SKOPJE, MACEDONIA (05.10.25)
Training for marathon 38 in Skopje was a little tough with injury and illness but after missing my flight connection from Turkey to Macedonia, I was very pleased to get to the start line. The day before the race I'd done a good amount of exploring, taking a boat and cave trip to Matka Canyon and taking in the sights of Mother Theresa's house, the old Bazaar and the magnificent Alexander The Great fountain statue. The start was close to the main square, through Porta Macedonia (their very own Arc De Triomphe) and I was impressed by the volume level of their PA and pumping tunes. It was a chilly 6c as I walked 30 mins from the hotel on the hill to the line and I had a quick exchange with another Brit, Jonathan, who was collecting European marathons too.
Start
I wished my running buddy Mark all the best in his pursuit for PB and took my place towards the back of the grid. The race began after a countdown and crescendo of ghastly Euro-pop. Within a few hundred yards the runners spread well and there was plenty of room for the stray dogs to join in. They looked in OK condition and were different shapes and sizes, one in particular bounded along for a good mile or so before heading off-street. We headed along 11th October Street which was named after the Day of the Macedonian Uprising, which commemorates the start of the National Liberation Struggle against fascism during World War II. The Half Marathon runners and Marathon relay runners were with us, I had to weave past a few of them who were annoyingly shuffling 3 abreast in some places. I couldn't see any pacers anywhere in this race which was a bit strange but I'd never had much luck with them anyway so it wasn't a big issue. I saw a sign that said 'Relax, only 95.9% to go!'
After passing one of many statues of Josip Tito, the course headed west along a wide avenue towards the Kapistec district towards the bottom of Mount Vodno. I'd aimed to get the cable car to the snowcapped summit and it's illuminated 66m tall Millennium cross but ran out of time sadly, maybe next time I'm in town! Skopje is the 'city of statues' and it didn't disappoint, particularly the very cool one on a roundabout of Vasil Čakalarov“, a leading Macedonian revolutionary who was leaning forward on his horse pointing a pistol. I felt pretty good for these first few miles as expected, I hadn't run much in the last 3 weeks after my sinus infections. My prevailing memory of this first section was the sheer abundance of water stations, I'd never seen so many on a marathon course before. Small plastic bottles (I know, not great for the environment) and they seemed to be every mile or maybe less, amazing for me as I get so hot and dehydrated wherever I run.
Middle
Entertainment-wise there was quite a few DJ's blaring out the usual rubbish but occasionally there were traditional folk bands and a young girl playing drums along to Eye Of The Tiger at a bus stop. The crowd were mostly clapping, giving out water, Haribo and high-fives and it certainly felt like one of the more enthusiastic responses to a marathon in the Balkans than some I've done. The elite runners passed us on the opposite side of the road and everyone cheered as we crossed the river Vardar for the first time. The first switch-back came and then it was back towards the start along the same long straight road. I put some tunes on (mostly 80's rock/indie classics), grabbed some banana pieces, sugar lumps and yet more water, getting to 10 miles in around 1.5 hrs. Back at the big Arch for the halfway point and I veered left as all of the Half runners powered for the finish line on the right. The road narrowed as the relay runners were getting ready to join us, barely enough space to get through but some of them were cheering us longer runners on a little.
Legs and hips were still fine after 2 hours and I was on for a sub 4 hour race, just. I knew I wouldn't really have much chance there but under 4.5 hours looked pretty possible if I kept my head together. We headed east now past a school and an aerodrome along 3rd Macedonian Brigade Boulevard, another stray dog came along for a bit and got a bit near so I had to spray it with a little water. Past the Garden Of Lights and another traffic cone turning point it felt like it was warming up as I put down an energy gel. I'd decided to eat as much as I could on this one and was delighted to see cups of coke at one of the stations, I grabbed 3 and felt good after some burping. There was a very slight hill and decline, probably the only one I can remember as it was so flat throughout. I got to mile 18 and started to tire a bit and slowed down, walking through water stops and giving myself a talking to.
End
I saw Mark coming the other way as I had about 5-6 miles to go, he looked right on target for PB glory and I shouted at him. Another long dual carriageway came and went as the crowd got quite thin and I tried to wring the sweat out of my headband. There were lots of people hanging out of bars, drinking and smoking with the odd cheer. A couple of old boys sat around a table and chairs on the grassy part of the central reservation liked my Macedonian football shirt and raised their rakija glasses. I was struggling a bit and went with a strategy to run for 3 songs, walk for 2 minutes just to keep steady as running into the sun was starting to get to me. I jogged through a 'confetti zone' and what looked like some FK Vardar, the local football team's ultras waving giant flags and chanting amidst some cheerleaders.
4 hours on the clock and 2 miles to go. It was now quite warm and I was running on fumes a bit, looking forward to sitting down and having a nice cold Skopsko. I could hear the finish line MC in the distance and after another gel and banana I trudged on back along the avenue towards Woman Warrior Park. It was awesome to see the mountains in the distance, the city is almost completely surrounded by them. I grabbed some more sugar lumps and Red Bull, avoiding the lemons they were giving out(!) and with a mile left, decided to try and get up to whatever spring I could muster. I got down to 8.30 min mileage and turning the corner could see the finish line. My watch buzzed for a marathon distance but I realised I was going to end up with 26.5 for this one, always annoying and ruled out a 4.20 finish. The finish line was a bit quiet but there were still a few people milling about as I ran hard over the end timing mats. It didn't take long to grab the medal and escape the crowds. I felt pretty knackered but happy that this one didn't come close to breaking me and the training had worked, off to St Patrick's pub for a pint and then a cab back to the hotel for a shower!
Weather
5c start, clear skies, rose to 19c towards the end, light cool breeze.
Ratings
Course: 6/10 - 2 lap urban race, not many landmarks but great start and finish, flat and definitely PB potential. Mountain views at times.
Expo: 2/10 - A pop up stand in the centre of Diamond Mall. Bag pick up only, work to be done here.
Support: 7/10 - Very good at start/finish and pretty good throughout though many came out to stare.
Refreshments: 10/10 - Outstanding. Water was plentiful, bananas, sugar lumps, lemons, Powerade, Red Bull, Coca Cola.
Goodie Bag: 8/10 - Great T-shirt, Bag, 4 x cereal bars, gels, 2 x pairs of branded socks,
Medal & Pics: 8/10 - Decent medal with landmarks and year, pink Wizz Air ribbon is a shame, free pics on GetPica was great.
Time Completed: 4:22
Start
I wished my running buddy Mark all the best in his pursuit for PB and took my place towards the back of the grid. The race began after a countdown and crescendo of ghastly Euro-pop. Within a few hundred yards the runners spread well and there was plenty of room for the stray dogs to join in. They looked in OK condition and were different shapes and sizes, one in particular bounded along for a good mile or so before heading off-street. We headed along 11th October Street which was named after the Day of the Macedonian Uprising, which commemorates the start of the National Liberation Struggle against fascism during World War II. The Half Marathon runners and Marathon relay runners were with us, I had to weave past a few of them who were annoyingly shuffling 3 abreast in some places. I couldn't see any pacers anywhere in this race which was a bit strange but I'd never had much luck with them anyway so it wasn't a big issue. I saw a sign that said 'Relax, only 95.9% to go!'
After passing one of many statues of Josip Tito, the course headed west along a wide avenue towards the Kapistec district towards the bottom of Mount Vodno. I'd aimed to get the cable car to the snowcapped summit and it's illuminated 66m tall Millennium cross but ran out of time sadly, maybe next time I'm in town! Skopje is the 'city of statues' and it didn't disappoint, particularly the very cool one on a roundabout of Vasil Čakalarov“, a leading Macedonian revolutionary who was leaning forward on his horse pointing a pistol. I felt pretty good for these first few miles as expected, I hadn't run much in the last 3 weeks after my sinus infections. My prevailing memory of this first section was the sheer abundance of water stations, I'd never seen so many on a marathon course before. Small plastic bottles (I know, not great for the environment) and they seemed to be every mile or maybe less, amazing for me as I get so hot and dehydrated wherever I run.
Middle
Entertainment-wise there was quite a few DJ's blaring out the usual rubbish but occasionally there were traditional folk bands and a young girl playing drums along to Eye Of The Tiger at a bus stop. The crowd were mostly clapping, giving out water, Haribo and high-fives and it certainly felt like one of the more enthusiastic responses to a marathon in the Balkans than some I've done. The elite runners passed us on the opposite side of the road and everyone cheered as we crossed the river Vardar for the first time. The first switch-back came and then it was back towards the start along the same long straight road. I put some tunes on (mostly 80's rock/indie classics), grabbed some banana pieces, sugar lumps and yet more water, getting to 10 miles in around 1.5 hrs. Back at the big Arch for the halfway point and I veered left as all of the Half runners powered for the finish line on the right. The road narrowed as the relay runners were getting ready to join us, barely enough space to get through but some of them were cheering us longer runners on a little.
Legs and hips were still fine after 2 hours and I was on for a sub 4 hour race, just. I knew I wouldn't really have much chance there but under 4.5 hours looked pretty possible if I kept my head together. We headed east now past a school and an aerodrome along 3rd Macedonian Brigade Boulevard, another stray dog came along for a bit and got a bit near so I had to spray it with a little water. Past the Garden Of Lights and another traffic cone turning point it felt like it was warming up as I put down an energy gel. I'd decided to eat as much as I could on this one and was delighted to see cups of coke at one of the stations, I grabbed 3 and felt good after some burping. There was a very slight hill and decline, probably the only one I can remember as it was so flat throughout. I got to mile 18 and started to tire a bit and slowed down, walking through water stops and giving myself a talking to.
End
I saw Mark coming the other way as I had about 5-6 miles to go, he looked right on target for PB glory and I shouted at him. Another long dual carriageway came and went as the crowd got quite thin and I tried to wring the sweat out of my headband. There were lots of people hanging out of bars, drinking and smoking with the odd cheer. A couple of old boys sat around a table and chairs on the grassy part of the central reservation liked my Macedonian football shirt and raised their rakija glasses. I was struggling a bit and went with a strategy to run for 3 songs, walk for 2 minutes just to keep steady as running into the sun was starting to get to me. I jogged through a 'confetti zone' and what looked like some FK Vardar, the local football team's ultras waving giant flags and chanting amidst some cheerleaders.
4 hours on the clock and 2 miles to go. It was now quite warm and I was running on fumes a bit, looking forward to sitting down and having a nice cold Skopsko. I could hear the finish line MC in the distance and after another gel and banana I trudged on back along the avenue towards Woman Warrior Park. It was awesome to see the mountains in the distance, the city is almost completely surrounded by them. I grabbed some more sugar lumps and Red Bull, avoiding the lemons they were giving out(!) and with a mile left, decided to try and get up to whatever spring I could muster. I got down to 8.30 min mileage and turning the corner could see the finish line. My watch buzzed for a marathon distance but I realised I was going to end up with 26.5 for this one, always annoying and ruled out a 4.20 finish. The finish line was a bit quiet but there were still a few people milling about as I ran hard over the end timing mats. It didn't take long to grab the medal and escape the crowds. I felt pretty knackered but happy that this one didn't come close to breaking me and the training had worked, off to St Patrick's pub for a pint and then a cab back to the hotel for a shower!
Weather
5c start, clear skies, rose to 19c towards the end, light cool breeze.
Ratings
Course: 6/10 - 2 lap urban race, not many landmarks but great start and finish, flat and definitely PB potential. Mountain views at times.
Expo: 2/10 - A pop up stand in the centre of Diamond Mall. Bag pick up only, work to be done here.
Support: 7/10 - Very good at start/finish and pretty good throughout though many came out to stare.
Refreshments: 10/10 - Outstanding. Water was plentiful, bananas, sugar lumps, lemons, Powerade, Red Bull, Coca Cola.
Goodie Bag: 8/10 - Great T-shirt, Bag, 4 x cereal bars, gels, 2 x pairs of branded socks,
Medal & Pics: 8/10 - Decent medal with landmarks and year, pink Wizz Air ribbon is a shame, free pics on GetPica was great.
Time Completed: 4:22