Every year, we eagerly anticipated the Istanbul Marathon and prepared as much as we could for TİDER, the biggest fundraising event of the year for which I was a founder. This tradition, which has developed over the years, has continued to grow during my time there. As a reminder, I’m sharing the links to articles I’ve written about the Istanbul Marathon below:
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/adimgibibiliyorum-degistirebiliriz-cogalabiliriz
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/istanbul-maratonunda-kosmak-icin-10-sebep
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/istanbul-maratonundan-renkli-izlenimler
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/istanbul-maratonunda-hep-birlikte-iyilige-kosuyoruzhttps://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/iyilige-kosanlar-yine-harikalar-yaratti
I am also sharing the articles I wrote about other races I’ve participated below:
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosudan-otesi
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/sizlerle-yuz-binlere-destek-vermeye-dunyaya-ornek-olmaya-kosuyoruz
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/festival-tadinda-bir-kosu-runatolia-2017
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/300-spartali-degil-22-tiderli
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/bir-yilin-ardindan-cunda-triatlonu
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/runatolia-ile-bir-kez-daha-insanligi-hatirlamak
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/runatoliada-insani-degerlerin-hepsi-bir-arada
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/tider-bozcaadada-hem-israfi-onledi-hem-de-115-aile-icin-kampanya-baslatti
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/bozcaadada-israfi-onleme-vizyonumuzu-gerceklestiriyoruz
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/antalya-kosusu-runatolia-yine-yeniden
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosu-bahane-bozcaada-sahane
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/yasam-kalitesini-artirmak-icin-spor-yapin
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/on-binlerce-kisiye-destek-icin-el-ele
Let me take this opportunity to share my Istanbul Marathon photos taken in different years, starting from my first year (2014). You can compare them for yourself.
2014
2016
2018
2022
This year, I wanted to participate in the Istanbul Marathon with a different perspective. I wanted it to be a run I would truly enjoy. That’s why I decided to participate in the Istanbul Marathon, with whom I’ve been running for the past year.
The Program
The program, organized by Salim from Istanbul, went as follows:
We met at the boat waiting in Bebek between 7:30 and 8:00.
We departed for Beylerbeyi around 8:00.
We arrived at the Beylerbeyi Pier around 8:20 (the walk from here to the area took about 10 minutes).
Around 8:30, the boat departed from Beylerbeyi for the Yenikapı finish line.
Around 10:30, we boarded the boat at the finish line. We had a hearty breakfast on board.
We departed for our return trip around 11:30.
We returned to the Bebek start point around 1:00 PM.
A photo taken from the boat in the early morning hours.
My perspective on the pre-race, pre-race, and post-race progressed as follows. The day before, I extended an invitation to the Consuls General of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Korea. After a pleasant dinner, I went to bed around noon. I woke up at 6 a.m. and took my two dogs, Sunny and then Blackie, out for a walk. I then dropped them back home and picked up my friend and headed back to the boat. I arrived at the boat around 7:40 a.m. After meeting those who arrived by 8 p.m., we all set off for Beylerbeyi.
15-minute delay for the 15 km group
After a very enjoyable Bosphorus crossing, filled with conversation, we arrived in Beylerbeyi. Then, the entire Istanbul group walked from Beylerbeyi to the race area. Upon reaching the race area, I realized I needed to use the restroom. I separated from the group and was able to use one of the portable restrooms there after a 10-minute wait. Then, I returned to the race area and mingled with the crowd. Until the run started, I kept walking forward, losing my Istanbul group, but during this walk, I ran into Salim from our group, and we continued walking forward together. Frankly, walking as far as we could saved us a significant amount of time. Trying to run between the people ahead of you on the bridge and beyond is a significant waste of effort and time. Unnecessary accidents often occur.
I was in the group of 15 K runners. It was quite crowded, and the 15 K run, which normally starts at 9:15, started 15 minutes late at 9:30. For those wondering, “What’s the big deal with a 15-minute delay?” I should mention that waiting an extra 15 minutes outside (the weather was actually much better than in previous years) before running was annoying for many. We later realized this was just a way to distance us from the marathon, which started at 9:00. It was a good thing, but the announcements still need to be followed. Next year, the 15 K run should start at 9:30. After us, the 10 K runners and the public march started. They can start half an hour after the 15 K run.
Photo taken before the 15 K entered the adjacent track.
As I walked to the start line, I saw Renay Onur, the founder of Adım Adım (Step by Step), on the platform above where Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was standing. He saw me gesturing to him in the crowd and made the same gesture, meaning “I see you.” After greeting Renay, the start was given within a few minutes.
I paced my run between 3.5 and 5.5 paces. I usually run between 4.5 and 5.5 paces. I reached 3.5 pace while running downhill from Barbaros Boulevard. For those unfamiliar, “pace” means the time it takes to run 1 K. So, a pace between 3.5 and 5.5 paces corresponds to a treadmill speed of approximately 11 to 17 km/h.
One of the setbacks I experienced was that after crossing the bridge at the start of the run, I looked at my watch and realized I hadn’t started it. So, I ran the first 800 meters without starting it. At the end of the run, it said I’d run 14.2 km in 1 hour 09 minutes. I also calculated my total time from the organization’s website. I completed the entire run in 1 hour 14 minutes 03 seconds, without pushing myself too hard, but enjoying it.
I say “enjoyed it” because I did my best to give cheering signs and signs of support for relevant NGOs, and I greeted those who extended their hands for me to shake hands, shouting “Bravo!” I reveled in that enthusiasm.
Support for Ukrainian and the ‘wooden beam’ runner
During one part of the run, I saw a woman running with a Ukrainian flag painted on her face, and I shouted “Slava Ukraini” (Ukraine) in their language and made a “we support” gesture. The runner smiled at me and said, “Thank you.” I offered the same support to another runner carrying a large wooden beam on her shoulder. The runner, who had “I’m completing the marathon carrying this beam,” was sweating profusely, so I passed her, then turned back and said, “Well done!” She smiled and thanked me.
I ran at a high pace for the first 7 kilometers of the run. Then I slowed down and didn’t push myself too hard. This was due to the fact that I was just recovering from an injury (I had a pre-stage stress fracture in my leg. I recovered a week ago and started running again), I had barely trained for months, I hadn’t had any strong sake at a dinner I hosted for the consuls-general despite promising not to drink alcohol the night before, I had spent that week working very hard, etc., etc. Of course, I’m not going to hide behind excuses. After starting the run, my pace slowed to 5.5 mph after the 7th kilometer mark, but I picked up the pace again for the last kilometer and completed the race. Frankly, there was a Red Bull bottle just before the finish line. I thought it was the finish line, so I accelerated. When I saw that the race wasn’t over, I slowed down significantly for the last 300 meters, then accelerated again, and to my surprise, I finished.
Enjoying the return journey
The first thing I did after the race was remove the chip from my shoe. Then I collected my medal. I continued walking towards the Yenikapı event area, drinking water and eating snacks from the food bag I was given. Upon arriving at the Yenikapı event area, I asked the officials, “Where do the ships dock here?” They told me there was a place ahead; it might be there. So, I just kept going.
After the finish, I walked a long way to reach the event area and then to the port where the ships docked. I saw my friend at the entrance to the port near the İDO (Istanbul Maritime Operations) where our ship was berthed. We immediately walked together to the ship, arriving as the second runner in the Istrunbul group.
Afterward, I quickly had breakfast and then engaged in a pleasant conversation. The boat departed between 11:30 and 12:00 as planned. After dropping someone off in Kabataş, we continued on our way slowly and pleasantly, arriving back in Bebek around 1:00 PM.
After a truly enjoyable day, I headed home to make my travel preparations, as I was traveling to Germany the next day.
Finally, I’d like to mention this. In my blog post, the link to which I provided above, I previously listed “10 reasons to run the Istanbul Marathon.” I’m listing these reasons below as a reminder:
10 reasons to run the Istanbul Marathon
1) Donate to a foundation or association through the ‘Adım Adım’ (Step-by-Step) platform
2) Kindness is contagious, let it spread!
3) The health benefits of exercise
4) Looking at the most beautiful view from a bridge
5) A wonderful opportunity to socialize
6) Enjoying every step
7) A unique tour of Istanbul
8) Experiencing the world’s only race run between two continents
9) The unbearable lightness of finishing the race
10) Performing in Istanbul’s most beautiful advertisement
This year, I may not have started a fundraiser, but I showed my support by cheering on friends and NGOs who did during the run. Additionally, I tried to show my support for Ukrainians regarding the war in Ukraine, a topic on everyone’s agenda. I experienced the points mentioned above once again.
I can add two more to all of these:
1) Networking opportunity: I had the opportunity to meet and talk to people I didn’t know on the boat and in the racetrack. Who knows what new friendships can bring us.
2) Opportunity for self-improvement: My personal best time was 1:09:53 seconds in 2016. This year, despite many challenges, I achieved my second-best time. And without getting too bored. If I can systematically train for future runs, I think I can improve my average pace of 4.93 with each run next year. I’ve set my running distances at 15 K and a half-marathon (i.e., 21 K). This excites me because it means I’ll be in better shape with each run and will also benefit from the benefits of sports while training.
In any case, we got some good exercise, showed our support for those working on aid efforts, had a wonderful Bosphorus cruise, had some enjoyable conversations, and recharged with a delicious breakfast. With this motivation, I can say I’m looking forward to next year. See you at the 2023 Istanbul Marathon on the Centenary of the Republic.
Tag: memoir
