One week later than in years past the 5th Bonn-Marathon took place on the 2nd weekend in April, in typically cold and damp April weather. The preparation actually went well. We stuck to the training schedule pretty consequently and so expectations were high, that we would be able to run the 26.218m/42,195km in under 3h for the first time.
Luckily the 3h-Rabbit was spied immediately in the staring block that advised to "run at a constant speed".

Well the kilometer average stayed between 4:04 and 4:30 min., which I think isn't all that constant, but whatever, the motto was still "keep up"!!! And luckily that worked better than we thought it would. For a while we had our own private bottle carrier, whi would hand me my Iso-drink when needed (that was really awesome !!!) and so catering was taken care of. On mile 15/km 24 the captain himself joined us and so the moral support was ensured and from then on we ran on constantly for as long as our legs could take it. It started hurting pretty badly at mile number 21/km 34, the tempo was making itself noticeable, our thighs were starting to "burn". Whatever, we don't give up!!! Mario, a triathlete at the SSF Bonn and "colleague" from the "Biestmilch"-Team (that's "beast milk") saved us on mile 22/km 36 when he brought us coke (the drink of course)!!!

It really gave me a push and the thought that I could actually make it in under 3h became more and more probable!!! It actually worked. I could hardly believe it, 2:59:31 h!!!, and 5th woman overall!

T the finish line I was immediately stopped by one of the organizers, who told me that the award ceremony would already take place at 1pm. I couldn't really believe that he actually meant me and didn't take him seriously, my brain was still pretty blocked anyway, from the race and everything. It was a coincidence that we ended up at the ceremony on our way back from getting food. Lucky for us, the organizer had apparently been looking for me hecticly and was happy to find me and sent me directly into a tent behind the winners grandstand with the other 4 women. All of them were pros (only one german, Romy Spitzmüller) !!! The award ceremony for the men was still going on and then it was our turn. The pro-men got off the stage and came into the tent. The way they limped down the three steps looked really painful! And I will never forget the wide grin/smile that the winner gave me when I congratulated him. A short, thin Kenyan with brilliantly white teeth that were extremely crooked. When I was congratulated by the mayor of Bonn, you can really tell that I couldn't believe what was happening ;).

It was my fastest race yet! And don't forget, after the race is before the race! ;)
Ciao, Sveny & Captain Jörn

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