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FLRC Newsletter - May 2005 |
| Bloodbath at the Rome Marathon | |
Yes. We went to Rome. Arrived at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport on Thursday at about 2:30 pm and took the train the 30 minutes into town (9.50 euros). We walked to our hotel from train station—good, and good for its price, given that it was in Rome—and then went out immediately, walking to the Coliseum and the Forum to explore the ruins. We then headed to Capitoline Hill and on to the Pantheon—one of the few intact buildings, a temple built in 120 AD. The amazing thing is the dome, which is as high as it is wide—142 feet from floor to rooftop and from side to side.
We ended up in Piazza Navona at night and looked for food, finding a great little place. Dave had fettucini and truffles, and I had lasagna with wine of course. It was fantastic. Then we found a place that was written up in all the guidebooks—Tre Scalini—which is famous for its tartufo—death by chocolate—ice cream! After that, we walked to Trevi Fountain, where the water enters Rome from Aqueducts, and then through a Bernini sculpture. Fabulous, especially at night, and then we walked home.
On Friday we visited the Borghese Gallery and saw many Bernini sculptures. On to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica in the afternoon. Again we walked back through the Navona area and ate at a famous pizzeria with stone oven pizzas, but they were thin. Same path to our hotel.
Saturday, we took the metro out to Expo. It was huge and crowded. They gave us great shirts and royal blue backpacks with the marathon logo on them—very nice—and, of course, we received our bib numbers and info. Back to the hotel to unload, and then out to see Palatine Hill near the Forum and the Coliseum. We topped off the day by eating early, and then went in to rest.
Race day was perfect: about 47°F and overcast. We took metro right to the Coliseum (start/finish). It was a beautiful run and would have been great were it not for the cobblestones! Most of the race—65% or so—was run in the city on uneven cobblestone. The sights were fabulous, and I took many pictures along the route. But at about 32 km, I fell. I hit my chin bad, and it felt like I broke my jaw. I was helped up and immediately a medic came up to me.
Since we weren't at an aid area, she started to radio for help—but I ran off. I wanted to finish, of course! What I didn't know was how badly I would bleed. In a few moments my whole upper body was covered, and it was falling pretty fast on the ground in front of me. A man ran up to me and said, "Do you realize how little time it will take to go to a medical tent and get that fixed?" I decided I would never win the race at that point, and I said I knew I must look pretty grotesque. So he ran with me until we found one. The medics wanted me to go into a tent, but I said no just give me some water and paper towels so I can clean up and continue. The doctor came out and said, "You want to finish?" I said yes! As he and others bandaged my chin, he said I would need sutures. I said, "After?" He said yes, and with extra gauze in hand I was off.
I started running well at first, but about 2K later the blood broke through all the bandaging and was dripping again. I started to walk and was really worried that I would get dizzy and faint and not finish! But the bleeding seemed to stop, and I started to run again and caught up with the man who lifted me from the street. We waved and finished the marathon. I got that damn medal! Then I found David—he did well and much better than at Kathmandu. Together we found the Mash unit: the Italian Army. Without much conversation—literally they never told me what they were doing, nor did they give me anything—they cleaned up the cut and then sewed it up. Three stitches! I'll bet the pictures from the end of the race, if we every see them, will be a sight!
Still, it was still a great trip and the most beautiful marathon ever—if you aren't as bad on your feet as I am. The cobblestones are tough
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