Reflections during 42km run, or Nordea Riga Marathon 2013

It all started early on Sunday morning, when I got up (to start the day successfully), had breakfast (to gather strength and energy for the run), put on a sports outfit (to keep from getting cold in shorts and a T-shirt in the early hours of the morning) and sandals (because I had planned put on my running shoes only at the running area), I went to the bus (to save energy for a 'walk around the city').
When I was about to put on my running shoes, I realized that I had forgotten my socks in the morning's too much calmness.. so my calmness started to be taken over by a little anxiety..! I started to put together different thoughts... I don't have a phone - I don't know what time it is, but theoretically I could still make it home... The main thing is to get the transport! If not, then I can also run.. But it wouldn't be good.. Hmm... Ieva works in a storage area.. What if she has an extra pair..?!
I went to Ieva and... but.. and... Pheeewww...! She had..! :)
Cotton ones... for 42km... It's ok... But maybe still... maybe go home for better... No! Everything will be ok! :) Socks on, running shoes on, things handed over to my sister for safekeeping, and I can go to warm up and stand in the corridor... Right behind the elite runners.

8h30
START!

Well then.. now you will definitely want to know what was going on in my head for 4 hours..?!
My 'journey' began with a brilliant thought: "Let the young ones run!" I've only just started moving and I still have to run 42... :D" Slowly and patiently. The heat was already strong in the early morning! The main thing is not to push too much, just to finish. Of course, I would like to fit in four hours mark... But - it will be as it will be!
The first kilometers led from Krastmala across the Vanšu bridge and back... Elizabetes street...

– “I like Your T-shirt!” I barely heard someone say from behind me.
– “Sorry?!” removing the headset from my ears, I asked.
– “I like Your T-shirt!” the guy repeated.
– “Thanks!” I answered and he passed me like a wind.

...through the Old Town...

– "During sex you burn as many calories as running for 5 miles. Who the fuck runs 5 miles in 30 seconds?” I heard the pacer Artur's voice on the loudspeaker loudly reciting the text on my T-shirt. Yes, Artūr, I always have a T-shirt, shorts or pants with stylish inscriptions! ;)

...and along Krasta Street...

I already started counting the kilometers... "So.. when I get to the South Bridge, I'll run over it and back, then a whole ten km will have been covered... Then a little more along Krasta Street to Krastmala and the half marathon will be over!" Thoughts ran faster than me, because the invisible goal, which was pushed away by the wild heat, as the runners were on the open street like a frying pan, seemed like an imagination.. :) I think that the first oranges and bananas also began to appear at the watering points of these kilometers.. :D Of course, garden hose showers were no longer rare, but seeing the first "fallen" pushing against the trees, waiting for an ambulance in the shade of the leaves, before the end of the first lap, was not the most inspiring thing... Well, it's ok... Have to go on!

On the way back from the South Bridge, I started setting small goals for myself: "So, now to 'Mols' shop..." Of course, I didn't notice that, because I was already past it... The finish of the first lap, which was also the finish of the half-marathon distance, was approaching...! People are starting to pass me by... Aha! Half-marathon finish spurt... "Well.. let them run! I need to run more!” :)

21.097km
Time spent on the track: 1h 50min 58s

Ha! As it turns out, if I had run a half marathon, I would have improved my personal record by at least some 5s..!

The finish of the first lap.. and the first thing that flashes in my mind: "Whoa, fuck…! The same distance more...!"

The next quick thought and self-consolation: “It's ok! The next lap no longer goes along the Krasta street, but through the city! It won't be so crazy. When running in the city, you don't feel the kilometers disappearing.."

Eksporta street.. Ganību dambis.. ouff... It's hot... "Where's the water?!"

Oh! Lāsma! While working as a volunteer and picking up those who have a hard time on the track, aims her phone camera at me. Cool! I will have a picture! :D A small U-shaped bend on Duntes Street and I run back towards the center... Thanks for the sip of water, sis! :* In that heat and constant sun, every drop of water is water [read: gold] worth! :)

Yuhuuu! Back to the center! "Well now - kilometers will fly by like never before," I thought, before I remembered that the track makes a bend through the Skanstes district... Well, I started walking at the watering points, instead of grabbing a glass of water and continuing to run.. I need to catch my breath a bit... however..! :)

Ouch… That was 'deadly'! I'm back on Kr. Valdemāra Street... "About 10km more... Well.. just a little hour to run...!" At the watering points, volunteers are already starting to ask, if everything is ok?, do I need the smelling salts? And at the end they add: "Only 10km to go!"

“Oh! Vanšu bridge! It's almost over. I remember that at the end of the Vanšu bridge, the first lap made a bend and the track led back to Old Riga... Soon the finish line! :) Hey! Hey, Mārtiņš just ran past - already in the direction of Krastmala..!" Well, I must say that the joy did not last long, because I had also forgotten this section of Ķīpsala... And when I saw that the track led far away from the direction I had originally imagined...

This stage was difficult. Long enough, abnormal steam, no water... I even had the thought of dropping out the race... But no! I'd better take a walk, I'll recover... "Oh - a shower! Great! I'll walk back to the Vanšu bridge and there will be water to drink right there!" At this stage, I regained the strength that had stayed in Ķīpsala and I was happy seeing the sign that I had already run 39km...

Yeah... the last kilometers... the Vanšu bridge near the Presidential Palace... in front of my eyes a man stops and starts wobbling. For the second time.. Whoops... Good thing someone else ran up from behind with a bottle of water..! I don't know what happened next...

Last watering point! Smiles and inspiring words about a soon finish! :)

Even though it seemed that the finish would be right away... the section through Old Riga was quite painful... all those spectators, total windlessness, heat, pavement... woooosh... 

Holalaaa! Es redzu taimeri… “Hell, yeah! Run under four hours! It's real! I can do it!” I have no power for the finish sprint... I don't need it at all... time permits...

FINISH
MY FIRST MARATHON
3h 58min 51s

Fantastic! I did it and I remember running across the finish line with a dazzling smile! :D (Don't you need a model in toothpaste ads?! :D )

Abnormal satisfaction for the work done! Satisfaction that I passed both physically and morally (especially when I see how people sick before the finish line...)! Glad my knee didn't fail me! I'm glad that my sisters ran with me from the very start! :*

What follows is a completely relaxed day with the support team. When the medal around my neck pulled me to the ground, I took off my running shoes, walked through the puddle and then, on the pavement, with stiff legs, hobbled to Ieva. Lāsma had also arrived from her post. While I was walking right there by the tent, the sisters caught a couple taking pictures of my back...

I didn't get a massage because of the long line, so I went home to wash off the salt so that I could return to my ladies clean and fresh!

When I returned to Old Riga, everything seemed to have died out. The 10km and 5km distances had also finished and all the participants had almost dispersed. The organizers were already collecting all the equipment... He-he! And I even managed to get a massage! :)

Well, one marathon once a year is enough, right!? :) I have to say that the amount of endorphins accumulated in four hours did its job and despite the fact that my legs are a little stiff, I felt simply fantastic! :)