2010 Federico II marathon live experience

This post describes a live experience for the March 2010 Federico II marathon and gives you insight of what it is really look like. Below you can find a translation from the original Federico II Marathon live experience.

Federico II is the newest marathon in Italy, but it is already in the top 20 of the Italian ranking (number 19) from the number of participants. It is most likely that it will grow more in the next 3 to 5 years as one of the biggest marathon events in the South of Italy.

I was back to the races after the excellent result of the marathon in Florence in 2008 (3h12).

I wanted to perform well in my homeland in this first edition of the Frederick Marathon Frederick departing from the imposing castle of Castel del Monte (540m above sea level) and arriving in the beautiful Trani Cathedral, through the other two capitals of the newly created sixth province of Puglia, Andria and Barletta. 

I feared for the whether since the day before there were 2 degrees and an icy wind, but luckily it was a beautiful sunny Sunday. 

The departure was wonderful, anticipated from a symbolic showing of Frederick II with a falcon on his shoulder. The first 30 km were all down with some ups and downs without great difficulty. During the transit in the cities of Andria and Barletta there was a number of people on the streets who, spurred also by the runners, cheered and clapped their hands sustaining the runners in their difficult task. All good until the 34 km mark when, along the road 16 to Trani, I began to feel some cramping and I slowed the pace, but after a few meters still severe cramping in his right calf, I went into deep crisis and was tempted several times to retire. However it came into the game a great mental strength that helped me with tenacity and perseverance, alternating walking and the jog dragging my shoes on the asphalt. I arrived at the finish line encouraged by my fellow citizens along the last km and above other runners who invited me not to give up, exclaiming, "you have almost made it." I arrived at the finish line in 3h51 in the Cathedral warm welcome from relatives and friends, concerned about being late, but was still immense joy in embracing, experiencing the great emotions. 

It was really worth participating in this Frederick Marathon. My great congratulation to the Imperial Apulia agency and the Running clubs of the territory: the organization was really impeccable, considering that this was a first edition, and with nearly 600 members has already become one of the top marathons in South Italy. Next year it will certainly be better off by inviting some top runner booster and having more time to publicize it further.