Vienna City Marathon 2024

12 Oct 2019 became a historic day for the marathon world, when Eliud Kipchoge went on to prove that "No human is limited" by breaking 2 hours in the INEOS challenge; crossing the finish line in an unbelievable 1:59:40.2. The Prater, the place where all this went down, thus became a historic landmark which had inspired me to sign on for Vienna City Marathon 2024.

Beside that, Vienna the 'City of Music' has long been on my list of cities to visit. The timeless legacy left by maestros like Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Johan Strauss etc. made it ineffaceably the classical music capital of the world. Such richness could not help but overflow - evident by the invigorating music of Strauss being aired at the start of the race. This is Vienna beckoning: Welcome!   

My hotel accommodation (Hotel Schani Uno City) was intentionally booked for its proximity to the start line. It granted me quick access to my room for the inevitable last minute relief. As the temperature plummeted to a mere 3 degrees Celsius, most runners were bracing themselves and some even took refuge at the hotel. I was impressed by the staffs who freely offered bananas and hot coffees to all. I am not one for promoting hotels, but this one has definitely earned some brownie points.

After my Dubai Marathon debacle, I shifted my focus to Vienna with the hope of redemption. Yet on retrospect, the level of training that eventually transpired was anything but adequate. Despite managing to achieve an average weekly mileage of 100km; I still faltered at the time trials. To compound it all, just a month before the race, I contracted bronchitis which set me back further by a couple of weeks. By the time I recovered, it was already taper time.   

Therefore the logical thing was to strategize a different pace plan knowing my current state of fitness. I would hate to hit the wall again like Dubai. Came across this 10/10/10 pace strategy and decided to give it a go. First 10 miles (16km) at average 4:20 pace; The second 16km 4:15; and the final 10km at 4:10 to make sub 3. On hindsight, it was a bit of a stretch. But one could only try, right?

 

Plans always look good on paper. At gun off, I was only able to maintain 4:20 for the first km. Subsequently the pace somehow quicken to 4:15-4:09 whilst I wasn't even trying. It was as though the muscle memory had overridden the brain. So much for it! I decided then to just go by perceived effort, while being cautious not to get too carried away. 

After the first 10km, I got a bit worried for going too fast and decided to take it down a notch. To ensure enough reserve in the tank come half way point, I slowed to an average of 4:20. But upon crossing 21km, I was a bit disconcerted by my time of 1:31. Such timing only meant that I would have to muster up a 1:28 to sub 3! Suddenly the road ahead seemed a lot more daunting! I had no choice but to quicken my pace, yet again. With the help of several timely downward slopes, my pace quicken to an average of 4:10. 

Despite that, I could not make up for lost time. The only plus side was when I reached 30km, it still felt reasonably comfortable. Though the time of 2:08 was not ideal, it was still something I could work with. But as much as I wanted to believe that I was still in the fight, I knew that the real race was only beginning... 

For the next few km, I attempted to quicken; nudging carefully into sub 4:15. But as I entered 34km, I felt a sudden twitch in the left lateral hamstring. Shit....I was NOT expecting that. This sudden turn of event threw everything into disarray. As I ran on, it only grew harder to sustain pace. Desperate to evade a full blown cramp, I was forced to slow down drastically. 

I consoled myself that at least it wasn't the dreaded bonk. But the fact still remained that the cramp just sealed my fate - of all hope of redeeming the minutes lost. Yet, though consigned to such predicament, I was still desperate to finish strong. All these months of training had to mean something... 

If the first 30km could be considered a mountain top experience, then this final stretch would be the valley low. I think every marathon would be defined by these moments. Metaphorically this is also true in real life. At this point, I am in a season of valley low. And to experience this let down at this point of the race felt all too familiar. Striving to grapple with it all, just leaves you with more ambivalence. Not that you don't want to fight anymore, but what are you even fighting for? Why does it even matter? 

Were these the exact thoughts as I slugged it out in the final few km? Perhaps. I don't remember. All was just a blur. However, I do remember taking inventory of the whole mess and came to one conclusion: just keep going. It is a simple thing to say. But a hard thing to follow through. You have no idea how badly I had wanted to give up. It is impossible to put into words what was going through the mind during the last few km. So much entangled and confusing thoughts. I wish I could say all of it sort of magically distilled and were straighten out but it was just not so. But it didn't matter. The point isn't about having a tidy, well thought out/planned out life in front of us - and all would be fine. That is a delusion because life is never that. You just work through the mess and just keep going. However you feel about it.  

After what felt like an eternity, I hobbled into the final stretch of blue carpeted runway. It was meant to be a victorious stretch where you feel elated and accomplished. Had it gone to plan, it would have been. But it had gone to bits. So, I was just relieved that it was over. No celebration. Only a sense of hollowness. 

The cramp just disappeared after a few hundred meters of slow walk. The protest was over. So was my heart for marathons. I had realized that perhaps this was after all - a chasing after the wind. Time to call it a day. 

The take away from this? After careful reflection, from this day forth, I would focus on the process. Not the outcome. I would run and train but it should never be about making a mark or to prove a point. Sub 3 or qualifying for this or that had been my relentless goal for the past decade. But coming into this season of life, I am becoming weary and tired of it. And it does not seem to make any more sense. So its time to call it a day and just focus on enjoying the run and making the most of what has been granted: Good health and a fit body. And along with that, hopefully a bit of peace as well for this troubled heart.