Today is the day! The culmination of months of careful planning, a disciplined diet and most importantly, a rigorous program of running (I’m only exaggerating slightly ;-). Yes, that’s right, the day of my first semi-marathon. Why do it? Of course the main reason was that I actually wanted to. But there was also the everyday nagging at the lunch table at work, where my fellow Finns kept reminding me of my “near-participation” last year.
So anyway, the day was upon me. All the preparation had been done (including eating like a pig for a week in Spain). I had a rendez-vous at Sami’s place half an hour before the race, where we carefully went through our game plan – the objective being to finish the race in less than 2 hours.
All the doubt, nervousness and questions disappeared the moment the race got underway – the adrenaline giving me that little extra boost. I thought things were going pretty well as we run up Boulevard Gambetta, past the train station, back to the promenade des Anglais (which is where the race started) – until I saw the Kenyan’s storming down the other side of the road (which basically meant they had already done 10 kilometres compared to our measly 5!). Unfortunately, I lost Sami at the first watering point – but no matter. I actually started feeling pretty good as I hit the 10 kilometre mark (again at the promanade des Anglais) – until I was demoralised by the Kenyans on the other side of the road (again!) this time crossing the finishing line!
The last stretch of the race proved a harder one, as we rushed down the promenade towards the airport. I actually caught sight of Sami again at the 14km mark – and upped my pace to catch up with him. Once I did however, I realised I had overextended myself, and off he sped again into the distance. But I hung in there, even through the last 4 kilometres which were pure pain, and after what seemed like an eternity, crossed the finishing line… I looked at the timer on my GPS – my time was 1:59! So I made it, yippiayeee!
After clapping each other on our backs (Finnish men don’t do silly things like hug, or god forbid, kiss, each others), we headed off to rehydrate ourselves with Mathilde – in the closest bar we could find, of course! If ever there was an occasion where a beer was well deserved, this was it… Afterwards, we headed off to Sami’s flat to check the official results. Imagine my shock, when I found out that my final time was 2:01! (objective not achieved). Well, I reckon I did it under 2 hours – I set off the timer when I crossed the starting line and stopped it when I crossed the finishing line (the official time starts when the race starts, not when you cross the start line – how unfair is that!). Anyway, I consoled myself with an XL size Entrecote at the local Hippopotamus resto…
So anyway, the day was upon me. All the preparation had been done (including eating like a pig for a week in Spain). I had a rendez-vous at Sami’s place half an hour before the race, where we carefully went through our game plan – the objective being to finish the race in less than 2 hours.
All the doubt, nervousness and questions disappeared the moment the race got underway – the adrenaline giving me that little extra boost. I thought things were going pretty well as we run up Boulevard Gambetta, past the train station, back to the promenade des Anglais (which is where the race started) – until I saw the Kenyan’s storming down the other side of the road (which basically meant they had already done 10 kilometres compared to our measly 5!). Unfortunately, I lost Sami at the first watering point – but no matter. I actually started feeling pretty good as I hit the 10 kilometre mark (again at the promanade des Anglais) – until I was demoralised by the Kenyans on the other side of the road (again!) this time crossing the finishing line!The last stretch of the race proved a harder one, as we rushed down the promenade towards the airport. I actually caught sight of Sami again at the 14km mark – and upped my pace to catch up with him. Once I did however, I realised I had overextended myself, and off he sped again into the distance. But I hung in there, even through the last 4 kilometres which were pure pain, and after what seemed like an eternity, crossed the finishing line… I looked at the timer on my GPS – my time was 1:59! So I made it, yippiayeee!
After clapping each other on our backs (Finnish men don’t do silly things like hug, or god forbid, kiss, each others), we headed off to rehydrate ourselves with Mathilde – in the closest bar we could find, of course! If ever there was an occasion where a beer was well deserved, this was it… Afterwards, we headed off to Sami’s flat to check the official results. Imagine my shock, when I found out that my final time was 2:01! (objective not achieved). Well, I reckon I did it under 2 hours – I set off the timer when I crossed the starting line and stopped it when I crossed the finishing line (the official time starts when the race starts, not when you cross the start line – how unfair is that!). Anyway, I consoled myself with an XL size Entrecote at the local Hippopotamus resto… 
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