Spitsbergen Marathon (half)

[C3PO]

As the northernmost race on terra firma, this is a fairly small event, with 147 people doing the marathon, 179 doing the half and 90 doing the 10k. Apparently over 20 nations were represented.

I had to reduce my mileage so much after injuring my heel back in March, and then again in May when the injury got bad again and work got too busy, that I’ve been a bit low. London and Ecotrail went so differently than I hoped that I was quite worried about my running form in general. So much so that I was irritable the day before, and fairly nauseous the morning of the event.

At least the weather was on my side. About 2 degrees, cloudy and not much wind. As Longyearbyen is a small town, we stayed at the hotel and relaxed while the marathoners set off, watching their 10 am start from our hotel window, while we wouldn’t start until 11:30.

The first 7K flew by, even though there was an incline early on. We ran along the fjord past a husky ranch and saw lots of geese. When we got to 10k, I was very pleased to put the ghost of the previous week’s hot 10k race behind me. I walked a little bit at around 12k, when we ran through the town. Then we headed out towards the airport, and I ran pretty consistently until about 15.5k, as the rest of the course was uphill, so I walked a lot from then on.

The weather kept changing on us, and I was glad of my jacket as I kept taking my beanie off and on, as the wind picked up and rain showers fell.

It was a great event. The locals cheered us on, others sat on their ATVS with their rifles, keeping a look out. The marshals were friendly. There was a post-run banquet at a very good restaurant, and the prizes were handed out. A nice touch was a slideshow of the day’s photos.

I finished in 2:45, and am pleased. 22 minutes than at the halfway point in London, and a very decent speed before I started all the walking. It’s good to have the reassurance that I can do an HM even with an injury and little training.

[misswobble Marathon]

Hi matey, you all right after that little lot 😃. Bears, caribou (or whatever the heck it is). Worrying about polar bears would make one hurry up I think 😬

Fab, unique medal! You should be dead proud of that one ✊

Sounds like you had a good race there. Four seasons in one day though! Mind you better than being boiling

Your post run banquet sounds great 👍😃😋🏅

Do you get to rest for a bit now then ? Knowing you, I’d guess not 😃

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Congratulations on completing this unique race even with your injury 3PO! That is a really nice medal too. Would love to do something like this someday. Looks like you got a rainbow too!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

What a neat event! Great pictures and a fabulous medal! Well done in the face of battling injuries. You're legs just know what to do. I hope you're heal is feeling ok.

[Eatcakeandrun Marathon]

That sounds and looks like the coolest half marathon! Love the medal ( medal designs seem to be getting better and better !)

Great time, especially given your injury problems. Well done!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Gorgeous, those photos are just the best!! Well done, '3PO, I'm so happy for you!!!

[APScotland]

Wow! What an amazing place to run! It's not every race report you can read "others sat on their ATVS with their rifles, keeping a look out." Well done, and may you be injury- free from now on

[Lordi Marathon]

Fantastic! Reindeer and polar bears! That's great bit of bling!

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

Really well done. They are brilliant photos and I think that's one of the best medals I have seen. So glad it went well for you.

[C3PO Marathon]

Thanks, all! I've been meaning to answer misswobble 's question. To my physiotherapist's relief, I don't have anything too major coming up. I'm doing the annual midsummer 14.5k waffle race, which is on a gravel trail. So I'm slowly lowering my race mileage. I haven't signed up for the St. George's 10 mile race on IOW in July yet - I'm going to take a look at the weather first - but will be signing up hubby. I'll be at the Dash & Splash for sure, though, aliboo70 !

For the next few weeks I'm going to focus on sorting out my heel and trail running. Unless it starts raining, and gets soggy.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Well done Cristina it sounds a great event and I love those pictures. Well done!😊