13/12
I flew out on the Friday before the race and wrote to myself on the flight to Barcelona that
"The race is tomorrow and I am flying now. I have put off writing anything for a while, although I am not sure why. Training dropped off three weeks ago instend of the intended one week taper. Unfortunately , I got his by my first cold in years. in the week before a race I tend to just do walking and yoga. Chrissy and Nadia looked after me well, with plenty of care, sympathy and comfort foods. I recommend Nadia's Chicken soup. The previous week I was in Dortmund for a team meeting and was so mentally tired I just rested. I think that I am well rested and just need to focus on the race. The strategy is to maintain 8km per hour, tactically is to take a Maurten gel and a bottle of Maurten carb drink per hour. The direction changes once every three hours which well break things up nicely."
Sounds great doesn't it? I even got one of the emergency exit seats with plenty of leg room
As Tyson used to say, "Everyone has a plan until they are hit in the mouth"
The flight and the taxi to hotel went well, then it all start to fall apart. There was a Whatsapp group of mainly British runners and I foolishly assumed we were all in the same hotel. Therefore I assumed we could have a pre race meal. Nah....if you want that you need to organise better. Daysey was wandering about and Gill Thomas had gone to the poolbar which was closed. In the end Ian & Gill Thomas and myself spent a while wandering around a Spainish shopping centre before going to a Subway. GPS don't really work indoors and the digital guide were all offline. Have you tried asking where Subway is in Spain. They all think you are looking for the undergound trains. I blame American cultural imperialism. I aint never had a Subway before, so that at least was an experience. Personally I would have prefered Tapas or a paella, but I am always happy to go with the crowd. Well unless they are Nazis and there is a lot of them about now.
The next morning we all had breakfast and then got a taxi to the racetrack at around tenish. The tables were first come first served. After getting my number I looked around and saw the Great Danny Hawkins. I first met Danny in 2021 where he stormed to a sub 27hour finish at Spartathlon. Also there was Wendy Whertey who I last saw at the last Spartathlon. They were both supporting Mark Felton on his first 24hour. So we had a good little set up for the British team. Then the Irish turned up, Anto and Anne and a couple of other runners. A couple of other familar faces arrived, Jon and Shirley Steele, I have seen them in absolutely ages.
I was thinking this will go well. The weather was ok, no wind or rain forescats. I had my kit organised in my suitcase, so well organised that Danny commented on my bags of kit for each of the four six hours, plus bags for cold weather. I also had my food organised and Gill volunteered to preparing my water bottles out.
There was the usual annoying annoucer babbling away all the time. You can give some people microphne and they really won't shut the fuck up.
The race started and I settled into my slow and steady pace. I got told off for being to close to the inside and slowing the speedy runners down. I moved out to land two and three and was not really in the way. then of course some of the walkers were annoying me...it is what it is and one just has to go around them.
I had a few nice chats with the fellow UK and Irish runners and the first turn around at three hours arrived with me noticing. the sun started setting and the temparture started dropping. I added layers, but it didn't seem to help. I had a super warm top in my kit as will as bin liners, but I just didn't get them out and put them on. Lesson 1 use the warm clothes that you bring!
At six hours I was starting to feel a niggle at the top of my right foot. At this point I had planned to change clothes, but I simply forgot. Lesson 2 Change clothes on schedule!
At eight hours the niggle became a pain and I struggled to run. I forced myself to sprint half a lap an jog the rest. I was hoping the pain would go away. some time I find my body gives up telling me there is something wrong and pain single just disappers. No such luck this time.
I treated it with volteren, again this didn't work. I was thinking the shoes was too tight and the laces where causing the issue, but perhaps it was the change in the foot structure after breaking my ankle last year. Either way I had a fresh pair of shoes in my suitcase. Lesson 3 if you don't change shoes you won't know if that helps.
I moaned at Danny about the foot and he responsed with "it is a good job you are a tough old bastard then" I just didn't feel it though.^No idea where that inner core of toughness has gone. I seem to be softer than a marshmellow at the moment.
By ten hours I was really done. I kept trying to go so at least I would get a twelve hour time. but no metter I just couldn't get going. It was really annoying and I just sat around shivering like the fat old man that I am.
I took a trip to the airport with Daysey who like Ian had a great race and managed to get my flight switched so got home early.
I have resolved to focus on 50km races and fast to shift the 10-15kg to get down to a proper race weight
