On June 16, a unique sports record will be achieved in Vilnius – a marathon (42 km 195 m) and a half marathon will be run on the highest open observation deck in Lithuania, located on the Vilnius Television Tower. The goal of this symbolic run is to draw public attention to the emotional health of young people and encourage open conversation about emotional difficulties.
Athlete Vaidas Žlabys will aim to complete the marathon distance on the TV tower's observation deck, located at an altitude of 170 meters - that is, 540 laps around the tower's narrow circle. At the same time, Živilė Šerkšnaitė, a former volunteer of "Vaikų linija", will run a half-marathon - 270 laps.
The record attempt will be monitored and the record will be registered by the "Record Academy", the official record registration agency. "The large number of laps and running on a circular track, which is more than 5 times shorter than the standard Olympic stadium running track, will be a real challenge for the athletes' vestibular apparatus," says Gintaras Pocius, head of the "Record Academy".
Not only a physical, but also an emotional marathon
Children's Line volunteers respond to more than 250 calls and text messages from children every day. These conversations are about anxiety, fears, relationship difficulties, bullying, loneliness, or even the desire to stop living.
"The children who contact the Children's Line show how many internal 'kilometers' they run in their thoughts and feelings. Talking about difficulties is difficult, so it is extremely important to have adults around who are able to listen and support," says Dr. Jurgita Smiltė Jasiulionė, a psychologist at the Children's Line.
According to the initiator of the run, athlete Vaidas Žlabys, even in the most difficult circle of life, it takes courage to talk about the most difficult thoughts and feelings. "This project is about an invitation to survive, to talk, to move even when it's difficult. You are not alone," says the multiple member of the Lithuanian running team.
Živilė Šerkšnaitė, who will also be aiming for the record, adds that this run is for those who run inside. "For those for whom every day is a fight - not with the world, but with themselves. For those who are silent, although they are screaming inside. For everyone who wants to know: does anyone care about me? Yes. You do," says Ž. Šerkšnaitė.
