Three Country Marathon - Germany, Austria, Switzerland

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Woke up early to an extremely cold, autumn morning in Austria. I wanted to get to the race early and check out Lindau Island when it wasn’t raining. The race organizers arranged for free travel via ferry across Lake Constance to Lindau. Showing up at the marina was exciting – standing there with hundreds of runners mentally preparing for the long race ahead. I was actually getting a bit nervous about 13 miles. I hadn’t run that far since Boston and have not been training at all. Good thing I don’t run for time anymore. The ferry was cool and it was a thrill to take a boat to the start of a race.

Standing at the start area and looking around, I found many more similarities in runners and racing over here than differences. They had a band playing 50s and 60s music in English – but would only speak to the crowd in German. While I was always able to find people to ask questions – nothing here is written or spoken in English. I would have loved to have tried some of my limited Italian, but I haven’t done anything to learn German. So, discovering where to put your bag for pick up at the end of the race, and finding the restroom and understanding the starting blocks was a bit of an adventure. I did find my German friends from the day before and wished them luck in the race, took pictures and went to the WC for the third time.

There were only 4000 runners and only 1000 of them doing the full marathon. I discovered this race through my amazing sister-in-law whose friend Ed had told her about it. When she shared it with me I knew I wanted to do it. The race starts in Lindau Island, Germany and you run along this huge lake (Lake Constance) into Austria and onto Switzerland and circle back to the finish in Bregenz, Austria. It looked beautiful and cool to hit three countries in one run and it was awesome! They had a marathon, a half marathon, a relay and Nordic walkers – obviously one of the few differences than what we have in the US.

It was freezing cold at the start – we took off at 11:11 - but the sun started to break through and it ended up being a gorgeous day. The scenery was beautiful as we rang along the lake, and the trees were full of color and the cool air felt great. I kept running off to the side to take pictures. The first 2-3 miles are always hard for me, but I got into a groove and felt fine. I still haven’t mastered the conversion of Imperial and Metric and could not remember how many kilometers we had to run – I knew it was about 22 km. I ran past my German friends but didn’t stop because I had to go to the bathroom. I stopped a few times, but I didn’t bring change and forgot the European WC’s require money – that made it interesting. But it all worked out. I actually stopped twice. Our numbers had our names on them, so people would call out my name and I would just smile as they would yell something like “HOP, HOP, HOP! Jennifer! HOP, HOP, HOP!” They would do this over and over. Not quite sure what the HOP HOP is all about – perhaps GO GO GO! but I loved it! It gave me a giggle every time I heard it. The last four miles were really hard and have no idea how I made it. It’s amazing how quickly you can loose strength when you stop training, but equally amazing how your body muscle has memory. Loved that feeling when you get into overdrive and just enjoy the ride. It also gave me a boost to see my German friends again. This time I stopped and took some photos. Coming into the finish was exciting. We wound around the outside of this stadium, entered and finished on the track. What a day! An awesome race! Grateful.

I was surprised when I came through the finish that there wasn’t a clock at the finish – in fact, there weren’t clocks along the course at all. I loved that – this didn’t occur to me until the end. I later saw a clock on the stage, but what a dramatic difference from races in the US. These people seemed to be here to run a race, but it wasn’t about the outcome or how well they performed. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seemed that way. I can say these were all pretty seasoned runners. In the US the 4 hour mark of a marathon is the biggest pack. Most of these marathoners came in around 3 to 3.5 hours. It was really impressive.

During the race the water stops were the same, but different. First, the water is sparkling water. It was fine, but quite different. They also offer Iso, which is their Gatorade, but they also offer tea. What? Tea? OK. That was interesting.

The finish area was awesome. They served up much healthier snacks at the end and no bread. I suppose they got their reload of carbs from the beer, which was the busiest tent at the finish area. The funniest part was the massage area. I decided – it’s free – I might as well get a little rub down for 10 minutes so I got in line. As I got to the front of the line looking at all the tables I realized that people would take off their running tights to get their massage. Yep – men and women – right there in front of everyone stripping down to their skivvies. Awkward, but I just jumped right in. When in ROME right? I suppose it’s no different than being in a bathing suit, but a little random. Now that was way different, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I have to say it was really fun to see this community of runners and loved it that it was so similar to what I had at home. My German friends were so nice and talking to them it seems they have what I had in Dallas and my brother and sister in law have in Tulsa. It was a nice feeling.

After the race I walked around the lake again and it got very cold. I went back to the hotel and crashed hard – after treating myself to a yummy cheeseburger!

Boston Baby!

So, this great adventure kicked off with a trip to Boston to run the Boston Marathon for a second time! I trained with great people and it is the first marathon I participated in with other people. After the great lessons learned from the two marathons last fall, my heart is to run for the love of running - which includes running with people you enjoy and care about. So this was about the journey - which I believe is a wonderful picture of what I believe the Lord is allowing me to learn and experience in this adventure. I trained with our Luke's ATP group through the cold, rain and early mornings. After our long runs we would go to Maggie and George's and get in the pool - so incredibly cold but it works!

Stacie and Denny came to take Susan, Kacie and I to the airport and send us off. Susan talked us into upgrading to first-class, which was real fun to kick off the adventure in first class! During our layover in St. Louis my friend Laura and her daughter Sarah came to the airport to greet me and wish me well. Laura did some smooth talking with the TSA so we could pull it off so the entire line knew I was going to run Boston and heading to Africa. Amazing. When we got to Boston, my friend Jodi took us wherever we needed to go. Of course I had to race to the Expo and buy my marathon goods! It's all about the badge of honor you know.

The marathon was truly special.

It wasn't until about mile 9 that it hit me. I had just quit my job and now I'm running in the Boston Marathon. It was so overwhelming and tears are flowing and the runners are so intense and I'm trying to keep up and I am speechless, excited and enjoying running with Mary Frances, Maggie, Andi and Nancy. This run was different that the last time and I still can't put it into words. I had forgotten how hard the course is - the hills, the crowds, the intensity. But I felt great. All was going well and I felt great. Then we got to the major hills at mile 16. After making it to the top I looked back and couldn't find Maggie. Mary Frances and Andi went on and I went back to check on her. Maggie's stomach was giving her trouble and she encouraged me to run on and catch the others. I wouldn't hear of it. Maggie's been my running coach for the past several years and she's helped me through some rough times. It was an absolute pleasure to stick with her. I told her she got me to Boston and I'm going to get her through Boston. :) So, we stuck together and made it through the hills. Maggie's speed walk was faster than my jog, so I'd run up the hills and come back for her. It was actually great because it helped me to just look around me and enjoy each moment of the run. I slapped every hand I could, savored the crowds and drank a beer a mile 23! Second time to run Boston and second time to enjoy a beer after Heartbreak Hill!

My friend Susan caught us at mile 24 with her bright orange OSU sweatshirt in honor of my parents who have been at every marathon I've run in with their bright orange OSU jackets. They couldn't come to Boston so Susan did that to help give me a boost! What a great friend. We stopped and took pictures and hugs and ran on to the finish.

Maggie and I finished together and it was such a sweet moment. It This race was such a picture of how I want to live life moving forward. It's about the journey - not the outcome - but what a sweet outcome. What a thrill to get to run the Boston Marathon a second time with people I enjoy and admire! In every race I've run before I've had some great moment or great nugget of truth is revealed to me through the experience. (Many friends have read my Running Manifesto - happy to send it to anyone who is interested!). This one was different. It was the opportuntiy to live out what I've already learned over these past years of running - literally as well as figuratively towards God. We all come upon choices to make and I'm grateful the choices made were immediate and meaningful and special and I've never looked back - except with absolute gratitude. I can say that about this race and I can say that about my life. I am incredibly blessed and fortunate!

I appreciate the fact that I have amazing friends there in person and even more friends and family tracking me online. What a ride! A great way to start this Great Adventure!