But when weather cleared up after I got starting the number at the hotel Schweizerhof, spirit changed for the better. Not only because of Pasta Party, but of coffee served with delicious sweets.
After the Pasta Party I checked into same hotel. Because I had a gut feeling to have forgotten something, I immediately unpacked my rucksack. I soon missed the towel. At the reception they told me to take one from my room and bring it back later, no matter whether I have already checked out. But I didn't forget to order a table at Valentino for Saturday dinner, because I knew it will be very busy - well, food has always high priority. Back at Schweizerhof for the second coffee, I enjoyed watching runners queuing up for Pasta while I was reading the news paper....
...... Outside, camera at hand and target picked, I stumbled over a steel cable and hurt my right kneecap. How silly to injure my knee the day before marathon! So the knee just joined the club of the hip. At least, after strolling around beautiful Lucerne, damage was not serious. Before dinner I equipped bottle belt with paper towels and found a way to fix my cap onto it - ready for a rainy run. ......
...... Sunday I got up at 5:00 after a fitful sleep and stuffed some more carbo's. Before checkout I had time for another hour in bed - brooding over knee, hip, rain and goal. While walking to main station to take ship shuttle to start, my stomach complained about coffee, what will be next? At the start only few clouds in the sky, great atmosphere - knee-, stomach- and hip trouble vanished - I positioned myself near the 3:00 Pace Maker. Precisely at 9:00 the first hundred started to move, then me, great feeling. About 7400 runners behind me soon as well. The Lucerne Marathon with its small hills and sharp corners is not considered a fast run! ......
...... So not many famous elite show up if at all. After km 15 I left Pace Maker behind because it was too crowded. Instead of cap I could have put on sunglasses, as sunrays alternated with clouds. To my dismay left foot felt too hot, this generating awful blisters. 5000 runners finished at half marathon distance, this leaving more space for the second round runners. While fatigue continuously increased, blisters didn't decrease. ......
...... From start I was running with second fastest women (as I found out later), but now I lost her behind. Running with 4.15/km average for 40 km push my lung capacities to the limit, as my metabolism tries to compensate tiredness with more air. While legs are hurting, foot burning, my brain is constantly calculating whether I can keep pace up. Oh the other hand PM is enjoying the cheering crowd, off course he's got plenty of reserves, he was winner at first Lucerne Marathon. ......
...... Not even sexy cheer leaders were able to provoke last sprint before finish line. While PM is already responding to interviews, I start recovering with a cup of alcohol-free beer. In spite of hop and malt being healthy, I couldn't finish it. Goal exactly timed, 28 seconds faster as intended, I started crawling to the locker room with a smile of exhaustion. Because of blisters I abanded going to Schweizerhof for coffee and Sunday news paper. Instead, after fetching my rucksack at hotel, I contented myself with food and beverage at main station. Next time I will run for more pleasure, thus after-run-coffee has to wait 15 minutes longer.