Petra's Posts (2)

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Finished first Ultra

After my failed attempt in April I finally found the guts to try again, this time with a better understanding of what it takes to run so far. 

This time it was a 70km trail run through the forest out onto the coast through beautiful country. The day was perfect, light rain as we hit the start line and then clearing up during the day.

This time I had no watch on and just decided to run by feel. Sometimes I feel like the watch stresses me and I keep looking at the time and heart rate, so this time it would all be by how the body felt.

The body felt great, but the first 30km I was feeling fantastic. The check points were at peoples summer houses and they had got the BBQ going and we had grilled halumi and sausages. I didn't want to leave the check points.There were 5 check points and each one was better than the last, the final one even had a band playing.

I started running with a group of 12 and at 30km we split into a group of 6. The hardest part was when we hit the coast and had to run on the rocks.....run might be overkill more like climb up the rocks. The trail was quite technical with many roots and stones to trip on.

By 35km I now hit the wall and remember from my April run exactly that same feeling. I started to run by myself and kept talking to myself, basically saying it will pass, one foot in front of the other. A group of 3 then caught up to me and said why don't I join them so I fell in behind them and just watched their feet and kept on their heels. 

At 49km the wall finally lifted and the feeling was amazing...all I can describe it as was like on a cloudy day and then the clouds part and the sun comes out and that feeling of when the warm sun hits your skin. 

I left the group of 3 behind and caught up to another guy who was an experienced long distance runner. If it wasn't for him I really don't think I would have made the last 20km. We talked the whole way, encouraging each other. We got lost twice, which is part and parcel of this race. With 3km to go he then told me we have to do it in under 20 minutes to secure a time under 8 hours 30 min. I just clapped my hands and said lets go. 

Those last 3km were the most painful ever, but my feet had their own momentum and just kept going. Crossing the finishing line was unreal and tears of joy started to fall after realizing I had finally achieved it in a  time of 8 hours 25 minutes. 

Ater that it was pretty much down hill, I drove 40 minutes home and sat on the toilet for 3 hours. All that sugar finally taking its toll no doubt.

Not to mention my feet which suffered and I am now dealing with inflammation under my foot which has left me not being able to run. The Naprapath I have is great and he said he will have me running again. 

For now it is cycling that is keeping me going while I take a break from running.

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50 Miles defeated me

Well it was race time on Saturday for my first ever 50 mile attempt and I woke up to the worst snow storm and could not believe my eyes. There was heavy snow falling and on our way to the race there were cars stuck on the road and traffic jams and loads of tress fallen across the road. When I got to the race they then said they had to delay it for 2 hours as they had to clear the track from trees. We were also concerend about the amount of wet snow that was dropping out of the trees.

I then had 2 hours for my brain to try and adjust to the conditions which were never ever expected and I felt defeated before I even started. I had great support who talked to me under those 2 hours.

Start time and we were away. The track was horrific, wet snow which turned to slush and a muddy bog through the forest. My feet were wet the entire time, the mud nearly took my shoes straight off my feet and the snow was falling off the tress on my head. By 30km I was actually feeling good and coming into the station at 3 hours 40min I was on time and started to feel confident. My heart rate was right where I wanted it to be, my time was perfect, I was eating all the time (power bar, wine gums, chocolate, meatballs, salty crackers, banana) and drinking well (maybe to well as I needed the toilet twice) and I felt generally fine. The next 10km I started to feel it in my legs, but still felt good.

When I hit the 44km mark I then hit the wall, I am not sure what happened but I think it was my mind that just shut down. I felt lonely as I had not seen anyone in quite sometime. Yes my legs hurt, but my mind started to think about the extra hours I was going to have to spend in the forest in the dark, alone with my head lamp on as we had started 2 hours later and I was not prepared for that. I then called my boyfriend and chatted to him for awhile. I then gritted my teeth and ran to the 50km mark where people started to pass me.

I felt defeated and couldn't think straight. I am not sure why I gave up at 50km as I had come into the station with a time of 6hours 30min which was fine. I was still running and on my feet. All I can say is that the things that play through your mind are very strong and it is easy to get confused. I worked out when I got home that my pace was still fine at about 7.50/km at 50km, so what was the problem really. 

What I will take away from this:

1. Have support people you can call if you are by yourself, it gets lonely.

2. I should have asked someone to join me at 60km to run with me so I had company in the dark and something to look forward to.

3. Prepare better mentally for all conditions and scenarios that could occur, so as not to be taken by surprise on the morning of the race. Also to prepare better mentally for those walls that you hit and the tricks your mind tries to play on you.

4. Leg strength, leg strength...work on this until you can't work it it no more.

The disappointment is great and I am nursing my pride today and telling everyone that is it no more for me.

 To tell you how confused I was on the way home from the race my boyfriend told me I could enter the marathon in June and I told him no I won't make that and he looked at me and said but you have just run over a marathon in the snow, who does that and you had better not tell anyone they will think you are crazy.

 

 

 

 

 

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