my girlfriend and orienteering friends who gave me energy gels at course, and to all my friends and unknown fans, who supported my around the course. Without them It would be much harder to complete the race.
My last week after marathon is bit boring, because I started to be serious sick on Monday and my legs were also in bad shape, mainly Achilles tendons, but now it is much better.
On Friday I worked first time in my new job and it was quite new for me to spend 7 hours in office. But life is a change.
In last days I don't have motivation to run again so my rest period started. We will see what will come later, but next goal is WUOC 2012, so I will try to prepare for that race as good as possible.
I recommend marathon race for everyone, who likes to reach a peaks
, at least once in your life. It is big moment full of emotions and new experiences. Run hard and do it!!!
Here is link to short interview in local magazine about my orienteering and running experiences (in Slovak):
http://korzar.sme.sk/c/6085033/orientacny-bezec-krajcik-si-odskocil-z-lesa-na-mmm.html
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