One cancelled marathon means one entry for another one… or how I participated to Asics Sao Paulo Marathon !

I arrived in Brasil on July 11th, few days before the Olympics. I was a ready to run one marathon as difficult than the Great Wall Marathon in China: Ultra Maratona Dos Perdidos with 3000 meters of ascending elevation. The day before the race in Curitiba, I had pick-up my number and ran for 15k to know the place where I would be running.
The bus was planned to leave at 4:00 am so we could star the race at 6:00am. It would take place in the high mountain of Parana.
When I would like to enter in the bus, the driver forbade me… I did not have my passport…. For sure, it was raining, I did not want to destroy mine, my door-opener for my travel since 18 months. Eventually, I met one family who as going there, luck me, I could fit in their car!
We arrived after one hour and a half driving under a storm and heavy rain. I didn’t know how I would run with this weather but I just came for that! They made a complete check-up of our material : whistle, survival blanket,… We would start the race in few minutes.

Everything was dark, still raining, I wore only a short to avoid humidity on me… What a bad idea… I was really cold, but I was trying to think positive: everything would be fine as soon as the race would start. We passed above clouds, then I felt warmed up! Only 3 hills to go: almost the end.
On my way, I passed by two Brazilians: Juliana and Rodrigo. While we began to talk, runners would go down telling us « the race is cancelled ». I could not believe it because it is most of the time a joke that you make to other runners. This time it was not! The more we climbed, the more people went down. The heavy rain since fews days forced the organization to cancel it. I was really disappointed, I went there just to ran this marathon… Something was not finish for me, I felt frustrated. I tried to stay positive but it was difficult. I was so bummed out! Hopefully, in few days, I would see friends that I did not see since two years at least. Positive mind, Positive mind Maud!

Few hours of bus, I arrived in Bragança Paulista, small town about one hour away from Sao Paulo. What a good feeling to meet again my two friends Isaure and Tristan, settled down in Brasil since two years. You know what? They are now part of the running family! A good way to talk about all our running experiences. I explained them the bad luck that I had for the marathon.
Wanted to help me as runners and friends, they checked all races in the next few days. Lucky me, we found a marathon, in Sao Paulo, in only 10 days.

With an iron will, we called the next day to check if they could offer me a race number to run at least one Marathon in Brasil. It could not be that easy! Impossible for me to have it because I am not an elite runner (for those you don’t know, these are runners who do a great time on a marathon – close form 2hours). Second bad news in two days. After one night thinking about a plan, I found a solution: create a video about me explaining about my problem. I wrote, adjusted what I wanted to say then I recorded. One video published and shared on all social networks that I knew.

Few hours later, It was shared 50 times! I received contacts from all over the world to help me. One day later, I received one message from the organizer, Iguana Sports. I would have my race number! What a relief when I saw in my inbox the confirmation e-mail for the Sao Paulo Marathon!
Besides, I managed to have two race numbers for Tristan et Isaure. One would run the marathon and the second the half-marathon. First time for them! Most of it, my family would be there to support me.
July 31th early morning, 4:00 am, to be relax we took the breakfast all together: Isaure, Tristan and me. I gave them my last advices for the race. How to save up energy, to better breathe, how to deal with cramps…
Ready, every one in our start area. I had slept well, ate well, I would be alright for this marathon, I also chose to bring one mp3 player in case of. Let’s go!
First kilometers, I kept my pace, the weather was good, I didn’t have any pain or injury. At the 15th kilometer, I passed by Tristan, recharging for me! We talked about few minutes, then I continue at my own pace.

Until the 21th, everything was easy for me, I kept on running, I was pretty confident, even if at the 25th, it started to be harder. But on the 26th, I felt my feet as if I was running on charcoal. My feet were burning. I tried to keep on, but no I couldn’t. I stopped, breathe… I tried to focus, I could not give up, ” I am running for La Fondation Motrice, my friends were running, I could not gave up” . To drink, to eat one gel, that I usually never took, and go! Starting again, I could picture the finish line but first the 40th kilometer where my uncle would wait for me to run the two last kilometers.

30, 35, 37, and 40, I looked on the left, then on the right, I could see him! My uncle was there on the side of the road. What a relief, I only had to run two kilometers with a psychological support. Together we finished this marathon, hand to hand. 4h30, I did not run as fast I would like to but never never again with these shoes… Bye Bye ! Mental preparation is important but shoes are also, so do not do the same, buy you a good pair of shoes and change them often.

If you want to participate to this race, it takes place end August. You can run the 21,km or 42,2km. If you want to have more information on this race go on Asics Sao Paulo Marathon or send me an e-mail to worldwildrunneuze@gmail.com, if you want to have more information.