The VCM – Heaven and hell
Having the Vienna City in the rear-view mirror, a very special energy is circulating my body . Although my legs are dead, sore and aching, it is an elevating feeling that is dominating my body, as if flying or as having arrived at a holy place inside. Although my body has been drained of all its energy, I do not experience the ordinary kind of fatigue. Of course, I could go to bed immediately, yet this stimulating, refreshing energy makes me want to savour it forever. 
It was an extraordinary day, starting with fellow 26.279 participants on a run through a grand city, in front of a big crowd, is, at least for me, not the every day kind of experience. If I say that I enjoyed the run, this may sound trite, but I fully did so until 9 ks before the finish. I didn’t have my best day, and, with temperatures soaring at 28 °C, it wasn’t the best marathon weather. Running 1k splits between 4.25 und 4.30 min at a heart rate of 155 to 165 on the first 21.1 ks, I struggled to repeat my performance at a half marathon a month ago. With 1:33.53 after 21.1 ks, I tried to speed up in the kilometres leading up to the critical 28 ks mark. 
As a matter of fact I managed to improve my position from 913 at 25 ks to 611 at 30 ks, overtaking 302 competitors within 22 minutes. Up to there my legs were fine but with a heart rate of 175 I was pushing my limits, too far as it unfortunately turned out . While I was able to keep my pace up and steady down to the Ernst Happel football stadium at 30.5 ks, the Hauptallee, leading down to beautiful Lustschlössl, a 4ks return, straight, tree lined alley, proved to turn what seemed like heavenly floating across the street into a helish kind of struggle to reach the finish line. 
I was caught unawares, it happened like a shot from a sniper. Suddenly, without warning, exactly at the 33 ks sign, my left thigh cramped. Of course it hurt terribly but with another 9 ks to run, my marathon finish, suddenly, seemed to be light years away. Slowing down to 4.50 for the kilometer, I thought I might have escaped the worst. But running back towards Schüttelstraße, the Prater Allee and the soaring heat appeared to be merciless. My pace slowed to a disappointing 5.15 and my legs failed to recover . With another 4 ks to run, on Schüttelstraße, the next cramp hit so hard that I thought that this would be the end. I still do not know what I did but somehow, after walking for a few meters, I managed to get back into a running pace. 
Running more with my will than my feet, I reached Ringstraße, ran past the opera and turned right into Heldenplatz, and in a state of total trance crossed the finish line at 3:16.59. I had done it – or rather my body had done it – thank you. It was a peculiar feeling. From my head to my hips I felt not really exhausted, more like the fantastic feeling I described above, but my legs felt terrible and I found it hard to walk to the exit. 
There Sylvia and her friend Michaela were already waiting for me with big smiles, which made me forget for a while those aching, sore, empty legs. Still this is what you get after covering 42 ks but that will go away soon. Although the last kilometers were more a struggle than a run, I am looking back to a memorable day, which was a highlight in many ways, 
and will not be forgotten so soon. Thanks to all of you who wished me well and took part in some way at this undertaking. A special thank you goes out to Erwin, a triathlon world cup finisher and one of my best friends, for his advice during training, for his inspiration and acting as a role model. Without him, I doubt whether I would have ever done this. And last not least, I would like to thank Sylvia, my love, for her great support and understanding during the long weeks of training, for accompanying me to Vienna and for that amazing cranio-sacral therapy on the eve of the marathon. Keep up this kind of work – you are a genius. I love you, baby. 
My statistics:
- 01:33:53: 1st 21.1 ks
- 01:42:05: 2nd 21.1 ks
- 03:15:59: total time
- position: 622
- age-group position : 126
- 12.9 km/h
- 4:39 min/km
- Average HR: 163
- Max HR: 178
- KCal: 3.731
- Ascent: 85 m
- Average temperature: 22 ° C
- Max. temperature: 28 ° C
5 KM splits KM 05: 00:22:25 min KM 10: 00:22:01 ” KM 15: 00:22:18 ” KM 20: 00:22:27 ” KM 25: 00:22:02 ” KM 30: 00:22:31 ” KM 35: 00:24:21 ” KM 40: 00:26:36 ” KM 42: 00:11:13 ”
7.578 people registered for the marathon distance. Links:
