Race Report: The Koberstaedt Marathon 2009

Egelsbach, home of the Koberstaedt Marathon, is nestled between Darmstadt and Frankfurt, Germany. The area is highly developed, being only about 10 minutes away from one of the busiest airports in Germany, not your typical setting for a forest marathon.

The Koberstaedt Marathon was scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, my wife and I arrived around an hour before the race. I went about my business picking up the race packet while my wife looked for a cup of coffee. A school friend who lived in the area was going to meet her at 8:15 and give her a short tour of Darmstadt while I was running.

It was a sunny, but cool 11°C/52°F, as I lined up at the Start a few minutes before the race began. Due to technical difficulties the organizers postponed the start time by 10 minutes, so I had time to reflect on my race plan. I run at least 7-8 marathons/ultras a year, whereas I run most of the marathons either as training runs, or just for fun. Once a year though I try to stretch out my legs and run a marathon for time - Sunday was the day. I felt rather ill prepared for a fast marathon; I hadn't done any speed training other than some intervals the week before. I did have 3000 kilometers (1900 miles) of running from the last 8 months behind me, I had the base to get the job done, but did I have the fortitude?

My plan was to set out at around a 5:15/km (8:27/mi.) pace and try to hold it for 32 km (20 miles), which would leave me plenty of time to make it to the finish line under my old 3:57:14 personal best time. I more or less accomplished this with my last marathon in July, the only reason it didn't work for me then was because the last 15 km (9 miles) were uphill (I finished in 4:00:25)!

As the announcer gave the one minute warning I lined up roughly in the middle of the pack of 200+ marathon runners. In 2 hours roughly 1050 half-marathon runners would join us on the course, but until then the forest trails would remain ours. We all wore chips, so when the starting pistol went off the most let the front clear a bit before running over the starting mat.

I quickly picked up speed to what felt like my race pace as I made my way over the streets of Egelsbach and towards the forest beyond. There were several dozen supporters along the way, not bad for so early on a Sunday morning. I passed the first kilometer marker about 10 seconds slower than my planned pace, so pressed on a little faster. We left the edge of town and headed out over some fields, crossing a bridge over the local highway (B3) just past the second kilometer. I checked my Garmin and was pleased to see that I was running 5:08/km, slightly faster than my planned pace.

Just past the bridge three men ran slowly by and I decided to try to hang with them for awhile. As we ran by the 3 km marker I noticed that we were running a 4:58/km (8:00/mi.) pace, and a warning light went off in my head, but the pace felt good, I decided to stay with them for awhile longer.

We cruised on for a couple kilometers more, the three that I was following were chatting away and staying around 5:00/km (8:00/mi.) or slightly under. I paused at the first aid station at the 5 km point and sampled the isotonic drink, phooey - it tasted like bitter cough medicine. I downed a water and caught up to the three that I had been following.

The three seemed to be speeding up as we continued; I started to worry about burning myself out too soon by hanging with them. My Garmin kept showing sub-5 minute kilometers, but I continued to shadow the three, deciding to take the risk - either I was going to blow up my personal best, or my quads trying!

The kilometers flew by, I passed the 10 km maker in 50:28, and grabbed a cup of water at the aid station there. I caught up to the three again and hung with them like a shadow. We continued through the woods, until finally one of the three dropped back for a chat. It turns out he belonged to the group sponsoring the run and was responsible for the online registration. I mentioned my name and my running club and he recognized it. We chatted away for a couple kilometers, until the next aid station. Here the group broke up, whereas the one I was talking to speeded on ahead and the other two eventually fell behind.

I continued on kilometer for kilometer, trying to maintain the pace. I passed the halfway point in around 1:46:00, an average pace of 5:01/km (8:05/mi.), well ahead of my expectations. By this time the aid stations were offering a second isotonic drink, one that I could at least get down without gagging. For the rest of the race I mixed this with water at each aid station where they offered the drink and could at least get some of it down.

I dared not think of anything but the next kilometer marker as I continued on at this pace. My legs were working hard, I felt it in my quads, and it was getting continuously harder to maintain the pace. I kept telling myself that today would never happen again, I needed to keep moving.

Around kilometer 24 (mile 15) the course circled back and we began the second loop. I knew that soon the half-marathon runners would be joining us. After another kilometer or so, two bicycles flew by announcing the approach of the lead half-marathon runners. As the runners surged by I tried to hang a couple steps with each of them, a fertile effort at first, but gradually the pace of the passing runners decreased and I was able to play this game.

The distance clicked by fast as I tried to hang with the passing half-marathon runners, it was difficult, but at least my pace didn't decrease. Eventually I passed by kilometer 32 (mile 20), my time was around 2:40:00, at this point I knew I had my new personal best - I only had to keep running.

I continued on, concentrating on maintaining my speed over the next kilometer, only the next kilometer...

By kilometer 35 (mile 22) I felt light-headed, I knew I needed some quick energy, I downed two cokes at the aid station there, and ate a piece of banana. After a few minutes my head cleared and I felt better, well almost, I felt like I was wearing lead-filled shoes, it took great effort to keep my feet moving.

The little voice in my head kept trying to tell me that I could slow down, I could run easy and still have my personal best. I resisted this temptation, rolling over and over in my mind that this moment, this race is only going to happen once, I need to give it all I had.

Despite my best efforts my pace decreased, but I fought to keep it from falling too fast. At the last aid station I again drank coke and sucked down a gel walking for the first time through the aid station, which was reflected in my pace for the kilometer (5:51/km, 9:25/mi.). With just over 5 km left, this perturbed me and I concentrated on stretching out my step again. I strained, my pace gradually grew faster.

Finally, with just over 3 km (2 miles) to go the trail looped around again and I turned back towards Egelsbach and the finish line. I knew I was going to reach the finish in under 3:45:00, but I wanted more. As I ran over the bridge traversing the local highway I was again on a 5:00/km (8:00/mi.) pace, I didn't have time to think about how impossible it was to do this at the time, I was on a mission!

I passed over the last fields and broke onto the streets of Egelsbach. My heart was pounding, my legs strained, my quads burned...but I heard the people in the sports stadium before me, I kept pushing. After an eternity I rounded a corner and could see the stadium ahead. I passed runners who had already finished, cheering fans, several runners and finally the gate into the stadium. I burst onto the track, only a few hundred meters now.

I attempted to sprint around the track, but I couldn't get my feed to move any faster...but then I saw the runner in front of me falter, my competitive genes shot out a last bit of adrenaline, I caught him at the finish line!

I was again light-headed, the sun was now beating down, the sudden stop left my body wondering what to do. I wobbled over to the drink stand and grabbed two cokes, I knew my blood pressure was low, I needed a boost. I walked around the stadium, then grabbed some banana pieces and water, then kept walking. After a couple minutes I felt fine and walked over to the tent and picked up my finisher shirt.

My legs began to stiffen as I walked to the car to get my shower bag, I paused to stretch a little, and quietly gave thanks to my maker for the happiness that I was feeling. Everything came together on this day, my training, the weather, my fueling and the race pace. I took a risk with the faster pace, but it paid off. I finished in 3:36:13, a personal best by over 21 minutes. And unlike the first marathon that I ran in 2005, I was fit enough to enjoy the rest of the day with my wife afterward!

The organizers in Egelsbach but on a great event, it was well-organized, the aid stations well stocked and course shady, well-marked and interesting. The facilities at the stadium were also adequate from my viewpoint, well organized, with adequate parking for all. The only complaint that I can come up with is the sport drink - they really need to find a new sponsor for this article.