Swiss city marathon Lucerne

Marathon story or not, sometimes I think while running what to write down in the blog but today I did not. During today’s run I spent the first updating my memories from 2013 when I ran this race the first and only time until now. I remembered 70% of the course either I have forgotten or the course have changed. Anyway it was a good course but they could definitely made it a single run course since the city of Luzern is beautiful and running friendly.

Marathon run

I signed up for this run in the very last minute. Had been looking for a half marathon bib the last weeks but the race has been sold out for long so couldn’t get one. Then a friend from my runclub offered a marathon place. I thought 30 minutes and said yes.

Early train for early start and at 07:30 one hour before the race started we got to Luzern. Then a ship ride across the lake and number pickup, gear storage and I was a little late to the start so was there just a minute before the gun shot. I wasn’t even thinking about starting my watch but after a few hundred meters I was going to check the pace and realized it was not on. And at the same time I saw a familiar face in the crowd screaming my name. I was just running. No time focus. Checked the watch from time to time when it was on and just went with the flow.

The last kilometer of the first round was in the old town so not the most pleasant running at cobble stones. But who could change that? Not me. I clocked in the first half on 1:49. Good enough and I felt strong but know from experience that can change very fast in a marathon.

Second half

The second half marathon runners got mixed up among half marathon ones. That I like and passing one after another is a real energy booster. The feeling was good also after 27 but 30 something it starts so no reason to relax yet. I started to feel a bit in my hamstring after 34 but put on some extra Tiger gel and it got better. I started to count down to 35. Then mentally focus on 5 more kilometers. It went stable at around 5:15 pace. Then suddenly we was at 40 and it became very crowded. The 3:40:00 flags had passed me before but they came again closer and closer and I thought I might have a change. I wasn’t giving 100% maybe 80% of what I had left to catch them but didn’t succeed. But I was a very happy finisher anyway. 3:40:38 more than 10 minutes better than my previous personal best. And the body wasn’t feeling to bad.

After run took place at McDonalds. Before I got the food I desperately needed some energy and felt like the whole building was shaking.

A good day on the running road came to end. Sun was out and I stayed and watched others and sat down looking at the beautiful mountains before taking the train back. Was a nice run for a desperate marathon runner but let’s see if I get back at one point. there are so many to choose from. But if you have not ran this race it is a strong candidate for a beautiful course in a great city.

/ Pernilla the marathon runner