Race Report: The Bienwald Marathon 2009

"The Bienwald, or Bee Forest surrounding Kandel, Germany has long been on my mind. After suffering a DNF on the seemingly endless asphalt forest paths in 2006, I swore off ever running a 'city' marathon again. However, thoughts of 'unfinished business' continued to plague me throughout the year until I again found myself at the starting line in 2007."

This was how my race report began in 2007 when I returned to Kandel to "make things right", finishing the marathon with a then personal best of 4:29:36. In 2008 I again returned to Kandel and used the race as a training run in preparation for future ultra events. My legs again seemed to get beaten up by the 100% asphalt course, perhaps because I choose not to run long runs on any streets during the winter. This year in preparation for my first 100K race in June I have been running high mileage since the beginning of the year and arrived at the race ready to run a sub-4 hour marathon with Uli, a friend from my running club.

I met running club members Uli, Birgit, Bernd and Andreas in front of the sports hall about 15 minutes before the race. The weather was fairly warm, around 8°C (46°F), but with a cool wind and dark rain clouds threatening to dampen our day. We chatted a bit then made our way over to the Start. Bernd still had a cold so wasn't running, but brought his bike to meet us along the way. Andreas was going to run the half, but only at a training pace, the rest of us were fit for the full distance.

After a bit the starting pistol went off and we inched our way over the starting mat. Eventually we broke loose from the pack and Uli and I fell into our planned race pace (average 5:30/km, 8:51/mi.). Birgit had missed several weeks of training due to a bad cold, so dropped back with a somewhat slower pace. The course cut through part of Kandel then headed over a road, that was closed for the event, to the next town, Minfeld. The road was open and the wind battered from the left, but fortunately it wasn't raining.

We weaved our way through the streets of Minfeld and to the first aid station just past kilometer 5. We decided to start early with the sports drink and paused long enough to grab a cup. From Minfeld we headed out over a bike path between some open fields, eventually making our way into the Bienwald (Bee Forest). The next 2-3 km were quite tight as the path was small and the 1500+ half-marathon runners were still with us. On the positive side the woods effectively blocked the wind, a fact that was very noticeable as we exited the forest and made our way down a long stretch of road (~7-85 km, 5 mi.) towards the town of Schaidt.

The road towards Schaidt was closed for the race, is mostly straight and portions quite windy. About 10 minutes down this road the half-marathon turned around and headed back towards the finish line. The road in front of us grew noticeably empty, as there were only about 600 doing the full marathon. We stopped at the 10 km aid station at some point along here, again taking sports drink, mixing mine with water to dilute it a bit. After a couple kilometers we took a quick pee break and managed to pick up our pace again without losing too much time.

We stopped at the 15 km aid station and downed our first gels, I chose water to accompany it, Uli I believe drank sports drink. I again picked up the pace right away, at which some point Uli remarked that we should slow down a bit, we were actually going faster than the planned 5:30/km (8:51/mi.) pace. We slowed a bit, but as we approached Schaidt the band playing spurred us on. We ran along the edge of town, eventually reaching a turn around, whereas we backtracked around 3 km (2 mi.). We eventually turned right and began a roughly 10K out and back. As we turned the corner we ran over the half-marathon timing mat, I believe our net time was just over 1:57:00, well within range of a sub-4 marathon.

We zigzagged our way over asphalt forest ways, stopping at an aid station for another gel along the way. Uli remarked that her quads were starting to ache, not a good sign, I knew what was coming. We let up a bit on the pace and kept going. After a couple more kilometers Uli said she couldn't keep the pace up, that I should go on alone. I ignored her and tried to pick up the conversation with her. By the next aid station, I believe by roughly kilometer 28 (17-18 miles) I knew she was hurting and I knew it was the same problem that I always seem to experience at this marathon...aching quads that zap your will to run...and sure enough shortly after this Uli came to a dead stop and started walking. I patiently walked with her, again ignoring her when she said I should go on...I told her was staying with her and with that she started running again.

We made it back to our pace for a kilometer, then she stopped and walked again. Here I think she hit her lowest point of the race, where frustration sets in and hope tries to run away. I patiently tried to reassure her and we picked up the pace again I believe making it back to the main road again before the next walk break.

As we headed back towards the finish line the walk breaks remained relatively short, maybe 15-20 seconds, I would have probably walked longer. I think Uli's competitive spirit (she did her first Ironman last year) kept her moving along here and I tried to keep our running pace going as best I could, running a step or so ahead of her, effectively pulling her along.

The miles slowly passed by, I knew it was still possible to break 4 hours, but only if we could pick up and maintain our planned pace. But Uli was struggling, her legs ached and she was discouraged. My legs began to ache also, probably from the walk breaks, but I was still going okay. With somewhere around 6-7 km (4 miles) left we eventually turned off the main road and headed back through the forested section towards Minfeld.

After a kilometer or two Uli's friend Bernd arrived on his bicycle and rode with us. It was somehow heartbreaking to hear Uli explain the problems she was having, she had trained so hard and was really counting on a good race. Our paced slowed a bit through here, but eventually I eased the pace forward a bit, back under 6:00/km (9:40/mi.). I knew we weren't going to make it under 4 hours, but I was determined that Uli at least didn't go too far past it either.

Our pace stayed fairly steady over the last 3+ kilometers (2 miles) and Uli kept running. I could tell she was fighting to keep moving, I've been there before, I knew the feeling. I did my best to pull us forward, but at best we maintained our pace.

Finally the stadium came into view and we ran to the other side to the entrance. We entered the stadium and ran the ¾ lap, crossing the finish line together, in 4:03:51. By this time Bernd was there with Uli's jacket. I stood for a moment with them, then decided that I was fit enough to run back and see how our other gal Birgit was getting along. I estimated she was about 15-20 minutes behind us so set out at a slow trot.

After about a mile I finally saw Birgit up ahead. I joined her and ran with her to the finish line. She was tired but still moving well, she finished in 4:23:37, a good time considering she had missed almost 3 weeks of training due to a bad cold!

I fetched something to drink and stood and chatted with my friends for a bit. Eventually the cold wind forced us our way. Uli and Bernd headed home, Birgit's husband Andreas had her bag, so she headed off to the showers. I jogged to my car and collected my bag, then showered. Afterward I headed over to the sport hall, but it was full of people and I didn't see Brigit and Andreas. I decided they probably left (they did) because it was too crowded and I drove home.

After the race we agreed to meet later for dinner, but when I got home my wife's cold was worse so she didn't want to go away. I decided it was better to stay home with her, so called Bernd as said I wasn't coming, oh well sometimes it has to be that way.

I am completely satisfied with the race, improving my course record by 26 minutes! I am also confident that if we could have maintained our pace we would have been well under the four hour mark. I am glad I stayed with Uli, I had my first DNF on this marathon course in 2006 and struggled through last year's race with the same problem that Uli had. I know what she was going through and did my best to help her get through it. Generally running a race is a "me" thing, but sometimes you have to try to give something back.