Almost dying on the marathon - but still running even splits.
Hard facts first: the 5K-splits for my marathon debut were: 16:56 / 17:12 / 17:07 / 16:59 / 17:28 /17:10 / 17:15 / 17:15 + 7:45(2,195K). I am quite happy that I did an even split (by definition an even split means that the 2nd half is not more than 1% slower than the 1st half). The weather was sunny and warm (especially at the end, with around 20°C). I couldn't get all my prepared bottles (in fact i got only half of them), had some stitches after 5 and 26 km, but on the other hand I had no stomach problems or other major disturbances.
What an amazing experience this marathon was! I made a lot of crazy competitions in my life (e.g. 24 hours team relay, mountain runs, crazy orienteering races, aqua jogging world championchips, etc.) but the marathon adds yet another kind of exhaustion and fatigue. After around 35K I thought I would not move forward anymore, even if the pace was almost steady. You just think you are standing and you are begging for the next kilometer-sign to come. It's a lot about will-power and muscular pain. After the race I couldn't even make a cool down run (I usually do that, no matter how long or demanding the race was), because after 2 steps my legs were cramping.

The first 10km were absolutely "easy going" and I thought like: "man, this is like a training run - why don't you run faster". I was lucky to run in a group with 4 other guys (last years' German Champion was one of them) because this protected me from going out too fast and making all the work alone. In the group I had the feeling that the pace was ok and I could save some energy. The group splitted after the first hill (km 21) and after the second hill (km 27) it was everyone on his own. So with 15km to go, the race really started. Between kilometer 30 and 37 the sun was burning on the asphalt and there was only one water station. From km35 onward I started feeling the muscles and I couldn't do anything but wait for the finish line. It felt like soooo long and whatever I tried to do, I couldn't increase the pace. Looking to the stopwatch with 100meters to go I saw the time ticking by 2:24:40, ...41, ...42 and I thought I could break the 2:25 but the home stretch was longer as expected.

After all I'm lucky with my debut. Maybe after the Halfmarathon Nationals some people expected a better result, but but ... The experiences I made will help me for preparing and running a faster marathon in autumn. Thanks for all the Congratulations!!
-picture from runnersworld Germany
-report from laufreport

start of the marathon

well, I tried to find another picture, but that's just the way you look like after 42,2 kilometers :)