Everything was supposed to be different… marathon na No. [Tomorrow]
We had in March 2020 For obvious reasons, they have postponed the marathon in Limassol to March 2021, then 28 listopad 2021. As a remedy for the inconvenience, an attractive price was offered for the Paphos race. Cunning plan number “3” he was like that, that we are running a marathon in Limassol at the end of November and a half-marathon in Paphos a week later. Cyprus was supposed to be ours.
Photo. Organizer
Taught by experience, I have been planning competitions for almost two years, but with a very loose approach to deadlines. Ultimately Paphos was to be held on time 5 grudnia 2021 and we were offered the Larnaca marathon 20 listopada 2021 or the prescription of Limassol in March 2022. A trip of more than two weeks was not possible for us. And so we finished the rescheduled marathon in Limassol for March 2022 and the competition in Paphos, in my case a change from a half-marathon to a marathon.
Cyprus welcomed us with sun and a very pleasant temperature 20 degrees Celsius. Perfect running weather. We picked up the packages on Friday, no crowds in a nice atmosphere. Bag, number, t-shirt, a bandana and a very useful sample of the cooling gel.
The start of the marathon was scheduled for 7:30 at the Rock of Aphrodite – buses departed from Fr. 6:00 from the port. The finish line and the start of the remaining races were also planned there.
During the night it started to blow strongly, We arrived there while it was still dark and there was no sign of a catastrophe, which was to come. Traditionally, there were pre-run rituals – securing the gear, rozgrzewka, queue for the toilet.
Literally one minute before take-off, it started to rain down and we stayed with us 38 kilometers. It was still worse, we ran towards a thunderstorm with lightning and pouring rain. We ran into the walls of rain accompanied by gusts of wind and streams of water on the road.
No
– it wasn't pretty, sunny weather;
– there were no views, though to 6 km we ran the road along the sea;
– there were no pacemakers, though they were supposed to run;
– there was no road closed, in some places we were running along the roadside under the traffic of cars;
– there was nothing to eat on the points, although they were supposed to be 2x bananas;
– there were no fans (I understand that);
– there was no award ceremony.
After the first kilometer, I didn't care, and I was all wet and I remembered the Nice marathon and the storm there. Among running Poles – there was a group of us (I was the only Polish woman) I heard concerns about the possibility of canceling the race. Fortunately, this did not happen. I was running, and although it was not pleasant, I knew, that I can do it, it was only a matter of time. My muscles work much better when it is warm and even hot, not enough here, that I got wet, I chilled. Right before 21 km it was a turn and I could see the headlamps, anyway, I was in it alone for me (currently) dizzying times 1:47:35. Traditionally after 25 km I would lose from 30 km to lose more and more. I ran but I didn't fight, because I wanted to be at the finish line, not “get” minutes unnecessary for anyone. In the suburbs of Paphos, we finally ran into closed streets (The cars driving next to us in the downpour also irritated me a lot), a circle 38 km began to clear up and the sun came out. Bad luck, however, did not leave me – watch showed low battery and gray display. Do tego “evaporated” tablets with kilometers, the most important ones 40 – 41.
I had a cunning last plan 2 km to walk but I reached the finish line, because the course did not name. The result surprised me anyway – three on the front! Just three weeks after the Athens Marathon!
There was water at the finish line, banana i 03 ml of non-alcoholic beer. Nie żebym narzekała, but I was a little pissed off by the lack “food”. Traditionally I took 4 gels and I was counting on planned bananas on the route. Seeing, that there is no point in counting on the organizers, I ate all the gels and helped myself with isotonic drinks (Fortunately, this one was) not only with water. I don't use it often during the marathon, two three times I take a piece of banana, oranges or dates. Enough, to hare the head and strengthen the body. Now, after this Cypriot experience, I will take bears with me jelly beans or dextrose – count on yourself not on the organ.
Water points were there, where it was planned and I used the water despite the rain, two and three sips were enough not to dehydrate.
Maciej ran a half marathon – start and finish in port, the last leg of the route in Paphos coincided with the marathon. The start was delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy rain. It didn't do anything anyway 21 km ran in the rain. As the organizers themselves noticed from the first marathon in 1999 there was no such weather, running was always accompanied by the sun, this time he was “biblical rain”!
And a summary, generally I do not recommend the Paphos marathon. The beginning of the run only provides nice views, then you run around uninteresting neighborhoods. Maybe I have a fresh memory of Athens, it's a completely different class of running, atmosphere, people, event. The car traffic on the route irritated me the most here. The organizers should be applauded, especially people at the points and securing the route, that they persevered in the rain, they gave us water and showed us the route. We will test the marathon in Cyprus and honestly, I am looking forward to this next experience.
42K: 03:59:08 (2 K45)
21K: 01:48:20