pickupthepacepaul

On 22 October 2023, I took part in the Venice Marathon. Just 3 weeks into October, and I’ve run 3 Marathons around the world: Chicago Marathon, Detroit Marathon, and now Venice Marathon. I still have a bit of a cough and am feeling a bit run down since Chicago. I am really pleased I could plan this trip with my family as it is the start of the kids’ half term. So, I booked the first flight out on Saturday morning and a few days after the marathon to enjoy. Venice Marathon was my 143rd marathon (plus), and my 28th marathon of 2023. It was my 106th time as a pacer, 44 times for the marathon distance.

We had a really early start on Saturday morning, getting up to leave for a 6:50 flight. It wasn’t ideal, and it would have been nice to come a day earlier, but this was the best way for us not to miss any school time for the kids. Everything went smoothly, and it was easy to get a bus to Venice from the airport.

We had plenty of time to eat and explore before checking into our apartment. When it was time to check in, my family went to rest, and I made my way to the expo. Again, it was a 10-minute ride on the bus and very easy to get to from Venice Island. I timed it perfectly to get my Bib, get my pacer kit, and be present for the presentation of the pacers and for our briefing.

I didn’t hang around the expo for long as I wanted to get back to my family, who were happy to rest. We went out for a nice meal in the evening and then when we got back I laid out my kit ready for the morning. I’m glad my adidas ultraboost arrived just in time, so I was able to take these for a spin. It’s not a racing shoe, but an old favourite and great alrounder.

Venice Marathon

There were shuttle buses for runners from Venice, so it was nice and easy to get to the start. The route is a point to point, so we drive around 30km away from Venice, and we run around 35km to get to Venice, then finish in styles on Venice Island.

We had a bit of a wait at the start as race start wasn’t until 9:40, but we had a separate section for pacers to rest and get ready. It was great getting ready with teammates Marco, Marco, Nicola, and Sarah. In Venice, just as in Rome, they take pride in a large international pace team, with 220 pacers over the marathon, half marathon, and 10k. In Italy, pacers run as a group and work as a team, starting and finishing together. I was asked to take the lead up front with Sarah, with Marco and Marco in the middle and Nicola at the rear.

From the start area, we took some pacer team photos where we were resting and then at the start line.

With so many pacers and everyone trying to get in the front, I have no idea if you can see me in the pictures. I have no desire to get to the front, so I pick a spot and wait for the picture.

After our photos, it was a pretty long walk to go around to get to the start corrals. We got in early for people to be able to find us and line up with us. There were a number of familiar faces at the start and a number of English speakers, so I was able to give some reassurance about the race day strategy. Most were, of course, Italian, so the rest of my team took care of the briefing.

The first 30 km was pretty flat and basically straight to Venice. It was also very sunny and got hot. First of all the weather forecast was for poor weather, wind, rain and a storm, which didn’t come. It was lovely holiday weather, but difficult running weather. I had been told some poor things about the first part of the marathon, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was so busy from so many runners, and there were lots of beautiful scenery to run past. It wasn’t the most populated, but there were plenty of spectators out to give support.

As planned, I took the lead with Sarah for the first half. It was great teamwork from everyone, and I kept it nice and steady for the first 21km. I knew that Venice Island was supposed to be hard, so I got us a gradual 30 seconds under by halfway, arriving in 1:59:31.

It got really hot, and I was grateful for frequent water in bottles. After about 26km, Marco took the lead and pushed the pace a little harder. It was very gradual, but he wanted to have at least a minute for when we reached Venice Island. Having never run Venice, it was hard for me to understand the need. At one point, we went through a tunnel, and the rest of the team pulled away slightly. It was tight, so as they ran ahead and sped up, I was caught behind lots of runners, and before long, I was a good 30 seconds behind the rest of the team. They continued to push on, but I couldn’t get past people and didn’t want to push, which left me with a lot of making up to do.

I was now over a minute ahead of schedule, which is much more than I would ever like to be, but it was important for me to catch up with the team, who were ahead of me, so I pushed on. With the heat I think I got a bit of heat stroke, and was dehydrated, and around 35km as I was running faster than I should to close the gap, I was sick (just the water I had just drank). Obviously, it’s not a great sign. But, I carried on. The whole time, the team was only about 15 to 20 seconds ahead of me, so I was bringing up the back of our pack. But knowing we had to finish together, I felt uncomfortable being so far away from the group, especially as they seemed to be running faster than pace.

When we hit the bridges in Venice Island, I completely understood why the experienced Italian pacers had pushed a bit harder on the flat. There were 14 bridges in the last 5km, and they were hard work. It was tough on tired legs going up (and I am useless at hills at the best of times). I always make my time up going down, but it was impossible with narrow sections and runners in front. So, I had to catch up with my group during the toughest section.

Although it was tough, running through Venice Island was so beautiful. I saw my family at around 40km in Piazza San Marco and was right behind the rest of my team. At this point, Marco and Marco turned for me and shouted at me to catch them, which I did. This is teamwork at its best. I led the pace for the first half and was struggling with the heat and delays in some congested places. But they did not leave me behind.

Such a beautiful finish line, and we joined together at the end to finish together. It was the best team of pacers, and we had so many runners finished with us, mostly ahead of us, how it always should be. It worked out really well as many runners went ahead with the team, and I helped lots of people who had fallen behind and picked up the pace.

I am so pleased to come in holding hands with my team in 3:59:55, a hard day but a great one.

After the finish, I was rewarded by having my family at the finish. I had a bit of a rest, and then we carried on walking through Venice for food and drinks. Perfect way to end the day. And now we have a couple of days to enjoy Venice as a family.

This is definitely a run to come and experience. Venice is a beautiful city, and although the finish is tough, it is beautiful, and the first 35km is flat.