One of the very first things I did when I found out I would be in Romania was to look up if there were any races I could hop in to. Being in a new country, I knew I would be indulging in the local cuisine, including pastries and definitely chocolate. I wanted to keep my fitness up but I didn’t want to train for hours on end in a new country, so I chose to do a half-marathon and I found one that was starting practically in my backyard.
The Timișoara 21k looked perfect as my first international race and my first race of the year. Promoted as “flat and fast,” I was confident that a few training runs in Bend at elevation would be all I needed. Additionally, I completed 10k and 15k training runs in Timișoara to be extra sure, and I felt great and ready to tackle the distance.
packet pick-up
They had plenty of options for packet pick-up in the days leading up to the race with options on Friday and Saturday. Pickup was held at Sportguru in the Iulius Mall which is centrally located and perfect for any last minute race day needs. They also hosted a Saturday shake-out run, which sadly, I did not get to, but it looked to be a great turnout! You also had the option of picking up your packet on race day, which is convenient for those with busy work, family, and travel schedules.
The staff were incredibly helpful, and many spoke English, which I truly appreciated since I so often depend on Google Translate. Although I didn’t receive my confirmation email, they graciously resent it to me, and I received my packet within minutes. The goody bag was quite hefty! After inspection, I realized that we each received three full sized beverages: a YoPro protein shake, a Pepsi, and a blue Gatorade (which is the only acceptable flavor, imo). There were quite a few snacks in there as well, such as cookies, a granola bar, and a protein bar. Everyone also received a technical race t-shirt which was included in the race fee. After stopping by the store to grab some electrolytes and an energy gel for race day, I felt fully prepared for the following morning.
race day
I was able to walk to the start/finish line area which was in Piața Libertății and, once again, very convenient. The start time wasn’t super early, with the event being held at 9AM. For my first race, I wanted to keep things simple and avoid complex navigation and an absurd wake-up time, and I truly enjoyed the smoothness and ease of the overall experience. There was a group warm-up, and even though the instructions were in Romanian, I managed to follow the movements and participate. I also appreciated how the race announcer effectively switched between Romanian and English. Soon, we were all heading into the race corral and the start line. A 10k race also started at the same time as the 21k, so it was quite busy and crowded. I haven’t raced a proper city race for quite some time, so I was not used to being shoulder to shoulder with people at the start.
The course was 2- 10kish loops around the city and there was a time limit of 3 hours. If you did not make the first loop in an hour and a half, they would pull you off the course. Timişoara is not necessarily that big, so I could see how organizationally two loops would be easier for the race coordinators to manage. They did have to block off major roadways and it was cool to be able to spread out into the streets after the congestion of the start line.
There were aid stations at the 5.5K, 11K, 16.5K marks and I was excited to see what they would have as far as fuel since I have only heard great things about European aid station snacks. They offered your usual citrus, bananas, apples, pretzels, and chips. There was also these small Nutella wafer cookies, a waffle cracker type thing, and chocolate. For my first stop, I had a small cookie, an apple slice, and some water and then went on my way. I chugged the water way too fast and for the next few minutes felt the water sloshing about.
I knew I was going out way too fast, but I was averaging my 15k pace and was trailing behind the 2:10 pacer group. I always had an aversion to running with a pacing group because I don’t like to feel pressured to keep up with the group and oftentimes, they don’t stop at the aid stations. After a few years of just running trail races, I can now focus on fueling and listening to my body than be super concerned about a time. I stopped counting the number of half-marathons I completed and knew this wasn’t going to be a PR race, so I really wanted to keep it casual. I still wanted to perform decently, though.
As I passed through the start/finish line area, the crowd’s energy reenergized my motivation for another lap. I took a moment to refuel with some water and cookies before continuing on my way. By then, I was starting to feel a low-grade headache, so around the 13k mark, I decided to use my energy gel. I chose Gold Nutrition, a brand I had tried once before during my 15k training run here. After sampling the gel twice, I found its consistency to be decent—thinner than GU—but the taste was quite different. I tried two flavors: watermelon and strawberry lime, both of which were SUPER sweet. I managed to consume about three-quarters of it before deciding to discard the rest. Despite the recent issues the brand faced, I still prefer Spring Energy as my go-to gel.
Around the 15k mark, I definitely hit the wall and started walking. The jovial vibe during the first 10k was gone since a majority of the runners were already done their race and only the half-marathoners were left on the course. I could also feel a mountaineering injury that I sustained over the summer start to bother me, so I took a minute to recollect. I alternated between running at a decent pace and walking during the last 3 miles. I was still going to finish around my projected time and I was happy with that. After so many years running, I know pushing it and re-injuring myself isn’t worth it.
One of the best moments of the race for me was an interaction I had with a fellow runner. She was already done her race, as she was wearing a half-marathon bib and already had her medal, and she was cheering me on and talking to me in Romanian. I didn’t understand her, but I think she was telling me to run with her! She says, “You have 150 meters to go!” I reply, “Perfect!” and then she says, “Come on!” and starts to run next to me and all I say is, “OKAY!” She runs about 20 feet with me and then trails off, but it’s the moments like that make the running community so special.
where’s the food?
At the finish, I received my medal and went to look for food and water. I was a little confused with the finish set-up because nothing was laid out in a way that was intuitive. The food was at one table and the drinks were in an entirely different area. As far as I know, there were only little cups of water at the end and they were also pouring generous cups of Pepsi. I took the Pepsi, which would not have been my first choice, but at that point, I just needed a drink.
The food that was laid out was the same food that was available at the aid stations. So I basically stood at the table and shoveled as much food as I could in my mouth. I will say that the chocolate was probably the best thing I had after the race. I wish I knew what brand it was because you could tell that it was really premium chocolate. YoPro, who was a sponsor of the race, also gave out protein yogurt cups, and that was a good post-race snack.
I was disappointed in the lack of food at the end, as I have gotten used to the post-trail race spread of burritos, burgers, and beer. I did, however, get a few pastries and cappuccino at a local cafe called La Focacceria, which were VERY good. The brownie could have been a bit larger, but I digress.
the takeaway
My projected time was estimated between 2:15 and 2:30. I finished in 2:17:01. I am totally happy with that as a result. Not my worst and not my best, and for only having a few solid runs under my feet, I think I performed well. I don’t focus as much on the time because it wasn’t an overall goal of mine when I came to Romania, as I just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere and experience a new city. I know my body is strong and I am grateful that I have been running for as long as I have.
The race was truly brought to life by the organizers and volunteers. I even had the chance to volunteer, which deserves its own post, but I can say that they welcomed me warmly and were genuinely excited to have me there. There were about 130 volunteers on race day, some were out multiple days for 8+ hours a day, and they really brought the energy. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they cheered on the runners, and it was heartwarming to see their joy in receiving waves and smiles in return.
There are certain poignant moments that reinforce my belief in the power of sports to transcend cultural barriers. In those instances, the shared experience of competition and camaraderie fosters a unique bond among people from diverse backgrounds. Regardless of nationality, language, or traditions, the universal language of sport has the ability to unite individuals, creating an atmosphere where differences are set aside in favor of a common purpose. Whether it’s the electrifying energy of the crowd or the profound connections formed among the running community, these experiences serve as a testament to the way sports can bridge gaps and promote understanding. They remind us that, at our core, we are all driven by the same passions and emotions, showcasing the remarkable ability of sport to bring humanity together in ways that few other activities can.
Thank you Timișoara, Sportguru, and Yolo Events for a wonderful day!!
Run. Sip. Serve. 