land of a thousand lakes 2019 finland marathon记
History of the Finlandia Marathon: Established during the heyday of marathons in Finland in the 1970s, it held 17 consecutive races from 1978 to 1994. It was the largest marathon organizer in Finland at the time. Its peak was in 1983, with 2,107 participants. There was a hiatus from 1995 to 2004. Starting in 2004, international participation gradually increased. Previously, all races were organized solely by JKU (Jyvaskyla Athletes Club). Since 2007, the Central Finland Sports Association (Keski-Suomen Liikunta RY) has also joined, becoming an event organizer along with the Central Finland Association.
Official website:
https://finlandiamarathon.fi/
Jyvaskyla, the 7th largest city in Finland, is a charming city filled with a bold spirit. Located in the heart of the Finnish Lake District, it has a population of nearly 142,000 and is known as the "Education Center of Finland." The city is rich in sports and cultural atmosphere, hosting a variety of events. It boasts a deep educational and cultural heritage, with buildings designed by the Finnish architectural master Alvar Aalto. Here, the pulse of the city and the closeness to nature achieve an unprecedented perfect blend. The stunning scenery, a wide range of sports and entertainment options, and diverse cultural offerings make both visitors and residents fall in love with this place. It's also a city that you might not fully experience unless you run.
(Another way to update your geographical knowledge through running)
Travel plan: Guangzhou-Helsinki-Jyvaskyla, with a total travel time of about 12 hours and a 5-hour time difference.
While you're young, give yourself a spontaneous trip.
The first impression upon arrival: I once thought Dunhuang Airport was the smallest, but I didn't expect there to be an even smaller one.
The local temperature is relatively low. I put on a coat and checked into the Solo Sokos Hotel Paviljonki, the closest hotel to the starting point of the Finlandia Marathon. The hotel is located in the city center and offers personalized service and exquisite design details, along with stunning views of the Finnish Lake District.
Due to preparing for the race, I didn't get to experience the hotel's rooftop gym and sauna. With the beautiful lake view as a backdrop, I could have worked up a sweat!
Due to the time difference, I woke up at 6:30 AM (around 11:38 AM back home). The temperature was 11°C, so I decided to go for a run to adapt to the environment. I ran a 5KM loop around Lake Paijanne outside the hotel. The environment was beautiful, the road conditions were flat, and the air was fresh. This will be one of the routes for the Finlandia Marathon.
Country road
After the morning run, two local friends, Johanna and Lijia, recommended that I try the Finnish people's favorite sport, "Indian canoeing."
Tavinsulka
As winter approaches, the lake surface will gradually freeze. The sports-loving Finnish people will use the lake for boating and ice skating.
Laajavuori Urban Outdoors is only 4 kilometers from Jyvaskyla. Locals call it "Laajis." There are a variety of sports to participate in year-round: skiing in winter and renting an electric fat bike or downhill motorcycle for a cycling adventure in summer.
Under the guidance of a coach, I had a thrilling ride through the forest. The electric motor on the bike provided extra power uphill, and the wide tires increased traction downhill. Needless to say, I fell into the mud a few times.
KTM electric fat bike
A day of morning running, canoeing, and cycling didn't exhaust my desire to explore this city. After all, the Finnish people told me, "The best way to enjoy life is to live in the moment."
At the marathon expo where I picked up my race materials, there was a small detail called "personalized supply." This means that at certain water stations on the course, participants can place their own energy gels, sports drinks, etc., labeled with their bib numbers in a box, which will be available on the course during the race.
This kind of supply greatly reduces the burden on runners during the race, allowing them to focus better on the competition. Worth learning from!
(Currently, only elite runners in China have this kind of service, right?)
Personalized supply
The Finlandia Marathon offers five events: Family Fun Run, 8×5KM, 10KM, Half Marathon, and Marathon, held over two days.
I participated in the marathon event, which started at 12 PM local time, equivalent to 5 PM back home. This was a very favorable condition for me, although the slightly lower temperature posed a challenge. My first Nordic marathon began!
Equipment list:
Sunglasses: Oakley
Clothes: China Jordan short T-shirt + 2XU compression long sleeves
Pants: NB shorts + 2XU MCS long pants
Shoes: Adidas Boston 6
Watch: Garmin 645
About 350 runners participated in the marathon. There were no starting zones or security checks. After warming up, everyone gathered at the starting line.
The broadcast announced the start signal, and I dashed out without hesitation. Overwhelmed with excitement, my watch showed 4′22″ for the first kilometer.
Reason told me, "Hold back the pace! Hold back the pace! There are still 41KM to go!"
Perhaps it was the lack of a clear goal before the race, or the pressure of competing with foreign runners. At 5KM, I was caught up by the 3:30 pacer, maintaining a pace under 5′20″. My half-marathon time was 1 hour and 51 minutes, surprisingly setting a new personal best!
(Could it be that my long-desired sub-4-hour marathon will be achieved in a foreign country? No way! This race isn't certified by the Chinese Athletics Association!)
Well, one moment I was worried about setting a new personal best without certification, and the next moment I was struggling.
"Between a personal best and a personal best, you can only choose to crash and burn."
After the halfway point, I started cramping. First, my left thigh, then my calf. "Cramping is a pain that breathes, rolling back and forth in my blood." Then my right thigh, calf, and finally, even my arms cramped, making it impossible to swing them.
The race was only halfway through, and it was too early to give up. I gritted my teeth and told myself that there was still a distant and unfamiliar dream of a sub-4-hour marathon. If you have a dream, you should chase it, persist, create, strive, and complete it.
At the supply station, I ate two pieces of salted cucumber to replenish electrolytes.
Personalized supply point
I only brought one energy gel and was worried that if I placed it at the personalized supply point, it might be taken by other runners, so I didn't use it.
As a result, I was wrong. The energy gel burst at the start, leaving a sticky mess in my waist pack along with my phone (crying for a minute).
"When you have nowhere to place your cramps, eating anything won't help."
At 31KM, I was silently overtaken by the 4-hour pacer. I watched my dream slip away in a foreign country, in a place where I didn't speak the language. I felt lonely, miserable, and in need of comfort. So, I started walking towards my failed finish line (overwhelmed with negative energy).
"If you don't push yourself at critical moments, you'll be pushed by unimportant people."
Here's why: The marathon started at 12 PM, with four laps around the lake. The half-marathon started at 3 PM, with two laps around the lake.
If I kept walking, it wouldn't just be a failure to achieve a sub-4-hour marathon in a foreign country; I'd be laughed at by foreigners!
What if I was the last finisher in this marathon event?
I couldn't walk. I told myself I had to run, just like I did when I was the pacer, taking small steps.
As I was continuously overtaken by half-marathon runners, I started to build a psychological advantage.
"Haha, I'm a full marathon runner," I thought.
After all, men are creatures who think with their lower half. I relied on sheer willpower to reach the finish line in 4 hours and 19 minutes.
I heard the broadcast calling my name, celebrating for me, "MUDAO CHEN CHINA!!!"
I saw my two friends, Johanna and Lijia, waiting for me at the finish line. I was so moved that I almost cried. It was finally over!
A special medal, forged through the trials of hope and disappointment.
Although the medal was small, the finisher's bag was very rich. It was our Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon abroad was just as round. The apples, however, were quite small.
(An interesting discovery) The pacers in this Finlandia Marathon wore balloons as big as yoga balls, but they released them after the start. Their pacing times were displayed on the front and back of their shirts.
Jyvaskyla, thank you for everything I encountered. I hope to see the Northern Lights next time and fulfill my dream of chasing the light, traveling under the guise of running.
See you at the 2019 Xi'an International Marathon.