SunnyInNorway

2023 Amsterdam marathon experience is still vivid in my memory ， The 2024 Amsterdam Marathon has been successfully completed.

Though not perfect, it was still a joyous occasion.

Armed with the experience of my first race and a systematic 12-week training plan, and having participated in the Oslo Half Marathon a month earlier as a mid-training assessment, I was fully confident and determined to achieve the extra goals I hadn’t met last year in Amsterdam: breaking 3 hours and 20 minutes and challenging 3 hours and 15 minutes.

This year, my aim was to break 3 hours and 15 minutes and challenge 3 hours and 10 minutes. Unexpectedly, I only managed to stay in my comfort zone without reaching my challenge zone, leaving room for reflection and effort in the days to come.

Regardless, my personal best was improved by 5 minutes and my average pace increased by 7 seconds in this race. As a runner would know, this represents significant progress and proves that effort never betrays!

Another line is added to my marathon record:

• 2018 Athens: 4 hours 05 minutes 37 seconds
• 2023 Oslo: 3 hours 31 minutes 13 seconds
• 2022 Berlin: 3 hours 22 minutes 27 seconds
• 2023 Amsterdam: 3 hours 17 minutes 56 seconds
• 2024 Amsterdam: 3 hours 12 minutes 40 seconds

With a challenge target of 3 hours and 10 minutes, I positioned myself behind the 3:10 pacer before the race, planning to start by keeping up with the pacer and, if I felt good later, to overtake.

Shortly after 9:00 AM, the first wave started, and we followed. The starting path was narrow, and by the time I got going, the pacer had pulled ahead significantly. I didn’t rush to catch up, maintaining my own pace and keeping a steady distance.

Running with others matching my pace felt wonderful. We maintained a consistent speed, and without realizing it, I caught up with the pacer around the 9-kilometer mark, right after my first energy gel, which was part of my plan to take one every 9 kilometers—I had four in total. After taking the gel, there was a hydration station where the pacer reminded everyone to hydrate while making way for us to continue forward.

After drinking a cup of water, some runners began overtaking the pacer, and I followed suit without hesitation; I felt the remaining route, mostly flat along the canal banks, would be easier.

However, around the 15-kilometer mark, the headwind felt stronger, and I regretted not staying with the pacer who could blocked the wind for me. By this point, the runners were spread out, and it wasn’t easy to find someone to draft behind.

I felt quite relaxed running the first half, reaching the halfway timing point in about 1 hour 34 minutes, full of ambition for the second half.

The flat sections were manageable, but any incline made my body feel tired, and my pace slowed, though this was anticipated and didn’t affect my resolve. A voice inside kept urging me: “Break through 33 kilometers.”

Reaching 30 kilometers with a stable pace felt great. I was proud as I passed 31, then 32, and 33 kilometers with a manageable pace. My condition was good! I cheered myself on, but around 33 kilometers, there was some climbing. After passing 33 kilometers, the continuous uphill began, and I started feeling tired—not breathless, but my pace was slowed, which is normal for uphill (later data showed my heart rate was steadily increased).

After the climbing, there was a slight descent, and I kept thinking of making up for the slower pace, which might have caused the side stitches near 36 kilometers. At 35 kilometers, I couldn’t wait to take my last energy gel and hydrate; I really wanted to stop for a moment.

But a fellow runner next to me said, “Don’t stop, don’t stop!” I knew he was encouraging me; stopping at this final stage would be a blow to my will. I didn’t stop, so I kept up the pace for a while, even though I experienced side stitches again during a slight uphill, and I just ran slowly without stopping, starting to feel slow. At this point, I saw the 3:10 pacer pass by. The pain eased slightly, and I was worried about more side stitches. I didn’t chase after the pacer but maintained a comfortable pace.

Around 5 kilometers from the finish, to my surprise, another two 3:10 pacers appeared. I thought, “What’s this? It seems there’s still hope to break 3:10.” I checked my watch, calculated a bit, and indeed, it was possible!

I continued running with the pacer, but less than 1 kilometer later, I felt I couldn’t keep up with the 4:30 pace. I decided to maintain my own comfortable pace, realizing that the 3:10 target was out of reach.

With that thought, I became more at ease. I pushed forward, not stopping. After passing 40 kilometers, I experienced another side stitch, ran slowly for a while, then picked up the pace again.

The last kilometer, the last 800 meters, the last 400 meters—entering the stadium, the crowd was roaring, cheers everywhere! I kept smiling and pushed through to the finish line!

I stopped my watch at 3 hours 12 minutes 43 seconds. The official time was 3:12:40.

Life is never perfect; we just keep striving forward!

This wonderful marathon experience brought me more than just these moments! But having this is enough to enrich my life.

As Kipchoge says: “No Human is Limited!”

Let’s keep challenging ourselves, breaking through, and perfecting ourselves!

For life, what matters is not the success and the triumph but the struggle and the breakthrough. We’ve crossed mountains, endured valleys, and we continue forward, running towards the unknown future!

Perry

2024.10.27