A GUEST POST BY PYLLON ATHLETE - CHIARA FRANZOSI
We are living in such an unfamiliar time right now. Everyone is struggling in their own way, with work, finances, mental health, and isolation - for the first time in a way that we haven’t had to experience before. We, runners, have seen our big races being cancelled and the opportunity to race at all this year vanished. However, on several occasions, in a long race, we have proven that the bad times will pass and we will find new moments of happiness and euphoria. In the past few weeks we have been treasuring words like adaptability, opportunity, kindness, and optimism. We have been reconsidering all our daily routine, relationships, diet, training and thoughts about why we run and what are priorities in life. We have been amazed at the acts of kindness we have seen in the world and the powerful impact they had on others - and perhaps those would have never happened if it wasn’t for coronavirus. But lockdown has mostly been such an incredibly difficult time - isolation, anxiety, despair have been catching us and surprising us with a cry mid run. Sometimes it just felt so hard to find a meaning and a purpose.
I had 3 big races in my 2020 calendar: the Highland Fling, the Eiger Ultra Trail E101, and the Ultra Trail del Lago D’Orta 60K. I was going to improve my time at the Fling, complete a bonkers amount of elevation and enjoy stunning views at the Eiger, and make my family proud in Orta (that’s where I am from). As a prize for my effort, I was going to achieve my dream of getting a spaniel puppy that one day will be my running companion. Like with everyone else in the world, Covid 19 came and messed it all up!
I don’t think that my running motivation was much affected by the sudden lack of training for a race. I kept up with training because I really enjoy the process, and the hour we were allowed to spend outside was such a precious token. But after a few weeks, I found that more often I was having bad runs and struggling to feel happy. I was hungry for inspiration on how to make the most of this time - I seeked out podcasts, readings, and was just in awe of my friends’ backyard marathons and culinary works of art.
I kept absorbing and thinking, until one day this crazy idea popped into my head. The Royal Mile is a mile long isn’t it? Well, from working in a tourist attraction I remember it should be a Scots Mile - so slightly longer than a normal mile. Anyway, I went to measure it during a run and figured out that if I was to run up from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle and back down 13 times, I would achieve a super cool marathon with a munro’s worth of ascent in it. I proposed it to my coach James thinking this would be a silly idea but he loved it and encouraged me to work on it. We called it the ultimate hill reps session. Fuck Yeah, let’s do it!
So I planned and prepared myself for running it. There were a few things that concerned me: tarmac not trails, so I would be sore quite soon, lots of elevation and monotony to negotiate with. No race buzz, nor hugs with friends before or after, was that going to be the same? Actually, yes, it felt like a race! In fact, a few days before I found myself choosing my kit and sorting my nutrition, thinking about a pacing strategy and preparing my little drop bag to leave on a bench just outside the Palace - with a message asking kindly not to remove it. I was feeling nervous and excited in a way I didn’t think I could have this year. I had my usual pre race routine and, despite all the challenges in the few weeks before, I felt my head and my heart were now in the right place.
On the chosen day, I set my alarm for 3am, ready to walk down to Holyrood for a 4.30am start. Noel very kindly got up with me and accompanied me to the Start, but I asked him to come back a couple of hours later because I felt I would need assistance in the latter part of the marathon as opposed to the whole run. I know I can be silent (other word for a d****head) when I am focused, and it actually costs me energy to decline the offer of water or a gel as I know I will need them later on.
As soon as I started, I knew I was going to have a good run. I was prepared for a sore time at some point, but I felt I could start conservatively both on the ups and on the downs and become stronger later on. While going up the Mile on an easy run a few weeks ago felt like incredibly hard work, this time I was feeling light on my feet and totally in the moment. I started with focusing on going up 3 times first, then 4-5 more, then 5 more. Splitting them up this way and focusing on that single rep really helped make the task feel less monumental. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed myself during the whole run. I loved the unique way I got to see the Royal Mile at this time: so quiet and silent, the only thing I could hear were my steps on the cobblestones. Usually, at this time of year, running through the Mile - even very early in the morning - you can see tourists boarding buses for a trip to the Highlands, van drivers being busy with deliveries and coffee shops getting ready for the day. But all of this has been gone since the end of March, and the Mile feels as desolated as the day after the end of the Fringe. It felt refreshing to run through such a rare, never seen before, atmosphere.
When Noel came back for support in the second part of the race, I was about to start climb no 9. Against all expectations, I had only 5 more climbs to go and the possibility of finishing in a good time was clear to me. But I had to play my cards right. I had to make sure to drink something and to keep on top of my Maurten gels. I pushed my downhills ever so slightly, and this gave me the momentum to keep the effort a bit more sustained in the last three climbs. By that time I already made friends with the warden at the Palace - he came at the gate to clap and to say he was going to keep an eye on my checkpoint bag -, and made the Castle watchman raise his eyebrows as he saw me repeatedly approaching the Castle entrance and turn back down again.
The last few reps started to really hurt - my feet, calves, and hip flexors were burning. But it was a controllable pain. The last climb was super as I still had a good amount of energy to give for the last mile and a half. Because the Mile is a bit longer than expected, I knew I was going to reach 42.2kms towards St. Giles Cathedral on the way down for the last time. I gave all my legs could give on those cobblestones, finishing in just a few seconds under 4 hours. Then, with a big smile, I kept going all the way down and stopped at the Palace - to complete my beautiful 26 full Royal Miles.
As I stopped my watch and my legs, I felt dizzy but I hobbled towards the bench with an ecstatic face - and for a moment, all the Covid nonsense, lockdown, and fighting against the negative feelings of isolation all disappeared. I had found myself in my element again - in the motion of running, confident in achieving my dreams and just feeling happy. There were no crowds and no official finish lines and no bling. But next to me, the amazing person who has been supporting me through every race and every step over the last years and a solid rock through this lockdown - smiling at me and being proud. In moments like these, you really do know what is essential and what is not. You know that all you have been through is ok and it is important not to shy away from your feelings - as they make what you are.
I feel grateful for the memories I have been able to create during this lockdown, and for an adventure that I would never have thought to attempt otherwise.. Working towards it has been incredibly helpful for getting out of a hole I was digging myself into. A big inspiration for this Royal Marathon were the episodes of the Pyllon ultra pod - another brilliant product of lockdown! - which I listened to keep me company on those not so good long runs, sometimes playing the episodes twice. The talks have been such good food for thought to help me meditate on those areas where I can grow and improve. I have truly loved and appreciated the Ultra pod more than I have shown on social media (I am not really good at that), but I hope this result and the influence it has had on me will serve as a big sign of appreciation for them.
And what’s next? Ah, I look forward to going back to the Highland Fling next year and hopefully to the international races at some point. They will be there. In the meantime, a few more local adventures are awaiting for me. Also, despite the lockdown, the spaniel puppy is still arriving at the end of June. It will be a super challenge to keep training properly while committing to be a good mum for him, but I am very much up for it and extremely excited! I look forward to running with him when he is ready to do so. Oh, out of all of this I found the perfect name for him. I am going to call him Miles.