Running, Running, and yet MORE running!

by Haidar Mrad, Year 12

The Bucharest Marathon Relay is an annual event that usually attracts more than 10 000 participants from over 50 countries, who come together to participate in the 10km, 21km half marathon, 42 km full marathon, 4-member team relay, and wheelchair events. This year, being post COVID, numbers were a little lower, however, did not detract from the excitement on the street as the people participating were of every age and size imaginable, with professional athletes, amateurs, and people dressed up in weird and wonderful ways to raise money for charity, each adding a touch of colour to what is always an incredible experience for all present.

This year, the event took place on Sunday, October 9th 2022, under a clear blue autumnal sky, starting at 09:30 in front of the People’s Place, and finishing also in front also in front of the People’s Place, with the cut off time set at 16:00 for the individual marathon runners. For the team relays, the official cut-off time for the published results was 5 hours 30 minutes, so the challenge was on for all four IBSB teams to come in under this time. The clock was ticking!

The relay itself attracted close to 200 teams this year, with the first three members of the team running a 10km leg, and the final team member running 12km. As a member of the Senior Prefect team, I can honestly say that the event was a great success. The relay was filled with energy, camaraderie, and a healthy spirit of competition, making it a truly memorable experience for all involved.

The event is organised essentially to promote and encourage people to live a healthy and active lifestyle. It was also organised, however, to raise much needed funds and to spread awareness for twenty key charitable organisations, such as Help Autism, Magicamp, and Hospice Casa Sperantei, to name just a few. Our school, which works support Help Autism as one of the seven charities supported through our CAS programme, contributed to this event further with student volunteers out on course helping to provide refreshments and foot snacks for the body and words of encouragement for the mind, as the exhausted runners passed by.

IBSB has been entering student and teacher/staff teams in the Bucharest Marathon for the past 12 years, with three teacher/staff teams and one senior prefect team entered for 2022. It was quite an experience for both teachers and students to run side-by-side, helping to close the gap and tighten the bond between teachers and students, high fiving each other as they passed by and calling out words of encouragement.

The Senior Prefect Team included Andrei Stere, Andrei Vernon, Ilinca Birsan, and myself (Haidar Mrad) running in this order. As the final member running in the team, I had to run the longer twelve kilometre leg.

Waiting at the final transition point, I saw each of the teacher teams come in and head off, growing increasingly impatient. Our Head of School, Mr Peet came in 1st, passing on to Andreea Strambeanu from the office, with Mr Ryan (Geography Teacher) passing on to Mr Hudson (History Teacher) in 2nd position, and Ms Aliviana (Y4 teacher) passing on to Mr Korucuoglu (Computer Science Teacher) in 3rd position. At the final transition, we were in 4th position, but with the final teacher’s team only a few minutes ahead as I headed off determined to make up time.

Out on the course, things seemed to be going well as I found the first 3 kilometres of the race relatively easy to complete, but still no sign of Mr Korucuoglu on the horizon. It was then that I began to hit the wall, sensing that everything seemed to increase in difficulty. Despite this, I kept on at a steady pace completing the twelve kilometres in one hour and twenty minutes. I was especially delighted when at the 8th kilometre, I was met with the familiar faces of our school members from Help Autism, who eagerly provided me with freshly cut slices of apple, a refreshing cup of water, and a packet of magnesium to aid me in the final 4 kilometres of my journey.

What I found most enjoyable about the event was running alongside many people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and physical capabilities. For example, for a large part of my journey, I ran side by side with a father pushing his two children in a wheelchair, which was amazing and encouraged me to keep going even when I was feeling tired and in need of break. This is the nature of sport, which binds people under a common goal.

As humans, we grow through the challenges we face. As students at IBSB, we are encouraged and taught the importance of pushing forward to achieve our goals and become the best possible versions of ourselves. I can certainly say that this event provided an excellent test for my mental and physical resilience and a valuable life experience, which I am sure I will long remember. I can say with some confidence that I now plan to pursue such challenges and experiences more often as move toward achieving my full potential.