Run a Marathon

Running a marathon is a declaration that your body and mind can endure more than you believe.

The idea of running a marathon didn't begin in Venice— it started on a cool day in October 2024. After the accomplished half marathon in Graz I realized for the first time: I can do this. I'm capable of more. Those 21 kilometers weren't the finish line — they were the beginning.

What followed were months of discipline. I ran my same home loop 140 times — through rain, cold, and exhaustion. Every step was a promise to myself. Even a dog bite couldn't stop me. I shook it off and kept going. Quitting was never an option.

The half marathon in Graz 2025 became my dress rehearsal. I finished in 1 hour and 55 minutes — a clear sign I was on the right path. But I knew the real test was still ahead.

Then came October 26, 2025. Venice. The air was electric. The starting gun fired — and I ran. Calm, controlled, focused. I paced myself wisely, kilometer by kilometer. No crash, no breakdown—just a steady rhythm.

Then came the bridge. Five kilometers, dead straight, stretching from the mainland into Venice. No shade, no distractions, no end in sight. It was tough — mentally draining. Every step a battle against monotony. But I held on.

And then: Venice itself. Floodwater at St. Mark's Square, a surreal atmosphere underfoot. Still, I kept running, carried by the energy of the city and the pull of the finish line.

After 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 24 seconds, it was done. I crossed the finish line.

No longer a dream—reality.