Swim, Run, Walk; For Today; For Tomorrow; For Issos

Anadi and I started the day with a coffee on our balcony and decided on a quick swim; we jogged the mile down to the beach and swam in the soft blue Ionian sea which feels so healing for the body; we changed out of our wet swim wear on the empty beach with stormy rain clouds billowing above us, and walked back up to the path to the road. Stefanos from Stefanos place where we are staying was driving by that very minute; he stopped, picked us up and turned around to take us back home, just before the rain started to fall...

He saved us from getting drenched in the torrential downpour which then ensued. We stood on our balcony and watched as the scenery disappeared from view and it was then that we decided to change plans; so instead of setting off for Issos sandy beach, where we had entered a 7k challenge, and finding breakfast en route, we decided we would eat here.

A delicious omelette later, cooked for us by Nikos, we headed off with the rain having abated.

We then drove towards the sun, and we didn't see rain again until after we had run our race ...

We travelled south to a new land; a different part of the island, we stopped on the way and ate panacotta and drank coffee by the sea - a day...

Anadi and I arrived at Issos sandy beach at 2.30pm with the race scheduled for 4pm; we clambered up to the top of a sand dune and surveyed the scene, a sandy beach stretching for miles, a beautiful lake behind us, mountains rising in the distance; the swooping dunes all around us.

It was then that we realised how hard this race was to be; and we were thankful to have entered the 7k event rather than the 21k!

Runners were already arriving and the registration table was being erected; we could see the start and finish area on the beach and decided to have a wander first as it was still too early to collect our numbers; the sand looked very sandy; very soft underfoot; we started to realise what we had let ourselves in for!

We collected our numbers and were pinning them on when George Tsiolis from Kassiopi came over; his excellent English meant that we had a good catch up, we saw a friend of his who runs ultra races and with his own 106k event looming we started exploring what it takes to want to run ultra races and then to run them...

Many adjectives to describe ultras and the desire to run them - including 'crazy' :) - came into the dialogue... !

Having run a couple ultra events myself, my experience was also one of a deep level of peace; nothing else to do but put one foot in front of the other, connected to the earth, in the step, in nature, in the elements. I experienced a purity of being, doing nothing else at all except running....

And today this race was also was symbolic of nature, of running and walking and swimming in nature; of being at one with the natural land.

Before the running race begun, we all gathered on the beach to see the famous endurance swimmer Charalompos Theodosis, a member of Hellenic marathon swimming set off to swim a mile to an island and back again...

This was a very short swim for him; His achievements include swimming around Manahatten island; as well as a swim in the Baltic Sea from Germany to Denmark.

Twenty eight year old Charalompos, is sponsored by Chandris Hotels, and his most recent success was to rank 7th in the men's main class (16-39 years) in the 26th Lake Zurich swim with a time of 9 hours 6minutes - however due to the strong currents all of the swimmers actually swum 3k more than the advertised 26.4km....

So today was a very short swim for him ...

A boat floated beside him as he waded into the water and then he set off with the boat travelling alongside him; we all clapped and cheered as he disappeared into the choppy sea...

I then resumed my pre race strides and stretches in anticipation of 'The Dunes', while I was doing this, I overheard George advising Anadi to run as fully on the whole of the foot as possible in the sand as it would give better traction, rather than trying to run on the toes; it was good advice and having heard him speak, I practised a bit with a few strides before the gun.

How right he was, it was certainly a better way to run over this particular terrain...

The race was an incredible experience; it felt hard to me right from the start due to the terrain; it is quite simply hard to run in sand! There were moments when it was a little firmer underfoot and there was vegetation and stones; oh the relief to be able to get a firm foot hold for a stretch, and then back to the dunes... the final kilometre of so was along the beach and so the sea had created a firmer running track; dodging the waves wasn't always possible, but wet feet was a better option than leaping to the soft dry sand ...

I had gone off with enthusiasm, and at 2k was actually feeling very strong; but the enthusiasm and the dunes took their toll and by 4k I was pretty 'done in'; fortunately endurance is my strength and so I settled into the pain; I kept just on top of it and kept committed. Anadi caught me up at about 5k and we raced one another to the finish; me just pipping him to the post - I was the first female to cross the line and 7th overall - Anadi 8th overall ...

We were very exhausted at the finish, and the cup of electrolyte drink that we were handed, was most welcome welcome! after drinking it down, I took my shoes and socks off and waded into the sea.

I swum around in water that was so welcome, in my running kit, Anadi joined me and we swam out in the warm water; noticeably warmer this Southern end of the Island than the end we are staying...

As we swam and recovered from the effort, I appreciated so much this sport; the bringing together of folk; the body being stretched, the feeling of the life force coursing through me, the lungs breathing deeply; in nature, the sun on our backs, the sound of the sea ...this beautiful land being appreciated by us who ran and those sitting on the beach, swimming in the sea; walking through the dunes and around the lake ....

We made our way to the car; a quick change , and we were back to get photos of George who was running the 21k; and to see the winner of the half marathon cross the line.

We then went back in time to see Charalompos return to a crowded beach cheering and clapping him loudly. he appeared as if he had not swum a stroke, so relaxed was he when he emerged and held up the banner for us all to see...

'Swim Run Walk for today for tomorrow for Issos'

The man behind this event Nikos Perros, grew up in Issos sandy beach; he recalled to me how he played all around these glorious dunes and around the lake and all along the sea shore when he was 9 and 10 years old.

He is an important member of the Issos community; a sports teacher in the school in the past, teaching George Tsiolis, when he was young ...

George finished 4th in the 21k event today and told me over a celebratory beer after the race that he plans to compete in a Triathlon in Ipsos on sept 14th and then the renowned Hercules mountain marathon on September 21st, in preparation for 106 kilometre ultra event at the end of October!

It will be interesting to continue the ultra dialogue with him after the event...

Nikkos also coached the beach hand ball team for Corfu, over the years producing 7 olympic athletes for the Greek National Team.

Therefore it seems natural with sport and the Issos beach both lifelong passions for him; that for the past 15 years he has been planning an event that would support the protest against the government building hotels and taking away this beautiful land.

The people want to save the park and the eco system it is built on.

He wanted the race to take place all around Issos sandy beach and for the race have 'participation' as its core value.

One hundred and twenty clubs from Corfu now lend their support to the race and its cause:

To bring awareness to the people of the government's desire to sell the land.

It is therefore a different type of a race; it is symbolic and about protection of their park; of their land; it is an event to raise awareness of what the government are trying to do, in wanting to sell the land - and to prevent this happening.

The event is supported by many people from the community who marshalled and took photos and registered us for the race; as well as having the full support of Hellenic Red Cross team who looked after us all.

This is the second running of the race and with an atmosphere to savour and the energy of the community and those who came to participate it is evident that its voice will grow louder and be heard by those who need to hear.

Thank you so much Nikos Fagogenis for his photos which I so appreciate being able to use for this article

For race information and a list of results please go to the website of the race www.korissos.gr

Thank you to Marina Doukaki for these photos of Anadi and I in the final straight!