Iris Classon
Iris Classon - In Love with Code

Stockholm Marathon 2012

Ghosts in the rain. Runners preparing for Stockholm Marathon 2012

Last saturday it was time to put all my hard training to the test, it was time for my first marathon. My aim, and my previous runs, predicted a 4 h run plus minus 10 min. But I guess you cant prepare for everything, and the stomach pains I had the week before the run turned out to be stomach flu, and the anticipated 18 C weather (sun, maybe cloudy) turned out to be heavy rain, strong winds (14m/s) and 2-4C. Perceived temperature was -12C, the worst weather ever on Stockholm Marathon.

The runners hiding under trees waiting for Stockholm Marathon to start, wearing trashbags and ponchos, cursing the weather

As people were waiting to start the journey they gather under trees and umbrellas, the trashbag DIY ponchos taking a beating by the wind creating an oddly soothing background music for the weather-show.

Waiting for the start, Stockholm Marathon 2012. The weather, the worst it has ever been… 2-4 C, heavy rain and strong winds

I saw no point in hiding, umbrellas lay dying on the ground, profusely abused by the wind,- and I knew I was next. 20 minutes before start my stomach decided to let me know how it felt.

Iris Classon (me!) excited about my first marathon, even though my stomach was not..

And as the race started and progressed my mind shifted from thinking “this is so bloody cold”, “this is so amazing” , and “dear God, where are the toilets?”. I made about 13 pitstops, and since I lost so much fluid I had to double my intake at the energy- and fluid stations.

21 K, halfway there… everybody is soaking wet

I learned pretty fast how to do the pinch-the-cup-to-avoid-spilling-sticky-fluid-trick, and thus got a pretty darn good detox during the run. The rain and wind also gave me a peeling, so for what I know I had a 42K Spa-trip with a very limited buffe. How can I complain? ;)

The hill from hell… 25 Km into Stockholm Marathon 2012

I remember a hill, this one on the picture, it was about 25 K in, and it was 1-2 K long. Uphill all the way, wind blowing against us, the rain spitting us in the face, and the temperature so cold milk would last two weeks. And my “find a ’larger’ person and use as windshield”-plan didn’t work out as marathon runners are mostly tiny little things I learned, and I suspect I acted as a windshield for others instead. My pleasure. I’ll bill you’all later.

Together we run! Stockholm Marathon 2012

But listen here, it was amazing. I was so incredible happy for the whole run, smiling ear to ear. The feeling was unexplainable. It never hurt, I was never tired, I never considered stopping (not even as I passed the 42K mark), and I never ever regretted being a long distance runner or doing this run.

Iris Classon (me!) at 29 Km ,- super happy! and as Nike put it in an ad, “run yourself ugly”. And we sure did on this run hehe

The streets were empty, even Marathon Photo photographers went home. It was just too cold. We felt like zombies running through an abandoned town. Chasing endorphins and a finishline.

My time was a disappointing 5 h, the ‘pitstops’ added to the time. (Didn’t hit a target, but ‘hey!’ – I survived the war! ) But since I was unhappy with the time, and very happy with the run, I booked a new marathon, Oslo Marathon, in three months. Can’t wait :D

With running socks, good shoes (Nike Free runs 3.0) and PLENTY of vaseline, I still got a humongous blister, plus dead skin.

 

Making macgyver proud… this is how I managed to walk the next few days. The ‘sausage’ makes sure the toes dont touch

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Last modified on 2012-06-06

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