Karlovy Vary Half Marathon

Or the Half Marathon that had everything to go wrong.
Everything except the location because Karlovy Vary is a wonderful little Bohemian town, in Czech Republic.
The week before the race was an athlete's nightmare (good that I am not a real one!).

Monday: All fine. Rest day. Dance class. All good.
Tuesday: I woke up and I couldn't walk. I dragged my leg to my physiotherapist and her conclusion was that I got injured while sleeping, as I must have slept with my knee in a weird position... Congratulations Sara! You got injured the most stupid way possible! Nooo, the half marathon is ruined!

Wednesday: I woke up much better. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run. Maybe I can run! No, it still hurts, I can't run.
Thursday: J. wakes up feeling down, with throat pain and body ache, and stays home. I got to work but I still don't know if I can run.
Friday: We travel to Karlovy Vary. J. feels better but still down. My knee hurts almost nothing. My throat starts hurting and I start having body ache.
Saturday/Race day: Race is only at 18h. J. feels better but not great. I feel down.
Eat breakfast feeling down. Pick up number feeling better. Go for a walk feeling down. Take a nap and then it feels better. Eat lunch and don't know anymore how to feel... Go for a walk. Take a nap. Take an extra amount of medicines. Run 21.1 Km.

I don't know whether it was the medicine, the will power or the motivation I have for running, but the truth is I made it without ever feeling bad or ill. The race is beautiful, and it goes through the streets of the city centre 3 times. I thought that was a good thing, as I would always be close to the goal in case I wanted to quit. Well, during the race I completely forgot about that. I had to walk for small bits between 18 and 20 Km, because it ran too fast in the beginning, as it was difficult to manage the levels of energy, since I didn't even know how much I actually had. STILL... after walking 4 or 5 times I finished the half marathon in 1h54, only 2 minutes above my record.

It also occurred to me that after all that energy spent I would feel really down afterwards. I didn't. It didn't get better, but it didn't get worse either. I look back, remembering that being in bed was always so much better that just standing, and I'm amazed with my strength. How could I have ran 21 Km? I will never forget Karlovy Vary half marathon!

Karlovy Vary half marathon, 1h54m17s