You go into a race, especially a marathon knowing it will be hard, the Jungfrau Marathon is a marathon+, hence hard+.
The race started at 9 am, since our hotel was right in front of the start I could do my last minute bathroom stop in the luxury of the hotel and not a porta potty. Lots happening at the starting line, Alp Horns playing to flag waving Swiss, the usual photo opts and the woman on the loud speaker assuring us it would not be raining now until later in the afternoon.
Gun goes off and it took me 4 minutes to go over the start line with about 4500 runners. 4 km through the town before we headed off into the nature. There was lots of music along the way, especially cow bells.
My pace was right on for the first 16 miles, It took me exactly what I thought it would 3 hours, with about 800 feet elevation. It was already hot with some humidity and no chance of shade except for about a mile. I stayed on my plan of eating every 7 km and drinking every 3-4 km from my bottle supplementing at every aid station.
After this the race gets more interesting as the steep climbs start. My goal was to get to the top of this 5 km portion in one hour. I was slightly over my goal and did it in 1:09. The climb was very hard, I knew it would be so paced myself up, it was still hot, but at least there were portions of shade. Had a few cramps in my left shin and foot, which went away, but then moved to the right side, same muscles. But they all went away and I carried on.
The biggest surprise came when I got to Wengen at the "top" at 30 km, about 19 miles and they literally closed a gate in front of me and said I didn't make the cut-off. EEks I freaked and tried to push through, but no go, they took my chip. I couldn't believe it because I remembered something different, I thought I still had 20 minutes. What's a woman to do, I kept going. Luckily I had my full water bottle and enough gels, I had been supplementing with bananas along the way.
Get to 33 km (20.5 mi) and my shins and feet, now along with my calves are all cramping on both sides. I am getting pretty down and was still frustrated from missing the cut-off, so I sat down, (I am unofficial at the point anyway, right), as I am massaging my lower legs I call Ursula. She is waiting for me 1/4 km away so I get up and walk to her (uphill of course). She helps massage and I decide to continue, much to my happy surprise she said she would walk the rest of the way up with me!!! What a pal. I had to stop a few times to massage my cramps away and take a break from being a bit dizzy. Most likely from being tired, the heat and the altitude. At about 36 km we meet up with another woman making her unofficial way to the finish line too. So we hook up together to do the last 6 km.
We are the last, they are closing up the course as we pass by. There were many aide stations, like every 2 km and luckily there was still water and bananas on the table, so we just helped ourself. Claudia is from Holland and she had done the race 10 years earlier, she was unofficial then too, but that did not phase her. The uphill is grueling at this point, of course we are at 7000+ feet. We can see the last official finishers about 1 km up the hill, that means about 15 minutes, not that it mattered because we were chip-less.
The last 2 km are down hill so I ran, OMG it felt great to change muscle groups. Claudia was faster on the uphill, but I was a faster runner, so I passed her at the end to become number 1 unofficial finisher from 2. They were taking down the Finish line banner just as we were going through, so they held it up so we could get a finish photo. Done, did it, felt great To have pushed on and finish.
There was no medal to be found, but the t-shirts were still there, so I pleaded nicely and was given one. I did finish and felt like I totally earned it. Took a shower, then had 3.5 hour train rides back home. Time was 7:06 and felt like I was always doing the best I could. 26.2 miles, 5000 feet elevation gain.
Many people were pulled off the course and many others left because of cramps or stomach problems. I feel fortunate that I have such a wonderful support group (all of you) that helped take me up the hill and finish! A great big thanks to Ursula for her patience going slow the last 9 km with me.
See you all in a few days. Cheryl
Banana Break
Me and Claudia
Looking back from where we came
Almost done, sort of!
Up and up, you can see the last official runners on the right
Done
