RIGA (LATVIA, 19.05.19)
5 weeks after Bratislava I made it to Latvia for no.22 with a whole bunch of injuries, a cold and not having run for 2 weeks. On that run I'd broken down after a mile with some really nasty calf troubles. I got Martin round to sort them out but felt like I needed a total rest, not even a little test jog -if I'd have tried and it gone badly then that would have been a real confidence hit. Cat and Lucy were back to join me and we flew out from Gatwick landing in Riga at around the afternoon before the race.
I hadn't managed to make contact with anyone with M.E from Latvia which was a shame. Riga Marathon had offered to run a piece on my challenge but were then ghosting me after I sent it through, sadly getting used to that. I was really boosted by the response to my challenge trailer which (at the time of typing) had 8000 views and helped to bring in nearly £700. It was very warm in Riga on the day before the race and I tried to keep walking down to a minimum as we lightly explored the city's amazing Art Nouveau and medieval architecture, just about tackling the cobbles with the pram.
Start
After my bowl of Nesquik and banana we left for the start line by the Daugava River on 11.novembra krastmala, a wide avenue where they hold big city events like Independence Day and Midsummer Night Festival. I dropped back through the pens to 5hrs with the intention of running carefully up to 10 miles at maybe 9.30 - 10 min average miles and see what happened after that; this was all about finishing and with the help of painkillers I expected to be out there for a fair few hours. The race started to the evocative 'Melancholic Waltz' by Latvian composer Emīls Dārziņš, actually a very serene way to start a marathon which reminded me of fellow Gold IAAF rated marathons at both Vienna and Prague which also began to classical music (well done on your homework there Riga!). It was pretty bunched up for the first 10 km or so in particularly as the course looped around for the elevated approach to the cable-stayed Vanšu Bridge and a lap of the green parks of Ķīpsala island.
I passed a guy in a Star Wars Stormtrooper costume, he couldn't quite manage the run in his helmet (very sensible given the heat) but he was the first of a few that I saw in costumes (dinosaurs, Batman characters and more) which was actually quite unusual on the continent. I ran under a shower and grabbed plenty of water in the early stages, dropping down some ibuprofen and giving the calves a quick rub. I saw Cat and Lucy at 9km and signalled to them that I was OK and I tried to keep an even pace until each water station where I'd walk through grabbing as much of anything that I could. A row of Latvia soldiers and flags representing the nationalities of all the runners were on the left, I ran over gave them a salute and touched the Union Jack. Up to around 12km and we ran past the iconic Freedom Monument and a bunch of traditional Latvian costumed folk were dancing on tables and giving out high-fives. It was actually really cool and one of many well considered nice little touches to the race. Latvia, like many countries I've visited, are really happy to be in the EU and it showed throughout the race which was nice to see.
Middle
Up and over another of Riga's 5 river crossings, this time Akmens Tilts ('Stone Bridge', weird as it's made of Steel) and along the river to the affluent Tornakalns area. Not much in the way of good music, the usual gawdy euro-pop/r&b with an 'encouraging' MC babbling all over it; good job I've got my 80's power ballads again today. Another bridge over another island, plenty to look at and although the water stations feel pretty spaced out I was enjoying this early part and feeling like I could finish without too much drama. As we got to halfway I noticed it getting very hot out there and my face was it's usual salty self. I chucked some magnesium and salt tablets down and an energy gel but not much was registering at this point and the calves were starting to burn and swell. At this point I saw possibly the weirdest thing ever on a race course; a runner with a pineapple balanced on his head! He wasn't going slowly either but he did have a pretty flat head to be fair.
Crossing Salu Tilts over Hare Island there were some pretty awesome views of the soviet style Radio and TV Tower and the course began to head back towards the old town again passing the half marathon finish. I got some nice claps for heading left for another lap but I knew I was struggling at this point and I'd be doing some walking shortly. The route opened out into rather humdrum dual carriageway with car dealerships and tower blocks for another out-and-back as we clapped the elite runners who were powering back in the opposite direction. The course record would go today which was a surprise given how many runners I saw getting oxygen and medical treatment at regular intervals. Past the Olympic Sports Centre the course headed through some surburban homes, some of which were pretty derelict with some open spaces of land between them. I was getting attacked by whispy white cotton bits from the trees and dropped to a walk to conserve energy past another enthusiastic MC on a truck.
End
Up to 20 miles and I saw Cat and Lucy for the final time before the finish near to yet another crossing of Vanšu Bridge and the few marathon runners that were left were joined by a whole bunch of speedy runners from the 10km race. I'd switched to emergency marathon playlist now and was messaging Ben to see how he was getting on with his marathon in Northern Ireland. Another lap of Kipsalas Island and they'd run out of water! Not good. Bad enough that they're giving out half-filled warm water in plastic cups but not having anything other than oranges is pretty criminal on such a hot day. I tried not to hold a grudge though, I was down to a 5 min run, 2 min walk strategy to get the last few miles done and the race organisation has been impeccable up to this point. Back over the bridge for the final time I could hear the music from the finish line and after a quick banana I got a second wind but it's very temporary.
There were some mimes on stilts getting in everyone's way along Brīvības Iela and I found myself in a strange sub-race with an old guy with a big belly. Even with two legs not working I would pass him but then when we both walked a bit he was much faster, it became clear that if I'm going to walk in races I need to get a faster walk! Just a couple of miles to go and I was hobbling through the open squares past the once again epic Freedom Monument with swarms of big groups of lads drinking yard glasses of lager. Turning right eventually and running through crowds of tourists we passed the iconic House Of The Blackheads and then around to the left I could see the massive open road with the finish line. I didn't have much left in the tank, I couldn't see Cat and Lucy in the crowd and rather flopped over the line too tired to punch the air or celebrate, just pure relief to be done. I ambled off left to pick up water and a goodie bag keen to collapse on the grass shortly to be lying in a park under a tree with a can of lager, and Lucy grinning at me as I tried to regain all of my senses.
Pics
Click here for gallery
Weather
A hot race, starting at 18C with a slight breeze over the bridges but rising to 27C by lunchtime.
Ratings:
I hadn't managed to make contact with anyone with M.E from Latvia which was a shame. Riga Marathon had offered to run a piece on my challenge but were then ghosting me after I sent it through, sadly getting used to that. I was really boosted by the response to my challenge trailer which (at the time of typing) had 8000 views and helped to bring in nearly £700. It was very warm in Riga on the day before the race and I tried to keep walking down to a minimum as we lightly explored the city's amazing Art Nouveau and medieval architecture, just about tackling the cobbles with the pram.
Start
After my bowl of Nesquik and banana we left for the start line by the Daugava River on 11.novembra krastmala, a wide avenue where they hold big city events like Independence Day and Midsummer Night Festival. I dropped back through the pens to 5hrs with the intention of running carefully up to 10 miles at maybe 9.30 - 10 min average miles and see what happened after that; this was all about finishing and with the help of painkillers I expected to be out there for a fair few hours. The race started to the evocative 'Melancholic Waltz' by Latvian composer Emīls Dārziņš, actually a very serene way to start a marathon which reminded me of fellow Gold IAAF rated marathons at both Vienna and Prague which also began to classical music (well done on your homework there Riga!). It was pretty bunched up for the first 10 km or so in particularly as the course looped around for the elevated approach to the cable-stayed Vanšu Bridge and a lap of the green parks of Ķīpsala island.
I passed a guy in a Star Wars Stormtrooper costume, he couldn't quite manage the run in his helmet (very sensible given the heat) but he was the first of a few that I saw in costumes (dinosaurs, Batman characters and more) which was actually quite unusual on the continent. I ran under a shower and grabbed plenty of water in the early stages, dropping down some ibuprofen and giving the calves a quick rub. I saw Cat and Lucy at 9km and signalled to them that I was OK and I tried to keep an even pace until each water station where I'd walk through grabbing as much of anything that I could. A row of Latvia soldiers and flags representing the nationalities of all the runners were on the left, I ran over gave them a salute and touched the Union Jack. Up to around 12km and we ran past the iconic Freedom Monument and a bunch of traditional Latvian costumed folk were dancing on tables and giving out high-fives. It was actually really cool and one of many well considered nice little touches to the race. Latvia, like many countries I've visited, are really happy to be in the EU and it showed throughout the race which was nice to see.
Middle
Up and over another of Riga's 5 river crossings, this time Akmens Tilts ('Stone Bridge', weird as it's made of Steel) and along the river to the affluent Tornakalns area. Not much in the way of good music, the usual gawdy euro-pop/r&b with an 'encouraging' MC babbling all over it; good job I've got my 80's power ballads again today. Another bridge over another island, plenty to look at and although the water stations feel pretty spaced out I was enjoying this early part and feeling like I could finish without too much drama. As we got to halfway I noticed it getting very hot out there and my face was it's usual salty self. I chucked some magnesium and salt tablets down and an energy gel but not much was registering at this point and the calves were starting to burn and swell. At this point I saw possibly the weirdest thing ever on a race course; a runner with a pineapple balanced on his head! He wasn't going slowly either but he did have a pretty flat head to be fair.
Crossing Salu Tilts over Hare Island there were some pretty awesome views of the soviet style Radio and TV Tower and the course began to head back towards the old town again passing the half marathon finish. I got some nice claps for heading left for another lap but I knew I was struggling at this point and I'd be doing some walking shortly. The route opened out into rather humdrum dual carriageway with car dealerships and tower blocks for another out-and-back as we clapped the elite runners who were powering back in the opposite direction. The course record would go today which was a surprise given how many runners I saw getting oxygen and medical treatment at regular intervals. Past the Olympic Sports Centre the course headed through some surburban homes, some of which were pretty derelict with some open spaces of land between them. I was getting attacked by whispy white cotton bits from the trees and dropped to a walk to conserve energy past another enthusiastic MC on a truck.
End
Up to 20 miles and I saw Cat and Lucy for the final time before the finish near to yet another crossing of Vanšu Bridge and the few marathon runners that were left were joined by a whole bunch of speedy runners from the 10km race. I'd switched to emergency marathon playlist now and was messaging Ben to see how he was getting on with his marathon in Northern Ireland. Another lap of Kipsalas Island and they'd run out of water! Not good. Bad enough that they're giving out half-filled warm water in plastic cups but not having anything other than oranges is pretty criminal on such a hot day. I tried not to hold a grudge though, I was down to a 5 min run, 2 min walk strategy to get the last few miles done and the race organisation has been impeccable up to this point. Back over the bridge for the final time I could hear the music from the finish line and after a quick banana I got a second wind but it's very temporary.
There were some mimes on stilts getting in everyone's way along Brīvības Iela and I found myself in a strange sub-race with an old guy with a big belly. Even with two legs not working I would pass him but then when we both walked a bit he was much faster, it became clear that if I'm going to walk in races I need to get a faster walk! Just a couple of miles to go and I was hobbling through the open squares past the once again epic Freedom Monument with swarms of big groups of lads drinking yard glasses of lager. Turning right eventually and running through crowds of tourists we passed the iconic House Of The Blackheads and then around to the left I could see the massive open road with the finish line. I didn't have much left in the tank, I couldn't see Cat and Lucy in the crowd and rather flopped over the line too tired to punch the air or celebrate, just pure relief to be done. I ambled off left to pick up water and a goodie bag keen to collapse on the grass shortly to be lying in a park under a tree with a can of lager, and Lucy grinning at me as I tried to regain all of my senses.
Pics
Click here for gallery
Weather
A hot race, starting at 18C with a slight breeze over the bridges but rising to 27C by lunchtime.
Ratings:
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