I wish I had more time…

One of the biggest challenges this year has arrived. On Friday evening we were heading north to Belfast. Usually before marathons I was calm but not this time. That was no marathon, that was 12 hours run, during which I could cover more than two marathons. Yep, I was nervous. It wasn’t for the first time that I knew how long I will run. Was pacing already marathons for particular time but now was different. Now I haven’t got the clue how much distance I will cover. And that was the point. Go for whole 12 hours and get as much distance in your legs as possible. Till now my longest distance was 100 km which I have finished in Portumna in 8:51. So, now I will run 3 more hours, hoping for the best…

Race is called Energia24. I was planning to do 12 hours run but besides that one there were three different distances or type of runs. There was 24 hours run for all those crazy runners ;-), 24 hours relay – 4 runners team and the last group was running 100 K. Festival of running was starting Friday evening. 6:45 PM runners started their race for 24H, relay, 100 K and the first group of 12 hours. I wanted to run fresh, not after whole day of work so decided that I will start my shift in the morning but still to the track on Friday evening to check the atmosphere of the place and to see all these determine runners. Hard to describe what I saw that Friday. I saw happiness, focus, determination and on that stage not yet tiredness. I was admiring them. John, Don, Thomas, Brenda that just some of them… Everyone of them was prepared to fight with their weaknesses, pain and much more. And I was joining them next day. When I was on the track trying to pick up my racing pack and the number. Unfortunately there was no one who could registered me. That meant showing 15 minutes earlier and making sure that I will be able to pick up all needed. So, Friday evening was spent on the chat to Ed – Energia24 organizer and watching glorious battle. Emotional? Yes. I knew that in less than 12 hours I will be on that track running with all these ‘heroes’. Went back to hotel to prepare for the race. Four sets of tops and buffs, two sets of running shorts and socks. At this stage I was wreck tired and stressed out. Went trough nutrition list with Bozena. All prepared: me, Bozena and the food. I was well after midnight when I went to bed and felt asleep…

Big day has arrived. Coffee, three toasts slices, quick shower and I was ready. What I really meant was ‘not ready for 12 hours of run’. I don’t think you are ready ever for 12 hours run. Especially when it is your first one. At 6 AM we have arrived to the track. We had plenty of time for my registration and to set the tent. When I was on the briefing Bozena started her tiring job. Job of a supporting crew. She was great from the beginning till the last second of the race and even after that when I was in bits locking my wounds. Set the food station with all necessary supplies for me. All put in order to ease my breaks as well as for her to know exactly what I have used and what needs to be refilled. Now I think that it is actually her who was doing the more demanding job during these 12 hours. I was just running in circles, nothing else. She was helping me, nurturing me, trying to do everything for me. I know that runners always appreciate their support crew but I think that support crew need to be mentioned more in reports, in discussion. It is them who actually keep you going and deserve much more attention not the runners. 6:45 AM 18th of July I have started my first 12 hours run. Plan? Try to cover 120 km, when running to average speed of 11 km/h. 120 km in 12 hours was giving me coverage of 10 km in each hour. Very difficult. But when was I setting my goal I haven’t got the clue how tough the race will be. And again has learned that keeping the pace slower is more important than speeding up on the beginning and being very tired later. During such a race when you are tired it is very hard to recover. Back to me not running as I suppose to. Started much faster than planned. On the watch I was reading pace well below 5 min/km. I knew that on some stage that will bite me in the ‘backside’. Was feeling ok, was really grateful to Bozena for setting the food station. Box was even signed with ‘mad IT runner’ and my name (still that hasn’t stopped other runners from using my stash). My 12 hours shift started slowly. Everyone but me was pacing themselves. Quite quick I was in the lead with couples laps to spare. I could control my 12 hours shift but haven’t got a clue how good were the runners running during night. And organizers didn’t want to give that information away. Maybe that was smart move preventing day runners from trying to catch the distance of the previous participants. Only info you were getting was amount of the laps you did and even that wasn’t always correct. From that you had to work out yourself distance already covered. In fairness I wasn’t paying attention to amount of laps I was running with the watch. That was apparently a mistake cause GPS grid covering that track is off and adding up distance. For me laps were just indication how big is my advantage. In the first 5-6 hours advantage was fast building up. I was running quite fast having in mind that there is still another same time period to run. At this stage I haven’t eaten much yet. Plenty of liquids but not much solid food. I knew that I will be slowing down soon. Strength slowly was deteriorating. During first couple of hours my pace was as high as relay runners but that would change later. Cause of the weather I had to change my tops 5 times (got just 4) in the morning was sunny but after that cloudy with rain going on and off. Bozena has force me to stop and eat some rice. All together I ate just 5 jaffa cakes, half of protein bar, half of energy bar and 4 spoons of rice. Not much. I think now that I should maybe more often to keep my energy level higher rather than waiting until you are hungry and missing the strength to go on. Last 2 hours were really tough. Bozena told me that my watch is of by 4 km, I was thinking of the distance which I would like to cover. At my pace I should be able to do that without any problem but then something has happened. I couldn’t run, wanted just to stop, mind tricks. Was that the famous wall? If yes, that was my first time I have experience that. I think I have already run 110 km. Bozena convinced me that I had to go on. Decided that I won’t stop will just walk for the moment. Have walked with Bozenka for about 2.5 laps and then started to run again. I wouldn’t call that running but I was going faster than walking. At the end I wanted to finish strong but body was so tired that my last fast try was just 20 second before finishing. Stopped, knew that I achieved my goal even with that 4 km difference. Now had to wait for Ed to get to me with measuring wheel. These couple of minutes were very long. Lasted for ages. Couldn’t stand so I lay down covered by thermal blanket. Apparently runner on the floor covered with thermal blanket is an alarm. Suddenly by me there was two members of medical stuff. They thought that I was collapsing but I was just laughing. Had to wait for race referees to measure everybody distance from the beginning of the lap. First 24 hours runners, after that us – 12 hours. So, it took some time for Ed to arrive with measuring wheel to take my distance. After that I had get up and limp back to our tent. And must say, changing your clothes after long run is the most difficult and awkward thing to do. I was in pain, knew that I had blisters, muscles were very tight. I did 121 km running but now I was barely moving. It took me about 25 minutes to get into dry clothes and now I had to walk about 50 meters to tent where medal presentation was organized. Ouch, ouch… That was me going to that tent, passing others. Cause I haven’t got a clue about times night shift runners got I didn’t know what was my final position. All I knew was that I have covered most km from runners who were running during day. Plenty of laughter during the ceremony, tired faces but everyone was happy. Awards were given away for relays – great new record set by A team from Dublin Bay Running Club, 24 h race for men and women – both well over 100 miles mark. After that was the one which I was waiting for 12 hours. First woman – just couple of km shorter than me. And… men. I wasn’t on the third place, wasn’t on the second place. So, there was always option that I was below 4th but when Ed started to introduce winner of the category he just have mentioned that this person wanted to be sure of the track location, number pick up and all the race details cause of that arrived on the track 10 hours earlier to check all of that. After that I knew that he was talking about me… First win in the important venue. Nice… Have covered over 121 km. More than happy… I won’t achieved anything if not for my Wife – Bozena. She won that medal with me.  And I think she deserve it more than me…

Big challenge, big lesson… Learn from that and continue what both of us doing. Go team ‘mad IT runner’.

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