The Vienna Comeback

Since Covid has been throwing a spanner into the works of literally everyone, for me it meant no marathon events and even though I was trying hard to keep up my running schedule, it did not work. I remember the day when I went out for a 26 miler in training and after 11 miles it felt like there was nothing left, and I was doomed to walk all that distance home (Covid restrictions did not allow me to take a train). That was 15 months ago and it went only downhill since, despite best efforts. Until today!

The fact that I even tried running the Vienna Marathon, had nothing to do with determination or will power or courage. The longest distance I had run in 2021 was 10 miles, and that only a few times, because it took all out of me. How would I ever be able to finish the 26 Vienna-Miles, a marathon place that had rolled over from the cancelled April 2020 event (a long-ago time, when marathon running felt like something I actually COULD do). So it took running buddy Michael to believe that I still can do it. A belief I did not share. But since he was doing it (and believing in me) I booked a flight and thought, maybe somehow I can drag myself along those stupid miles within the cut-off time of six hours.

So it came that I made it to the start. The day before, even walking through Vienna to get the mandatory Covid test done and pick up the Bib was exhausting, so that at Saturday night the what-the-heck-am-I-doing-feeling was stronger than ever. What kept me going were three things:

1) I had experienced running miracles before, maybe it can happen again
2) Michael promised to drag me through
3) On the flight, I had been listening to a podcast interview with Rosie Swale-Pope, a now 74 old lady who once ran around the world and has the most inspiring and uplifting attitude. That interview reminded me that it is not about me, but about connection, community and things bigger than myself. Like Eliud Kipchoke sums it up: Marathon Is Life.

I had always felt that marathon running indeed is a metaphor for life: unexpected circumstance, high highs and low lows, comradery, companionship, battles, adversity, kindness, affection and celebration. So when I finally made it to the start and felt the buzz of this event and all the excited people, it was almost like re-connecting to that energy and source of happiness, that had made marathon running so special to me in the past.

And so, off we went. One of my running mantras is to focus on what you can do and not what you can’t. The start was smooth, the pace secondary and up to mile 10, it was actually surprisingly pleasant. It was a hot day and neither of us thought about it as helpful. Michael and I made a pact to stick to each other as long as it feels right. We passed the half marathon mark at just about 2 hours, mostly because Michael did not slow down and I tried to stay with him. I really started to feel the distance, and the lack of miles I got under my feet over the last 12 months.

I thought about what Rosie had said, how resilience and positivity is something that can be learned and needs practice. So I tried to practise: Rather than allowing my mind to wander off to the remaining far to high number of miles, I thought about the steps ahead of me. With each step I send a thought of gratitude towards God, trying to appreciate every moment in which I can actually do this. I tried to connect with the wonderful people who come out in events like this, cheer you on, support you and make you feel special. I waved, cheered the cheerleaders and tried to smile as much as I could.

Around mile 20 – Michael and I were still together -, the proverbial man with the hammer hit us. Quite simultaneously actually. So we walked and Michael was the one who started running again. I felt I couldn’t. Everything hurt, especially my heels that have been playing up over the last months. But once I joined his mini jogging movement, it got better and when Michael said he needs to stop because of cramps, I decided to continue, not wanting to miss the window of opportunity in that running actually felt possible again.

What I did not expect was that it stayed possible until the end. I did the dragon breathing that I read about in a running book: deep breath in through the nose and strong breath out through the mouth. I enjoyed the sun, and the water stations and then there was Regina, Michael’s wife, cheering at mile 23. I stopped to take a bit of her positive energy and updated her on Michael’s condition. When crossing the finish line in under 4:29 I could not believe what just had happened. Running a marathon without being able to do so, that are stories of other people, not me. I felt so happy and blessed. Michael’s cramps had also gone better and he had only lost 7 minutes compared to me. When he entered the finishers area, I was still there and we could celebrate with pints that they were giving out.

The Vienna Marathon experience tells so much about the things that matter, and they are not times or numbers. It was my slowest road marathon to date, yet it is the best comeback I could have hoped for. You can’t measure running joy with data. There is so much more to it, and I realise how much I had missed it.