How did i get here? One day in August, i was asked “no revenge for CCC?” It did not catch on immediately. I have been lousy with trainings and feeling … blehh. So much for self pity i thought. Kom op! That was how i signed up. I needed to start collecting and improving my UTMB index.
I signed up without much contemplation. Just that little voice saying “yes i can”. I knew though it was a week after Tirana marathon which we have planned since beginning of the year. I was quite determined to just go with the flow. Whatever comes.
And so it was on D’ day, when mother nature gives you lemon🍋, you go make lemonade 🍹.
The whole week it rained. Gertjan says “it’s gonna be muddy eh”. “Uh huh” Ignorant is bliss. I have never done an 84km. And i certainly have not done it in a day like this one. Muddd. Rainnn. Winddd. Wait, did i say mud already?! 2400m does not sound so crazy but it is when it is this muddy. My split times downhill were ‘record breaking’ (7min/km). On some single tracks downhill we were walking, and a guy shouted “it is a crime to walk downhill”
The start. Collected my bib at 545am and went straight to the start line. Totally hassle free. An experienced organiser one can tell. I later found out almost 400 started the 100km race and 99 the 83km.
From the beginning i was jogging. It was dark. It was slow. But it did not bother me. I just went with the flow. A lot of chit chatting. Runners around me. Like a groupie morning hike😃. I was only focused on my foot and light. Run when there is space and when i know what terrain is ahead. Walk when everyone else is. It is a single track after all. And i was the cream in an Oreo cookie. When one spends so much time out there deep-digging, you self-meditate. This time – me believing that i can finish it.
When there were lights (2 hour later) i started paying attention to whose who; 100km or 83km. I mean it is a really long run, and one never know how we could support one another during the run.
Somewhere between km 22 and km 30. My lower back started to twitch. I popped some paracetamols. I had it good between km 10 and 22 where i could run downhill , my reflexes were active, and i had the confidence to maneuver the rocks and uneven surfaces, careful not to step on roots. Sure footedness and balance, i had it. But that didn’t stay with me for too long.
It got tougher from km32. There were small burst of elevation and it kept drizzling. The legs got heavier and mind fuzzier. I ignore the little -ve voice “…another 50km to go…and already walking? ” Every time there is a sign of stress and a voice to call quit, i said, “Gertjan & Max is waiting for me. Don’t let them down”
Thank goodness it is small.
At km 43. This was the drop bag area. But i have none :(. Miscalculation and totally underestimated the weather condition. Soaking wet and feeling absolutely famish to the bone i just grab all i could see. Cheese sandwich, Ham sandwich, salty crisps, bouillon. I stuffed some TuC crackers in my pocket. Grab a bread with ham and stuffed it in my pocket for onderweg. Nothing needs to be clean at this stage. I did not want to stay too long in the feeding area. I was cold and i need to keep moving. Not paying attention, i walked out from the tent, not paying attention to any signages i just followed the runner in front of me. 500m later i looked at my watch and it said “off course”. Strange. I stopped turned around and saw most of the bibs were for 100km. I ran back to the tent. Yes, and that cost me a km too much 😅.
Gertjan saved me. The rain got heavier and wind blowing hard. The raincoat i had on was a 10,000 Schmerber but just doesn’t cut it anymore. I mean by then, i have been exposed to rainy condition for almost 7-8 hours? Between km 50-53 i had to cross a wide open field. That was when it hit the hardest. I almost gave up. I was so wet and cold i stopped and took out the 1 euro poncho i had with me and put them on. With that you really cannot move faster than just walking. It’s clumsy and flappy. But so i did. For 2km. Walking slowly. Just moving forward. I have to make ways for runners who are still running. Annoying to me of course but hey… it’s still a race huh. By then i have zero expectation and only hope that at every tarmac crossing i could see him. So desperate was i. Oh boy was i as happy as a clam when i saw him at km 54. Changed into 3 layers of dry clothes. Almost forgot the glove. And off i went with a pack full of confidence that “i’ve got this”
As i was changing over, i believed 15 runners passed me.
The last 14km. Before i started the race, i had in mind to finish it within 12 hour. My record in UTDS 80km back in 2023 was 11.33 hr. Ambitious perhaps. I was better trained then. And terrain was definitely not this muddy.
My predicted end time was then 7pm. So it would take me 13 hour or more. Countless 100km runners ran past me. How is that for motivation? Well, not. But still gotta hold my head up high. My own race, my own tempo. Goal is to finish, and try not to fall. 😃 i fell only once😉.
By 6.30pm i had to turn on my headlamp. The last 2km i was moving in complete darkness. I was then less calculative with the muddy terrain and went faster like a bull dozer fast. I did not slide. So what makes it more slippery during day time? Well, not. Its in the head. Perhaps. 😏
At km81. Gertjan and Max are there again, in the dark. Waiting with a group of other supporters one with a cowbell. I could see them but they do not know who was coming, as my headlamp was on. I ran to them , powered up with adrenaline, i went on to finish the race. 13.17 hr.
What a brutal race. A day i am glad is fucking over. Since 445am.
meysrunningjourney.com 