Bonum Cursum

The Bydgoszcz Decamarathon wasn’t just an event it became a part of my own running journey something deeply in my training routine. I often trained there especially during the summer months when the weather was perfect and the canal route offered a serene yet challenging environment for long runs. It wasn’t just about preparing for races it was about the connection I developed with that place. The Bydgoszcz Canal became a second home and with each step I took along its path I felt a growing emotional attachment to the surroundings. The beautiful views the quiet moments along the water and the steady rhythm of my footsteps created a bond with the location that went beyond just training. Running the Decamarathon was like coming 4,2k circle. The very route where I had logged countless training miles became the race course that tested my limits. It was a place where I could push myself and reflect where the familiarity of the terrain gave me a sense of peace amidst the physical and mental challenges of running two marathons in one weekend.

Over those five months as I joined the event and trained around the course I began to associate those stretches of road with hard work determination and achievement. It wasn’t just a race to me it was a place filled with memories of long quiet runs intense training sessions and moments of self-discovery. The Bydgoszcz Decamarathon truly became more than just a competition it was a testament to my connection with the city its people and the landscape I had come to know so well. The event combined with all the training I did along the canal formed an emotional bond that I’ll never forget. Even when the race was over and the marathon days turned into memories the significance of that place continued to live on in my heart. The energy the camaraderie and the sense of belonging made it a defining part of my running journey. PS: I remember perfectly well that the races were held from November to March which meant that the weather was always a surprise sometimes sunny sometimes snow and quite often a mix of rain and wind that made you wonder if you were running a marathon or auditioning for a survival show. The race formula was pretty relaxed so you could even bring your own nutrition and leave it on a little table at the start of the loop. It was a funny sight every few kilometers you’d pass by this improvised buffet where bottles of isotonic drinks stood next to thermoses of tea bananas mixed with chocolate bars and sometimes even a slice of someone’s homemade cake. It looked less like a professional marathon and more like a family picnic only with 42 kilometers in between each snack.