On Saturday, October 15, 2016 it was said for the last time: competitive atmosphere! In a good mood, the weather rather poor, I set off for the idyllic Fleckenberg an hour before the start, that means over a Kopp and there 🙂 . I live practically next door and I already know the altitude here well.
The warm-up went well, my stomach held up and I was looking forward to the starting signal at 12 p.m.
Off we went!
As is well known, the marathon and half marathon first go uphill... for me that meant making up places for the first 8 kilometers or so, because I'm good on the climb. That's how everything felt and shortly before Latrop I caught up with the first woman. On a small climb before the aid station she was able to gain a lead again, my legs were probably just having a weak moment...
Puppy cake! About half a kilometer after the aid station the big hammer fell and I remembered what had happened in Neheim at the MTB marathon: Absolute starvation! Hypoglycaemia!
What to do?
My vision almost went black, I could hardly breathe or speak, my pulse shot over 200, to a maximum of 213 to be exact. I spoke to a spectator on the sidelines with a banana and a drink in his hand, as well as a marathon runner. Somehow, with their help, I managed to get to the next aid station. Cola ahoy and in with it!
I know my limits well now and at that moment I was close. However, I knew that actually only downhill and flat 5km to the finish... Thanks to a MTB rider who also accompanied the field, I also made my way to the next aid station, where the spectator I had spoken to was also standing and gave me extra insulation pressed into the hand!
It seemed like forever and my pulse didn't want to calm down, it settled at around 185 to 190, on the flat and at no more than 11 km/h. Phew, I wasn't used to that.
Finally the goal came! Luckily my parents were waiting there.
But it wasn't over yet
In the next fifteen minutes I downed what felt like 3 liters of cola and 2 liters of apple spritzer. Instead of regeneration starting, after a while my pulse went up again... and I went to the DRK car in my dad's arms. Unfortunately they couldn't do much with me and so I sat there for another 10 minutes like a heap of misery, I could hardly speak. At some point my dad said it would be better to do a little exercise to stimulate the circulation and process the sugar. After about 10 meters, WOW, the lights came on again: pulse went from 170 to 90, child can talk again, hop, jump, everything is back.
Of course I'm not happy with my 17th place in the entire female field, but given that, health comes first! I was still able to take first place in my age group ^^.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
I take Neheim and this marathon as an opportunity to deal with the phenomenon of starvation . I'm currently having a long-term and stress ECG checked by a doctor, and in terms of nutrition (I drive low carb) I still have a lot to learn for the long distances... Now it's off season, I'm happy 🙂 .
