Here is the race on the IMRA site.
From the very start it was uphill. I found it very tough. I deliberately brought my iPod loaded up with music. I knew that it was going to be very difficult and I'd have to knuckle down. I ran behind the guys since I knew it would be too much mental pressure for me to match them. I knew I had to go easy and like when I did the 1/2 marathon with jojo and gav it.
Fairly soon we turned right to go up the first mountain, Maulin. I took it handy, quickly going to walk mode. Karl was in front of me for most of the time but I passed him out when others behind me passed both of us out. At the top we turned and then went down. I fairly belted it down but slightly in fear. I wanted to make up the time I spent walking up it. The environment was like going to Mordor muck, stones, roots, uneven surface, steep incline. Eventually I caught up with Neil. I thought, at least I'm with Neil now I can follow his steps without having to constant look at the ground. I start to relax when he hit the deck hard. I thought, yikes, that had to hurt. He bounced back up but I knew I had to make my own route. At the bottom of the incline he let me by, his ankle was not in great shape. Then it was up up and up again. Eventually I got to the top of another mountain only to turn left and then right to go up Djouce. It was back to walking again. I remember Jacques Brel signing in Flemish. I knew I'd messed up on my song choice at that stage. I ended up chatting to a fellow runner for a bit before letting her go on and going solo again.
Eventually I reached the top, at which stage my lower lip was numb with cold and it was just pure cloud cover. After spinning around a rock at the top I turned left to experience a crazy strong side wind. I wondered if I would be blown over by it. I pulled my hat on very tight to my head to stop it flying off. Then it was down again, at a very scary steep incline. More rocks, mud, bushes and the like. It was very hard not to go hurtling down. I had to think, relax - relax. My legs and body were constantly being pounded. It was very unpleasent. Around this stage I was thinking, I've had enough of this. After a while things started to level off a bit.
Then I can across Tom Kelly on his mountain bike, who gave me a drink of water and a gel. Once I popped the gel I began to really feel better. I was in pain and was exhausted but Tom encouraged me to keep trucking. Then there was more steep narrow incline and steep ascent. When was this going to bloody end.
I got to the final decent, must have been about 4 km to go. Even though it was going downhill I really had to dig deep to keep going. I so wanted to just stop. I reflected on how running on these tired legs would build me up for the ultra. I felt awful. In the end I came across the line fast and relieved.
I have just been doing 6km runs home. Clearly that's not going to do it training wise. It's time I started to get training properly.
I can honestly say, if I have to suffer so hard in the big race on the day it's not going to good. I just have to spread the pain over the weeks to come to assure I complete the race and to not feel absolutely awful on the day. It's going to hard enough. Once I get a plan that's realistic I will just do that plan whether I'm with someone training or not. I've ordered my Garmin watch and I can't wait to get it.
Despite having gone through absolute hell today, I do feel the reward of having completed something scary and way beyond my current ability. It proves that I have the mental and physical talent to set my goals and achieve them. I feel really elated by the whole thing!
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