Athens Classic Marathon 2012-A life experience

Hello,

I was a soccer player for many years, semi-professional for one season.
In 2007 I had an injury on my left knee(meniscus tear). I didn’t want to leave my favorite sport ,so I continued to play soccer with a kneecap,but in 2010 I was injured again on my right knee,but that time the things were more bad.. I had ligament rupture,I went for surgery.. it went bad ,so I had to give up soccer…

Two years after that ,when I felt my right knee better,I began running to lose some weight,because I got some extra kilos when I gave up soccer…
On a Sunday in July 2012,I went for a run with a good friend of mine. He told me that in November he will run with his father the Athens Classic Marathon and asked me if i want to join them..
immediately I said “ yes! why not?!” I didn’t know what running a marathon is…

So I stood at the starting line with a 12 kilometers long run (lol) and some extra kilos(8 kilos heavier than I am now)…

So the race began ,I was running together with my friend talking, laughing,enjoying the race… until the 25 kilometer. Then I suddenly felt a serious pain on my left knee and I couldn’t run anymore.I started walking and I told my friend to continue without me…
At the 29th kilometer the pain was getting worse so I began limping and crawling my left leg.
At the 31th kilometer the father of my friend passed me by and told me “come on Marios,don’t give up! see you at the Stadium!”
I answered “of course not!,see you there!”
I did the last 13 kilometers in 3:30 hours… I entered the Kallimarmaro Stadium dizzy and exhausted ,but I felt so proud and emotionally charged and I ran the last 100 meters…
Total time 6:48… total devastation! but I was so happy and excited that I made it!
It was a life experience !
Now I am mostly a trail runner with some knee problems,but running it’s a way of life for me..
thanks for reading :)