We flew to Adana on Thursday, 7 December and from there, we went to Mersin. Our goal, of course, was to take care of our errands and participate in the city run on the last day of the week. So, after finishing our errands in the area on Thursday and Friday, I planned to make the final preparations for the weekend run and then run on Sunday.
We followed this plan to the letter. We trained all day Thursday and Friday, and on Thursday evening, we feasted on tantuni at Tantunici Göksel. Afterward, we enjoyed künefe and Mersin’s signature kerebiç dessert (see: https://www.lezzet.com.tr/yemek-tarifleri/tatli-tarifleri/diger-tatli-tarifleri/kerebic ) at Künefeci Emin Usta. After another busy day on Friday evening, we enjoyed a wonderful seafood feast at Erol Balık in Karaduvar.
On Saturday, it was time to pick up our running kit (bags, chips, numbers, etc.). Özgecan Aslan: We went to Bizden Cafe, located near Peace Square. Since the municipality was organizing this run itself, I observed that all municipal employees were focused on the event, working diligently to keep a close eye on the situation. However, I still observed complete chaos. For your visualization, I’ve shared a video of the run kit distribution site on Saturday, 9 December in the link below. You can also see the routes of the 10 K, marathon, and public run in this video:
“Mersin and Mersin Residents Are Ready for the Marathon”
You can also read the details of the news item titled “Mersin and Mersin Residents Are Ready for the Marathon,” published by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality the day before the run, in the link below, and the summary below:
(https://www.mersin.bel.tr/haber/mersin-de-mersinliler-de-maratona-hazir-1702120613 )
The 5th International Mersin Marathon, organized by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality on 10 December with the slogan “Everyone Runs to Mersin,” is classified as “Elite Label” by the World Athletics Association and is the only marathon in Turkey in this category.
A total of 1,696 athletes, 111 of whom are international, from 25 countries, including Turkey, will participate in the marathon, a highly valued event for athletes seeking to secure a quota for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. A total of 348 athletes, 55 of whom are international athletes from 22 countries, will compete in the 42K race. A total of 1,281 athletes, 52 of whom are international athletes from 16 countries, will compete in the 10K race. A total of 67 athletes, 4 of whom are international athletes from 3 countries, will compete in the skating race.
The first excitement will begin at 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, 10 December at Özgecan Aslan Barış Square with the Skating Race. The 42 K races will begin at 9:00 a.m., the 10 K race at 9:15 a.m., and the People’s Run, featuring Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer, will begin at 11:30 a.m.
I strained my calf muscles…
To reflect on my pre-run experience, I was in a real rush with work. However, two days before the run, on Friday, I noticed a pull in my right calf. I figured it wasn’t a big deal. Before I got my running kit, I jogged for half an hour on Saturday morning (for my readers unfamiliar with running terminology, “jogging” means running at a very slow pace for your level. We usually jog before a run to warm up or after a run to release some accumulated lactic acid. For me, jogging means running at a 6-7 pace. That means running at 9-10 km/h on a treadmill).
A long coastline
Incidentally, did you know that Mersin, with its 321 km coastline, is a major coastal city in Turkey? Approximately 108 km of Mersin’s coastline consists of natural beaches. The city center alone boasts parks, cafes, running/walking, and cycling trails stretching along nearly 30 km of coastline. Mersin’s coastline boasts another unique feature you won’t find in any other province. Along the city center’s coastline lie the squares of Mersin İdman Yurdu, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş. Comparing these four squares, I found Mersin İdman Yurdu and Galatasaray to be the most impressive and largest in terms of area. Beşiktaş’s square was the dullest.
Getting back to the topic, on Saturday morning, 9 December, I started my jog behind Galatasaray Square and continued past Mersin İdman Yurdu Square, then returned. Of course, another advantage of running at a slow pace is that you can observe your surroundings with greater awareness. Beyond the squares, we saw Mersin Marina and all the restaurants and cafes along the seafront. The run was very enjoyable, but the thing that bothered me was my right calf. It kept hurting, and at one point I even started to wonder, “Should I finish my jog early?” Then I thought to myself, “Don’t be ridiculous, Serhan. You have a race tomorrow. If you even stop jogging early, how will you compete in tomorrow’s race?” I said, and as a result, I ran at a slow pace for 30-35 minutes as planned.
Yes to kebabs, no to watching the match.
After picking up the kit, my colleague Şenol Bey and I went to Adana and back. Afterwards, we stopped by a friend from Mersin and settled in for a relatively early dinner of delicious Hatay-style meze and kebabs at Hatay Sofrası.
After dinner, we considered watching the Beşiktaş-Fenerbahçe match, but as a Galatasaray fan, it didn’t really interest me and considering that Turkish football has recently become less enjoyable to watch (it’s always a fight), I decided against it. I returned to my hotel, worked in my room, and finished the evening by watching a movie.
The next morning, Şenol Bey and I went to the track. After final preparations (warm-up, stretching, etc.), we went to the restroom at a cafe near the starting point one last time. I took my place at the start, which was supposed to start at 9:15. By the way, the Mersin Municipality needs to address this toilet issue. We couldn’t find a decent restroom nearby; there was a very long line and wait at a cafe. If we had been any longer, I would have been late to the start. Of course, I didn’t see it, but according to Şenol Bey, many restaurants across the road had available restrooms.
My calf hurt my performance
As a result, the start was at 9:15. It was very crowded. Imagine about 1,000 people starting like a pack of fish. That cramped atmosphere finally eased with the start of the race. I started, but within the first kilometer of the race, I felt my calf pulling again. I was in pain. The back of my leg was already tight, but my calf was in serious pain. Because of this, I couldn’t really increase my pace. My goal was to run under-4 pace and complete the race in under 40 minutes. However, I couldn’t reach that pace during the run. I averaged 4:30 paces. I could tell I could run. I would sometimes speed up, but I never slowed down below 4 pace (I normally can easily slow down in training).
Ultimately, I finished the race in 42:28, in pain. I was just happy to finish.
We finished with kebabs and shredded wheat.
Şenol Bey and his relatives from Mersin welcomed me at the finish line. After exchanging goodwill greetings, we went back to where we’d parked our car, changed, and returned to the hotel. After completing my final preparations at the hotel, we checked out and then returned from Mersin to Adana. We enjoyed a delicious Adana kebab at Eyvan Kebap, another Adana classic, near the Adana Police Department, and then dinner with şöbiyet and baklava at Kadayıfçı Olcay. After dinner, we were ready to return to Istanbul. We arrived at the airport about five minutes after the kebab shop.
While reading about the race at the airport, I noticed another news item published by the Municipality: You can read the news article entitled “The 5th International Mersin Marathon was held” at https://www.mersin.bel.tr/haber/5-uluslararasi-mersin-maratonu-kosuldu-1702217842 . I am sharing a summary of this news below:
1,696 athletes from 25 countries, including Turkey, competed in the marathon, which was categorized as “Elite Label” by the World Athletics Association. Ruth Jebet from Bahrain won the women’s 42 K race, completing the race in 2:23, and 8 seconds. Jebet not only broke the course record in Mersin but also secured a quota for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics by surpassing the Olympic threshold. Yeneabeba Maru Ejigu from Ethiopia placed second in 2:28.24, and Feyne Gudeto Gemeda, also from Ethiopia, came in third with a time of 2:28.25. Kenya’s Benard Kipkorir finished first in a time of 2:09.33. Kipkorir broke the course record in Mersin, securing the second-best time in Turkey. Kenyan Asbel Kiprop Rutto came in second in a time of 2:09.46, whereas Kenyan Hillary Kipchumba came in third with a time of 2:10.11.
Remziye Erman won the women’s 10 K race with a time of 37:40 seconds. Zuhal Ulaş came in second with a time of 39:26, whereas Anastasia Nikolaeva came in third with a time of 41:07. Murat Emektar won the men’s 10 K race with a time of 30:15, while Stanislav Ageliarov came in second with a time of 30:22 seconds. Serkan Kaya came in third with a time of 31:02.
You can see all the race times at https://mersin.depar.hr/2023/#10 .
In the Women’s category of the Skating Race, Niloufar Mardani won, followed by Berat Kızmaz in second and Özge Norman in third. In the Men’s category, Christos Sarantis won, Aldülkerim Yıldız came in second, and Abolfazl Majidi Abajlou came in third.
The marathon, which began on Adnan Menderes Boulevard in the Yenişehir district, also took part in the Public Race category. Seçer ran alongside thousands of other citizens in the People’s Run category, wearing his bib number “0033.” Seçer set the start for the Skating Race, the 42 K, and the 10 K. At the start, Mayor Seçer was accompanied by Turkish Athletics Federation Vice-President Nihat Bağcı, volunteers, and international record holders.
Marriage proposal from a neighbor at the awards ceremony
Meanwhile, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, speaking at the awards ceremony, said, “We held the Tarsus Half Marathon in recent months. I was also present at the People’s Run. In June, we held the 2nd International Cilicia Marathon. Also in June, we held the ProBeach in Kızkalesi. Last October, we held the Cleopatra Cycling Festival in Tarsus. These and many other tournaments and competitions will continue in the coming years, with much richer content, growing stronger and more enriched.” (I wholeheartedly support these wonderful organizations in a place like Mersin.)
Meanwhile, Christos Sarantis, who came from Greece and won first place in the men’s category of the Skating Competition, proposed to his girlfriend as he received his award. Sarantis said, “I have very good ideas and feelings. Because we are Greek and culturally very close to the Turks. We were welcomed very well. The people of Mersin are friendly people, and that’s very important to us. The course is wonderful, the roads are beautiful. Of course, I want to participate in the International Mersin Marathon again.” Sarantis said, “I’m a double winner; I’ve become a champion and I’ve proposed. I’m very happy.” His girlfriend, Alexandra Noti, expressed her surprise at the proposal, saying, “I actually came to support him. But he surprised me with a very pleasant surprise. I never expected such a proposal.” Sebiha Ersoy, who participated in the People’s Run on behalf of LÖSEV, said, “The run was quite enjoyable. I participated for the first time this year. Even though I haven’t run much, I finished well. I ran on behalf of LÖSEV with students from our school’s Values Club. I’m also a member of the Mersin Women on Bicycles. We’ve made it our mission to raise awareness for children with leukemia. We organized a fundraiser at our school. I hope we’ll be of some benefit.”
You can also watch beautiful footage of the 5th International Mersin Marathon at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8LAWgQmLTolinki .
Mersin, a city that blends its beautiful culture with its people!
Incidentally, I found the track and conditions excellent. Mersin has the flattest running route of any race I’ve ever run in. It’s a record-breaking course. The weather was a bit chilly in the early morning, but once the sun started to shine, I can say we ran in perfect weather conditions. Frankly, under all these circumstances, I could have easily broken my own record and gone under 40 minutes, but injury prevented me this time. I’ve learned the necessary lessons. I know one day I’ll achieve the rankings I desire.
In conclusion, I’ve always loved Mersin. When I was little, we used to visit my aunt’s summer house in Mersin. I loved the camaraderie of that summer house and the friendships we made there. Mersin has always been close to my heart, and I haven’t been able to go there for a long time. What I’ve noticed most about the people of Mersin is that no matter who visits (there are people from all walks of life: Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Russians, etc.), they always adapt to the city’s rhythm, avoiding extremes and embracing the spirit of being a good person. I’ve always been fascinated by this city’s diverse, integrative culture.
I finally found myself back there after a long time, for work and running. With its flat running route along a beautiful coastline, mild winter climate, friendly and dedicated people, and delicious food, the Mersin Marathon has won my heart. I’ll be participating next year.
Tag: memoir
