Stockholm marathon race day

27 degrees and a steaming hot pot was what I got home to on Friday night. Stockholm have had amazing summer weather the last three weeks after an unusual long winter. The city was cooking. Tons of people all around and it already started on the airport train where there was absolutely no chance to sit down. Then queing to the bakery and almost all outdoor places was packed when I walked to the start of Stockholm marathon. You can really tell it is packed with tourists already due to the weak currency. Already at 8 am it was 23 degrees when I had my first breakfast at the balcony.

Pre marathon

My marathon goal was to enjoy. No time pressure. Just finish. I have sad never again to running Stockholm marathon but keeps on coming back. This was going to be my 5th one and better end the Stockholm marathon career at an equal number. I do honestly prefer looking at this race because I know how challenging the course is. I know each and every street in the inner city and that is sometimes good. Sometimes less good. The 42 195 meters of running might not be enjoyable all over but (or it never is) but I wanted to be a part of the 23 000 runners party this year so I got a bib in the end. This June morning I felt the need for going for a swim so after my breakfast I headed over to Lillebrors to get a freshly baked bun, walked down to Karlberg and then jumping into the water. Couldn’t had a better preparation when I walked to Stockholm stadion for the start.

Cooking atmosphere

It was hot. And packed with people. 23 000 runners this year and previous years I have been running it has been 10-12 000 so almost the double. But not the double of starting blocks. Not the double of water controls so it was extremely crowded all the way from the start into the finish line. I don’t know how many people that was out watching but must been a new record. All the way out to the furthest point at Djurgården it was crowded. There is is normally spectators but not like yesterday. The course has been changing a lot during the last couple of years and not to an easier one. This marathon is definitely not for making new records. A lot of friends was out cheering and that is worth a million. Along the course it was so packed with people that it got very narrow to run and I got many sharp elbows everywhere and saw some people tripping on each other due to the crowd. Running a marathon in 27 degrees, almost no possibility to hide in the shade because there was almost none and wind forget about it. It was hotter than Singapore marathon and Bangkok half marathon and even St Petersburg which was a steaming experience.

First half

I met a few friends and some old colleagues in the beginning but running a marathon together is not easy so we all did our own runs bumping into eachother from time to time. My start was 12:10 in the second block and when we took off from Stadion towards Odengatan and then Sveavägen it felt good. I felt ready for a long run. Took it easy, not watching my watch too much just to make sure not to go to fast in the beginning. It didn’t took long until we reached 8K then 10 was passed and at every 10K I change which arm I am wearing my watch at. Strange thing I know but feels good with some change. I had planned to walk through all water controls, drink enough so I had 1-2 cups of drinks each stop and took one over my head. It wasn’t far in between the water stops but my t-shirt was almost dry in between that explains the heat. After 13K at Valhallavägen the first chance to some shade came and it was well needed. I was hoping for more at Djurgården but wasn’t much. Half way through I stopped to add some new Ice power gel to my legs which I always do and TV4 stopped me for an interview when I was putting the cream on to my legs asking “Åsa” (which I was running for) how it felt. Was a really strange interview so let’s see if it comes live.

Second part

I know this one would be a tough one. After leaving the old town towards Söder it is up-up-up and a bit more up and over Västerbron. That is not what you feel for after 25+ kilometers I can tell. I don’t even feel for this part after 2K. My legs felt okey and my calf kept on remind me from time to time it was not 100% but mostly it was no issues. I walked all the steeper uphills and realized here that I am thankful that I know the course and what to expect and could plan accordingly. I walked half the way towards the top at Västerbron and at 30K I stopped again and had some new Ice power at my calf and to get a few minutes of air. Then I was running again for 5K where I had planned a walking break when we got out in the sun after Arlanda Express. At this point I felt I needed one thing and that was water. I was so thirsty and since I have suffered from dehydration a few times in my life and started to feel a bit dizzy and that I would throw up soon I was walking more or less the whole part to Skeppsbron in the gazing sun. Zero changes here to take protection in the shade. Absolutely zero.

The finish

Recovered well enough to start running after the castle and the last kilometers I saw at least five people that had collapsed. One guy they did AED on and another one falling apart just 150 meters from the finish line at Stockholm Stadion. The last kilometers was tough as always. Slightly upwards all the time. A lot of feelings when it was 1K left. As always. Being tired, happy and just appreciation to that the body manage to do this. Stadion was packed when running in there and it was as always an unforgettable moment to cross the finish line. I made it again!

Walked down to Östermalms IP to get the finisher tee and to relax with some friends and a German girl that I just met that ran her first marathon. The finisher tee and bag this year gets full points. I was absolutely not hungry but forced myself to eat a hot dog before walking home for a shower.

Celebration

Summer was still on and these hot and light summer evenings is one of the things I miss with Sweden. I was too lazy to walk to Hornsberg so took the subway for a relaxing evening at the beach sharing a bottle of cava with a friend before we took an Uber back and went to a late night visit to McDonald’s for a cheeseburger before walking the final meters to back home from Sveavägen. 66 056 steps later and I can say that I didn’t took the stairs up to my apartment.

/ Pernilla that finished yet another marathon