Storming Stockholm

Last Saturday I finished the Stockholm Marathon under the toughest weather conditions I've ever faced in a run. I made it to the end mostly because I doubted whether my frozen, collapsed body would be carried into shelter if I dropped somewhere on the course. Coming back from Sweden on Tuesday, I waited in the passport control line at JFK airport and reflected on the experience. I told my mom I would be gratified just to have the difficult conditions acknowledged on the marathon website or in runner comments on Marathonguide.com. Today I checked my email and found this:

"June 2 was the coldest day in June in Stockholm for the last 50 years, so it was not a good day for running a marathon. Wind and rain made the situation even worse. All those things made the 2012 ASICS Stockholm Marathon the most demanding race in the 34 years history of the race.
We are most impressed that you and almost 15 000 other runners managed to finish the marathon, concerning these cruel conditions. You and other runners were well prepared for the race, and ran wisely.

"Kind regards
"Athletic clubs Hässelby SK and Spårvägens FK"

Foreboding weather at packet pickup was only a shadow of conditions to come

 


And now, I feel like I can do ANYTHING!