Vienna City Marathon - April 21st 2024

I actually wrote text for this blog on the evening after the marathon, but I have been so busy lately that I didn't get around to actually posting an update! I am still buzzing reading back over this, it was such a perfect race, a perfect city, and even more perfect that both my partner Tom and I managed to achieve a marathon personal best (PB).

New marathon PB: 3:43:57 

So here is my journal entry from the day itself:
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This morning, Tom and I woke up in our fabulous hotel, threw on our race kit (lovingly flat-layed the night before), and headed to the start line for the Vienna marathon. As we arrived at the train station nearest the hotel, we were primed to buy tickets at the ticket machine, when another passing runner informed us that public transport was free with your race number! Yes- a mini win to start the day.

The race HQ was slightly chaotic with not quite enough signage for my liking. However there were PLENTY of portaloos every few meters, and what more could a runner want on race day!
We stumbled into our correct start block by reading fellow runners race labels (no signage at all for the blocks). And we waited under our thermal blankets for the race to begin. It was a very cold morning, but the sun was shining and the conditions were seemingly ideal for what we wanted.

The first two kilometres were a bridge over the Danube river. I particularly enjoyed the down. Then suddenly the course was gorgeously flat, and running felt so effortless. We were surrounded lots of other well seasoned runners who were setting good pace to keep to. Yet somehow I never felt as though someone was going to step on my toes, or me step on other people. Despite it being quite busy, I always felt like I had space to stretch my legs.
Then we started to run through the historic and monumental city centre. It was all the iconic sights of Vienna in her full glory. Then we were back along the Donaukanal.
My favourite moment was the tree lined path of Park Prater where Kipchoge set his infamous 1:59 marathon with Nike. It was simply stunning, although after nearly 10km in the park I began to wonder when it would ever end. Then at 37km Tom finally caught up with me and overtook me. I chased him as hard as I could, but I never quite caught him. Then at 40km with only 2km to go, I realised that I could actually achieve my target goal dream time. I ran as hard as I could, and my last 700m were a fast, angry push with lots of swearing and shouting.
Vienna will stay in my heart forever, and I will 100% recommend it to all runners.

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