Brussels Marathon Recap : Chris' Edition

Kelly note: The following words and photos are Chris' completely. Enjoy!

The marathon - A Spectators Sport

The day started bright and early at 5:30am, as a spectator I wanted to just hit the snooze button and go back to bed, but I knew Kelly couldn't sleep a wink so I rolled out of bed and tried to be as excited as I could that early in the morning. As we left we went through the checklist of things we need for the day, seemed pretty simple to me... Kelly and running shoes.

Before the terror...you'll get to that in a second...

We made it to Brussels and proceeded to the metro station. Soon we started seeing other runners arrive at the metro stop. It is usually rare to see anyone awake that early in Belgium, so we took note. I saw one guy coming down the escalator already wearing his race number. Nonchalantly I asked Kelly "You got your number right?" You should have seen her face... what a great way to realize you are now 100% awake. The number was sitting on our kitchen table... in Leuven. I think some of the other runners on the metro were also awakened just by the look on her face. I am pretty sure Kelly was in shock, she didn't even have any ID to prove who she was.

Near the starting line was the registration tent and we found our way to the troubleshooting line. We were able to get Kelly a new number with no problem. At this point I think she finally stopped shaking and could now focus on the race. (Kelly note: Uh yeah. Worst way to get the nerves going on race day)

We stepped outside and all was clear again. We noticed some smooth jazz playing over the speakers and found a place to sit and just relax for a minute. People were just arriving to the starting line and it was beginning to get busy. Soon, loud dance music replaced the smooth jazz and runners started "warming up". The only guy warming up that I saw was a Kenyan guy, everyone else was just wearing weird things to stay physically warm like plastic suits and tin foil... runners are weird.

About 10 minutes before the race I walked Kelly over to the 3:30 pace balloons and made my way to the metro. I had planned to see Kelly at 5 different points along the route. As I got on the metro I felt a trembling in my stomach and checked my watch, 9:00 exactly, the race had just started. The first stop I made it to seemed very eerie, the streets were closed and no one was around except for a few police and some destroyed buildings... maybe it wasn't the best part of town. But soon I was greeted by the front-running Africans sprinting past and some wheelchair racers. Then the masses came, including Kelly just in front of the 3:30 pace balloon as she had planned. I got a quick smile from her and she was off.

I only had about 15 minutes to get to the next stop on my list. I ran through the metro, got to the next stop and sprinted up the stairs... nothing was around, where is the race? I then saw some large pace balloons down the street going under a tunnel. (Kelly note: We had up and down hill tunnels for a straight two miles of the race at this point...interesting set up) The balloons read '3:45' just missed her :(

 

The 3rd stop on my list was highly trafficked by spectators, so this time I knew I was in the right place. Made it there just in time to see the Kenyans (I'm assuming) run by. An old man walking down the street said something to me in French as they ran past. Since I couldn't understand he tried to repeat himself in English, "The black guys are going to run that fast for 42km!?" We were standing at the 15km mark so not too long of a wait afterwards Kelly came by... at the 3:15 pace balloon. She had a big smile on her face and looked strong. It only looked like she was going to keep getting faster.

 

As the race made an excursion outside of the city, I had to wait about an hour and a half to see her next. I once again made my way to the metro where I was greeted with masses of runners making their way to the half marathon start, where we all got uncomfortably close, squished into the metro car. The next time I saw Kelly, she was already joined by the half marathoners, making a big mess of things. At this point, I think I strained my eyes searching through the huge crowds running down the street until I found her. She looked tired. If you have seen Kelly tired before, then you must be very close with her... I think this was the first time I have seen her tired from running.

Brussels' metro stations creep us out

At this point I was worried so I get on my last metro ride of the day and rushed to the finish line in the Grote Markt. I got there 20 minutes early, but it was so packed with people I didn't even get to see her finish and she crossed the finish line before I made it all the way into the square. I don't like people inside my personal bubble...

Luckily, I was able to find Kelly exhausted on a side street trying to hold back tears. I say luckily because we never planned a meet up point... oops. As soon as I was about to give her a big hug, a radio reporter stepped between us and proceeded to interview Kelly, yea shes a rockstar. When I was finally able to give Kelly a hug, then the tears came, tears of pain, tears of happiness, tears of exhaustion. I was so proud. She reached her goal, qualified for Boston and survived, I was relieved.

We made a short stop at the red cross station for Kelly to sit down and get a quick massage and then we were on our way home, Kelly wearing her new tin foil blanket to keep people from spying on her brain... that's what those are for right? The trip home took twice as long since she could hardly walk after the race. We made it home, feasted and I was out cold for 4 hours... apparently Kelly only needed a short nap (Kelly note: Yeah, I watched two movies while he slept...).

What a day.

Brussels Marathon Recap : Kelly's Edition







 

Wonderful people in my life have called and texted and skyped since Sunday to ask "How was the marathon?" Basically I can sum it up in three words: It was difficult. Because Chris is going to recap the day from his perspective (with some tidbits from yours truly thrown in), I will just talk about the race itself.

This is the first sighting of me in the professional photos...see? Right side? 1 minute, 58 seconds in, all smiles. 

As soon as the starting gun went off I was having the best time. People were lined along the course for the initial 5k. There were several bands along the route too. A ten piece brass band, a barbershop quartet, several drum lines, you get the idea. In one particular instance two policemen were joining in rather raucously to the chorus of "When the Saints Go Marching In" which made me laugh, which in turn accounts for my expression in the next picture. If you look closely you'll notice I'm carrying my gels in my hands instead of in a super-cool (read: dorky but extremely practical) running belt. Such a newbie.

 

So the first 10 kilometers went pretty great. I was feeling good. I was also constantly checking myself, making sure my pace wasn't out of reach for the long haul (which it was but hey, newbie here), and then just kind of going with it. Later on Sunday Chris checked my pace for each 10k segment and it went like this:

1-10k           6:50/mile
10-21k         7:45/mile
21-30k         7:18/mile
30-42.195k  8:40/mile

So. Yes. As you can see, I hit a little bit of a wall in the fourth section of the race. From 30-32k it's a straight uphill climb. But it was really the third section that did me in. The uphill from 30k on was a downhill that we'd traversed earlier in the race and during it I could feel both of my quads seizing up just enough to make me a little nervous for the rest of the race. I prayed a lot to get through to the finish uninjured. After that I backed off my pace which was the beginning of my downfall, I never picked the pace up again!



The little bit of Dutch and French I've acquired since living here has mostly been absorbed while standing on train platforms in the different regions of Belgium. I never knew it would be so helpful during the race but as I listened to the water-station volunteers yell out things like "vier vrouw!" or "troisième femme!" letting me know when I was in fourth and then third and thennnnn fourth again, I realized how handy those train-waiting mintues were coming in! During the race I saw Chris quite a few times too and at about 9 miles in he let me know I was in fourth with the next woman ahead of me about a minute and all in English (phew). I began to believe that a top 5 finish was possible.



After the halfway point I had made a friend and every time he dropped a little I dropped a step to keep him with me and he did the same for me. However, when we pulled up next to the eventual 1st place woman finisher, I really started to feel my quads tightening and I took a good three steps off my pace, the beginning of my slow-down. My friend took a few steps back with me so I pushed a second to stay with him. After that happened about four more times I told him thanks but that he should go ahead and keep up with the group we'd made contact with, I needed to rest a little. Once that group pulled away and the next came up on me, I knew I had slowed down more than I meant to. When that process happened again and again and then again...well, needless to say I was more than ready for the finish line, my legs were done.  



The most amusing point in that last treacherous 5 miles was when the 3rd place woman made her way to me and then passed by. We spoke to each other for a bit, exchanging conversation on how it was my first one and that she'd run the Berlin marathon the weekend before...crazy. Runners are crazy.

Finally, with 3 miles left to go we joined up with the 10,000+ half marathoners who were also heading for the finish. I felt like I was standing still. They just flew past me. I actually thought at one point, "Am I walking...?" I definitely had the "marathon shuffle" going on.

Finish line in sight, I willed my last few steps around the corner and across it. I think I may have actually been whimpering the last half mile (or more) and broke down crying as soon as I crossed. The race volunteers guided us down the finish shoot, barriers preventing us from reaching the rest of the square, and as we walked to the exit I found I had no control over my legs any longer. Two steps to the left, three and a stumble to the right and then another new friend of mine asked in Dutch if I needed help. We linked arms and he helped me reach the exit where only God could have aligned it so that Chris and I reached it at the same time, not having set up a meet-place earlier...we were not the most prepared individuals this day.



Definitely whimpering and what the heck is going on with my fingers...?

From there on out I leaned on Chris. The Red Cross was on hand and saw us struggling so they asked if I'd like to at least sit down for a bit to which I thought, why not, can't hurt. Wrong. They gave me a deep-tissue "recovery" massage which was almost as painful as the last three miles. I'm sure it did actually help with the soreness, at least that's what I'm telling myself, but I may wait an hour or two next time before attempting any recovery methods.



Speaking of "next time" the Boston Marathon is still my goal for the next one. I did qualify with my 3:21:57 finish time but registration for 2014 was already closed about a month ago so 2015 it is. After learning this I was initially disappointed. For about a second. Now I am welcoming the coming year and a half with open arms and a huge smile. It's been three days and I still am rolling around like a turtle on it's back, trying to get out of bed in the morning. It isn't pretty.

finishing "kick"

So with all of this, what I really want to say is: Marathon, I underestimated you. You almost bested me. There were two very real moments where I almost walked and gave up completely. Next time I will show some respect in miles 1-20 and take it a little easier. Or I'll train a little harder, (hopefully not get injured  with 7 weeks to go like this time around), and go for it again, sobbing across the finish line once more but beating this performance. In any case, for now, I will take it easy and then start training to work with your younger, much more fun sibling, Half-Marathon.

Brussels Marathon Recap : Video Edition

I think Brussels did a fantastic job recapping this event in video. Although I love photography I'm growing more fond of video as time goes on. Especially when it is done well like this one. Enjoy! 

Opera in Prague

This is it, the final post from Prague. I'm sad to leave it behind but it's time to move on since all thus happened a month ago now...! I just had to get in a shot of the apartment. We'll call this a "before" picture and here is...

The after! We're opera-ready 

Now, I need to prepare you for what you're about to see next. So take a seat before you scroll...

What a beautiful venue! I was struck speechless as soon as we walked in the door. When I first laid eyes on that chandelier, my jaw literally dropped open. It actually made me think of the Eastman Theater and I cannot wait to go home and attend a Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concert as soon as possible. Maybe before Christmas?

The opera itself was sung in Czech but thanks to a tiny screen hanging just above the stage, we read English subtitles as the show went on. The show we watched can be translated into "The Bartered Bride" and is a three act comic opera. Beyond a doubt, everyone agreed that the best part of the show was the beginning of the second act. Picture this: the curtain rises, there are at least twenty men seated or standing across the stage and each is holding a beer. The first line: 'Beer is truly a gift from God!" I don't think Chris could have smiled any bigger.

Tomorrow we are heading into Marathon Recap mode and then rewinding afterwards to Anna and Ryan's time with us!