tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274236992024-03-07T15:45:40.922-08:00The Poetic RunnerPoetic, and prosaic, ramblings on running and races.
After all, curro ergo sum.Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-69470402149803556212022-09-26T15:08:00.019-07:002022-12-13T01:07:08.263-08:00The Warwickshire Ring 111-mile Race<div style="text-align: left;">What: Warwickshire Ring Canal Race (111 miles)<br />When: June 25-26, 2022<br />Where: Coventry, United Kingdom<br />Result: 40 miles</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><i><b>It just felt good to run a race</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>(Ignoring the hard to run pace)<br />In England after all these years!<br />Leaving behind those Crohn's fears,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>I ran with a smile on my face!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Discomfort I vowed to embrace,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>With equanimity and grace,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>As canal sounds blessed eager ears!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>It just felt good.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>First cutoff I did well to chase,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>In this really long footrace,</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>With early miles in high gears.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>(Reminder of those yesteryears!).</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Then came pain. Then to stop the chase</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>It just felt good.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back sometime in the last few months of 2021 Keith Godden, the RD of the Canal races, posted on FB that a one-off event, the 111-mile Warwickshire Ring Canal Race (WRCR), would be held on June 25, 2022. Unlike the other more famous canal races, this one would have checkpoints 23-26 miles apart, a la the Thames Ring 250M, and it would start and end in the Coventry Canal Basin.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Excited? You bet I was. Given my Crohn's 111 miles seemed a tad more achievable than the longer canal races that spanned the distance from 130 miles to 145 miles. I sent in my registration form and <i><b>alea jacta est</b> </i>is what I would have said back then if someone had asked me about the race.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kim was very excited that I had finally signed up for a canal race. She knows how obsessed I am with them and talk about them at any given opportunity. She was even more excited when I invited her to join us for the trip. She would help me with the race and pace me from 75 miles should I make it that far.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our journey to England was uneventful and we landed in Heathrow at around 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 23. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJH0iJcmiVaNfbqkSRSyXoIja_0UqP5y6zINI7L3ld6ajk2EGjNO_4pEb_Mpow24XUd3leXJxoYe9DEUSqpFjRV-KsS1otpJHicJHt_YIS2ed__S_E7ekuwNAtXpt1tL3fq1y9Sn4HZY6NRbidX7EijnKlsZ6pBxaKQEFhuDqxEWg2mLDGQ/s640/Heathrow.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJH0iJcmiVaNfbqkSRSyXoIja_0UqP5y6zINI7L3ld6ajk2EGjNO_4pEb_Mpow24XUd3leXJxoYe9DEUSqpFjRV-KsS1otpJHicJHt_YIS2ed__S_E7ekuwNAtXpt1tL3fq1y9Sn4HZY6NRbidX7EijnKlsZ6pBxaKQEFhuDqxEWg2mLDGQ/w400-h300/Heathrow.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div> (Heathrow airport)</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There was a lot of traffic on the motorways owing to a strike by railway workers (more on that later) and it took a bit longer than usual to make it from the airport to our hotel near Buckingham Palace. We did, though, arrive in time to catch breakfast.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlzz2xfJ5QM5ltxdD5UFQe0PpNY7D1c8Qxs0ckNEigB9IBncxckHRs_UUMX_UWwM_Nu90LdIRoNKAdHh7j3M3fg_kirgVm4GU8nSK7qZgE9mrvtGQkla4U5-8hDMYQKFRkc_EdiEwqMRraXePub9HIQU3X-kAmoByMCl2bAR8X6uA8RbHGg/s640/Rubens.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlzz2xfJ5QM5ltxdD5UFQe0PpNY7D1c8Qxs0ckNEigB9IBncxckHRs_UUMX_UWwM_Nu90LdIRoNKAdHh7j3M3fg_kirgVm4GU8nSK7qZgE9mrvtGQkla4U5-8hDMYQKFRkc_EdiEwqMRraXePub9HIQU3X-kAmoByMCl2bAR8X6uA8RbHGg/w400-h300/Rubens.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> (The Rubens)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We freshened up in our rooms and headed out to check out paintings in the National Gallery and then wandered around that area. We also showed Kim Covent Garden. We ate a very light lunch as we had a 6 p.m. reservation for dinner in our hotel's Indian restaurant. We all dressed up in our finest clothes and enjoyed some good Indian food that evening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF1uQX99dZ2uAHPQ2QjB8nmYxFEPcLlKqhfhqUoYoxfqletyrdvoZn3SDLaGSuG2YK6TXG6kdVjJz34sUIJEoVJBCfFpnvCDERrppaicqPEyVXhQY7-gwcgZFZNEC9-g2uwlaeU-PWHACxj-JFMZPm4FJzQz_TsGu_eSn6sElWRzlLklrLw/s640/Rubens-Dinner.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF1uQX99dZ2uAHPQ2QjB8nmYxFEPcLlKqhfhqUoYoxfqletyrdvoZn3SDLaGSuG2YK6TXG6kdVjJz34sUIJEoVJBCfFpnvCDERrppaicqPEyVXhQY7-gwcgZFZNEC9-g2uwlaeU-PWHACxj-JFMZPm4FJzQz_TsGu_eSn6sElWRzlLklrLw/w400-h300/Rubens-Dinner.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div> (Dinner in the Rubens)</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The girls all went off to bed almost right away after dinner but I could not sleep owing to a combination of jet lag and worry about how to get to Coventry on Friday given the nationwide rail strike. There was no strike on Friday but I was reluctant to buy two tickets to Coventry lest I find that the trains had been canceled or were late etc. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I chose to find a private taxi to Coventry and chanced upon booking.com. A taxi was eventually arranged for 1 p.m. on Friday. The driver, Hitesh, arrived in a beautiful BMW 5 series and Kim and I were soon on our way to Coventry. Hitesh turned out to be the nicest person. He and I connected on many levels. During the journey he promised to take us back to London no matter where he had to pick us up from - somewhere on the Warwickshire Ring canal route or from back in Coventry depending on how my race went.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our hotel rooms were pretty large and we dumped our bags in our respective rooms and took a cab to the Coventry Canal Basin to check out the Start area.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How familiar it all felt! Kim and I went for a short walk up the canal towpath as I wanted Kim to get a feel for the canal. It really felt like I had come back home!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2vrX8HJKpFRyFKNB605l3QOmUpwqwrAC83SQfazgR1E-Bshp10i-x4pBNcl7dF02e9M-EOqN3rw0gvRNKKQxgwHbjIlSkBY_5gxJrFvjjOcObLzwMmlmzKkaMxvk2oH3udNdFYMAD3FL6hWbEnUbpeMxxAtnnzKQMVj9U_EI7I2Qi5JQQ/s640/WRCR-Start-Evening-Before.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2vrX8HJKpFRyFKNB605l3QOmUpwqwrAC83SQfazgR1E-Bshp10i-x4pBNcl7dF02e9M-EOqN3rw0gvRNKKQxgwHbjIlSkBY_5gxJrFvjjOcObLzwMmlmzKkaMxvk2oH3udNdFYMAD3FL6hWbEnUbpeMxxAtnnzKQMVj9U_EI7I2Qi5JQQ/w300-h400/WRCR-Start-Evening-Before.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div> (The Coventry Canal Basin)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQl45zzms6P9LAWQEHqz5LLxgcmkTs0BihQ8rblYRpfb6nKV5tfWJC0wQHlZcvT3PGKkD-AuB_KKXce7m5evLsaiZ3Nki1bp-lYmXNfRNIn439LHOpn7RsctjCbJ5lAbzhkw3zrYEZl9u5yzXvRTDAu0dCpwzOjj7z_3nDAEBYkpcbMFSXQ/s640/Coventry-Canal.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQl45zzms6P9LAWQEHqz5LLxgcmkTs0BihQ8rblYRpfb6nKV5tfWJC0wQHlZcvT3PGKkD-AuB_KKXce7m5evLsaiZ3Nki1bp-lYmXNfRNIn439LHOpn7RsctjCbJ5lAbzhkw3zrYEZl9u5yzXvRTDAu0dCpwzOjj7z_3nDAEBYkpcbMFSXQ/w300-h400/Coventry-Canal.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWHqV7W_1PG5iASMIqWymelov6g8yd7HfPyy4kCldtPvnK9nWMFN0wRsG27UZwA5ewVG4XmMI-T4fcnytmPiJIdTungadbHpNCyuhXCn3hq-dFnmOLXIN6ntdER2mnZLkbFBu6H-kjY3P9ITH7R8Y-hRk-VJ8p7iAJ2KrnNIT_gQYhFM_-w/s640/Coventry-Canal-Walk.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWHqV7W_1PG5iASMIqWymelov6g8yd7HfPyy4kCldtPvnK9nWMFN0wRsG27UZwA5ewVG4XmMI-T4fcnytmPiJIdTungadbHpNCyuhXCn3hq-dFnmOLXIN6ntdER2mnZLkbFBu6H-kjY3P9ITH7R8Y-hRk-VJ8p7iAJ2KrnNIT_gQYhFM_-w/w300-h400/Coventry-Canal-Walk.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div> (A ramp down to the towpath)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtrxGpBz53Hf9lMYQHlDt8RfUbLS5YWuK2VhVzTlyxhloErtqop5DZXQ0nkIs7WNSi6gEsMGpQzQmcCntv1JS2TvyfSAR2MWyGsfoYnf08ekZ7zFP1LxLCwSq3NYIZ3GXTzA-eFWPRvoyd0_WnmNp-6byKB9JBncwKzhcz3NmFYbtIU9n5w/s640/CC-Walk.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtrxGpBz53Hf9lMYQHlDt8RfUbLS5YWuK2VhVzTlyxhloErtqop5DZXQ0nkIs7WNSi6gEsMGpQzQmcCntv1JS2TvyfSAR2MWyGsfoYnf08ekZ7zFP1LxLCwSq3NYIZ3GXTzA-eFWPRvoyd0_WnmNp-6byKB9JBncwKzhcz3NmFYbtIU9n5w/w300-h400/CC-Walk.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div> (Kim took a photo of me from the back)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We got back to the Basin and found familiar friends and even Keith Godden who was about to set up the table to hand out T-shirts and hoodies that some runners, including I, had ordered. Kim and I picked them up and eventually found a cab to head back to the hotel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA33g-ASa8_lHTl0wv91F_11V_sDiQ2-zLfKFFGvPQNHvxWVh8fc38t_XYN5Bvkj9Y7VaBwhlfiI03YYMSL3aLEmLtiSYs_NBzbo4nq-JaI2nta__b2BnaYSk4XwqarCg7uiH_HNcwGbv4uGUPEs5qu7X7_H_a2zYOWdKn2EbJJD0Skbs8Q/s640/Friends.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA33g-ASa8_lHTl0wv91F_11V_sDiQ2-zLfKFFGvPQNHvxWVh8fc38t_XYN5Bvkj9Y7VaBwhlfiI03YYMSL3aLEmLtiSYs_NBzbo4nq-JaI2nta__b2BnaYSk4XwqarCg7uiH_HNcwGbv4uGUPEs5qu7X7_H_a2zYOWdKn2EbJJD0Skbs8Q/w400-h300/Friends.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> (With Peter Johnson and Kate Hayden)<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g_APoYJMXIcN45_LK-XNpDbZy3rOYNgf6rN_t4gYhKHsrBMTPGdGy7jTtwyGFJNXJ-S2OAamchIegLZ6ZCADaq64EwG6ydqPGAgKgqDX6-fBoAgtx60bp5IHZRxf7OiwTJm-CvvB6HJ05F2eAOUv41pFaJorEzTbs5XeG7MOXRIRAjw0Jg/s640/With-Keith-Godden.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g_APoYJMXIcN45_LK-XNpDbZy3rOYNgf6rN_t4gYhKHsrBMTPGdGy7jTtwyGFJNXJ-S2OAamchIegLZ6ZCADaq64EwG6ydqPGAgKgqDX6-fBoAgtx60bp5IHZRxf7OiwTJm-CvvB6HJ05F2eAOUv41pFaJorEzTbs5XeG7MOXRIRAjw0Jg/s320/With-Keith-Godden.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div> (With Keith Godden, the RD)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We then went out looking for something for Kim to eat. She settled on a burger and fries which we took back to my room where I started working on my drop bag while she ate.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUJXSgl2BfY6WJZmH6tyWEqdZA6sfIvv-TV4r6F2fshV-0XO2qj29Z0pmRbQAOkkY--LH9-bB9dyUTaWHQWy6SZwclhweXz4SxSKnJghwy5ucX6izaOteXPlvmwDuH9bdrF0U24I7cPi74nUTbtpMkPc82QiYaEoP5cphppiXhAWpjVkZrw/s640/Night-Before-WRCR.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUJXSgl2BfY6WJZmH6tyWEqdZA6sfIvv-TV4r6F2fshV-0XO2qj29Z0pmRbQAOkkY--LH9-bB9dyUTaWHQWy6SZwclhweXz4SxSKnJghwy5ucX6izaOteXPlvmwDuH9bdrF0U24I7cPi74nUTbtpMkPc82QiYaEoP5cphppiXhAWpjVkZrw/w300-h400/Night-Before-WRCR.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div> (Getting things organized for the race)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Soon enough everything was where it needed to be and it was time to retire for the night. I could not sleep as thoughts of previous UK races and jet lag conspired to keep my awake. I usually feel alone and vulnerable the night before a big race especially if I am alone in my room. I pinged Kim to ask if she wanted to go for a walk. She had just finished showering and she agreed to do so. She needed to buy a comb anyway so we found this shop that had everything we needed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She went off to her room while I stayed awake reading or watching videos on Youtube. It must have been 2 a.m. or so when I noticed that Kim might be awake (she had checked a Whatsapp message) so I pinged her again and asked her to come to my room if she was awake. She brought the book she was reading and started reading while I tried to sleep. I must have dozed off for the next thing I heard was the sound of the alarm going off at 6 a.m.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had a cup of coffee and got ready soon after. We took our bags down to the lobby where we called for a cab and then checked out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The cab came in a few minutes. While we were waiting Kim and I took a couple of photos. It was race morning!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjap5m0O_3pWOtiwIgR5vZAs2C61hrLeCXlP0qulxCB0Xa13QAeyvHQ7WMlP9kuldAtaIGxPbSLODp1LmWuZ-JJlB0NA_u7miI2jKqgOR0PWovdrkecqmRJpX-JYJiDIx09VNRR2qVguSxQxQhd1YharJwiNFDcjfZt0tnxanOv41UoTHQ2g/s640/Race-Morning-Cab-Wait.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjap5m0O_3pWOtiwIgR5vZAs2C61hrLeCXlP0qulxCB0Xa13QAeyvHQ7WMlP9kuldAtaIGxPbSLODp1LmWuZ-JJlB0NA_u7miI2jKqgOR0PWovdrkecqmRJpX-JYJiDIx09VNRR2qVguSxQxQhd1YharJwiNFDcjfZt0tnxanOv41UoTHQ2g/w400-h300/Race-Morning-Cab-Wait.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpuGMMCXV5tfv-UXA8JhnLNLp6xJB_pWTJgB3xThtTmF6gahDkeXld8ayon3hZ2_V10m1xcDgLAc6ADilAethvtBr064-bxSmItuxZO9w-DrQcRhfqj7YXG_kC2bYhPVLsAnyZHNwDKhwiFPm2pUZoObjG41lmLYAoz-FQcr9-kMAX_sfsg/s640/Race-Morning-Waiting-For_Cab.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpuGMMCXV5tfv-UXA8JhnLNLp6xJB_pWTJgB3xThtTmF6gahDkeXld8ayon3hZ2_V10m1xcDgLAc6ADilAethvtBr064-bxSmItuxZO9w-DrQcRhfqj7YXG_kC2bYhPVLsAnyZHNwDKhwiFPm2pUZoObjG41lmLYAoz-FQcr9-kMAX_sfsg/w300-h400/Race-Morning-Waiting-For_Cab.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div> (Waiting for the taxi outside the hotel)<div><br /></div><div>The cab did not take very long to reach the Coventry Canal Basin. Was that a hive of activity. People I recognized and who recognized me hugged me. I was very, very moved when Dick Kearn hugged me and said that the race was now an official race as Rajeev had now showed up to run it. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a tad chilly that morning but the area was a hive of activity because of the runners and support crew milling around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kim took photos and a video of me just before the start of the race. Soon we were off!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8aLXeIr-vuXNtcrX1vb1qKaVFKY_ZxaV34fNOkGlEXOjauk9t5sZswRKdbBI6kVEG7ujVqkeP7T8O7DxsGyo0LDi1E5XnFIJYIq3SI7zxW7pTFoSIKk4pKqUI8RICR-3JrkcJXhshEUmcqrRwHv5YCwndCbX5kETlI2B9W4PT5yFxxyDFw/s640/With-Dick-Kearn-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8aLXeIr-vuXNtcrX1vb1qKaVFKY_ZxaV34fNOkGlEXOjauk9t5sZswRKdbBI6kVEG7ujVqkeP7T8O7DxsGyo0LDi1E5XnFIJYIq3SI7zxW7pTFoSIKk4pKqUI8RICR-3JrkcJXhshEUmcqrRwHv5YCwndCbX5kETlI2B9W4PT5yFxxyDFw/s320/With-Dick-Kearn-2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div> (With Dick Kearn)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUBXHv2EV9RAsi6ENMTI2rlHoHv302qMydanF5Vfo6AjoKzk43wjlE0Nk9-aFGr4UNcx7-ESpnKwp6wxCuWVeIZ-o0Etme15-a4A3RRzejoOFoXQYM6KTQ4SNQpLx6Xc6UaErUkMvWcP6T35m3bwIb5K-VQFC_mE9y5p3KduScnfCZd9nug/s640/With-Dick-Kearn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUBXHv2EV9RAsi6ENMTI2rlHoHv302qMydanF5Vfo6AjoKzk43wjlE0Nk9-aFGr4UNcx7-ESpnKwp6wxCuWVeIZ-o0Etme15-a4A3RRzejoOFoXQYM6KTQ4SNQpLx6Xc6UaErUkMvWcP6T35m3bwIb5K-VQFC_mE9y5p3KduScnfCZd9nug/s320/With-Dick-Kearn.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div> (Talking with Dick Kearn)</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbo7Ym0cBeX3_KB3oiUORGBwdNKX7uNpWiCfYl5noF0QZ1gk2gEOq62IVQu_iKwDeO05zXDYZycQRiC4VtvF1bC9IdD6enDy9CJinSc44Lf-7OODd7GiGL7241OmirLnWXV7XQ0S_7A_CTwcpqOEs8Ek2PXAxL75kUaNx4zBuUIYbQZxW5g/s640/With-Race-Volunteers.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbo7Ym0cBeX3_KB3oiUORGBwdNKX7uNpWiCfYl5noF0QZ1gk2gEOq62IVQu_iKwDeO05zXDYZycQRiC4VtvF1bC9IdD6enDy9CJinSc44Lf-7OODd7GiGL7241OmirLnWXV7XQ0S_7A_CTwcpqOEs8Ek2PXAxL75kUaNx4zBuUIYbQZxW5g/s320/With-Race-Volunteers.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9Jy98WSMWVfZ6vrylsZT7Ao1JMXX2o4NI-4ddku8ANjD860NQylQZDdQjNMjDiGTQr6uzXMW1tTotk8ZTJ1QQmYwFAy70H7S6SC42rKxnF-y6MS37iIhoi425UHL8kXKpKT2b9CXZ336XXgFCExdv03rKhdLjRVGczYM2t2V4c4lgCmjYw/s640/Yapping-Away.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9Jy98WSMWVfZ6vrylsZT7Ao1JMXX2o4NI-4ddku8ANjD860NQylQZDdQjNMjDiGTQr6uzXMW1tTotk8ZTJ1QQmYwFAy70H7S6SC42rKxnF-y6MS37iIhoi425UHL8kXKpKT2b9CXZ336XXgFCExdv03rKhdLjRVGczYM2t2V4c4lgCmjYw/s320/Yapping-Away.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R9nx46ogr6MMxAQke_zJDvXcwWLWCOSh3SYKDBLe7OvjuwQkWuqkyGge_KGyqri7eqC5-PfydxSX-IoVV9srAcvfFLscqp9EGfdpCXOMc-R1Zn4xHN4Yl38GMV7Br7aOi41HDZL84x1Jyly9ZkcfiuvRH4PsO-3EDi89kSxu55JIA7AOdg/s640/Just-After-Start.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R9nx46ogr6MMxAQke_zJDvXcwWLWCOSh3SYKDBLe7OvjuwQkWuqkyGge_KGyqri7eqC5-PfydxSX-IoVV9srAcvfFLscqp9EGfdpCXOMc-R1Zn4xHN4Yl38GMV7Br7aOi41HDZL84x1Jyly9ZkcfiuvRH4PsO-3EDi89kSxu55JIA7AOdg/s320/Just-After-Start.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div> (Just before the Start)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxHCCsSezAneD7prnPgWt-1WcNy6ME1ijfT-pWPsPM50aFPsXDiNjrAYnr8QOUBIVrtoujrOb7f5w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> (My race Start interview)<br /><div><br /></div><div>The first 26.5 miles were all on the right side of the canal, save for the first few hundred feet, so navigation would not be an issue. I soon settled into a pace that I felt I could maintain for many, many miles. I would, of course, be throwing in walking breaks as canal running, flat as it is, tends to make one run for extended stints and then walking becomes a result of tiring too much instead of something that helps one take timely breaks from the running.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had taken an Immodium just after waking up and was hoping that I would not need another one until late in the day. That said I still had to go once, off into the bushes, about 4 or 5 miles into the race. I settled back into the previous pace soon after.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since navigation was not to be an issue I used the race provided map to assess where in the race I was, how many miles I had covered and what the resulting pace was. The race had started at 8 a.m. and the first Checkpoint was at 26.5 miles and its cutoff was 2:30 p.m. (6.5-hour time limit). That equated to an average pace of 14:43 minutes/mile.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvZ0CcRwHeOUxu_2JiYoapJb4Ll4HaWj5sGHgt7Rs8-OhpZApit-Ua4s7eSZqM28me4RDTmYUNmGX6nRrPZfJBP-SCqZ0S542xfincievMBcWiO41_4m3Dy1T31Q7iDmrGHDzLKfg5P5d-HuEREpPL32BZROuTXdPrKmUPD_8q4hE6ocbA/s1792/Map%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvZ0CcRwHeOUxu_2JiYoapJb4Ll4HaWj5sGHgt7Rs8-OhpZApit-Ua4s7eSZqM28me4RDTmYUNmGX6nRrPZfJBP-SCqZ0S542xfincievMBcWiO41_4m3Dy1T31Q7iDmrGHDzLKfg5P5d-HuEREpPL32BZROuTXdPrKmUPD_8q4hE6ocbA/w296-h640/Map%201.png" width="296" /></a></div> (Map 1 - Start to CP1)<br /><div> </div><div>How time changes one's body and mind. Normal aging tends to make one lose some speed but couple that with an illness (Crohn's Disease for me) and it complicates things even more. My training, what with all the traveling I had done in the past 8 months and Crohn's Disease's effect on my body, was sub-par and all I was hoping for was to be able to make that first cutoff. </div><div><br /></div><div>11 years ago I had started the Spartathlon (Athens to Sparta) and had run the first 26.2 semi-hilly and hot miles in 4:23. Here I was, 11 years and Crohn's later, worried about the same distance's generous time limit of 6.5 hours. :-D</div><div><br /></div><div>I kept up with my fluids, salt tablets and Scratch chews during those early miles. I played tag with Roz Glover and another very tall runner who was planning to walk the entire course. He was amazing as his walking pace was faster than my walk+run pace. :-D</div><div><br /></div><div>I passed the Half marathon distance in 2:45. That meant that I was moving at an average pace of 12:36 minutes/mile. My mind was busy calculating my arrival time in the CP and at that point in the race I was estimating around 1:30-1:35 p.m. All the plans of mice and men!!</div><div><br /></div><div>The weather was holding up. My pace was slowly dropping off as those first 5-6 miles run at under 11 minutes a mile pace were starting to take their toll on my grossly undertrained body. I soon stopped at a water spigot to fill up my almost empty bottles. </div><div><br /></div><div>It soon started to drizzle on and off. I had to stop, put down my backpack, put on my rain jacket, sling my backpack on my back and start up again. All this would take an extra 2-3 minutes. After having done this a few times (the rain jacket would make me feel hot once the drizzle stopped) I decided I would not put it on unless it rained really hard. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMqhSJyKIhbZ6RimK_OhfOoJZloW9g1F9EwQB_zj8uJGwZwk8ZBShg_VF8mcAEnwqYwpvjgCT2zLnxRs9aLXCsqqcMG4xY2l0n7YUtBB4rPGeQzDbxelxmFCni3msiN1G8Pdo1CC_tIjVQ2fCA9l3ptlZSH253-MZTPfBqHgaYfk511oyvA/s2048/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMqhSJyKIhbZ6RimK_OhfOoJZloW9g1F9EwQB_zj8uJGwZwk8ZBShg_VF8mcAEnwqYwpvjgCT2zLnxRs9aLXCsqqcMG4xY2l0n7YUtBB4rPGeQzDbxelxmFCni3msiN1G8Pdo1CC_tIjVQ2fCA9l3ptlZSH253-MZTPfBqHgaYfk511oyvA/s320/1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> (The only photo I took during the race)<br /><div> </div><div>The miles were going by one by one (I could tell from the race maps exactly where I was on the course) albeit slower than before. It must have been around 1:45 p.m. (my original estimation of my CP arrival time of 1:30 p.m. had been left behind in the dust by now) that it started to come down a bit hard. I stopped under a bridge and put on the rain jacket. I had passed 8-10 army trainees, hiking 10 miles that day with heavy backpacks, just before the bridge and now they passed me and took a path off to the right to head off into town. </div><div><br /></div><div>Going by the map I knew that I was close to the CP but the map was a bit deceiving about its location. I finally spotted Kim about 300 yards off in the distance outside the CP. </div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived there at 2:10 p.m. (a 20-minute buffer). I had called Kim about 20 minutes before my arrival to ask her to heat up the small container of a rice dish called <i>poha</i> using hot water in the CP. I sat down, wolfed down about half of the container and left at 2:16 p.m. Those extra 14 minutes would help me, hopefully, get to the next CP, at 49.5 miles with a cutoff of 8:30 p.m. or 12.5 hours for 49.5 miles, in time. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNrdQpBIxwpWXOJnRi4B5_69D8BpMxR-qrjlLbMWG9nv-eEvOtISuJdCV7GX2xQV0uHmtZ9bAmkaGTD-gKWRux-VkoygSEB4bLgbtK1_f4ugu-umM1B4IbyYqt5-doX9--fF2dsTpi-sVluTtbl0tawT_e3iPNItEkkzWOhj_40VDCK9-A/s1792/Map%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNrdQpBIxwpWXOJnRi4B5_69D8BpMxR-qrjlLbMWG9nv-eEvOtISuJdCV7GX2xQV0uHmtZ9bAmkaGTD-gKWRux-VkoygSEB4bLgbtK1_f4ugu-umM1B4IbyYqt5-doX9--fF2dsTpi-sVluTtbl0tawT_e3iPNItEkkzWOhj_40VDCK9-A/w296-h640/Map%202.png" width="296" /></a></div> (Map 2 - CP1 to CP2)<br /><div><br /></div><div>The body was now slowly starting to protest. I could feel my pace slowing down very noticeably. The early Start to CP1 12-13 min/miles were now morphing into 14+ minutes/mile. I kept calculating the distance left and the time when, if at all, I would make it to CP2. </div><div><br /></div><div>By about 35 miles into the race I was getting more and more convinced that I would not be able to make it to the CP in time. My legs were starting to hurt and my pace was down to the proverbial crawl. The outskirts of Birmingham along the canal were depressing and I was no longer having fun. That has been my life's motto for a very long time - "Never continue doing anything that I am not enjoying doing". </div><div><br /></div><div>I sat down on a bench to rest my legs and to decide what I wanted to do. It was 5:50 p.m. and I had 2 hours and 40 minutes to cover the remaining 11 or so miles. That translated to a 14.5 minutes/mile pace and here I was plodding along at 16-17 minutes per mile with the distinct possibility of just getting slower.</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to call Kim to let her know that it was not right of me to have the CP2 folks wait for me beyond the closing time of 8:30 p.m. (I would have reached past 9:00 p.m. at the rate I was going) and that I would take an Uber to CP2. I also texted Anu to let her know of my decision. I eventually made my way off the canal (I had my jacket on as it had started to get chilly and a light drizzle had begun) onto a very busy street called Alum Rock Road in Saltley. I had covered around 40 miles by now.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Uber came very quickly and I was on my way to CP2 at Catherine de Barnes Bridge. During that ride I called Keith Godden, the RD, to let him know of my dropping out of the race and to thank him for everything he does for Canal races in the UK.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kim was waiting for me at the CP and she sweetly made me one more <i>poha</i> container which I wolfed down with gusto. During the Uber ride I had also called Hitesh who showed up 30 minutes later to pick us up and take us down to London.</div><div><br /></div><div>Horrendous traffic in London made our journey to the hotel very slow in the last 4-5 miles and we reached The Rubens well past 11 p.m. A journey of about 120 miles had taken 4 hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved having Kim there with me for the race and I will be ever grateful for all the help she gave me before and during the race. She is a sweetheart!</div><div><br /></div><div>I had talked incessantly with her the past 4 years about how much I loved the canals and she used to keep telling me that she would love to come to England just to see me start one of those races. Her wish came true in the WRCR. She now wants to run the WRCR herself and she will get her chance in 2024 as the WRCR will alternate with the Kennet-Avon race (KACR) which is being held next year.</div><div><br /></div><div>In her blog post she wrote words that made me get very emotional. They are quoted below.</div><div><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-align: left;">"<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;">There is a very brief message that I typed into the “Notes” app of my phone on June 25</span><span style="color: #757575; line-height: 0; position: relative; text-indent: 0.5in; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;">, the day of the race, shortly after Rajeev had dropped out.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;">I must have intended to write more, as I often throw thoughts that come into my head that I would like to keep into this very place, to expand upon in a later blog.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;">But on June 25, this is what I said:</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">“<b>I can’t tell you how much your spirit inspires me every day. You looked the impossible in the face and said, “fuck you” – not because you knew you could overcome it, but because you knew that, odds were, you could not.</b>”</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Allow me to expand on this a little now. We knew the odds were against you. We knew that, after years of Crohn’s disease interrupting your training at every opportunity, it was unlikely that you would make it to the finish. But you showed up for the journey. <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Oh, my friend. You have taught me so many lessons. The greatest of these lessons: you have to show up for life. And most importantly, you have to show up on the days when you don’t know if everything is going to go the way you hope it will. You have to show up on the days when you know things probably won’t go according to plan. You have to show up on the days when you don’t even know what the plan is. When you don’t know if everything will be okay. When you know there is going to be pain and struggle. When you know you probably won’t succeed. You have to show up for the journey. Show up and be open to whatever may come. Show up and treat the people around you with love and kindness. Appreciate their existence and let them know. You don’t have to be 100% ready. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you have to show up for life.</span><span style="font-size: 15px;">"</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #757575; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div>Until next year when I may decide to try my luck at some other canal race, it is goodbye as far as my canal race blogging goes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div></div></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-8915587074851604062021-02-10T17:10:00.000-08:002021-02-10T17:10:08.185-08:00Running during the pandemic<p>This corona virus pandemic has changed the world in so many ways that the days of hugging one another, dining in crowded restaurants, flying all over the world on crowded planes and through even more crowded airports, going to crowded theaters and concerts, running crowded races seem like a dim memory.</p><p>That said training (for what?? :-D) goes on.</p><p>A couple of months ago I remembered reading about this young man, in France, who ran a marathon in his apartment's balcony. Inspired by him, I decided to run one in the confines of my home's main floor. The chosen route was from the kitchen to the far room, a distance of about 60 feet, and back as often as it took to run 26.2 miles.</p><p>I wound up with 26.5 miles with stops in the middle to cut veggies ( :-D ) and eat or drink something.</p><p>The following weekend I decided to up the ante and run a 50K in the same vein. Mission accomplished again. </p><p>One weekend evening, while watching "Bridgerton", I ran 6 miles around the dining table in the living room. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHRzBybrmwrBBbr0IazuonKGb-CLuVcDcofvXmH6yJ4AKKK-G9LoOd4yJMvYxhjgXEpOKGainYS20' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> (Running around the dining table)</span></div><p>Other than those three runs I have done runs, along with Kim Whelan, in Quicksilver Park (back in the summer and Fall), and along the railroad tracks in Cupertino/Los Altos.</p><p></p><p>My next goal is to run 40-45 miles, either on the tracks in West Valley College, or at home.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkabjaWc61oPtXngzpsMvp38TFcUpZ89TB8HPumodflTBKLgDRCWUl7MEjlXl5rHs0nKas_i2U7foBEKnCSuNVFWxHx6khHHgMfPaDp-bA9ejZpohdQR3j_aV3Ya2ORvgu40O/s1024/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkabjaWc61oPtXngzpsMvp38TFcUpZ89TB8HPumodflTBKLgDRCWUl7MEjlXl5rHs0nKas_i2U7foBEKnCSuNVFWxHx6khHHgMfPaDp-bA9ejZpohdQR3j_aV3Ya2ORvgu40O/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ool3g1-MP-TTvkVDMThc8EDbYWehXJdM84Dl-NniqTsV6RdtYN4XXC8kAIi-x1n8mi2Rt3nw7v8prlhmgvpiJv0iJijz5RxIKd7FzAm9ld5PNJ66RFjUAJIF3TKuKY_viDFm/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ool3g1-MP-TTvkVDMThc8EDbYWehXJdM84Dl-NniqTsV6RdtYN4XXC8kAIi-x1n8mi2Rt3nw7v8prlhmgvpiJv0iJijz5RxIKd7FzAm9ld5PNJ66RFjUAJIF3TKuKY_viDFm/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></p> (Run in Quicksilver Park)<div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4vC7_HV7Sz1GpzOp81XvvX7X7tfhfHdE3Fv1jtmtKaSswRoMoeQ8pett3Wy6qSg9m3rT3f3zf5oxfqIg3UPD52xZi5DlOpRvxcRPJO-ylJQEkOhm61Yg2zusnMpJPxvguqSs/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4vC7_HV7Sz1GpzOp81XvvX7X7tfhfHdE3Fv1jtmtKaSswRoMoeQ8pett3Wy6qSg9m3rT3f3zf5oxfqIg3UPD52xZi5DlOpRvxcRPJO-ylJQEkOhm61Yg2zusnMpJPxvguqSs/s320/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Quicksilver Park)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhynVxsSmMyCWKcCajzKTSWahjJQ_au1lrcD6cvN4r-_zFOnNv-ojcKbQlgabUi34pZRPkS28YlZ7GH7v6sn7y87gMNk6JgeaC-QVWcLYuj7aXlgb5a9SOu72uU1t-iE0TQF-/s1600/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhynVxsSmMyCWKcCajzKTSWahjJQ_au1lrcD6cvN4r-_zFOnNv-ojcKbQlgabUi34pZRPkS28YlZ7GH7v6sn7y87gMNk6JgeaC-QVWcLYuj7aXlgb5a9SOu72uU1t-iE0TQF-/s320/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Run in Mountain View)</div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-2804236685633188372020-03-09T13:52:00.002-07:002020-03-20T10:41:18.931-07:00It's time to start this blog againIt's been almost five and a half years now since I last posted here. Let's hope I can keep the writing going from here on out.<br />
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I signed up for the April 4th American River 50-mile race. The last time I ran it was 10 years ago (<a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/ar-pr.html">http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/ar-pr.html</a>) and I am excited to be able to start the race once more. The course, in the first few miles, is different so it will be fun to see what it looks like.<br />
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Whatever distance I get to in that race will be good training for the May 23rd Grand Union Canal race (<a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2013/05/re-deja-vu-all-over-again.html">http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2013/05/re-deja-vu-all-over-again.html</a>). That is certainly my favorite race in the world and to say that I am excited to start the race (Covid-19 permitting, of course!) is to make an understatement (something the English excel at 😊).<br />
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Crohn's is still around in my life so the journey has been made that much more exciting.<br />
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On another unrelated note (Anu and) I have stepped down from coaching Team Vibha's Half & Full marathon training program. I started that program in 2011 with 20 runners as trainees. It has blossomed to 80+ now and is one of the best such programs in the SF Bay area.<br />
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A blast from the past below! A photo with Anil Rao, taken on Saturday, February 15, in Sierra Azul Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkfVJIKI-EoOEi2ogP9QI0TSkQkfFzUkf1t4HzL_HpAaY2hEOKITBb9XvcB7Ke41MgXc8L9WqUXqsIGl9Vu_12v3CaxmsbWsoR5qZuByRu3kSf1gFwDVPbAlimXCJ0-TqE-Uz/s1600/IMG_2831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkfVJIKI-EoOEi2ogP9QI0TSkQkfFzUkf1t4HzL_HpAaY2hEOKITBb9XvcB7Ke41MgXc8L9WqUXqsIGl9Vu_12v3CaxmsbWsoR5qZuByRu3kSf1gFwDVPbAlimXCJ0-TqE-Uz/s400/IMG_2831.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kim Whelan (with Anil and me in the photo below) is a runner I coached with Vibha in 2018 and 2019 and one who I am running AR50 with. It will be her first attempt at that distance and I am sure she will do well - she is a strong runner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zqbk_3pgbRPuIc8Wt62ISX3J03hl6faMkUMJ2_vnc7edhf4dQG-Q_8HB5RsVqYQorZPACFU9njeiDrdi9Xj_i0ii3c8QFlkFFkeZNcwUnJP0SKQcRunq6_DU8P6RA22Nn-D2/s1600/IMG_2834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zqbk_3pgbRPuIc8Wt62ISX3J03hl6faMkUMJ2_vnc7edhf4dQG-Q_8HB5RsVqYQorZPACFU9njeiDrdi9Xj_i0ii3c8QFlkFFkeZNcwUnJP0SKQcRunq6_DU8P6RA22Nn-D2/s400/IMG_2834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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UPDATE</div>
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Owing to the Corona virus pandemic, the AR50 race has been canceled. I also suspect that I may not be able to go to the UK for the GUCR in May.</div>
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That said my running does not grind to a halt - just the really long distances for the moment.</div>
<br />Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-58726156332907362692014-08-26T18:32:00.001-07:002014-08-26T18:32:41.488-07:00Back to the Summer of 2006Yes, it's been a long time since I posted on this blog. A lot has transpired since.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">The 2014 GUCR</span></b><br />
Short story? Stopped at 48 miles owing to a flare-up of Crohn's.<br />
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Long story? Things were going well until I had to stop at 48 miles. :-))<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">The 2014 Liverpool-Leeds Canal race</span></b><br />
Short story? Stopped at 54 or 55 miles owing to a flare-up pf Crohn's.<br />
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Long story? Things were going well until I had to stop.<br />
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Random pictures from the two races below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qx4BSCSrAQMOwFqYJ4G-wYfYmYsjSHZizwHGpCJekpn23DYXvV8OmMI_sPNplnQdHqpJ0xFTAk5G1pfmdMQVR8nYA395nx1_kM6xgKQEqK2AABuKUYcB6a4hCf2ipxro0LPV/s1600/GUCR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qx4BSCSrAQMOwFqYJ4G-wYfYmYsjSHZizwHGpCJekpn23DYXvV8OmMI_sPNplnQdHqpJ0xFTAk5G1pfmdMQVR8nYA395nx1_kM6xgKQEqK2AABuKUYcB6a4hCf2ipxro0LPV/s1600/GUCR1.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
(Before the Start of the 145M GUCR)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIguD6qNqvax3hyphenhyphenoOSWKflEN2044dtlH5DOLz2qoY1dVwfE9T9RwKrTRZYtKRHE509iz6ULmPqDDGQ9TBTywVMJww1AKxHtjf1P4hwExsjmU6845Up7gap1w_4aoLDZFkrSE35/s1600/GUCR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIguD6qNqvax3hyphenhyphenoOSWKflEN2044dtlH5DOLz2qoY1dVwfE9T9RwKrTRZYtKRHE509iz6ULmPqDDGQ9TBTywVMJww1AKxHtjf1P4hwExsjmU6845Up7gap1w_4aoLDZFkrSE35/s1600/GUCR2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
(Somewhere in the first few miles of the 145M GUCR)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin48m_tMbtecMP42-0oS2k27cxQxwQbt6JS6haARTxmwxAkp82yOhmOPhoBaj5HmVOvzoKIjMRxdiccGfu1keHjQQ_SdutFafculiN58Yd6zxVOYo90KYR_e7TdSUgwUM5WPuu/s1600/LLC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin48m_tMbtecMP42-0oS2k27cxQxwQbt6JS6haARTxmwxAkp82yOhmOPhoBaj5HmVOvzoKIjMRxdiccGfu1keHjQQ_SdutFafculiN58Yd6zxVOYo90KYR_e7TdSUgwUM5WPuu/s1600/LLC1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
(In Wigan during the Liverpool-Leeds 130M Race)<br />
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So it's time to step back and decide what I want to do with my "running" life. Running 100+ miles is what I wish to do most. Races that have not so stringent cutoffs are what I love doing for I am no longer interested in running quickly nor making really tight cutoffs (Spartathlon for one).<br />
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Ergo the title of this post. I have to almost go back to Square One i.e. find a way to manage what I eat in order to run 50 miles, 100 miles 145 miles, ...<br />
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Crohn's is not the end of my life. It is just the beginning of a different flavor of the same life.<br />
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My goal is to run the GUCR again next year. Along the way will be 50Ks, 50Ms, and possibly a 100M. I am excited at the prospect of re-experiencing the joy and thrill of crossing the Finish line of a 50M, 100K, 100M, ... all over again!! How many are given that chance again in life? Crohn's has given me that and I am excited.<br />
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Stay tuned (if you visit this blog).<br />
<br />Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-68147011251643988622014-03-11T14:24:00.000-07:002014-03-11T19:42:02.672-07:00Got to raise my Butting Average<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yes, it's not a spelling mistake. The title of the post is, indeed, "Got to raise my Butting Average". Read on to find on what it means. Please be warned, however, that some parts may have TMI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The first time I had the "runs" during a run was during a weekday evening regular run back in November, 2012. I was barely a mile from home when the urge came on so strongly that it was all I could do make it to some bushes by the side of an urban road (it helped that it was quite dark by then). I wound up going to the restroom of a nearby grocery store and still needed to make it back home again after starting running from the store. 3 times in the space of 40 minutes and accompanied by diarrhea and flatulence!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I attributed it to something I must have eaten earlier that day. The next two weeks were a minor hell so to speak. Every time I started running I would get the urge to go in the first mile or so. I was forced take a closer look at what I had been eating and I came to believe it was a stomach infection because of some spoiled milk product. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">That incident passed and I was back to my usual running routine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Fast forward to my July, 2013 trip to the UK for the Thames Ring 250M where I stopped at 109 miles. I must have gone to a toilet or used bushes along the way at least 5-6 times in those 109 miles but none of those were like the November '12 ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It must have been a few days after returning, in the second week of July, that I had a repeat of the November episode. This time around it did not go away completely. Here are the salient points of what happens:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * There has not been a single run since that day when I have </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> not had the intense urge to go - I have "gone" in my shorts </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> a </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">few times since then</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * My 3 longest runs have been a marathon and 2 50Ks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * For someone who has run 30-40 miles continuously without </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> stopping it is hard these days to even manage 2-3 miles </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> without needing to stop. Part of the reason is the fact that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> iron is being lost in the bleeding, nutrients are not being </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> absorbed in the body and dehydration is occurring because of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> diarrhea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> * The intense, almost uncontrollable, urge to go has been </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> accompanied by gas and bleeding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There is that side of me that loves to soak up information. I have taught myself a bit of anatomy owing to all the running coaching I do. Everything else I know about a plethora of topics has been a result of being both a philomath and a polymath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ergo my desire to pinpoint my current travails. I had a stool test done back in December. Blood was found as well as a high count of WBCs. My belief that it was the result of rogue gut bacteria seemed to be confirmed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Fast forward to today (March 11, 2014). I am in Oz (Australia) for work this week and I happened to be channel surfing in the evening and came upon Dr. Oz talking about "Poop and Pee". The first topic was the shape and consistency of poo. My stools were the furthest away from normal on his list. He attributed it to Crohn's disease or even Diverticulitis. I looked the latter up for symptoms and found my way to a Web site talking about Inflammatory Bowel Diseaser (IBD) which mostly comprises of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis (UC).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Eureka! ALL the symptoms for IBD, especially for UC, matched mine exactly! I spent hours reading up on the topic and realized that I was in for a major battle and a massive lifestyle change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There is still no clear idea why IBD happens. It is apparently a lifelong problem and can go into remission but come back unbidden (only a fool would bid it to come!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A new journey begins. New paths to walk over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A new battle commences. New weapons to learn about and use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All I have is knowledge and my optimism as pacers and crew members. I will reach the Finish line one of these years and it will be the sweetest finish of them all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-79367339542207184642013-05-30T15:18:00.000-07:002020-05-09T19:02:31.615-07:00Re-deja vu all over again?<div>
Race: Grand Union Canal Race</div>
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Distance: 145.4 miles</div>
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Date: May 25, 2013</div>
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Location: Birmingham to London, United Kingdom</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Time: 44:40</span></div>
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<i 16px="" 19.515625px="" font-size:="" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1369933709495_44817" line-height:="" new="" roman="" serif="" times="" york="">Beneath the Sun, the sweaty face,<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />The shuffling feet, the slowing pace,<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />The distant goal, the tired gaze.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Ah! This hot summer! Its thick haze!!<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Why did I have to pick this race?<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Kneeling down, doing up a lace,<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Insects invading my airspace.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Tired feet on fire, ablaze,<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Beneath the Sun.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />And then my Spirit deigns to grace<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />My side. It takes its rightful place.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />The new Me I start to amaze<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />As mile upon mile I erase.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />And then the old Self I outrace<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Beneath the Sun.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">The above poem, borrowed from Rajeev The Runner, more or less describes what I went through. Not the thoughts about "Why did I have to pick this race?" but the latter part of the poem. I have run too many races, and stopped in a lot of them when I am no longer enjoying the journey, to now do something just because I have to prove something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">2012 GUCR race report <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2012/06/gucr-part-iii.html">http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2012/06/gucr-part-iii.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">2011 GUCR race report <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2011/06/running-far-in-gucr-part-deux.html">http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2011/06/running-far-in-gucr-part-deux.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">2010 GUCR race report <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/running-far-in-gucr.html">http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/running-far-in-gucr.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Let's go back to the beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">The days leading up to the race were pretty much similar to the ones from years past. I landed in London on Wednesday (May 22) afternoon. After eating dinner in Woodlands on Panton Street I wandered into the Whole Foods that's just off Piccadilly Circus. One of the things I picked up were 6 small sesame snaps. They proved to be an awesome snack during the race!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">(Image from www.goodnessdirect.co.uk)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Spent the night there before taking the 1:00 p.m. train to Brum. I checked into Jurys Inn and headed to Pushkar for a quick meal at 5:30 p.m. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I then decided to head to the theater not too far from the hotel where I was delighted to see the new Star Trek movie on offer. I quite enjoyed it, especially the acting of Benedict Cumberbatch whom I recognized from the new BBC Sherlock Holmes series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Jet lag ensured that sleep was hard to come by Thursday night. I finally went to sleep at 6:30 a.m. only to wake up at 9:30, in time for breakfast downstairs. Right after breakfast I went off to the local large Tesco store to pick up last minute snacks etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Lunch was again in Pushkar - dal and rice this time since I wanted the food to clear my system by next morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I went back up to the room and watched TV until I realized that Mimi Anderson, who was attempting a double GUCR, was due at the Start by around 4 p.m. I rushed down to the Gas Street bridge to find Tim, Mimi's husband, and James Adams and Gemma waiting for her too. We realized that we had a bit of time so we trooped into a nearby pub/cafe for coffee and tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Mimi duly showed up at 4:09 p.m. She had started at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday giving her a northbound time of 31:09! Simply marvelous!!</span><br />
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(Mimi after her 31:09 finish)<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">My next stop was the Travelodge lobby where I bought a couple of belts to secure my bib number on and picked up my race T-shirt and sweatshirt. I spent an hour after that in O'Neills with some of the other runners. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Off to my room it was around 7:30 p.m. I laid out my stuff for the morning and got into bed around 9 p.m. I watched TV for a while and turned off the lights to try and sleep. Like the past 2 years, sleep was hard to come by. I tossed and turned all night. I finally got up around 3:15 a.m. to shave, shower and eat my breakfast. 5:20 a.m. saw me headed for Gas Street and the Start where the yearly picture (below) near the Start was taken.</span><br />
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(L to R: Peter Johnson, I, Paul Ali, Keith Godden and Lindley Chambers)</div>
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We were off right after Dick's short speech.</div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">START to CP1, Catherine de Barnes Bridge #78, 10.7 miles</span></b></div>
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(In the first few miles after the Start)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I was one of the last people to start. Very soon I was truly the last person for I had to stop 5 minutes into the race to answer Nature's call. I did however soon settle into a decent pace and caught up with Geir Frykholm who had stopped to make some adjustments to his backpack. We ran together for the next half a mile or so before he took off. I soon stopped to help a runner who had hit his head on a rather low tunnel overhead. He was bleeding a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">A few miles into it I knew we would come to a slight right curve in the canal from where I would be able to get a good shot of this nice church (below).</span><br />
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My left Hoka Bondi was poking into the top of my foot. This was starting to bug me a bit and I knew that if I did not take care of it soon it would become a bigger problem later. So I spent 5 minutes taking off my shoes and sticking Band-Aids to the top of my foot. I started running again, The Band-Aids worked for a few miles but the constant poking returned. I knew that I would have to get out of the Hokas in the first CP.</div>
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I duly reached it at 8:07 a.m. Given the 7-8 minutes I had spent with helping the runner and my Hokas, my time into the CP was more like 2:00 hrs. I had done this section in 1:56 last year and 2:00 and 2:06 in 2011 and 2010 respectively. I was pretty much running a similar pace this year too. I got into my Brooks Cascadias, grabbed a few more gels and was out of the CP like a flash. Not without joking with Paddy Robbins though!</div>
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<b style="background-color: clear; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">CP1 to CP2, Hatton Hill Bridge #54 22.4 miles</b></div>
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I had covered this section last year in 2:20 i.e. I had reached the CP at around 10:15 a.m. I was hoping for something similar for this year too.<br />
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Very soon I reached Knowle Lock, at about mile 14, where I used my British Waterways key to open up a water tap (locked in a small box) and topped up both my bottles. The weather forecast had called for a sunny weekend, with highs between 65-68 degrees F, so having enough water was imperative.</div>
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(A fellow runner took this picture of me. Knowle Lock in the background)</div>
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I have no idea what happened to me between 14 and 22.4. All I know is that a combination of lack of sleep (I had now been awake since 9:30 a.m. on Friday i.e. 24 hours and counting), lowish blood sugar and, possibly, the warming conditions made for the perfect storm. </div>
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I could not run at any kind of consistent pace and was forced to walk every so often.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">(Just before Shrewley Tunnel)</span></div>
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Keith Godden caught up with me just before Shrewley Tunnel, at mile 20.4, and we exited the tunnel on the far side together. He went on through while I went off to the right, on the road, to this little grocery store I espied. Once inside I realized that nothing looked too appetizing so I decided to scarf down a gel and wait until the CP to eat something. </div>
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The CP was finally reached at 10:58 a.m. I was a full 43 minutes slower than last year! I was still not close to the cutoff since the CP closed at 12:15 p.m. i.e. I had reached with 75 minutes to spare. I quickly ate something, grabbed a few more gels and left.</div>
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<b style="background-color: clear; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">CP2 to CP3, Birdingbury Bridge 35.9 miles</b></div>
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This section was uneventful like every year. There is that section where the canal curves to the left past a block of apartments. I actually took some pictures in this section including some panoramic ones.</div>
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Looking at my text description of the route, something I use every year instead of the maps (which I carry in my backpack just in case I might need them), I realized that I was getting close to 34.6 miles (in 8:11). The CP was only 1.3 miles further away. I finally rolled into that CP at 2:28 p.m. i.e. 8h 28m into the race.<br />
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In the rainy conditions last year I had reached this CP at 1:38 p.m. This year I was a full 50 minutes slower! I knew I would be paying the price later in the race for I was now 32 minutes from the CP closing time. </div>
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I have been eating gluten-free foods for the past 2 months but I was so hungry here that I grabbed 4-5 cookies and headed out of the CP stuffing them into my mouth.</div>
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<b style="background-color: clear; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">CP3 to CP4, The Heart of England, Weedon, 53 miles</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"> Along the way I did take a picture of a marina I always pass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I was at Napton Junction soon enough. I will never forget this junction. I was now visiting it for the 5th time in the past 4 years. I had first gone through it in the 2009 Thames Ring 250M where it came at 172 miles. In this race it's at 38.5 miles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I walked a major part of the miles leading to the tunnel which comes up at mile 45. I walked up the initial climb out of the towpath and then, once I was on a smoother section, ran up the hill and then down the other side down to the canal again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I was soon at the Norton Junction, at 48.3 miles. A few hundred yards before I reached this junction a runner named Spenser Lane caught up with me. We crossed over the lock and got back to the canal using the public underpass. I had just taken a couple of gels before he had caught up and the sugar rushing about in my body made me want to start running. I did precisely that and soon found myself settling into a nice and comfortable 9:30-10 mins/mile pace. I passed a few other runners including Keith Godden and Geir and Dave Baker who were together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I must have run for the next 3 - 3.5 miles before settling down to a fast walk. I eventually espied the building, on the far side of the canal, I was looking for. The building is a sign that the CP is just another 200 yards furthe</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">r. I reached the CP at 6:58 p.m. i.e. 32 minutes before the close. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Cathy, Keith's wife, was helping out here and she was sweet enough to give me two bottles of chocolate milk she had specially got for me! She asked about Keith and I told her that he was about 5-7 minutes behind me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I was very concerned about Christian Hottas and Christine Schroeder. I was hoping they would be able to make the 7:30 cutoff. Spenser, who had caught up with me a half mile before the CP, and I left the CP at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">Onward now to the big Navigation Inn CP at 70.4 miles!</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: clear; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">CP4 to CP5, Navigation Bridge, 70.4 mile</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The fastest I have ever made it to this CP is in 2011 when I reached there at 10:19 p.m. (~ 16:19 hours into the race). I have never been able to do the first 70.4 miles faster than 16 hours. This year, obviously considering how close I was to the CP cutoffs, was no exception.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: clear; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first milestone I had to focus on was Gayton Junction at 60.5 miles, a long 7.5 miles away! </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">This leg has a 3 or 4-mile section I do not like very much. Those miles are probably the most uneven section of the GUC towpath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">I trudged along with my sights firmly fixed on Gayton Junction which duly arrived at 9:24 p.m. (15:24 into the race if you are paying attention). A scant 2 miles later comes the Blisworth Tunnel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">The top of the short 200 feet climb from the canal is where Spenser, who gone past me in the mile leading up to the tunnel, went right instead of left towards the road. I shouted out to point him in the right direction and quickly caught up with him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.515625px;">We were thus together on the mile or so up to the top after which is the descent back down to the canal. Spenser talked about an expensive but warm running jacket he had purchased. We were soon on the dirt path that led down to the canal. This is when the urge to go came upon me strongly. I asked him to continue and quickly went off to the right, off the path, a long ways to answer Nature's call.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Down it was to the canal again. From prior years I knew that there was a pub and an Indian restaurant on the lock. It was 10:45 p.m. by now and I was excited to find that the Indian restaurant was still open. I quickly went inside and asked them to pack me dal and rice to go.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I was waiting for the order to be fulfilled when Keith, Christian Hottas and Christine went past. I was very happy to see all three.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">12 minutes later I was on my way on the towpath happily ingesting some much needed food. It must have worked wonders for I soon settled into a fast, distance-eating pace that soon saw me go past the others. I soon noticed the lights of the Navigation Inn off to my left. From the last 3 years of running this race I knew that it would take quite a bit more of time on the towpath before the CP arrived.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">12:30 a.m. (18:30 race time) is when it did! 30 minutes before closing!! I did not linger long there. I was out in 15 or so minutes. </span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">CP5 to CP6, Water Eaton, 84.5 miles</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Keith Godden soon caught up with me and passed me. This 14-mile section was unbelievably long! It was, as I wrote on my FB status, a slugfest between the course and my sleep deprived brain, I had now been awake for close to 40 hours with no prospect of sleep in the near future. I would walk a bit and then slow down to stop and close my eyes while standing up and, after the attempt proved futile, continue on. The miles went by uneventfully albeit slowly. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The sky started to show the first signs of light around 4:15 a.m. That lifted my spirits a bit. It was nice and bright and a tad chilly by the time I reached the CP at 6:07 a.m. (24:07 race time). This was a full hour and 8 minutes before it closed. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; line-height: 19.515625px;">The section had taken me around 5h 20m. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif; line-height: 19.515625px;">There was some awesome soup on offer and I had two cups of it and a half cup of coffee. Spenser and I left almost at the same time. I had learned that Spenser had been battling severe shin pain in his left leg since the 53-mile CP. He was unable to run and walking itself was slow for him. I forget what time it was that we left but it must have been around 6:35-6:40 a.m. The next section was 15.4 miles long.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">CP6 to CP7, Grand Junction Arms, 99.8 miles</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The first thing that registered on my still partially sleepy brain was the fact that Leighton Buzzard was about 6 miles away. My plan was to see if I could get some coffee and food there. I trudged along ahead of Spenser until I got to the section where the towpath runs through Leighton Buzzard. It was around 9:00 a.m. that I veered off the towpath into the Tesco parking lot. I had to use the facilities!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">That Tesco does not open until 9:30 a.m. so I trudged off onto the main road there to a Shell gas station. The lady there allowed me to use the toilet. I must have gotten back onto the towpath around 9:35-9:40 a.m. I quickly got back into a semi-decent pace (18-19 mins/mile). It must have been an hour before I caught up with Spenser. We both knew that we were the last two out on the course.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Head down, I plodded on. I had been enjoying the Sesame snaps I had purchased in Whole Foods and I consumed the 5th one in that section. The Grand Junction Arms arrived at 11:47 a.m. (I had had to push in the last 2-3 miles in order to not miss the cutoff). This was 13 minutes before the close! I enjoyed some soup and fried potatoes and quickly left in 15 minutes. I was very pleased to see Spenser make it into the CP with a minute to spare!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The next section was the longest in the race, all of 20.5 miles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">CP7 to CP8, Springwell Lock, 120.3 miles</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I was feeling sleepy once again so a scant 1.5 miles after the CP I set the alarm on my iPhone for 10 minutes hence and tried to sleep. This is when Spenser passed me. I was unable to sleep so I switched off the alarm and resumed my slow death march.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The miles rolled by slowly. It might have been a combination of two gels taken together that prompted me to decide to run instead of walk. I was not happy that I was scant minutes off the cutoffs for I knew that the final 12 mile section of the race, should I be fortunate enough to reach that far, would take me anywhere from 4 to 4.5 hours owing to my severe sleep deprivation. I simply HAD to build up a larger buffer!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">It was like someone had set a pack of dogs on my heels. I started running around the 107-mile mark and did not stop until I had reached 111 miles or so. Those 4 miles, run at 10 minutes/mile pace, instead of the 18-19 mins/mile of the previous many miles, suddenly put me in the black by 30 minutes or so. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I had felt good while running those miles. That was very encouraging. It was back to slightly fast walking again from 111 to about 118 miles. I came upon Claire Shelley and others at one of the locks. They were looking for Jerry Smallwood. A few locks later there he was in their company. I hugged him and was very disappointed to learn that he had stopped at 112 miles. I was similarly disappointed to find Christian Hottas sitting atop one of the bridges. He had had a pronounced lean when I had passed him a few miles before the 70.4-mile CP and the lean had done him in. He too was forced to drop out. Christine had continued on alone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The running bug caught me again around 118.5 miles and I truly sped up now! I must have been doing 8-9 mins/miles and I swooped into the CP at 6:30 p.m. Those last 20.5 miles had taken 6.5 hours! I had reached with 30 minutes to spare. I shucked my backpack, strapped on my big waist pack and got into my Tevas. My Cascadias had served me very well for 110 miles! Allan Rumbles walked a bit with me. You are a star, Mr. Rumbles! Thank you!!</span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">CP8 to CP9, Hambrough Tavern, Southall, 133 miles</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I was fired up now! I ate the last of the Sesame snaps and walked at a brisk pace until I had reached 127.5 miles (pub here) at 38:55 into the race. Those 7 miles had taken me 2 hours and 10 minutes i.e. about 18 minutes/mile. I decided to run all the way to Bulls Bridge (mile 132.5). I settled into a 14-15 min/mile pace and the miles started to slip by. It was starting to get dark and I turned on my headlamp. I must have reached Bulls Bridge around 40:18 into the race (10:18 p.m.). The last mile into the CP was mostly walked because the towpath was not in great shape, I reached CP#9 at 10:37 p.m. (40:37 race time).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">My friend Fiona McNelis was in the CP as well as James Adams. I quickly refilled my bottles and left the CP since there was not much to eat there. </span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: blue;">CP9 to the Finish in Little Venice, 145.4 miles</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">James was kind enough to accompany me out for a half mile or so. He filled me in on the status of many of the other runners. Hugs to you, James!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I walked and walked and walked. The first thing I noticed was that the path was pretty much paved after the first 1.5 miles from the CP. Evidently British Waterways had the intention of paving it all. That made it a lot easier to walk, even without a light if needed. I kept plodding on sure that I was closer than 7 miles to the Finish. It was with a slight shock that I noticed the sign "London Paddington 7.75 miles" after what seemed like an eternity. Crap! 7.25 miles to go still!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Sleep was upon me now as I had been expecting. Fortunately though it never got as bad as last year! I kept eating my gels with the intention of not only keeping the blood sugar up to help my my walking but also to let the brain have some much needed sugar to stay awake.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">With about 4 miles to go I was passed by Steve Beedle, Glyn Raymen and Jason Firestone. They were setting a great pace and I wished them bon voyage! :-)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Having run this race 3 times before and this section 4 times (I had come to London for work in April 2012) I knew where I was. I was alternately walking and shuffling by now. With about 2 miles to go I experienced sudden twinges in my right upper calf. Not wanting to do more harm and knowing that I WOULD finish in time I backed off and kept walking.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">The first headlamp I saw coming my way was Paddy Robbins'. He asked me about Spenser and I informed him that he was not far behind me. The next person was James Adams. He walked with me for over half a mile before heading off to his home just off the canal. I knew that I had just over a mile or a mile and a half to go.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">It was a pleasure to see the Finish off in the distance. I finally let Dick put the customary heavy GUCR medal around my neck at 2:40 a.m. (44:40 race time).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">What a battle it had been! I ran hard when I needed to and when I could. Was the victory sweet? You bet!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">My heartfelt gratitude to Dick and his amazing corps of volunteers that included James Adams, Sharon Weldon, Paddy Robbins, Hank, Paul Stout and Allan Rumbles to name a few.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">I found out the next day that Keith Godden had dropped out at 85 miles. I was very bummed to learn that. Spenser Lane finished in 44:54!! Way to go, Spenser!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "new york" , "times" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.515625px;">Onward to the Jul 3 Thames Ring 250M now!!</span></span><br />
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Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com3London, UK51.511213899999987 -0.1198243999999704151.195100899999986 -0.7652713999999704 51.827326899999989 0.52562260000002958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-57409099060954112442013-01-16T14:18:00.001-08:002013-01-24T10:01:53.944-08:00Rouge-Orleans 126M<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 I will start the 126-mile Rouge-Orleans race. It runs on the Mississippi levee from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Start times are staggered and Rajeev Char and I have opted for the maximum of 42 hours (until 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 10). Ergo the 8 p.m. start. Like in the Coyote Two Moon 100M I will be running through two nights.<br />
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I first heard about this race when my friend, Jimmy Dean Freeman, ran the scrub run a few years ago. It promises to be an exciting event.<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.therougeorleans.com/">http://www.therougeorleans.com</a>/ for more information. The Start of the race is shown below as is the Finish. The last 22 miles of the levee are paved so it will be intriguing to see what my legs feel like after 104 miles on dirt.<br />
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I finally get to do a race longer than 100 miles in my own country!<br />
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<a href="http://www.therougeorleans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ro-website-header-uss-kidd-2-960x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="ro website header uss kidd -2" border="0" height="125" src="http://www.therougeorleans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ro-website-header-uss-kidd-2-960x300.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<img alt="ro website header-2" height="125" src="http://www.therougeorleans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ro-website-header-2-960x300.jpg" width="400" /><br />
(Photos courtesy of the race Web site)<br />
<br />Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-49307437175800033642012-06-28T11:09:00.002-07:002012-06-28T11:16:42.483-07:00Ultramarathonrunningstore.com Sponsorship<a href="http://ultramarathonrunningstore.com/" target="_blank">Ultramarathonrunningstore.com</a> and I are pleased to announce that I will be one of their sponsored athletes. I will be joining <a href="http://www.debsonrunning.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Debbie Martin-Consani</a>, the overall winner of the 2012 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race, and <a href="http://terryconway.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Terry Conway</a> who set a new Course Record for Scotland's, and arguably the UK's, most famous ultra marathon, the 95-mile West Highlands Way race, in June this year.<br />
<br />
Ultramarathonrunningstore.com is the retail outlet of the wonderful ultra marathon running resource <a href="http://ultramarathonrunning.com/" target="_blank">Ultramarathonrunning.com</a>. Hydration vests, hand bottles, waist bags and packs and running apparel are on offer for customers all across the world. They are the exclusive UK suppliers of UltrAspire and RaceReady products.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for upcoming product reviews. In the meantime hurry over to the Web site to shop or offer constructive feedback. You can also like them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ULTRAmarathonRunningStore" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-18641874342450594672012-06-05T00:12:00.000-07:002013-03-01T11:48:44.597-08:00GUCR - Part III<div style="color: black;">
Race: Grand Union Canal Race </div>
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Distance: 145.4 miles</div>
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Date: June 2, 2012</div>
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Location: Birmingham to London, United Kingdom</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Time: 44:10</span></div>
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Back off! You're too close. Stop!! You are too near.</div>
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The last seven miles took me three hours:</div>
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Falling into the canal my big fear</div>
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And no, I did not stop to smell flowers.</div>
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Rewind to the early miles - they were wet</div>
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But none more than the ones Saturday night;</div>
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The slow ones causing me to fume and fret</div>
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As the cutoff times became a bit tight.</div>
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Fade out. In focus once again. Fade out.</div>
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The sleep that once never showed now did come.</div>
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And now it was a fight, an epic bout</div>
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To stay awake, move and to overcome.</div>
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Oh England! How I love your moody self!</div>
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In exploring you a man finds himself.</div>
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(Is this idyllic or what? Photo courtesy of Hayley Donnelly)<br />
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GUCR Part I (2010) can be read <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/running-far-in-gucr.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
GUCR Part II (2011) is <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2011/06/running-far-in-gucr-part-deux.html" target="_blank">here</a> for your enjoyment<br />
The 2009 Thames Ring 250M race I mention in the post below can be accessed <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2009/07/untamed-thames-ring-250.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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The last 7 miles were the hardest I have ever done to end a race. They felt interminably long and I was so happy when familiar landmarks showed up, near the end, that gave me an idea of where I was with respect to the Finish. Even then the last mile took forever.<br />
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Let me go back to the beginning.<br />
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(Photos courtesy of Christian Hottas, Hayley Donnelly, Phil Gadd and Ross Langston)<br />
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<b>Wednesday, May 30</b></div>
I landed in London around 10:30 a.m. and got done with Immigration and Customs pretty quickly. Before long I was on the Piccadilly line and got off in King's Cross/St. Pancras. I took out my iPhone and loaded up Maps to orient myself and find the hotel. After checking in I went back to the station to take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and make my way to Panton Street where I was meeting Shefaly for lunch in Woodlands. We talked about her teaching stint in India and my upcoming race.<br />
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<img border="0" class="image_main_border" height="240" src="http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/images/venues/images_all/10005875.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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A quick stop in Tesco to pick up some water and snacks and back to the hotel it was. The room was actually a 2-room suite and I wound up sleeping in the outer room since the inner room felt very stuffy.<br />
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<b>Thursday, May 31</b></div>
I went downstairs for a quick breakfast before heading up to the room to pick up the bags and head to Euston Station. My hotel was about half a mile away and the walk was pleasant. I joined the long line to buy a ticket, 19 pounds, to Birmingham. I quickly made my way down to the platform and found myself seated at the end of the train. The train took off on time and deposited me in Birmingham New Street station around 2 p.m. I took a cab to the Jurys Inn on Broad Street. I checked in, left my luggage with the concierge and made my way to Pushkar, an Indian restaurant I have been to before, which was next door to the hotel.<br />
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<img height="206" id="il_fi" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/nov2009/1/6/pushkar-807262255.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /><br />
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Some satisfying food later I made a quick trip to Tesco again for water and some last minute food for before and during the race.<br />
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It was on the way back from Tesco that I noticed a theater near the hotel. I went in and realized that Avengers, in 3-D, was on at 5 p.m. Great! I like Robert Downey, Jr. and the movie was quite entertaining.<br />
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<b>Friday, June 1</b></div>
I woke up around 8 a.m. and made my way downstairs for breakfast. After showering I decided to go for a walk along the canal and then back to Tesco to pick up some more things, including chocolate croissants and some chocolate milk for the morning of the race, and then on to a lunch, once again, in Pushkar.<br />
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I finally made it to the Travelodge lobby to pick up my bib number and race apparel. Right after that Jeremy Smallwood, Marit Bjerknes and Knut Kronstad and I went for a walk along the race route, for a mile or so, before turning back to head to O'Neill's. I ordered some fries while the others ordered food. Christian Hottas and Christine Schroeder soon showed up as did another runner named Mark Howlett.<br />
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(With (L to R) Jeremy Smallwood, Marit Bjerknes, Knut Kronstad<br />
the evening before the race)<br />
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I left the pub around 8 p.m. in order to go back to the hotel room for some last minute repacking etc.<br />
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I was in bed by 10:00 p.m. and fell asleep by 10:15 p.m.<br />
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Some sound or the other must have jolted me out of my sleep at 11:37 p.m. Getting back to sleep was hard after that.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Saturday, June 2</span></b> <br />
I lolled around in bed the rest of the night until I finally decided to roll out of it at 4:00 a.m. After partaking of a couple of small croissants and some chocolate milk and some more last minute repacking I was out the hotel door around 5:10 a.m. on my way to the Start area on Gas Street.<br />
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After handing Keith Godden a package I had carried for him from the US and taking from him, for my drop bag, some additional bottles of chocolate milk that he had been kind enough to buy for me I was ready for the race.<br />
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(L to R: Javed Bhatti, Keith Godden, yours truly,<br />
Peter Johnson and Lindley Chambers)<br />
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(Smart move on my part to don my poncho)
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(Listening to Dick giving us last minute information and instructions)<br />
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It was drizzling by now so I made the wise decision to put on my thin poncho. This proved to be a boon pretty much all through the first day and night. It not only kept me reasonably dry but also added another layer that kept the warmth in and the cold out.<br />
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I hugged Emily Gelder and talked with a some familiar faces before Dick started talking about the race. Very soon he began the countdown and we were off!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">START to CP1, Catherine de Barnes Bridge #78, 10.7 miles</span></b> <br />
The first few miles I ran with Per Hjorth and Kent Moeller. They picked it up a bit after that and I was left to my own devices. My plan was to make it to CP1 in under 2 hours. I had reached there in around 2:13 two years ago, under similar rainy conditions, and in 2:05 last year when it was dry and pleasant. This year I reached it in 1:56. I was pleasantly surprised. I had my chocolate milk, replenished my gels and was out of there in under 2 minutes.<br />
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By now it was raining quite hard but I was game as were the other runners. I was peeing every 40-55 minutes and that was good. I had planned to take a gel every 40 minutes or so and I had been following that regimen since the start.<br />
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(Front to Back: Marit, Knut and Jacqui in the early miles)<br />
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<b>CP1 to CP2, Hatton Hill Bridge #54 22.4 miles</b> </div>
The GUCR is very flat and so it's very tempting to run a lot in the race. Not wanting to make the mistake of running continuously unless I had to, I had settled on 25 minutes of running followed by 5 minutes of walking. It felt comfortable and the miles and the hours slipped away unnoticed under my feet.<br />
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To the canal-uninitiated it may seem to represent rather boring vistas, i.e. houseboats and water, but to those who have traversed appreciable distances over it on foot it becomes quickly apparent that its faces are ever changing.<br />
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The houseboats have their own individual characteristics as do the pubs and homes lining the canal. I always look forward to passing the Blue Lias inn on the opposite bank and the Two Boats inn on the same side.
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It had taken me 2:20 to cover the 12 miles between CP1 & CP2. It was a bit slower than last year. I quickly had my bottles refilled, downed a chocolate milk, ate some crisps etc. and headed out into the rain.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;">
<b>CP2 to CP3, Birdingbury Bridge 35.9 miles</b></div>
I was still ambling along in the 25 run+5 walk routine that seemed to be working quite well for me. The rain showed no signs of abating. It was time to buckle down and make it to the next CP in time. I seem to remember certain sections of this part course, strangely enough, quite well year after year. There is one small bit where the canal curves sharply to the left, passing a block of apartment buildings, and there is always a lot of people activity here. This year was no exception. A runner was even standing here talking to someone on the phone.<br />
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Right after this, around the 31-mile mark is an area where crew members hook up with their runners to offer them support. There were 3-4 support cars there when I passed it. I knew I was getting close to the CP and I was looking forward to the hot soup I know they usually have there as well as my usual chocolate milk.<br />
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I reached the CP at 1:38 p.m., i.e. 7:38 into the race. To my surprise, the small second bag I had put my chocolate milks in was not available. That's when I learned that the 2 bags had tags of different colors. One bag would be available for me at all CPs while the other one would be sent on to the Finish area. Fair enough. <br />
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Cathy, Keith Godden's wife, was sweet enough to run to her car and get me a chocolate milk bottle from Keith's stash. The CP marshall called ahead and instructed the bag handler to make my second bag available in the next CP. I drank up the chocolate milk, ate a few small pieces of scone this young girl insisted I partake of :-) and hit the trail again.<br />
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<b>CP3 to CP4, The Heart of England, Weedon, 53 miles</b></div>
This section includes the Braunston tunnel going over the top of which, during the 2009 Thames Ring 250M race, I had spent 45 minutes looking for the path to the other end.<br />
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Having run the GUCR in 2010 and 2011 I was now familiar with the way over to the other side. I reached the north end of the tunnel soon enough, after passing Napton Junction, and climbed to the top of the hill with the brothers Marino and Mark Fresch. I was soon on the short stretch that led to the 48 mile point. I know I was behind last year's time because I remember being in this section around 4 p.m. while it was after 5 p.m. this time around.<br />
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I reached CP4 at 6:24 p.m. (12:24 into the race). My small black bag was waiting for me and I quickly downed a milk and transferred stuff I would need for the rest of the way into the larger bag. The small bag could now go on to the Finish area.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">CP4 to CP5, Navigation Bridge, 70.4 miles</b><br />
The next milestone to focus on way Gayton Junction at 60 miles. After that was the Blisworth Tunnel with its 2 miles of detour to get to the other side. It was still raining and I put my head down, figuratively speaking, and got down to the business of making it to the other side of Blisworth before it started getting dark around 9:30 p.m.<br />
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Gayton Junction came and went and soon I was on the road climbing out of the canal. At the top of this climb I decided to stop, take off my poncho, open up my backpack and put on my headlamp. All of this took 10 minutes or so. I then started the slight descent to where the trail down to the canal starts. I heard a voice calling out my name. It was Keith Godden! He had made great time from the previous CP. He and I ran down the hill together to the canal.<br />
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He soon veered off to go to the restroom while I continued on. I soon passed Cathy, Keith's wife, and informed her that he would be there soon.<br />
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The rain got even harder. This section had slowed me down a lot last year. This year's torrential rain somehow made it feel better than before and I manfully stuck to my run+walk strategy. The bright lights of the Navigation Inn came into view off in the distance to my left. They looked so tantalizingly close but I knew that they were a good 2 or so miles off along the towpath. Very soon the path curved off to the left and I rolled into CP5 at 10:54 p.m. (16:54 into the race). I spent 30 minutes eating and changing into a long-sleeved shirt and donned tights over my shorts.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">CP5 to CP6, Water Eaton, 84.5 miles</span></b><br />
I left the CP and continued the run+walk strategy for another 2-3 miles. It was still pouring hard and I am not sure what happened but I started walking and did not run again for a very, very long time. Sleep came in strong waves and it was all I could do to keep it at bay.<br />
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In all of this I rounded a corner on the path and came across a young man sitting in the dark looking at something on his phone. I promptly sat down under the bridge and asked him if he would wake me up in 10 minutes. He agreed but kept on talking! In all of that conversation, not totally understanding his strong accent, I must have said Yes to something. The next thing I knew he was asking me to turn on my headlamp and he promptly rolled a couple of joints and offered me one. I told him that I had never smoked one to which he replied "Why did you say Yes then?". Ha ha ha ha. He also snorted a line of cocaine and by then it was time for me to leave. He offered to accompany me but I dissuaded him by telling him that he would not be able to keep up.<br />
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Now it was back onto the towpath, under the rain, weaving and trying to stay awake. It was a hard battle keeping sleep at bay. I finally reached CP #6 at 4:17 a.m.<br />
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I sat down to take in some coffee along with my chocolate milk and a handful of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffa_Cakes">Jaffa cakes</a>. I was out of there in 20 minutes.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">CP6 to CP7, Grand Junction Arms, 99.8 miles</span></b><br />
This section was interminably long. I sat down a couple of times to try and sleep and it was on one of these occasions that Christine Schroeder passed me. I kept her in sight and passed her once before she started running and walking faster and eventually disappeared from sight. It was early morning when we went through Leighton Buzzard and, surprisingly enough, this section was familiar not just from the past 2 years but also from the 2009 TR250.<br />
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This section, 15 miles long, took me all of 5 hours. I was very, very sleepy and plodding on trying to keep it at bay.<br />
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Keith and I found ourselves together once again until he took off and made it to the CP a wee bit before I did at 9:45 a.m. (27:45 into the race). I promptly shucked my backpack and went off to use the toilet.<br />
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I spent a total of about 30 minutes here eating soup, some more jaffa cakes and crisps before heading out again around 10:15 a.m.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">CP7 to CP8, Springwell Lock, 120.3 miles</span></b><br />
This was the single longest section in the race, all of 20.5 miles. You can assess how excruciating these miles were from the fact that the 20.5 miles took me 6 hours and 45 minutes! Bridges went by as did locks. I wobbled on. I was also getting hungry. It was around 111 miles that I espied an Indian restaurant right next to the canal. In and out in 10 minutes with a small container of daal and rice.<br />
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I quickly wolfed down the food and this helped. I reached 115 miles around 33.5 hours into the race. It started raining around 117 miles into the race and it pretty much did not stop until I finished it.<br />
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I reached CP #8 at 5:08 p.m., 35:08 hours into the race. Since this was the last CP where my bag would be available I put a couple of milk containers in my backpack along with a flashlight and a headlamp. I also made sure I ate enough before leaving with Stefan Olsson and Dave Baker.<br />
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(With Dave and Stefan)<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">CP8 to CP9, Hambrough Tavern, Southall, 133 miles</span></b><br />
In spite of sitting down to try and sleep for 10 minute a few miles after the CP, during which time Keith Godden passed me for the last time (he finished in an awesome 41:13!), I still made it to 127.5 miles in 37:52 i.e. the 7 odd miles had taken me just over 2 hours which was not bad going considering how slow I had been until that point.<br />
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I had the presence of mind, around 129 miles, to call my hotel and instruct them to have a vegetarian pasta dish prepared for me before full room service closed down at 11 p.m. I kept moving at what I thought was a decent clip but the Bulls Bridge junction took a long time in coming.<br />
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It was finally over Bulls Bridge and onto the Paddington arm of the canal. The next mile or so to the CP was through a lot of puddles and mud. I knew that the CP was not far once the canal curved to the left.<br />
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I reached at 9:44 p.m., 39:44 hours into the race. I left at 10:10 p.m. after drinking some coffee and eating some food. My friend, Fiona McNelis, was helping out there and she was very, very sweet!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">CP9 to the Finish in Little Venice, 145.4 miles</span></b><br />
A half mile out of the CP I realized that the headlamp was very low on batteries. Having decided to turn off my flashlight, I had put it in my jacket pocket. After turning off the weak headlamp I took out the flashlight. To my surprise that too would not switch on. Now what? Make the best of it, I said to myself. Let's move in the dark. I was confident that my eyes would eventually adjust and that proved to be the case.<br />
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Suddenly I was walking very fast. I know this because some sixth sense made me look up, at 11:10 p.m., just in time to espy the sign I had been waiting for - the sign that said "London Paddington 7.75 miles". I knew that it was 12.4 miles from CP9 to the Finish so I had covered 4.65 miles in 60 minutes i.e. 12.6 minutes a mile!<br />
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Knowing that the Finish was close suddenly took the fight and pep out of my mind and body. The sleep, which had been held at bay for many hours, now came back with redoubled vengeance.<br />
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I was weaving all over the towpath. My eyes would close for 2 steps, 4 steps and even 20 steps once. This was scary! What if I, instead of merely getting close to the canal, finally went over? I did not think I would die from such an immersion but I was in no mood to try that experiment!<br />
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I saw a couple of headlamps coming towards me from under a bridge. It was a father and son duo supporting another runner. They asked me how I was. I replied that I was very, very sleepy. On hearing this the boy offered to get me coffee. He ran off to the right. In the meantime the father helped take out a space blanket I had in my backpack. The boy arrived with a thermos of warm coffee that I eagerly gulped down. They both then helped wrap and tuck the space blanket around me.<br />
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I had been cold and wet before this but I was now warm. I thanked them profusely and headed out into the rain to cover the last 5 miles. The sleep came back again once the coffee wore off in 20 minutes or so. Back to weaving it was in the driving rain and wind.<br />
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It must have been with 2.5 miles or so to go that the space blanket came undone. Now it was a struggle for me to tuck it in the right places to stay warm. I finally gave up and resorted to holding it closed in front of me with both my arms. This meant that I could not walk with arms swinging by my side. That made it even slower now.<br />
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I finally saw familiar landmarks that told me that I was within 1.5 miles from the Finish. Those last hundreds of meters took what seemed like an eternity to cover. I finally glimpsed the Finish banner a few hundred yards down the path. It was with sheer relief that I crossed the Finish line in 44:10 (2:10 a.m.).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl4xuwKhmB5rL96h1Z6UwodaB3JQar4e2ILPO843ZqTN-wxQxqOxvujQUA5WUhS4L-1H0fiVooxUBQ17HGvn3tiZ4n_l44GpysSjLKYutqoQbmZKKaK2G8Z8vYa5Lp4ZwclN4/s1600/547678_114293788711466_667176960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl4xuwKhmB5rL96h1Z6UwodaB3JQar4e2ILPO843ZqTN-wxQxqOxvujQUA5WUhS4L-1H0fiVooxUBQ17HGvn3tiZ4n_l44GpysSjLKYutqoQbmZKKaK2G8Z8vYa5Lp4ZwclN4/s320/547678_114293788711466_667176960_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Finally!!!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcvvNA3a-mD-a8DyxKDkEXHPzdX-t-3ppEJgellmR4lFyHCLEaBPB_N2LGtuFadhRQZtpNKVDir_7cVA4Nq5WMR7hIe2DhE6qEl_voGXO2d9lfh3wrQ4QM0i0kLHw1e6sw4_2/s1600/547510_114293895378122_151961598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcvvNA3a-mD-a8DyxKDkEXHPzdX-t-3ppEJgellmR4lFyHCLEaBPB_N2LGtuFadhRQZtpNKVDir_7cVA4Nq5WMR7hIe2DhE6qEl_voGXO2d9lfh3wrQ4QM0i0kLHw1e6sw4_2/s320/547510_114293895378122_151961598_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(With Dick Kearn and the awesome medal!)<br />
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This was the most epic ending of any race I have ever run and I thank Dick Kearn, the Race Director, for giving me a chance for the third year in a row to not only play and party on the towpath but to also go on a journey that took me into the deepest recesses of my being. At times I had to summon enormous reserves of determination, when confronted by the weather, the cold and sleeplessness, to not give up.<br />
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Immense gratitude to all the amazing volunteers who made this race possible by manning the checkpoints and helping runners take that extra step. Thanks to Paddy Robbins, the winner for the past 2 years, who chose to volunteer instead. You rock!<br />
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I love running in the UK!<br />
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<br />Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-53569365208901523502012-02-07T22:20:00.000-08:002012-06-08T12:20:41.629-07:002012: Looking AheadGosh! I have not posted in over 3 months! Time to get cracking and update my blog more often.<br />
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After the Spartathlon I experienced <i>deja moo</i> a.k.a "I've seen this bulls*it before" in the Javelina 100M in November. Just like the prior 2 years, the first 4 loops went fine while the 5th one and half the 6th proved to be my <i>bete noires</i> once again. Like '09 I had the most amazing last 3 miles. Caleb Wilson offered to pace me for the final 9 miles and he was the reason I was able to run fast at the end. Thank you, Caleb!</div>
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Like the past 2 years I have gotten into this year's 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race (June 2). I have already paid my race fees for the Sep 28 Spartathlon and my race number is 73.</div>
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A few Fat Ass races, the Lake Sonoma 50M on April 14 and the Quicksilver 50M on May 12 pretty much make up the list of races I am using to prepare for the GUCR. </div>
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I do want to pour in a few months where I touch 100-110 miles per week. This, of course, might necessitate 2 runs per day on some days of the week or very long back to back weekend runs. I will have to play it by ear about how I get to 100+ mpw based on my work schedule.</div>
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Last year was a good year for my mileage - I ran just over 2500 miles which averages to about 7 miles per day. I want to get past 3000 miles this year and I do believe I might just be able to do it. January was a good start towards that goal - I had 215 miles in that month in addition to over 100 miles on my road bike.</div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-4358993434943925512011-10-13T21:11:00.000-07:002013-01-08T12:35:13.921-08:00You Get What You Ask For<div>
"You get what you ask for". Not that I don't believe it but how true it is was hammered into me during the incredible Spartathlon.<br />
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What an experience it turned out to be. I now understand why people go back to run it year after year whether they've finished it or not. I will be going back next year and the year after and subsequent years too (assuming I qualify to run it beyond 2013).</div>
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Let's start with the days leading up to the race. I flew to Athens a few days before the race to get over jet lag and get used to the heat and humidity there. Surprisingly, unlike last year, it was not very humid this year and it proved to be a saving grace for my race.</div>
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I picked up my race packet around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep 28, and met a few people I know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgazup6ttOrbfzRBhRTEhOK89DYTqFrhEjHUL7s8CFHJoDGY7pb-QZvzATg8oSnCD1Jjxxk2Mqi0AtKhnYzliYFjLKMX3jp5w_e42ymFUy8gRZ7xLNXMLK1by-4OB6Oxx8FLb2/s1600/DSCN0057.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664942760222284658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgazup6ttOrbfzRBhRTEhOK89DYTqFrhEjHUL7s8CFHJoDGY7pb-QZvzATg8oSnCD1Jjxxk2Mqi0AtKhnYzliYFjLKMX3jp5w_e42ymFUy8gRZ7xLNXMLK1by-4OB6Oxx8FLb2/s400/DSCN0057.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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(75 Checkpoints, 75 drop bags if you like!)</div>
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Dinner that evening was with Mimi Anderson (she was the 3rd. woman overall), her husband Tim, their friend Bridget, Allan Rumbles and his wife and Matt Mahoney and his wife. They are all British and I know Allan from the GUCR earlier this year.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Friday, September 30</b></span></div>
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My Mom's birthday. She would have been 74 had she not passed away earlier this year in May. I had dedicated the race to her.</div>
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I got up around 3 a.m. in order to shower, tape my feet and eat breakfast. The hotel was across the street from the London Hotel from where buses were to depart at 6:00 a.m. sharp for the Acropolis. I went inside the hotel to use the restroom one last time and I met last year's winner, Ivan Cudin, there. I wished him good luck and found out that he had been ill the past 2 months and had not been able to train as he would have liked. He went on to finish 7 minutes faster than last year, in 22:56, and became only the 3rd. person ever, after Yiannis Kouros and Scott Jurek, to run the Spartathlon in under 23 hours! What an amazing runner he is - check out his picture later on in this post.</div>
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I found myself sitting near Mark Woolley, an Englishman who has been living in Malaga (Spain) for the past 20 years. He had run the race thrice before and finished once. He was hoping to even it with a finish this year (he did finish!).</div>
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The Acropolis was a beehive of activity. Runners from so many nationalities were swarming around taking pictures or videos and the air was thick with excitement intermingled with nervousness.</div>
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I met up with my British friends - James Adams, Matt Mahoney, Allan Rumbles, Peter Leslie Foxall (he was starting his 14th Spartathlon; he has finished the race 9 times!). I even managed to get a nice picture with them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6UsGjan4NmM0SBJmysBuhLyT_HlGJlqtZOGWEU4pPdqhm82_EUrcFngjRNUsI_XVseoRPsG8QL5qZvLBpVECqmfDJrVNgUzwXN1bTWWzTcSH0Ie9baycmUDFC_h6XxvubuT5/s1600/DSCN0083.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664942767592078482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6UsGjan4NmM0SBJmysBuhLyT_HlGJlqtZOGWEU4pPdqhm82_EUrcFngjRNUsI_XVseoRPsG8QL5qZvLBpVECqmfDJrVNgUzwXN1bTWWzTcSH0Ie9baycmUDFC_h6XxvubuT5/s400/DSCN0083.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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With my British friends before the Start. L to R: Philip Smith,</div>
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Matt Mahoney, Mark Woolley and James Adams)</div>
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I had to run off into the bushes at least 3 times in order to pee. A sign of things to come!</div>
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The race started promptly at 7 a.m. and the first mile was all downhill. My last 2 runs had been 5-milers on Monday and Tuesday. I had gotten rest on Wednesday but had climbed all the way to the Parthenon the day before to do some sightseeing. </div>
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The early miles felt wonderful. My legs were opening up and my Garmin showed me to be maintaining a pace between 9:45-10:00 mins/mile. The first urge to pee came around 7:45 a.m. Good! If correctly hydrated I pee around every 45-50 minutes. I ran off to the side of the road into a deserted lot to relieve myself. A minute gone right there. The first 2-3 hours I peed every 35-45 minutes. </div>
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We soon found ourselves on the Iera Odos, the road used 2500 years ago to make the religious trek to the festival in Elefsina. Lined with shops and buildings it would appear alien to an Athenian transported forward to the present.</div>
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We soon left Iera Odos and made the left turn onto Leoforos Athinon. I remember a Greek motorist shouting angrily at the policemen standing in the middle of the road. Traffic along this busy highway had been stopped to let the runners through and the motorists were irate at the prospect of waiting at the light for 10-20 minutes.</div>
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This road was probably the least attractive section of the entire race. Cars and trucks whizzed by belching exhaust fumes and it was a relief to branch out to the right, away from the busy road, onto a smaller road with much less traffic.</div>
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I had decided to put in 200 - 240 calories every hour. For the first 50 miles I had made use of just one drop bag, at Checkpoint# 13 (30 miles), in which I had put 8 gels. I was carrying 12 gels in my waist pack and the pouch in my hand bottle. I dutifully ingested 1 100 calorie gel every 30 minutes and it kept my blood sugar even. I had taken a salt tablet just before the Start and waited until 2 hours into the race to take the next one. </div>
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My initial plan had been to skip every other Checkpoint but it turned out that I went through all of them just to have my bottle either filled or topped up. These visits never took more than 10-15 seconds and I was very pleased with those rapid transitions. I needed every second - I had never run a 50-mile race in under 9:45 and here I was being asked to do it in 9:30!</div>
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The Half marathon point went by in 2:10 and it was starting to get toasty warm by now. We passed a factory and the road climbed a bit past it. This was around the 16 mile mark. We soon hit a stretch of the road that was beautiful. It hugged the coast with the Saronic Gulf on the left. The sun glinted off the water, ships went about their business and ahead of me I could see the coast stretching off into the distance. It reminded me a bit of the Big Sur marathon course.</div>
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I was still running well and had not walked at all. The road veered off the coast and started to see more traffic once again. It got very busy around the 25 mile mark as there seemd to be construction work up ahead. Before I knew it I had reached Checkpoint #11 (42.2K or 26.2 miles). 4:23 is what I took to run the marathon. I made it out of there 22 minutes ahead of the 4:45 cutoff. First part of the mission accomplished!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrkTBEhh9tcBqsSCh3xEX2m4HgxlCR0LxxNYJxpdpH3pV3iIfIJNvmfJkhuX5wt7bsePAI5myse0TAVCT6KLsp2ngiH_Cx-8MGCqTJ-WlaKsM44bfQDgYv1620o5mdwa0cJnP/s1600/DSCN0115.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664942776478239090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrkTBEhh9tcBqsSCh3xEX2m4HgxlCR0LxxNYJxpdpH3pV3iIfIJNvmfJkhuX5wt7bsePAI5myse0TAVCT6KLsp2ngiH_Cx-8MGCqTJ-WlaKsM44bfQDgYv1620o5mdwa0cJnP/s400/DSCN0115.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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(Drinking a sports drink in the 26.2 -mile CP)</div>
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Pretty soon after the marathon CP the road got back along the coast again and started to rise up. This is where I walked for the first time, about 0.7 miles. As soon as it started to get undulating again I started to run and I ran all the way to the 30-mile CP, a checkpoint perched next to a hotel 60 feet above the ocean.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkx6LyQGxsM9OHj_7Ryqajx7kJxf_h3tKQdbmI4_hbm485e9CFT3OiG9IZeV3NSkjVXSrcO9x87BbBIwwM_1NBH-XbzkYwzMQNkhht4-Grwi1o_pGApPQ0bMhxuqfRnh6VsMB/s1600/62152_436414448118_688528118_4874495_7704174_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664946682096482514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkx6LyQGxsM9OHj_7Ryqajx7kJxf_h3tKQdbmI4_hbm485e9CFT3OiG9IZeV3NSkjVXSrcO9x87BbBIwwM_1NBH-XbzkYwzMQNkhht4-Grwi1o_pGApPQ0bMhxuqfRnh6VsMB/s400/62152_436414448118_688528118_4874495_7704174_n.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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(30-mile Checkpoint)</div>
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My only drop bag in the first 50 miles was in this Checkpoint and it contained gels. I stuffed them into my waist pack and got out without wasting too much time. I had reached 30 miles in 5:09 and the 31 mile point came and went in 5:19. Not bad for a slow, old geezer like me! :-)</div>
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The road now wended its way a bit away from the ocean past homes and stores. It was really hot now and I was starting to slow down a tad. 30 miles in 5:09 is 10:18 mins/mile. The 40-mile CP came in 7:10 i.e. 10:42 mins/mile pace. I was still not worried for I had 10 more miles to do and a good 2 hours and 20 minutes to do them in though I did want to get to the 50-mile CP in 9 hours or under.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuZQb172SVi372Mxt6s37uWretGMI5v5RpZJywDCoQTk6Ile-MOuZk8BpKXHoDcrg66efoqsv-Av0TNZbFh64WhCsWnaSbl9pDkZEgCFZRvKJW73icYDF3WsBudb3vDRiWOYf/s1600/DSCN0123.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664942781227930706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuZQb172SVi372Mxt6s37uWretGMI5v5RpZJywDCoQTk6Ile-MOuZk8BpKXHoDcrg66efoqsv-Av0TNZbFh64WhCsWnaSbl9pDkZEgCFZRvKJW73icYDF3WsBudb3vDRiWOYf/s400/DSCN0123.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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(Approaching the 40-mile CP in around 7:10)</div>
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I eventually rolled into CP #22 at 9:09 into the race.</div>
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Even though I had only 20 minutes before the Checkpoint closed I still decided to get a 10 minute massage for both my legs. I downed a chocolate milk and changed into Brooks Racer ST shoes. These weigh around 7 ounces and felt so comfortable once my feet went in. I started from CP #22 at 9:21 into the race and promptly got into a rhythm of sorts. Walking and running, when I could, got me to the next CP. I was not feeling all that great. My legs were starting to slowly deteriorate but I was determined to plod on.</div>
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I eventually got to the CP before Ancient Corinth and then past the ruins of Ancient Corinth into the next CP.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW1CnnHgWTa9whWm-QKJhBlf0xRwDp0o20j9tl8DBWwC9a56DfbjbgesruO6cyKedVgtRQymSWay-MsFyl1H5WvNcl9PCOLqFxUHeeD9hF1q48U36bzZCvDVLjOM2xsDFbFan/s1600/61593_436492168118_688528118_4875513_3705412_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664946681779555106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW1CnnHgWTa9whWm-QKJhBlf0xRwDp0o20j9tl8DBWwC9a56DfbjbgesruO6cyKedVgtRQymSWay-MsFyl1H5WvNcl9PCOLqFxUHeeD9hF1q48U36bzZCvDVLjOM2xsDFbFan/s400/61593_436492168118_688528118_4875513_3705412_n.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Ancient Corinth)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg42GuhB5-WXbP1164OMF32SyjtGgvMgyhUvPJqTHZE7FLHhfbBbC-rRbFLG9xyj6PhVYAYztWCZ2xV5xWImtjzIEiN-eYacocV7_PdQPu4gW0j2RVFdE0k648ppSBzHiMMun/s1600/298956_2255709345004_1016450998_32020327_1238043408_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669768400578318354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg42GuhB5-WXbP1164OMF32SyjtGgvMgyhUvPJqTHZE7FLHhfbBbC-rRbFLG9xyj6PhVYAYztWCZ2xV5xWImtjzIEiN-eYacocV7_PdQPu4gW0j2RVFdE0k648ppSBzHiMMun/s400/298956_2255709345004_1016450998_32020327_1238043408_n.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
(Ivan Cudin, the winner, flying past the ruins)<br />
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In and out of there in a flash, I set my sights on the next CP which was to close at 7 p.m. (12 hours into the race). My pace slowed terribly after this and I basically made it into the that CP at 7:00 on the dot! I still had half a bottle full of water and only 1.8 miles to go to the next CP. I blasted out of that CP and ran sub-7:30 mins/mile and made it to the next CP with 5 minutes to spare. It's noteworthy that I had now done a 100K in 12 hours during a tough, tough race. I was proud of myself.</div>
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That bit of fast running was the last I did until the CP where I stopped. My legs were really hurting now and I did not want to take a Tylenol just to make it from CP to CP for, deep down inside me, I knew that one of the Checkpoints ahead would be my last one i.e. I would reach it too late. CP #31 it was where I reached 11 minutes late. It was still open and one of the Race Directors, the one who had let me leave the previous CP 5 minutes after closing time, was there again. He was perfectly agreeable to letting me continue but I decided to stop just because I knew that I would be getting to each CP later and later and there was no purpose to subjecting my body to more pain when there was an infinitesimally small chance of anything different happening.</div>
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Back to Athens it was the next day and then the flight back to San Francisco on Monday, Oct 3.</div>
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So what did I learn from the Spartathlon?</div>
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(a) I am faster than I have given myself credit for recently. It's been a long time since I ran a race hard and the Spartathlon kind of forced me to do so. Had it not been for the increasingly frequent pee stops in the last 20-23 miles I would have reached the 50-mile CP in under 8:50.</div>
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(b) The race is hard but not unconquerable for someone like me. I will have to train harder and smarter to get to Leonidas's feet next year. </div>
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(c) AMAT VICTORIA CURAM - "Victory Loves Preparation". I will have to prepare really well in order to emerge victorious next year.</div>
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Now coming back to the first line in this blog - "You get what you ask for". Since applying for the race earlier in the year I have been talking just one kind of talk - I am so very grateful for being able to start this amazing race and anything I achieve will be far more than I could ever hope for. Just getting to 50 miles in under 9:30 will be wonderful. THAT'S ALL I focused on - 50 miles in around 8:45 or so. </div>
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Guess what I got? 50 miles in under 9:30 and then kaput! The brain had decided that that's all it was going to give me since I did not truly believe that I could run 100 miles in the Spartathlon in under 23 hours. I had violated my own first principle that I try to teach the people I coach - have belief in yourself and focus on the moment AND entire race.. </div>
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(d) The biggest confidence booster was the fact that I DID reach 50 miles in around 9 hours. I know that I can reach the same point in next year's race, with good training and proper hydration management during the race, in 8:30 or faster. If I do so and my legs are still feeling good, my chances of making the Base of the Mountain CP with ample time to spare are very good.</div>
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Heartfelt gratitude to Tim, and Bridget (Mimi's crew) and, especially, to <a href="http://www.runningandstuff.com/">James Adams</a> and Robert Treadwell for helping my crew navigate the maze that is Athenian roads in the first 50 miles and continuing to encourage me on repeatedly in the miles between 50 and 68. </div>
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Kudos to all of the volunteers, from the Race Directors down to the people manning the Checkpoints, for a fantastically run race. They made it easy for me to get in and out of checkpoints in a flash!</div>
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Onwards to the Javelina Jundred on November 12 now.</div>
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Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-12296607414854914032011-09-08T23:00:00.000-07:002011-09-13T21:09:08.004-07:003 weeks to the SpartathlonIn 490 B.C. Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta a few days before the Battle of Marathon.<br /><br /><img src="http://room162c.edublogs.org/files/2010/04/GreeceBattleMarathon1.jpg" width="400" height="300" /><br /><br />My run starts atop the Acropolis, under the imposing but beautiful Parthenon, at 7 a.m. on Friday, September 30,<br /><br />Here are the cutoffs every runner will try to stay under in order to advance towards the Finish:<br /><br />Athens to Corinth ===> 81 km ===> 81 km IN 9.5 hrs<br />Corinth to Nemea ===> 124 km ===> 43.0 km IN 6.5 hrs<br />Nemes to Lyrkeia ===> 148.5 km ===> 24.5 km IN 4 hrs<br />Lyrkia to Nestani ===> 172 km ===> 23.5 km IN 4.5 hrs<br />Nestani to Tegea ===> 195 km ===> 23 km IN 3.5 hrs<br />Tegea to Sparta ===> 245.3 km ===> 50.3 km IN 8 hrs<br /><br />The elevation profile is shown below.<br /><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255);font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;" class="Apple-style-span" ></span><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255);font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;" class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><br /><p style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px 1em 1em 1.3em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: rgb(75,75,75); FONT-SIZE: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></p><br /><br /><div style="POSITION: relative; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 450px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 200px; COLOR: rgb(75,75,75); FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><img style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" id="chartImage" alt="" src="http://www.gpsies.com/media.do;jsessionid=09C3A9D0CBA8A6F0D30C37986AE90C3A?fileId=esescudqekblrjhc&width=400&height=200" /></div><br /></span><br /><br />The days will be hot and humid while the night could possibly see rain and cold. Last year it was sad to see some runners in nothing but shorts and singlets getting soaked to the skin, from the rain that hit for an hour or so, and getting hypothermic.<br /><br />What do I hope will happen on Saturday, Oct 1? This!<br /><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(247,247,247);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><br /></span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(247,247,247);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><br /><p style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 16px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 10px">From Tegea the road takes on the final climb of the race rising from 640 m (2,100 ft) to 975 meters (3,200 ft) in a distance of 22 km. The runners will pass through the villages of Kamari (196.8 km) and Manthirea (202.1 km) where the paved road twists and turns through an evergreen landscape that is visible almost as far as the eye can see. The final 28 kilometres to Sparta are almost all downhill descending into the Evrotas Valley. At the village of Voutiani (236.2 kilometres), the runners can clearly see their goal and after crossing over the Evrotas river bridge (243.5 km) the runners are met by local school children who will accompany them to <strong style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">checkpoint 75</strong> and the finish line in Sparta the capital of Laconia (245.3 km).</p><br /><br /><br /><p style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 16px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px"><span class="Apple-style-span">The city turns out in force to welcome the athletes as heroes in front of the statue of King Leonidas. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">All finishers are presented with an olive wreath and offered a goblet of water from the Evrotas River, much as Olympian winners would have been honoured in ancient times.</span></b></p></span>To say that I am very, very excited is an understatement. The nervousness may, and probably will, come the night before the race but I am prepared for it. To be given the opportunity to start one of the hardest and most iconic of races is an honor I am humbled by. I worked hard last year, and again this year, to finish the 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race in the UK, races that have become my qualifiers for Spartathlon 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.<br /><br />The plan, as of right now, is to run this race this year and in 2012. I may skip 2013 but friends who have run it before insist that it's like a drug - you cannot have enough of it. Having seen it for myself last year, during my crewing stint for Nattu Natraj, I kind of understand their assertion.<br /><br />Stay tuned.Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-20724424764898430852011-06-05T16:11:00.001-07:002016-06-08T16:27:34.176-07:00Running Far in the GUCR - Part Deux<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Race: Grand Union Canal 145M Race<br />Date: May 28, 2011<br />Location: Birmingham to London, United Kingdom<br />Time: 41:30</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614877718835790322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOdmQmp4LlUqP0i3gYTzOM-TmxX0NrfPjWO8dJsSA7V0fyc17uj0ak8Wg7ge2TT0-PCi7r3J0fuyctHJiA6ESrwBE1LE7DsjRTeH5TCjAaYCgsGwHaeNIhjlOmbAVrkPb0fAB/s400/1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 299px;" /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><b>IN FAR LONDON</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">In far London lay the big prize</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Sought by ninety-two pairs of eyes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Off they went with hope in the breast</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">That well they would fare in the test</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">And make it past the next sunrise.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Zeus looked down kindly from the skies</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">On the Will, staving off demise,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Which hoped to finally get rest</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">In far London.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Heard were many dejected sighs</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">As, for the fight, feet failed to rise.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">The rest bravely managed to wrest,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">From Nike, the Cup of Conquest:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Their dragons they'd cut down to size</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">In far London.</span></div>
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How similar this year's race was to last year's. Ergo the poem above, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondeau_(poetry)">rondeau</a>, is similar in theme to <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.blogspot.com/2010/05/running-far-in-gucr.html">last year's sonnet.</a></div>
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The biggest thing I learned is that I have to go back to the drawing board for my Spartathlon training. Just under 4 months left and I have to not only step it up but make a few radical changes. <i>Que sera sera</i>.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Thursday, June 26</span></b></div>
I landed in London around 1:30 p.m. and soon found myself on the Piccadilly line making my way to the Euston Road station and a cafe near it where I was meeting a Facebook friend for tea around 3:15 p.m. It was raining when I emerged above ground but quickly found the cafe and made it there without getting very wet. The friend had been waiting since past 2 p.m. and had to leave around 4 p.m. for another appointment. We talked about a lot of things during our 40-minute chat. It was refreshing to meet someone who had no running background. It was also coincidental that the friend's neighbor was running the GUCR too. Small world!<br />
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Off I went to Euston Station and after asking about the fare to Birmingham I was faced with the choice of taking the next train, at 4:15 p.m., for the cost of UK Pounds 74 or wait until off-peak hours (after 7 p.m.) to pay a fare of UK Pounds 18. Not wanting to sit in a station for almost 3 hours I paid the higher price the result of which was a walk from Birmingham's New Street station to my hotel, Jurys Inn on Broad Street, in daylight.<br />
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I deposited my luggage in the hotel room and went downstairs to pick up water etc. from a store across the street. It was then off to Pushkar for dinner. By the time I fell asleep it was 2 a.m.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Friday, May 27</span></b><br />
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I woke up around 8 a.m. and went downstairs to eat breakfast. After breakfast I went up to shower after which I went out again to walk along the canal and up and down Broad Street. </div>
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I returned to the hotel room and found myself falling asleep just past noon. I woke up feeling refreshed around 2:15 p.m. After freshening up I went out to grab an early dinner. I ate dal and rice in an Indian restaurant. James Adams had sent a message to a whole bunch of us that he would be in a pub called O'Neill's around 4:15 p.m. The pub was right next to the Travelodge where we were to pick up our bib numbers between 5 and 8 p.m. </div>
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James was in the pub as promised and we hit it off immediately. He is a very talented runner, having finished the GUCR in 30 hours and change in 2008 in addition to the Spartathlon (twice) and Badwater. Very soon other runners were filing in. We eventually had a full table with Claire Shelley (she went on to win the Women's race the next day!), Allan Rumbles, Paul Ali, Mike Blamires, Jeremy Smallwood, George Fairbrother, Dino Illaria, Lindley Chambers, his friend Sue Albiston, James Adams, Gemma Greenwood, Sarah Hutton, Neil Bryant, Stuart Shipley and a few others.</div>
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I ate a couple of orders of French fries. We soon dispersed with Allan, James, Claire, Lindley, Sue and I heading along the route for a half mile or so to reconnoiter the course. It was back to my hotel room after that. Having slept the 2 hours around noon sleep was now hard to come by. I tried repeatedly but was forced to switch on the light and the TV often. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Saturday, May 28</span></b></div>
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I eventually gave up around 3 a.m. Needing to be up and about by 4 a.m. I did not see any benefit to lying around in bed until then. I quickly ate breakfast (milk and a chocolate croissant) and got down to the business of showering and taping up my feet. I finally left the hotel around 5:25 a.m. and made my way to the Start area on Gas Street.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7-P2IcVsLaD4a-R-bV4kO7fM3pFIrMME5X2LMjeJXbe1wk6Qot6IKhMv8_Y0_xn33NIQVWIEQtgM8_OpMz_ifZD3PSp7kSwbAYGfTiSQewkio4_uhVVNeUvpBnYirZDxPqy2/s1600/17.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615152588379953922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7-P2IcVsLaD4a-R-bV4kO7fM3pFIrMME5X2LMjeJXbe1wk6Qot6IKhMv8_Y0_xn33NIQVWIEQtgM8_OpMz_ifZD3PSp7kSwbAYGfTiSQewkio4_uhVVNeUvpBnYirZDxPqy2/s400/17.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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(In the Start area. Photo courtesy of James Adams)</div>
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I met Sharon Weldon, Christian Hottas, Christine Schroeder, Keith Godden and a lot of other people I had come to know from my UK races from the past 2 years.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7-P2IcVsLaD4a-R-bV4kO7fM3pFIrMME5X2LMjeJXbe1wk6Qot6IKhMv8_Y0_xn33NIQVWIEQtgM8_OpMz_ifZD3PSp7kSwbAYGfTiSQewkio4_uhVVNeUvpBnYirZDxPqy2/s1600/17.JPG"></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615152591848263634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AYqnvSUjpC-8WCgvjGJ5h7APnEstYfp_zaz1mNCpcOgY-dHIS6fzNzeHHwaP-B9PSQbW256KpMui_aoPJHvyaN695NkMWTIMFSg97Ak-QNA7KV6rGMg7-OGLu5xgGeTd8Fm7/s400/18.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /><br />
(Waiting to start the race. Photo courtesy of Christian Hottas)<br />
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Dick Kearn's race briefing was short. Something that stood out was "Please avoid painkillers. They take the pain away but leave behind the killer bit". Nice advice. Right after that we were off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93x2ObBwdCZ1lBuyl0HzrkNanRNtXE8E4t1asQBmxf5erc99FkJuufwjABq1JtTt54aE5Y0GrfNV1sqAKfaW2XHzcY-fAM9HE13Hw-DIuML6lTqOSq8P0f3IDz2-NOk9t2NNn/s1600/15.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615155064853010530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93x2ObBwdCZ1lBuyl0HzrkNanRNtXE8E4t1asQBmxf5erc99FkJuufwjABq1JtTt54aE5Y0GrfNV1sqAKfaW2XHzcY-fAM9HE13Hw-DIuML6lTqOSq8P0f3IDz2-NOk9t2NNn/s400/15.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(0.2 miles into the race)<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Start to CP#1 @Catherine de Barnes Bridge (10.7 miles)</span></b></div>
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My tentative plan was to make it to the first Checkpoint, at 10.7 miles, by 8:00 a.m. and eventually to 70 miles in anywhere between 14-16 hours (8 - 10:00 p.m.). That would give me a good springboard to try to go under 40 hours. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrET8bs__kE5eahlNlQ2shZLUdzQtoNZ6uvcG08pKojk7bizwrTfmJfVqD9lu7bAwrEQBtBRSMFhpCXCwnEu3nHgSVCI9W_Ge4wStvRQuFRmKyBuOal-ArqLjMujoaCjyTzO/s1600/232323232-fp539-7-nu%253D7845-298-243-WSNRCG%253D353%253B69965%253B334nu0mrj.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615155065091787986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrET8bs__kE5eahlNlQ2shZLUdzQtoNZ6uvcG08pKojk7bizwrTfmJfVqD9lu7bAwrEQBtBRSMFhpCXCwnEu3nHgSVCI9W_Ge4wStvRQuFRmKyBuOal-ArqLjMujoaCjyTzO/s400/232323232-fp539-7-nu%253D7845-298-243-WSNRCG%253D353%253B69965%253B334nu0mrj.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 264px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Powering to the first Checkpoint)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLkQZQ-00dCiUdT06-0xpU0KVld9nJ36FaviZkHXtyp_3Ul6s4ftg8vOcE7w3SVAI9GaZsc9bDQPviypNbb7Z3N5I0LMJgIj8aV8myWadHy-HFMYwAuD6IcVSkhKBdxmd9SgH/s1600/20.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615159401924446850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLkQZQ-00dCiUdT06-0xpU0KVld9nJ36FaviZkHXtyp_3Ul6s4ftg8vOcE7w3SVAI9GaZsc9bDQPviypNbb7Z3N5I0LMJgIj8aV8myWadHy-HFMYwAuD6IcVSkhKBdxmd9SgH/s400/20.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
(Less than a mile from the first Checkpoint. Photo courtesy of Gemma Greenwood)<br />
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The miles went by quite fast. I was talking to another runner and before we knew it we were at the Checkpoint. I reached at 8:03 a.m., downed a milk carton and left in 2 minutes flat. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><b>CP#1 (10.7 miles) to CP#2 @Hatton Locks (22 miles)</b></span></div>
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The runner I had been talking to had gone on ahead and now I was all by myself. I took up a 25-minute run, 5-minute walk method that wound up working for me for the next 50 or so miles. The 25 minutes would go by almost unnoticed as did the 5-minute walk breaks. I was making good time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoklRxgTCwSCZn2YB6FAyZqZ3ZYfAJBd4Qe9txuqmf8sx0idOHXUbSYJFJmtW6RWW5hfJ-ZRUv-BnREPQSLLxZtNu2v_zqgLPXkm92HOkFzNFKgay7M9qX5dJNYwZdy5GakMH/s1600/21.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615162139268081106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoklRxgTCwSCZn2YB6FAyZqZ3ZYfAJBd4Qe9txuqmf8sx0idOHXUbSYJFJmtW6RWW5hfJ-ZRUv-BnREPQSLLxZtNu2v_zqgLPXkm92HOkFzNFKgay7M9qX5dJNYwZdy5GakMH/s400/21.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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(~ 13 miles from the Start. Photo courtesy of Gemma Greenwood)</div>
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It must have been about around mile 19 or so that I came upon a friend, Stephen Thomson, who had finished the 2009 Thames Ring 250M and last year's South Downs Way 100M race (where I had missed the 56M checkpoint because I got lost). He lives in Birmingham and he had decided to get a 20+ mile training run in along the same route as the GUCR just so he could encourage friends running the race. He ran with me all the way to the Checkpoint where his wife and kids were waiting for him. He wished me luck and I powered on towards the actual Checkpoint. Here too I was in and out fast, maybe a couple of minutes at best. I had reached the Checkpoint at 10:30 a.m. i.e. 4.5 hours into the race.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><b>CP#2 (22 miles) to CP#3@Birdingbury Bridge (35.9 miles)</b></span></div>
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I continued to use the 25 Run, 5 Walk strategy. It was working so why not? I was still using a gel every 45-50 minutes in addition to a salt tablet every 2 hours or so. In addition to the milk I was drinking at every Checkpoint (I was getting it from my drop bag) I was also partaking of crisps, a few cookies here and there and roasted peanuts. This section is hazy in my memory. I was mostly alone and in a zone of sorts. CP#3 duly arrived at 1:22 p.m. (7:22 into the race). </div>
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I did sit down here for I wanted to eat some of the canal soup that Dick Kearn, the RD, had mentioned in his e-mails a few days before the race. The soup took about 5 minutes to be made so I busied myself by eating a few more crisps and peanuts. The soup was one of the tastiest things I had eaten all day. I texted as much to my friend, Anu Singh, and she cautioned me against eating too much in the feed stations. She remembered what had happened to me after gorging on a lot of food in the 70.5 mile CP last year!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#3 (35.9 miles) to CP#4 @Heart of England, Weedon (53 miles)</span></b></div>
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It was back to the 25+5 grindstone again. It must have been a couple of miles out from the CP that I hooked up with a runner, Per Hjorth, who was running the race for the first time. He was wearing a cute blue hairpiece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5PYkp7MoB1nX9XXYy_u-3qV6YeigouzwFpMmaV8R-EeLnYgIL5ivOGJnrpMYi3ageM_8qFHOlPQ5gVTpNOjNP_oA9usLlOQyaOc6Jc8RQ6rwmO2qt6iTKmwSzgvTpEfP8fvp/s1600/23.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615612799925224770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5PYkp7MoB1nX9XXYy_u-3qV6YeigouzwFpMmaV8R-EeLnYgIL5ivOGJnrpMYi3ageM_8qFHOlPQ5gVTpNOjNP_oA9usLlOQyaOc6Jc8RQ6rwmO2qt6iTKmwSzgvTpEfP8fvp/s400/23.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
(Per Hjorth in the Heart of England, Weedon feed station. Photo courtesy of Jonathan)<br />
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He and I were either together or within sight of each other for the next 80 miles or so. It was in Braunston that I helped a cyclist carry his bike up a steep set of steps that crossed the canal. Soon Per and I were at the steps that would take us onto the path that went up a moderately steep hill and to the other side of the Braunston tunnel. I ran up the hill all the way partly to use my quads, muscles that had lain kind of dormant all day, and partly to thumb my nose at the hill.</div>
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Back down to the canal it was again. Per and I talked about various runners that we knew and we soon arrived at the Norton Junction (48.3 miles). Allan Rumbles was here and we greeted each other. I went into the inn there to use their toilet facilities. The innkeeper was kind enough to fill my bottles with water and a pub customer even bought me a bag of crisps! You English people are the best!!!</div>
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I arrived in CP#4 at 5:38 p.m. i.e. 11:38 into the race. Back calculating I would hazard a guess that I passed 50 miles in around 10 hours 30 minutes. I again had some milk and left soon after.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#4 (53 miles) to CP#5 @Navigation Bridge (70.5 miles)</span></b></div>
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This section of the route goes over the second tunnel, the Blisworth tunnel (at mile 62.5), and involves over a mile of asphalt. I remember going over the tunnel with a couple of other runners and then making my way down the trail to the canal. In spite of having gone to the restroom at 48.5 miles the urge to go was back and as strong as ever. I used a pub on the lock by the canal. I remember coming out of the restroom and noting the Barcelona-Manchester United score (it was tied 1-1 then).</div>
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Back onto the towpath again. I ran+walked as best as I could until, with about 2-2.5 miles to the next CP, twilight set in. My headlamp was useless in that hazy light and I resorted to walking until it got dark. Once the lamp was switched on I discovered that the towpath was not in the best of conditions, making for treacherous, in my opinion, footing. So I walked all the way to CP#5 arriving there, with a chilly breeze blowing atop the bridge, at 10:19 p.m. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#5 (70.5 miles) to CP#6@Bridge 99, Water Eaton (84.5 miles)</span></b></div>
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After eating some baked beans and a few cookies and getting into slightly warmer clothes, i.e. my Polartec American River 50M jacket, gloves and my Lean Horse beanie, I was about to leave when Javed Bhatti showed up as he had promised he would a few days before the race. He is one of the nicest people I know - very supportive and encouraging. He and his friend, Fiona McNelis, offered to pace me for a couple of miles. Their company was more than welcome! I had texted Emily Gelder, who was going to pace me from 99.8 miles onward, that I would probably not get into CP#7 until after 7 a.m.</div>
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We ran some and walked a lot of the next 2 miles before they bid me adieu and turned around to go back and wait for Christian Hottas to show up at CP#5.</div>
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A really strange thing happened that put paid to my hopes of making it to 100 miles in around 25 hours. Every gel I ate instantly resulted in severe acid reflux. It would shoot up into my throat. This made it very hard to keep my caloric input going and, as a result, I was forced to walk along at a pedestrian pace.</div>
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Very soon I found myself walking along the towpath with Per Hjorth and Sarah Hutton. Sarah's legs were starting to seize up. I would stop now and then to pee and they would continue on and disappear around a bend. I would trudge on and eventually catch up with them only to have the cycle repeat itself some 30-40 minutes later. Our little train finally spotted the dim lights of the CP ahead in the distance. We made it there at 2:56 a.m. (20:56 into the race if you are still awake and keeping track).</div>
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I promptly asked for some hot chocolate, ate a lot of cookies and also crisps. I also asked the Anthony Taylor, the co-RD of the Thames Ring 250M, to wake me up in 20 minutes. I tried hard to sleep but with the sound of the generator behind me and the runners coming and going I was unable to sleep at all. I had now been awake for 37 hours straight. I left CP#6 around 3:23 a.m. Sarah had already left. Per was right behind me.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#6 (84.5 miles) to CP#7@Grand Junction Arms (99.8 miles)</span></b></div>
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This section was a long one. Per was ahead of me and I kept him in sight. He was walking at a pretty good pace and I must have been too for I pretty much kept the same distance between us.</div>
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Very soon the pre-dawn light brightened the sky and the darkness retreated with every passing minute. It was still cold and I was loath to take off my warm jacket lest I caught a chill. The phone rang around 6:00 a.m. It was Emily informing me that she and her friend, Clare Shobbrook, were in CP#7. She asked me if I wanted them to come to a point closer to where I was so I could rest. I gladly accepted their generous offer. I turned Data Roaming on in my iPhone and quickly looked up Post Codes (Dick had sent them to crewed runners last year) for meeting points ahead of me. </div>
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I met Emily and Clare around the 94.5 mile point and they promptly left me in the back seat of the clean car, whose floor promptly got dirty with all the canal dirt I brought in, to get some sleep. It was probably around 7:00 a.m. or so. I tried, unsuccessfully once again, to sleep for 15 minutes. I finally got up when they returned and starting walking again. Emily and Clare drove off to make their way to CP#7.</div>
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I reached the CP at around 8:53 a.m. I promptly gathered my toiletries and went off to the Grand Junction Arms pub's bathroom to use the toilet and freshen up. I felt like a new man when I emerged 15 minutes later dressed in fresh clothes all ready to attack the new day.</div>
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I quickly ate some beans, some more peanuts and crisps and, with Emily Gelder now by my side, set out to get past 100 miles and onto the Finish. It must have bee around 9:20 a.m. when we left CP#7.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#7 (99.8 miles) to CP#8@Springwell Lock (120.3 miles)</span></b></div>
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It was still not possible to run. Emily tried to get me to shuffle a couple of times but my heart and body were just not in it. So we walked. Very soon she and I came upon a runner who was sitting on a bench by the side of the canal. She asked after his health and quickly asked me to go ahead while she helped David. Very soon I could hear them talking and coming up behind me. David soon passed me. He and I were to play tag for the next 10 miles or so. He would go ahead and I would catch up and pass him. Then he would pass me. This made for an interesting morning in a beautiful part of England. </div>
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Emily is just one of the sweetest people you are ever likely to meet. Very, very helpful and supportive she was the best thing I could have asked for in those miles. She even massaged my legs 2-3 times between then and the Finish. I owe her the latter part of my race!</div>
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Clare met us around 105 miles and it was great fun to down a generic Red Bull during the small stop. It kind of settled my stomach but I was still finding it hard to run. </div>
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Emily asked me to go ahead. I started walking and it was soon after that I decided to try a small nap. I distinctly remember setting my watch alarm for 5 minutes hence and I actually got 4 minutes of deep sleep sitting on a step! I was instantly awake as soon as the alarm went off. The 5-minute nap had done me a world of wonders! I felt reinvigorated. Emily soon caught up with me and we surged ahead.<br />
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It must have been around 110-111 miles that I asked Emily if Clare would be kind enough to get me French fries. They had worked last year, around the same point in the race, and they were my last hope this time around.</div>
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Such coincidence that Clare agreed to meet us at the same place that I had eaten fries last year! Unfortunately traffic had slowed her down and she had not yet reached the bridge when we got there. Emily asked me to continue on and she would bring the fries to me. </div>
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It must have been right here that I attempted to run once again. Maybe the Red Bull had done its magic. Maybe my brain had woken up and decided that it was tired of walking. I was able to maintain a decent 10-11 minutes/mile pace for the next 1.5 miles or so. I kept looking back to see if I could spot Emily but she was nowhere to be seen. I kept moving on and suddenly she was by my side, holding a Macdonald's bag of fries! Manna from Heaven brought to me by my own angel - Emily! The fries revived me tremendously!</div>
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I soon started running, like I had the year before, at 8-9 minutes/mile pace and soon passed Per Hjorth and David who were walking together now, and blazed into CP#8 at 2:10 p.m. (32:10 into the race). I must have spent 5 minutes here having my bottles refilled and handing over my drop bags to Clare to take to her car. Clare were going to drive on to the pub at 127.5 miles. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#8 (120.3 miles) to CP#9@Hambrough Tavern (133.2 miles)</span></b></div>
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Emily was in Clare's car eating something and changing clothes so I took off at a sedate pace. Emily soon caught up with me. We ran along and walked occasionally and, about 2 miles from the Checkpoint, Emily and Clare talked. I immediately asked Emily to request Clare to order French fries for me. As soon as we reached the pub I went to use the toilet one more time. I came out to find the 2 beautiful women sitting outside enjoying their drinks and food. I quickly polished off the fries and a glass of wine. I was on the road again in 6 minutes or so around 6:45 p.m.</div>
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Just like last year I put the hammer down and started running fast. It must have been a few miles into the run that I suddenly heard my Mom, who had passed away the week before in India, start a conversation with me. I told her that I missed her and she talked about how she had given up on Life after suffering a fractured leg a few days before she expired. I asked her if she was going to be with me during the run and she replied in the affirmative. I powered on secure in the knowledge that my Mom was by my side. </div>
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I reached Bull's Bridge junction around 7:42 p.m. I quickly got onto the Paddington arm of the canal and continued to run. I reached the final Checkpoint, at Hambrough Tavern in Southall, at 7:56 p.m. I had my bottles refilled and asked Clare to tell Emily, who was still in the Tavern using the restroom, that I had left. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">CP#9 (133.2 miles) to the Finish, Little Venice (145.4 miles)</span></b></div>
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I ambled along and Emily finally showed up about 0.75 miles into the run. I had decided, before she showed up, that the blister in my left foot that had been bothering me for the last 40 miles or so was getting too painful to continue running on. So it was going to be a long 12-mile walk to the Finish.</div>
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Emily and I walked along talking non-stop about Badwater etc. I will be crewing her next month in that iconic race. It must have been about 5 miles to the Finish when I got a text from James Adams asking me how far I was and that he was coming to meet us. True to his word he showed up with about 2.5 miles to go. Emily and James talked about this and that and I moved steadily on listening to their conversation. James left us with about a mile to go since he could take a bridge across to where his girlfriend, Gemma, lived. Emily and I moved on and before we knew it we were in sight of the Finish.</div>
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With about 300 yards to go I called Anu and she promptly put me on her speaker phone. It was gratifying to have Anu, Nishad, Malhar and the others listen in on my finishing yet another GUCR!</div>
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I was blown away by the times that the men's and women's winners had recorded. Pat Robbins broke his own record of 26:24 by running a phenomenal 25:37 while Claire Shelley finished in 30:00 even. Hats off to you both!!</div>
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Emily and Clare, who had picked up food and a bottle of wine for me for my post-Finish celebrations, dropped me off to my hotel, the Novotel, soon after the Finish. I was in bed by 1:00 a.m. and woke up early to eat breakfast before packing up and taking a cab to the airport. I was back home in San Jose by 6:00 p.m.!</div>
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I had wanted to go under 38 hours for this race. I finished 3.5 hours slower. I have to really rethink my Spartathlon strategy. More pain in the offing? So be it. :-)</div>
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Let me first start by thanking Dick Kearn and his amazing corps of volunteers. They were extremely helpful and caring. I thank you all for helping me finish this long race. You folks are awesome!</div>
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James Adams - a special shout out to you. You are an inspiration! I love your sense of humor and your amazing talent at running long, hard races. I am looking forward to meeting up with you again in Athens for the Spartathlon. Good luck in your run across the USA which you start on June 19.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZZoSHZMC2RnYmP2DvMCH647jzTeuHIQGQzSAIPk6CesIyHLB9zy7EgcGLDCvYLG-JkE12AZIEg9q68rBtxYZyCYsIrcAA6oJ5JUmUfpazW2_Uge2gWpTCLJ2sUBLXX6wsTYe/s1600/16.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616083688089122578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZZoSHZMC2RnYmP2DvMCH647jzTeuHIQGQzSAIPk6CesIyHLB9zy7EgcGLDCvYLG-JkE12AZIEg9q68rBtxYZyCYsIrcAA6oJ5JUmUfpazW2_Uge2gWpTCLJ2sUBLXX6wsTYe/s400/16.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 298px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Clare, on the left, and Emily in the hotel lobby after my finish)<br />
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Clare Shobbrook - you are a doll. You did not even know me before the race but you went miles out of your way to help me. I am moved, very moved. You have a lifelong friend in the US!! Hugs to you.</div>
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Emily - what can I say about you? You are the most wonderful soul. I feel like you and I have known each other (in another lifetime maybe?) forever. What an amazing pacer you are. Caring and infinitely helpful. I am so looking forward to returning the favor when you start Badwater at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Jul 11! A huge hug to you and lots of kisses. I am your #1 fan!!</div>
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Mom - this race was for you!</div>
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More GUCR info: http://www.gucr.co.uk</div>
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Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-11494015663088666592011-05-13T11:02:00.000-07:002011-05-13T11:03:54.729-07:00GUCR Bound<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">I am 2 weeks away from a quick trip to the UK to run the GUCR 145-mile race. I leave at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, land in London on Thursday, May 26 at 1:35 p.m. and start the race at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28.<div><br /></div><div>To say that I am excited is an understatement.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is something about the UK that captivates me. I have now started 3 races there, the June 2009 Thames Ring 250M (I stopped at 183 miles), the May 2010 GUCR 145M (I finished in 43:22) and the September 2010 South Downs Way 100M (I got lost at 56 miles) and finished just one so you may well ask me what it is about the UK that draws you back there again and again. Maybe it was all the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_blyton" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(7, 77, 143); ">Enid Blyton</a> books I read as a kid and which enamored me so much with the English countryside?</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7EHO0-XTtf7f282E-3bnnDt1CDS8xWCdCkDt40AYjVnzJTeZwpTEL5ep3nBhbfdMfuooAVwxWSD6vZoi_dS5l7LzUJd8iOZRjzdmaYMLuJkvllVg6twrlrYuknGKjefSHc2y/s400/1059820.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="width: 400px; min-height: 268px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am now one of the starters of the <a href="http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=49&location=125" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(7, 77, 143); ">Ultra Trail South West</a> race on June 23, 2012. Yes, I signed up for a race in the UK 14 months in advance!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the GUCR. I am hoping to finish in under 37 or 38 hours. Over the years I have come to realize that one race does not a year make (or break)! So if I do not finish in under 38 hours (or not even finish at all!) I will take it in my stride. Life is much more than a race or a goal. I do not define myself by achievements alone. I see myself as a person who starts an adventure, called the GUCR 145M in this instance, and has fun every step of the way. If the adventure ends early so be it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see what Memorial Day weekend has in store for me. All I know is that I will be running in good old England once more and that is one of the best gifts to myself!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oCTNSQ_v_6cPJm23hUHJj2Z15XvqDM9sd0IE1zS_CSWdLg45KO8oLiiSdWbyptx5l4CILIG0CO5wxFhKF7Y0twkEmqK8RA7Xwq7WBWRvfyddxqcrpOxSdmAijTnUhni4AAZv/s1600/x15314103.jpg" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(7, 77, 143); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oCTNSQ_v_6cPJm23hUHJj2Z15XvqDM9sd0IE1zS_CSWdLg45KO8oLiiSdWbyptx5l4CILIG0CO5wxFhKF7Y0twkEmqK8RA7Xwq7WBWRvfyddxqcrpOxSdmAijTnUhni4AAZv/s400/x15314103.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="width: 400px; min-height: 280px; " /></a><br />Stay tuned.</div></span>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-25905272211452560272011-04-19T09:06:00.001-07:002011-05-04T11:30:29.844-07:00The Spartathlon Journey - II<span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MUSINGS<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">On the Rack on the Track</span><br /></span>As I said before this Spartathlon training is long and torturous. :-))<br /><br />Those Wednesday speed work sessions are hard! All of January, February and March I pretty much varied between 6 or 7x800m in around 3:30 pace.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-hnQHg7Dlhwx6KWqR9jg5pWNczrAdMnS8vaoUCifs6K6XvrCwebTK5nQh2JIsqi35dS3k-Ph7iHzov_jERYuAiV2AHPZWnCP6kJPOZq4lXR_zCyE-f1cSqOkOmy-JU4G435O/s1600/tracks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597332030089207778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-hnQHg7Dlhwx6KWqR9jg5pWNczrAdMnS8vaoUCifs6K6XvrCwebTK5nQh2JIsqi35dS3k-Ph7iHzov_jERYuAiV2AHPZWnCP6kJPOZq4lXR_zCyE-f1cSqOkOmy-JU4G435O/s400/tracks.jpg" /></a></span>In the middle of April I decided to throw in mile repeats. 2 weeks ago I did 3x1 mile @ 7:17, 7:10 and 7:04 followed by 2x800m (3:20, 3:04!). Last week I did 4x1 mile in times that were between 7:04 min/mile and 7:10 min/mile. It might just be too soon for the interval training to have a huge impact but I am hoping they will lend "wings" to my feet come September end. They do hold a sort of fascination for me though. The mind wants to find excuses to skip them but they do feel good once the first steps are taken on the way to the 800m or mile repeat.<br /><br />Yesterday (Mon, April 18) I decided to do some hill repeats in lieu of my weekly 4-5 mile climb up Bohlman Road or Sierra Road. I chose a moderately hilly 4-mile out and back and ran fast twice of every steep slope along the way. The last slope, all of ONLY 0.15 miles long, was the steepest and my legs were complaining at the end of it. My breathing was the one to go before the legs. Maybe it's allergies what with all the pollen around and all that.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-WEIGHT: bold">GUCR Bound</span><br />I leave for London on Wed, May 25. This year's GUCR promises to be totally different from last year's where I had the comfort of a 3-person crew. This year I am unsupported and I do have the added goal of wanting to finish in under 38 hours if I can. A new development from the middle of last month - I now have a pacer, a friend named Emily Gelder, who has offered to run with me from mile 1oo (the canal runs by the Kings Langley Rail Station). I will, in turn, be part of her Badwater crew later in July.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9XcsyDaqWN27_AoSeYjo4g4mBYT0p7lz8bJYMjie9OfTSjzKYlYJH5139HT5S_8XV-R5GZCKzlVj0GRbmSKIQ7RAemRWAAqZUrxgMlgHsLL70hvw_96qKNSeeAVui-dNIgtD/s1600/Home_Park_Lock-70.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597341958764326770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9XcsyDaqWN27_AoSeYjo4g4mBYT0p7lz8bJYMjie9OfTSjzKYlYJH5139HT5S_8XV-R5GZCKzlVj0GRbmSKIQ7RAemRWAAqZUrxgMlgHsLL70hvw_96qKNSeeAVui-dNIgtD/s400/Home_Park_Lock-70.jpg" /></a><br />(Idyllic English vistas wait for me in Kings Langley and all along the 145-mile course!)<br /><br />Emily and I spoke last month about Badwater. She loves coming over to the US to run races while I love going over to England! So much so that I signed up for the Ultra Trail South West 100M race (Jun 23, 2012 http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=49&location=125) 14 months in advance!! My way of helping UK's economy recover. :-))Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-82130062505338363362011-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:16:47.430-07:00C2M FreezeBRRRRR!!!!! <div><br /></div><div>Weaving around on TopaTopa trying to find the narrow switchback trail that will take me to the top. Snow and rain making it hard to see far ahead using just my headlamp. Hand torch in my waist pack 600 feet below me in the Aid Station. This is no longer fun. The waterproof gloves are wet from the inside! A little blister in my right toe is starting to irritate constantly. This is a training run for other races during the year and I am not having fun with incipient hypothermia and wet clothes. Time to drop and find the warm hotel bed tout suite!<div><br /></div><div>I had finished this race last year in similar circumstances and felt comfortable calling it a day this year. My heart was not in it and the weather was not co-operating. The rain had come earlier than I had expected. Even then I had put spare gloves, a balaclava and a spare T-shirt in my backpack. The only problem, I realized later, was that I should have had a big poncho that would have covered my backpack and keep all my stuff dry. The gloves had not become wet but the spare T-shirt had!</div><div><br /></div><div>The next time I run a wet race I will make sure I have a poncho stashed away in my backpack.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I hoofed it out of Ojai on the Saturday, 2 p.m. flight back to San Francisco and was watching a movie later that day with friends when a friend, still in Ojai, texted me that it was raining very hard there and she was praying for the safety of the runners up on the Ridge. I too sent some positive energy to all those runners.</div><div><br /></div><div>I woke up the next morning to learn that that Chris Scott, the RD, had canceled the race at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and they had all spent the entire night making sure that the runners and the volunteers were safely off the trails and the Ridge. Kudos to him and his fantastic volunteers!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Back to my GUCR and Spartathlon training now. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEijlUFrgYr0co9DI21rYqLSoCZLp6yaRBDq5PynsYRdHOh7h1ckE5iCRb2nALjZGrGmDNmHETy8mVnSCBp-8FDs33TJRtoF2xrPiR7t8y3zzOPM3TvxtEbCN0mVsRsZJaA_px/s1600/C2M_3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEijlUFrgYr0co9DI21rYqLSoCZLp6yaRBDq5PynsYRdHOh7h1ckE5iCRb2nALjZGrGmDNmHETy8mVnSCBp-8FDs33TJRtoF2xrPiR7t8y3zzOPM3TvxtEbCN0mVsRsZJaA_px/s400/C2M_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586991634206270850" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Waiting to start the race)</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gAxOR6JfM-nDpVdAClkq_hXogj3gWfNl9y9X7U9bvXvKJR0cFtzwk1WwLviKWenZvdtEhSYh-bTuvTPOFvRmR07PoO3ufpkj1cyiJQjIUrVYKEUzV3iPg-2Q3MeaLSgghlE/s1600/C2M_4.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gAxOR6JfM-nDpVdAClkq_hXogj3gWfNl9y9X7U9bvXvKJR0cFtzwk1WwLviKWenZvdtEhSYh-bTuvTPOFvRmR07PoO3ufpkj1cyiJQjIUrVYKEUzV3iPg-2Q3MeaLSgghlE/s400/C2M_4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586991636113176546" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(Circling the field)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nujubsqZEZivqoz9STUCop6oc9CB4n-b6voY22u_rQHYGy5REGJFR157xlfBuI47OuNN63b-viWFGICglHfpB5Tto5tzrX7EP46aao3EZDbRarc4O0ibk65-d_oQo_IzVaQY/s1600/C2M_5.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nujubsqZEZivqoz9STUCop6oc9CB4n-b6voY22u_rQHYGy5REGJFR157xlfBuI47OuNN63b-viWFGICglHfpB5Tto5tzrX7EP46aao3EZDbRarc4O0ibk65-d_oQo_IzVaQY/s400/C2M_5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586991637383151986" border="0" /></a>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-7335123315222599162011-02-18T16:33:00.001-08:002011-02-18T18:17:24.077-08:00The Spartathlon Journey - IWeekly speed work sessions. Long weekend runs. 50 - 60 miles per week. I love running and I run 3 week micro-cycles of high, high & low mileage pretty much all through the year. Having a goal though, i.e. a race, to train for makes it very different.<br /><br />There was a time when I used to be obsessed with training schedules and would feel low if I missed a session especially a long run. Age and lots and lots of miles under my feet have transmuted that obsession into something akin to an eagerness to experience running for running's sake. Every run, be it one where my breathing is labored (allergies/exercise induced asthma?) or a muscle or tendon is tight or one where I am floating with every sinew and joint in perfect harmony, is priceless.<br /><br />This Spartathlon training is, I am slowly finding out, a double-edged sword. Some of that old obsession is creeping back in albeit slowly and I am fighting as hard as I can to send it back into the dungeons of my mind whence it escaped. The joy of being able to tread the same path trod on by Yiannis Kouros, Scott Jurek, John Foden and, probably, Phidippides is being counterbalanced by the fear of "failure".<br /><br />The Spartathlon is a tough, tough race. It will take all I have, and a lot more besides, to get to 100 miles in under 23 hours leave alone finishing all 153 miles in 36 hours.<br /><br />My training and my determination will not let me down. Of this I am very sure. Will my training and determination carry me to the Finish line in time? Of this I am not very sure.<br /><br />The Ego, though, is insidious and rears its head to step into the fray. It is the Ego that fears "failure" and it is the Ego that forces me to get obsessive about the training.<br /><br />I read something very nice on Catra Corbett's Facebook page:<br /><em>Believing in yourself is an endless destination.<br />Believing you have failed is the end of your journey.<br /></em><br />I have always believed in myself completely. That changed a bit after (a) my aborted Tahoe Rim Trail 100M effort in 2008 and (b) my inability to complete the 250-mile Thames Ring race (I stopped at 183 miles) in 2009. I was only able to put those "failures" in perspective with the help of friends and, eventually, my belief in myself and the faith that I had made the correct decision in that moment.<br /><br />I wonder what Phidippides must have felt when he took the first steps on his journey to Sparta on that fateful morning in August or September, 490 B.C.? He probably had family in Athens, maybe a wife, children, parents, sisters, brothers or friends who might end up either dead or in slavery should the Persians vanquish the Athenian hoplites. What stress to run 250km under!<br /><br />He ran to Sparta where the Spartans, in the middle of a religious festival called the Carneia, informed him that they would start out for Athens 4 days hence. Phidippides ran all the way back to Athens to inform the Senate that Spartan help was not coming immediately. The run to Sparta in 36 odd hours. The run back in 40 hours? 300+ miles in just over 3 days. What an uber-athlete he must have been!!<br /><br />Back to my training. Last week I missed my Wednesday track session. Thursday was a beautiful day and I decided to do an impromptu track session on a levee near the office. I ran to the levee, a mile from the office, and paced out a half mile section on it. My first 800m was in an uncomfortable 3:17 (6:38 per mile pace, 22 seconds faster than desired).<br /><br />The times for the 7x800m were 3:17, 3:20, 3:23, 3:26, 3:27, 3:31 & 3:19. On the track I get pace feedback every 200m and am able to make micro-adjustments to finish up between 3:27 - 3:30. The levee had no such markers even though I was wearing a Garmin. Garmin's paces lag by as much as 45 seconds at times and so I do not rely on Garmin's pace numbers. The next time I do a similar workout on that levee I intend to put markers every 200m to simulate the track.<br /><br />Let me end with a poem I wrote last year during my Spartathlon crewing stint for Nattu Natraj.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6D3nsSzkHG9scZ3WyZHNj5vI3GX-CouHINlU9giesUlBM05dreUveTNhE9ogSS4jZ7qnk1rrE-hZupshcnAkNC4XihPi8d_EZCr0GrIKUeVexwZi6fcFNAbcLOAjeGXbC4jr/s1600/Parthenon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575213657149693890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6D3nsSzkHG9scZ3WyZHNj5vI3GX-CouHINlU9giesUlBM05dreUveTNhE9ogSS4jZ7qnk1rrE-hZupshcnAkNC4XihPi8d_EZCr0GrIKUeVexwZi6fcFNAbcLOAjeGXbC4jr/s400/Parthenon.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">The soft murmur of a caressing breeze:</div><div align="center">Fleeting Time stands still. There is just music.</div><div align="center">Of Life this is what the Soul wants and sees;</div><div align="center">No moments gone. None to come. Just this tick.</div><div align="center">Oh what a gift you have bestowed on me</div><div align="center">Ancient Athens and your proud Parthenon.</div><div align="center">Your people, your hills and your warm, blue sea.</div><div align="center">Waiting for your embrace half a life gone.</div><div align="center">As though in a dream barely remembered,</div><div align="center">Whose faint images one so aches to hold,</div><div align="center">You blend in with your tales I've told and heard.</div><div align="center">You are sweet, alluring, proud, young yet old.</div><div align="center">To the Soul the images have now gone</div><div align="center">Of a blue sky and the proud Parthenon.</div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-59876652560304255742011-01-07T22:57:00.000-08:002011-01-08T00:12:15.891-08:00The Spartathlon<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC09Dmb11tV7KsEtaf3hN6rDoqmNrea8e3SDZHzNUPoW_2rxTFFs603ki8_vw9Hh1Dz1gjJGprraU3omEozt_C8hmfcdr8mu6bCwTCwTxfmcQAqruCBN4Q1o_v1H0gFYKi9mDP/s1600/INTRObgrnd.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC09Dmb11tV7KsEtaf3hN6rDoqmNrea8e3SDZHzNUPoW_2rxTFFs603ki8_vw9Hh1Dz1gjJGprraU3omEozt_C8hmfcdr8mu6bCwTCwTxfmcQAqruCBN4Q1o_v1H0gFYKi9mDP/s400/INTRObgrnd.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559706379567753442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">September 30 - October 1, 2011</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">(http://www.spartathlon.gr)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div>What a journey this race promises to be!! I have filled out the form, printed out the races I have done in the past 2 years and am planning to wire transfer the race fees late next week after mailing the form on Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully my application will be accepted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">50 miles in 9h 30 mins. </div><div style="text-align: center;">106 miles in 24h 30 mins.</div><div style="text-align: center;">153 miles in 36 hours.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>These are the cutoffs I will be dealing with. That's faster than I have ever run a 100 mile race. I have one advantage that I "gifted" myself a few months ago - I crewed Nattu Natraj's effort in this race in September and got to witness the course for the first 93 miles up close. Karen Bonnett and I had the crewing down pretty good after the first few Checkpoints and all that knowledge will end up proving invaluable for me and my crew.</div><div><br /></div><div>My journey to the start of this wonderful race, a start that takes place on the Acropolis under the floodlit beauty and grace of the Parthenon, promises to be filled with excitement, long training hours, painful speed work sessions and intense nervousness in the last few days leading up to race morning. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE PARTHENON</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v3mO98rKybN6g_ybiN4-AnK9FPilixeZACHC_sfRxV5s1PegBpJ7NPI8I5D84FT09UkXVvO85LmEq0bMmEhT4aoxgCN5U6GOPAUtH8bfzkqYxjth-TOYBkJM-mLyaoJ2W-iV/s1600/63802_434674633118_688528118_4839642_8335318_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v3mO98rKybN6g_ybiN4-AnK9FPilixeZACHC_sfRxV5s1PegBpJ7NPI8I5D84FT09UkXVvO85LmEq0bMmEhT4aoxgCN5U6GOPAUtH8bfzkqYxjth-TOYBkJM-mLyaoJ2W-iV/s400/63802_434674633118_688528118_4839642_8335318_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559724280642097090" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE START</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ak9ZUipmTFnIfDICrY-b8IQAU4JcJQTjT0wG1pYInNvcKbC7_EnDXKO-rtyl1x4qsg-ul-AmuSBydk92_AEj2eZhfuUFm7JwO-WHs3CkuAuD3KTO9DZtPzDYrc6n7nry9frO/s1600/59804_436380453118_688528118_4874039_7839321_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ak9ZUipmTFnIfDICrY-b8IQAU4JcJQTjT0wG1pYInNvcKbC7_EnDXKO-rtyl1x4qsg-ul-AmuSBydk92_AEj2eZhfuUFm7JwO-WHs3CkuAuD3KTO9DZtPzDYrc6n7nry9frO/s400/59804_436380453118_688528118_4874039_7839321_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559711191733405666" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">HOPING TO MAKE IT PAST ANCIENT CORINTH (50 miles) WITH TIME TO SPARE</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmZrnVHO5279qMi1SecLguPr7OdrH9gwd9kZEevUyiA-HseQ7i1Ne1hu0KFBfX5AGyCWXmKGuyLm17CHEV6HKovOdYlNk5htTEvlo_pL3Sy5bPwptSDS5SGXxBEMvmnMCuwZd/s1600/61593_436492168118_688528118_4875513_3705412_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmZrnVHO5279qMi1SecLguPr7OdrH9gwd9kZEevUyiA-HseQ7i1Ne1hu0KFBfX5AGyCWXmKGuyLm17CHEV6HKovOdYlNk5htTEvlo_pL3Sy5bPwptSDS5SGXxBEMvmnMCuwZd/s400/61593_436492168118_688528118_4875513_3705412_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559713940455237474" /></a><div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">WHAT I WANT TO BE DOING SATURDAY (OCT 1) AFTERNOON</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj-TA6MdRNFAI6bmTTf1JWAw7Vo2IgbMPLZO3qbAHyQnUDv9Dk12ASHxIfX-ufyqpU4_YM-YQQHj4K8d9AsKLxEKkpOVSMDGBTst93vb753fRwhEYPIEmpfSPUZT2h8wlKHan/s1600/64861_481630977385_661237385_6837382_3956171_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXj-TA6MdRNFAI6bmTTf1JWAw7Vo2IgbMPLZO3qbAHyQnUDv9Dk12ASHxIfX-ufyqpU4_YM-YQQHj4K8d9AsKLxEKkpOVSMDGBTst93vb753fRwhEYPIEmpfSPUZT2h8wlKHan/s400/64861_481630977385_661237385_6837382_3956171_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559711820298946514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(James Adams, from the UK, finishing last year)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE RACE ENDS WITH THE KISSING OF THE FEET OF THE STATUE OF KING LEONIDAS</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYCBjLmL9CPjzsokblAtvfa4_eF7SPKyccZRcFluAe952HPPRDciuEh-XLD4onUfCdObANIHWExgqDoD45ixCELC9d4gKTZLefSsTK5MrBbfoq5M1vNEPT_vDVyL2F4Oz6BAK/s1600/44946_481630937385_661237385_6837380_2810482_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYCBjLmL9CPjzsokblAtvfa4_eF7SPKyccZRcFluAe952HPPRDciuEh-XLD4onUfCdObANIHWExgqDoD45ixCELC9d4gKTZLefSsTK5MrBbfoq5M1vNEPT_vDVyL2F4Oz6BAK/s400/44946_481630937385_661237385_6837380_2810482_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559721938963258930" /></a><div><div><div>"The journey to 153 miles begins with one step" (with apologies to Lao Tzu). I took that step this week. I came up with a training plan of sorts. The plan involves 1 track workout a week in addition to 1 hill run (4-6 miles straight up on asphalt) and a long Saturday run followed by a shorter Sunday run every weekend. I plan to take 1 day off per week.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>My first speed session of the year was yesterday (Thursday, Jan 6). I warmed up with 1.5 miles followed by 4x50m strides. The main workout was 6x800m which I ran in 3:51, 3:35, 3:26, 3:27, 3:23 & 3:26. Did the last 2 feel hard! My breathing was a bit labored towards the end and I did not feel as smooth as I did during the first 4 800s. My plan is to work my way to 12-14 800m repeats by August. </div><div><br /></div><div>My air ticket and hotel reservations are done for my Memorial Day weekend Grand Union Canal Race (<a href="http://www.gucr.co.uk/">GUCR</a>; 145 miles) in the UK. It was my finish in the same race last year that became the qualifier for the Spartathlon. Last year I ran the GUCR with just goal - to finish in time. This year I want to attempt to run in under 38 hours. Maybe 37 hours if I have a good race. </div><div><br /></div><div>(Eric Nedervold- thank you for asking me to blog more often).</div><div><br /></div><div><i>[The Spartathlon logo was "borrowed" from the Spartathlon Web site]</i></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-32671047319244973822010-12-07T20:51:00.000-08:002010-12-08T14:18:45.512-08:00Javelina Jundred 2010<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Date:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b>October 23</span>, 2010</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Where:</span></b> McDowell State Park (near Fountain Hills), Arizona</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">What:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span>Javelina Jundred 100M race</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Time:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></b>29:11</div><div><br /></div><div>This race was almost a repeat of the previous year. Loops 5 was slow. Loop 6 was slow for the first half and, almost to the second, around 6:55 a.m. I picked up the pace and flew to the end of the loop.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only difference from last year was Loop 7. I ran pretty much all of it last year. This year I walked all but the last mile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last year I had, kind of, fought the course in my mind. After the race I had mixed emotions about the race. This year I fell in love with both the course and the race as a whole. I will go back there every year if I can. That's how much I like the race now. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>All I am going to do is post pictures of my race. No race report other than the fact that I had a blast running this superbly organized race. Thanks to the Coury brothers, Dave Combs and all the volunteers who spent hours and hours supporting us. Thanks also to Rick Gaston who was there to pace a friend. Congratulations to my friend Bradley Fenner who ran 19 hours and change for his 6th place finish. What a stud! Scott Verwolf is another one I want to mention - he is my latest running friend!</div><div><br /></div><div>HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you all!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXMY4wuC13h1Oqcn3BMgjydGX_FLismh_rmzoeO7oXoVuwB4rMivZQCa3Px0ZXEvTuLqumoNqQAA7n4li69fCzj5qdRiNF_JuvbN3AlfnWK5a200bu4oBjSCwrB1Yn1WUW5zV/s1600/JJ2010_6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXMY4wuC13h1Oqcn3BMgjydGX_FLismh_rmzoeO7oXoVuwB4rMivZQCa3Px0ZXEvTuLqumoNqQAA7n4li69fCzj5qdRiNF_JuvbN3AlfnWK5a200bu4oBjSCwrB1Yn1WUW5zV/s400/JJ2010_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548173769860760146" border="0" /></a><br />(San Jose airport; waiting for the flight to arrive)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHL7I3zwLDcIqEPiYOQO4t7KeDtKsV9kaWlwcD7Mx9HgXtAP2yiF4lKYE26UAW7a__21cGRVyzSRo2AE3x0EO2XpN7sqUSCwCol2CgmqH6qw6YrVmKasmX3DX0KPJYXtU5N-8/s1600/JJ2010_7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHL7I3zwLDcIqEPiYOQO4t7KeDtKsV9kaWlwcD7Mx9HgXtAP2yiF4lKYE26UAW7a__21cGRVyzSRo2AE3x0EO2XpN7sqUSCwCol2CgmqH6qw6YrVmKasmX3DX0KPJYXtU5N-8/s400/JJ2010_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548173776402267762" border="0" /></a><br />(Early morning hug from Ling-ru Chu)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRHilTaUeRCq-TVjDp0jVqamUZH2vZgIsZ9p2ESvKxh07gqXxHMEyIEbV7MK-7KCBLGj5TNrWAWoklGlF1WmxO9F-5SF19oqgsp_TZJ_OFbx0e_SWNpwkuoTPbJE77glSZZse/s1600/jj2010_15.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRHilTaUeRCq-TVjDp0jVqamUZH2vZgIsZ9p2ESvKxh07gqXxHMEyIEbV7MK-7KCBLGj5TNrWAWoklGlF1WmxO9F-5SF19oqgsp_TZJ_OFbx0e_SWNpwkuoTPbJE77glSZZse/s400/jj2010_15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548178173112624738" border="0" /></a><br />(Beautiful desert sunrise)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Egp3_Z7e-RLkhiE8N4kjCI15P6xb9vmYmaKbKaCaQlCnY21IGyZpS0JiZtkVd45ld-K2LHjZYyfNjd1MdVRUOHG3GlY9E3mUzIh1mUeorz5IL3aUOLbfA0uAT_SZ8MlwhwXw/s1600/JJ2010_12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Egp3_Z7e-RLkhiE8N4kjCI15P6xb9vmYmaKbKaCaQlCnY21IGyZpS0JiZtkVd45ld-K2LHjZYyfNjd1MdVRUOHG3GlY9E3mUzIh1mUeorz5IL3aUOLbfA0uAT_SZ8MlwhwXw/s400/JJ2010_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548173784471419010" border="0" /></a><br />(With Rick Gaston. He is a wonderful person)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlhi4wgALYtyKlzO_CWsgB1sXEhAitjAcKNObGhEcgRRwDsR3pV64Qyjwxjm5UkuQ1M6UgW3ZsROslRtNUBuxGj4PRZS8c2u406wXJ-6nuXDrsnd3YsNDx1zTmHmZJjTvybL0/s1600/JJ2010_1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlhi4wgALYtyKlzO_CWsgB1sXEhAitjAcKNObGhEcgRRwDsR3pV64Qyjwxjm5UkuQ1M6UgW3ZsROslRtNUBuxGj4PRZS8c2u406wXJ-6nuXDrsnd3YsNDx1zTmHmZJjTvybL0/s400/JJ2010_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548173790906272274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqG241u_I4TYn9PE8_EYUO1LvGyNfdUZK9iJ2uuBll9HzJ7uqx21QvS63J_D19FP4IFh-fwL8DMMBTjpjdZLJzCP8lsnalQ1kcnHpb32ivENC220HMlDBZiZJExpHs9KqoqN5/s1600/JJ2010_5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqG241u_I4TYn9PE8_EYUO1LvGyNfdUZK9iJ2uuBll9HzJ7uqx21QvS63J_D19FP4IFh-fwL8DMMBTjpjdZLJzCP8lsnalQ1kcnHpb32ivENC220HMlDBZiZJExpHs9KqoqN5/s400/JJ2010_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548173807591903234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZDffUcpsUNYqqBAKf4BuJ3eCruvbU2OogFaXQbkT4Pfi-ybgUfgkMcN3SrVMdoZn9_GqVX-rWQWcgTuz4HafOMD-Klfvs1ulirbsH_0ZtDahigS4bK6X-mzqVZQ-jR3wiiWQ/s1600/JJ2010_4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZDffUcpsUNYqqBAKf4BuJ3eCruvbU2OogFaXQbkT4Pfi-ybgUfgkMcN3SrVMdoZn9_GqVX-rWQWcgTuz4HafOMD-Klfvs1ulirbsH_0ZtDahigS4bK6X-mzqVZQ-jR3wiiWQ/s400/JJ2010_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548175007881904866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgexJWWWLbo8OsdL_yjyTaQ4fQ63x8VRS6KwcbIDqz4PWZRJUhwU174jfuJDJ5mZQBqyZmlfYjRiDZUju1eRnX1yxNYZ_gTsz-3ELrbfKvNCXg5Oqxfu4ber37O4gHxLIDquX/s1600/jj2010_16.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgexJWWWLbo8OsdL_yjyTaQ4fQ63x8VRS6KwcbIDqz4PWZRJUhwU174jfuJDJ5mZQBqyZmlfYjRiDZUju1eRnX1yxNYZ_gTsz-3ELrbfKvNCXg5Oqxfu4ber37O4gHxLIDquX/s400/jj2010_16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548178179084682242" border="0" /></a><br />(Scott Verwolf)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGlI56XqLXgAUJ0wX9EI4dPTn5vuEv1qmnBuHlh-iAwbirN1n6OcmVRzu2-HYL4_4KHgt5oxYjL1S8YtCeULGhyRxLEQ4YUV5YPlzYSG9UimvLHKrj-I1B-e-ufN_pql5GQQq/s1600/JJ2010_10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGlI56XqLXgAUJ0wX9EI4dPTn5vuEv1qmnBuHlh-iAwbirN1n6OcmVRzu2-HYL4_4KHgt5oxYjL1S8YtCeULGhyRxLEQ4YUV5YPlzYSG9UimvLHKrj-I1B-e-ufN_pql5GQQq/s400/JJ2010_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548175031168772258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafaDMISd-_5OGrxfbK-Kr7mp50q0euBEI3zr-LNDyqMHjTjyZcpQGcG9VolxeVhS8YVgYZroPGnnN6EHwo0qAyBqx5LP3eufBDJ7p3MqwQ1WL8ow6bqmL_j6zy9NwnmzPlY2r/s1600/JJ2010_9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafaDMISd-_5OGrxfbK-Kr7mp50q0euBEI3zr-LNDyqMHjTjyZcpQGcG9VolxeVhS8YVgYZroPGnnN6EHwo0qAyBqx5LP3eufBDJ7p3MqwQ1WL8ow6bqmL_j6zy9NwnmzPlY2r/s400/JJ2010_9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548175023647423026" border="0" /></a><br />(With beautiful Sandy Baker)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxch9mTqYReiMsqvHsF-FJ93pNtC-e6oJDCF8dt_Pcg9lgoCyKSziBGL3HfqXqE9dH3nrVERG95I-10rZXa70dgHFrl4eh2s1uEQxw7h773X6T2p_VKgtJLx8jwCeukW4hXcRC/s1600/JJ2010_11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxch9mTqYReiMsqvHsF-FJ93pNtC-e6oJDCF8dt_Pcg9lgoCyKSziBGL3HfqXqE9dH3nrVERG95I-10rZXa70dgHFrl4eh2s1uEQxw7h773X6T2p_VKgtJLx8jwCeukW4hXcRC/s400/JJ2010_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548175041346831970" border="0" /></a><br />(Post-finish)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafaDMISd-_5OGrxfbK-Kr7mp50q0euBEI3zr-LNDyqMHjTjyZcpQGcG9VolxeVhS8YVgYZroPGnnN6EHwo0qAyBqx5LP3eufBDJ7p3MqwQ1WL8ow6bqmL_j6zy9NwnmzPlY2r/s1600/JJ2010_9.jpg"></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2Fr-160c4Wa1dSouC1C25bLGoy5Oqj9b0hhK7i8qJ8jaalXtlRMi2LYSk54qRnmoPHTSj7DaY-XAdxfMPaFoLwxND0Mn2h-b9ie3votzedpbnWdDYsGkl9fV4GBVYFNA_Szn/s400/JJ2010_8.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548175016291837058" border="0" /><br />(Replenishing muscle glycogen right after the finish! :-)) )<br /><br /><br /></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-56904379499933595172010-10-06T18:21:00.000-07:002010-10-20T23:12:35.851-07:00South Downs Way 100M<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Date:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></b> September 11, 2010</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Where:</span></b> Eastbourne, United Kingdom</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">What:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span> South Downs Way 100M race</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Time:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></b> Got lost before the 56M checkpoint and missed the cutoff </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Tossing and turning in a jet-lagged bed,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Sound of far waves crashing onto the beach;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Thoughts already in a race in my head;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Hours ticking by, sleep still out of reach.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Then we are off into the constant rain</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">And the rolling hills above Beachy Head.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Legs awake that week long dormant had lain;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Of missing tight cutoffs a constant dread.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">On the high ridge eyes taking in the views,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Sending them to the Soul of this Being.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Blessed! Want not to be in another's shoes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Bliss it is to be with Life communing!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Alas! All good things must come to an end.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">This one came early - feet took a wrong bend.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting closer and closer to this race there was just one worry I had especially after going through the pictures that Jen Jackson, the Race Director, had posted on the race Web site - getting lost. Some parts of the trail hardly looked like a trail i.e. it was barely discernable. My plan was to see if I could keep pace with Javed or Keith and try and hang with them.</div><br />I landed in London on Thursday, September 9 and checked into the Best Western Victoria Palace, a hotel that was less than half a mile from Victoria Station. After taking a shower I walked to Piccadilly Circus and from there to Woodlands, an Indian restaurants. The food was awesome. After picking up some water from a Tesco I took the Tube to near my hotel and walked the half mile back.<br /><br /><div>The next morning I woke up, ate breakfast and hit the road to the Victoria Station and the train to Eastbourne. I had booked myself into the Best Western York House hotel. It was a mile or more away from the station. I lugged my luggage to the hotel, left it there (the room was not ready) and went out to eat lunch. Lunch was in an Italian restaurant. It was OK. After lunch I decided to walk off the meal and went up the hill to the start of the South Downs Way trail. It was a very steep trail leading up the hill and beyond.</div><br />I made my way back to the hotel and checked in. After an hour or so I went to a Chinese accupuncture place for a really nice massage. The relaxed feeling persisted all evening. I came back to the hotel and laid out my race stuff for the next morning. While doing so I realized that I must have forgotten my lube spray back in the US (I had not - I found the spray many days later when in Barcelona). I set out again to look for Vaseline. I finally found a couple of small containers in a store. It really came in handy during the race and after in Barcelona.<br /><br /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Saturday, September 11</span></b></div><div>I checked out of the hotel around 8:45 a.m. and walked to the race start which was on the Bandstand along the waterfront. It looked like it would rain but the rain held off while I was pulling my bag behind me.</div><br />I soon found the SDW starting area. Javed Bhatti was there as was Keith Godden. I recorded their interview on my portable video recorder. I took a few pictures of the start area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9vcdsjhAib6hnSeaL8AbLE4giCdsDNghinvIGPUKAQ5h_2EMOwSFtTT5Jnt8i8_6ylU5WwBsQGMksYcUC7L1Poq4yro-fV0H2IoLdo03e_VKiVeikL34TZ27Gnj_SsZMvOb8/s1600/DSCN3157.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526570216890321282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9vcdsjhAib6hnSeaL8AbLE4giCdsDNghinvIGPUKAQ5h_2EMOwSFtTT5Jnt8i8_6ylU5WwBsQGMksYcUC7L1Poq4yro-fV0H2IoLdo03e_VKiVeikL34TZ27Gnj_SsZMvOb8/s400/DSCN3157.JPG" /></a><br /><p>(L to R: Javed Bhatti, who finished in 29:45, and Keith Godden before the Start)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5u4jjDUE05O_8gvVh5eVs7seT71OJwY1_eHO2kTVv2P_bVjlT1sNy0cgNS6rxYNQnkQvHRbK9L19TLYxhG4n_evLlowyPMb57f_hXaUEbT7WWgtRM9itDt1dWK5o27wXfJ_H/s1600/62883_157181454302340_145998468753972_369769_76015_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5u4jjDUE05O_8gvVh5eVs7seT71OJwY1_eHO2kTVv2P_bVjlT1sNy0cgNS6rxYNQnkQvHRbK9L19TLYxhG4n_evLlowyPMb57f_hXaUEbT7WWgtRM9itDt1dWK5o27wXfJ_H/s400/62883_157181454302340_145998468753972_369769_76015_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530367986106899554" /></a><br />(In the race Start area)<br /><br />At 9:45 a.m. we were given a race briefing. The heavens finally opened up. I made the wise choice of putting on my Dick Collins rain shell. That truly, like in the GUCR back in May, was a good choice. I had my camera out when the race started.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG1gwJPyDHq-L2cTbutnaNaaSkyWqno7rgigMVyAl3_rFSkpBWCZrR3QTmMSxQGnsTOQ24BuR5YSqUKXfw0ZtoaToE2Ybgsz5GF3qznsUBWui5rP7tDWXnvhGqymd9SxIzbRP/s1600/33890_157181870968965_145998468753972_369788_2334375_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG1gwJPyDHq-L2cTbutnaNaaSkyWqno7rgigMVyAl3_rFSkpBWCZrR3QTmMSxQGnsTOQ24BuR5YSqUKXfw0ZtoaToE2Ybgsz5GF3qznsUBWui5rP7tDWXnvhGqymd9SxIzbRP/s400/33890_157181870968965_145998468753972_369788_2334375_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530367994212128770" /></a><br />(The Start)<br /><br />I was one of the last people running towards the SDW trail since I was too busy taking pictures.<br /><br />The trail started at a pretty steep angle. It soon levelled off and then changed to rolling up and down. It must have been a couple of miles later, probably going over Beachy Head, that the SDW trail REALLY changed into long and steep rollers that went down for ever and up for equally long. This lasted for almost 5 miles before we got to a long, long downhill. This downhill eventually led to a small climb and then to a road crossing which was around the 8 or 9 mile point in the race. I had caught up with Keith Godden somewhere after the long descent and we crossed the road together.</p><p>It was here that I decided to readjust my backpack. I stopped for almost 5 minutes and then continued alone. Keith had continued on. I was alone once again and had a great time running on a small downhill trail. I soon spotted Keith up ahead along with 2 other women we would end up playing tag with on and off for the next 40 miles.</p><p>Keith had come up with an ingenious way to carry the plastic, foldable map of the SOuth Downs Way trail - he had put it into a shoulder loop (picture below) of his hydration pack.</p><p>Around 10 miles we came into a little village. Javed had told us about a pub close to the SDW and I decided to go in to have my water bottles topped up. I also downed a beer (carbs!) in the process.</p><div><p>We started up SDW once again. It was a bit of a climb to the ridge. The views were gorgeous! The race was, like the Coyote Two Moon 100M, on a ridge (the SDW) and the Aid Stations were off ridge i.e. a descent to get to one and then an ascent out of it. Keith and I were constantly fighting cutoffs! The first AS, at 19 miles, had a cutoff of 3 p.m. or 5 hours into the race. We made it out of there at 2:22 p.m. or 4:22 into the race. </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2BCFRoUjdAxN-rq-svW9dOGygoJmdRc6WZcVsFUZdRGwEOtyu7dioW_pCpCgLK7hQGrbq2ZdVN5-k2kqLu5INYGv2jPyf8LB79zfQ3_EvVUNuiUGBBCjrww3vWDrArESnTrD/s1600/40163_157182830968869_145998468753972_369840_1193947_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2BCFRoUjdAxN-rq-svW9dOGygoJmdRc6WZcVsFUZdRGwEOtyu7dioW_pCpCgLK7hQGrbq2ZdVN5-k2kqLu5INYGv2jPyf8LB79zfQ3_EvVUNuiUGBBCjrww3vWDrArESnTrD/s400/40163_157182830968869_145998468753972_369840_1193947_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530367997957691938" /></a><br />(Checkpoint #1)</div><div><br /></div><div><p>It had been raining all day and the rain started up once again once we were out of the AS. We were getting used to the rain, the wind and the occasional fog banks on the ridge which mysteriously disappeared at lower elevations!</p><br /><p>I felt so much gratitude that Life had given me this opportunity to run in a beautiful part of the world (actually every part of our planet is gorgeous!) .<br /></p><p>So onwards we trudged, Keith and I. The next cutoff was 8.5 hours at 34 miles in Pyecombe i.e. by 6:30 p.m. We had 4 hours and 8 minutes to cover that distance. We did fill up our bottles midway through that stretch and (I can't remember all that much bout the course today) made it there and were out 8h and 12 minutes into the race i.e. at 6:12 p.m. An 18 minute buffer to help us in the next section. </p><p>I remember walking out of that AS, crossing a road and walking a flat section past a farm before which we started a long uphill section designed to get us back on the ridge. It was starting to cool down now so I got into my jacket again. Keith and I looked back and we spotted the 2 ladies we had been playing tag with all race long. Before long they caught up with us and the fours of us ran pretty much together along the ridge to the next section where we had to get off the ridge. It was at the bottom of a long hill, after crossing a "busy" road, that I asked Keith if I could make a quick foray into the bushes to answer Mother Nature's call. That probably took me 5 minutes or so and we were soon on our way.</p><p>We made it into the next checkpoint, in the Washington Car Park (49 miles), 12 hours and 6 minutes into the race (10:06 p.m.). They had some pretty good soup there and I helped myself to a couple of cups of it.</p>We left around 10:15 p.m., crossed a busy road and were on the other side along the SDW. We soon saw a sign that told us that we had 6 miles to go and about 100 minutes to cover them in. Since the section was supposed to be flat and runnable were looking forward to making the 56 mile cutoff before 12 midnight. The cutoffs after the 56 mile checkpoint (The Bridge Inn in Amberley) were a bit more lenient. The initial section climbed a tiny bit before becoming flat. Very soon a couple of runners, who said that they had been sitting for a long time in the 49M AS, passed us going at a pretty good clip. Soon after that we came upon a person who was waiting by the side of the trail for his runner to come through.</div><div><br /></div><div>It must have been after we passed this person that we veered off to the left instead of staying on the SDW which went off to the right. We kept looking at the watch expecting the checkpoint to soon swim into view. It must have been around 10 minutes or so to midnight when we neared what seemed to be homes. Very soon we were on a road. We went to the right and came to a sort of junction. We chose to go straight and started running hoping that we were close to The Bridge Inn. We must have run for 10 minutes when Keith remarked that something was off. We tried to look at the map and orient ourselves. A car filled with people came up. We asked them if they knew if we were in Amberley. They were unfamiliar with the area and their car GPS showed nothing. I took out my iPhone to check its GPS and it showed us to be somewhere near Arundel.</div><div><br /></div><div>By now it was 12:15 a.m. We knew we were lost. We ran back the way we had come and then up another road for at least 5 minutes. This too lead nowhere. I even knocked on a couple of doors and one of them looked at me incredulously while informing me that Amberley was 3 miles away as the crow flies. I knew we were done! </div><div><br /></div><div>We were finally able to determine that the little village we were in was called Burpham. Keith called Jen Jackson, the Race DIrector, who eventually showed up with Dick Kearn to pick up up about 40 minutes later. We made it to the race hotel (Mercure) in Winchester a few hours later where I promptly lay down and went to sleep for a few hours in the conference room that had been emptied for the race.</div><div><br /></div><div>I woke up around after 8:00 a.m. and cleaned myself up a bit before going into the breakfast room for some much needed food. I had reserved a room in the Mercure for after the race and the front desk let me have the key around 10:00 a.m. I was happy to lug my bag upstairs, take a much needed shower and get into clean clothes. I lugged my bag downstairs again to the front of the hotel.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was expecting Javed to show up around 3 p.m. After walking around Winchester for a bit I found myself in a Thai restaurant. The food was simply superb! I strolled back to the Mercure and it was not long before Javed and Stephen Thomson finished together around 3:45 p.m. It was fantastic to see them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0zXCfvWV9lZR13Sfr42eD3D2n7eYWJ7UHaWN2XhWV040jU0jLTE7fjk-YdZlijTFiNA4zD0w_8JBSGXG4xQflYKRcFbwlcgkNVVHNZIXqvOj3Vt-WFJpc5de-672shF37ddI/s1600/62140_157183857635433_145998468753972_369885_4483245_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0zXCfvWV9lZR13Sfr42eD3D2n7eYWJ7UHaWN2XhWV040jU0jLTE7fjk-YdZlijTFiNA4zD0w_8JBSGXG4xQflYKRcFbwlcgkNVVHNZIXqvOj3Vt-WFJpc5de-672shF37ddI/s400/62140_157183857635433_145998468753972_369885_4483245_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530368033635597778" /></a><br />(Javed and Stephen yards from the Finish)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7MVRu24-S9W6QiDIS9U44Y4xkpXe3IP_YfjZYKXcoXZsn1JFd1V_yj0NclbAnSc_1r26CqTG8k1Fk8lZxK1ZTwqzH1ma5htZXy8-8BcRDihYWXFTSgp1rSkmqIg00fUESSlS/s1600/62140_157183864302099_145998468753972_369887_5159300_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7MVRu24-S9W6QiDIS9U44Y4xkpXe3IP_YfjZYKXcoXZsn1JFd1V_yj0NclbAnSc_1r26CqTG8k1Fk8lZxK1ZTwqzH1ma5htZXy8-8BcRDihYWXFTSgp1rSkmqIg00fUESSlS/s400/62140_157183864302099_145998468753972_369887_5159300_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530368003797742082" /></a><br />(Talking to Javed and Stephen after their finish)<br /><br />I have a lot of respect for Javed's abilities and mental strength and I had no doubt that he would finish in under 30 hours. Congratulations to him, Stephen and all the others who reached Winchester.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was I disappointed? I looked deep down inside me and realized that I had fought hard in this race from the very first step. Running close to cutoffs does not leave much room for any errors and it was an error that put paid to my dream of reaching Winchester. I could have been more careful about the signs but it's not like Keith and I had not been so before. We just missed one sign and that made all the difference.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keith is a wonderful companion to run with. Calm, strong and very motivated. I thoroughly enjoyed his company for the 49 miles I ran with him. Hopefully we will bot be lucky enough to get into next year's GUCR.</div><div><br /></div><div>A big vote of thanks to Jen Jackson and her band of volunteers. Special thanks to Dick Kearn. You people totally rock. You made me feel so very welcome. I love running in the UK and will try and squeeze in at least one race there every year if I can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Race Web site (Results, etc.) <a href="http://www.southdownswayrace.org">http://www.southdownswayrace.org</a></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-90941266850381412622010-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:002022-05-29T10:28:42.674-07:00Running Far in the GUCR<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Race: Grand Union Canal 145M </span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Race
Date: May 29, 2010 </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Location: Birmingham to London, United Kingdom
Time: 43:22</span></b><div><span style="color: #3333ff;"><b><br /></b></span> <div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">There they waited at the Start in Gas Street, </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Some eager, some filled with trepidation. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Would it end in Nike's grace or defeat, </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">This race from </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1275938732_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Birmingham</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"> to far </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1275938732_1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">London</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">The Gods of Rain came first to the party </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">And from a few soles their resolve they stole. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Few more yielded around mile seventy, </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Unprepared to pay this long race's toll. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Forty odd rode out the storm and the night </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">And strode to the Finish like Colossi. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Better equipped they had been for this fight </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">And had too this thought as their main ally: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Look within you for courage and you'll find </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">It's limitless, much though it may be mined.</span></span>
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="'Courier New',monaco,monospace,sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-family: arial;">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff; font-family: 'courier new';"><b>Wed, May 26 & Thu, May 27</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Anu, Anju and I flew from SFO to London the evening of Wednesday, May 26. We landed in Heathrow at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. We took the Heathrow to Paddington express and quickly checked into our hotel rooms before heading out for lunch. We had planned to walk to Paddington later in the evening to pick up Indu, who was landing at 6:30 p.m. from India, and take her to the hotel. Indu arrived on schedule too and we headed to an Indian restaurant for dinner. The food was passable.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Fri, May 28</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Indu and I headed to Hertz to pick up the rental car I had reserved. We were given a brand new Audi. It had less than 10 miles on it! I decided to drive the major part of the way to Birmingham and it was astonishing how my brain instantly switched everything over to the left side. How amazing the brain is! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The four of us ate lunch in the same Italian restaurant where Anu, Anju and I had eaten lunch the day before. We then piled into the car and headed up M4 to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"> Birmingham. The plan was to get to the Red Lion Inn by 5 p.m. to pick up my bib# etc.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">We reached a bit early and got to meet Christian Hottas and his friend Christine Schroeder both of whom were running the race. I also met a few people who had started the Thames Ring 250M race in June, 2009. Pat Robbins, the eventual winner of this year's GUCR in 26 hours and change, was one of them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Dick Kearn, the RD, eventually showed up along with the volunteers. I picked up my bib#, paid the race fee and also picked up T-shirts I had ordered for Anju, Anu and Indu. These were crew T-shirts.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">It was off to the hotel after that for some much needed sleep. On the way there the girls picked up some Indian food to go.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Sleep was hard to come by. Not because I was nervous about the race (in all honesty I was not even a little bit nervous) but because I was worried about the 3 women and whether they would be able to find the meeting points we had decided on in advance. Dick Kearn had sent out UK Postcodes for possible crew meeting points and I had taken a lot of those codes and created a document with Google map screenshots. Even though the car had a GPS unit I was still worried. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Sat, May 29</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I finally fell asleep at 2:30 a.m. only to wake up at 4:00 a.m. in order to get ready for the race. My breakfast was chocolate milk and a croissant.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFSD2BEm1AhKmDsJMXtXA-mlMNaQiCS001ysv_ibzuOWzUEys8PhBI1QyuLeXRo6roM64bjStgrLE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Taping my feet in the hotel room on race morning) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I spent the good part of 30 minutes taping up my big and little toes in addition to the heel and the ball of each foot. One more trip to the toilet and I was ready to roll. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Around my waist I had the rain shell I had been given at the end of the 2009 Dick Collins 50M and it proved to be the most wonderful piece of clothing for the first 7 hours or so.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFpOVOyUhVELR_PLAF8UolDN7LwDKKA4pNJSbgCu6ye2MAsG8pMkSN9ViF4V2wfqXTBsyOo-TavGjndLWAlbtyCf0GZVha0noK44SK5NIcd27QzvpKAPS0lMzM1Y1ZxWRkWzQ/s1600/DSCN3323.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480608745443742418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFpOVOyUhVELR_PLAF8UolDN7LwDKKA4pNJSbgCu6ye2MAsG8pMkSN9ViF4V2wfqXTBsyOo-TavGjndLWAlbtyCf0GZVha0noK44SK5NIcd27QzvpKAPS0lMzM1Y1ZxWRkWzQ/s400/DSCN3323.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Just before the Start) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"> Anu and Anju accompanied me to the Start. I reached there around 5:30 a.m. Gas Street was a hive of activity with runners and their crew members all working feverishly to get the runners ready. I met a few friends, from the Thames Ring race, including the Thames Ring winner, Jon Kinder, who went on to finish second 27 hours later.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOhxYjHzN5Z1GUjrcjOhViigjAYI8Fsg9NfEmSSl9fFpLHEGekqg-jNQpgyz-2d2lUvb31suGVWpg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Pre-Start interview. Keith Godden and Jon Kinder in leading roles!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier new;"><br /></span>
<div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Dick said a few words and we were off! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Miles 0-31</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The canal on the right separated us from the tall buildings of downtown Birmingham. I must have been over hydrated for I stopped to pee at least 4-5 times in the first hour. About 6:20 a.m. the drizzle began and turned to rain off and on for the next 9 hours or so. That's exactly what the weather forecast had said would happen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Around 6:35 a.m. the phone rang. It was Arun Simha asking for an update! I told him I was doing great!! :-)) The buildings started to get sparser as we headed out of the city center and into the countryside. A church here, tropical looking trees there all made for almost idyllic vistas that did not change much during the rest of the race.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480617811863736946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNkGJPBkwW2LL2FKuBxYp3o1uHl4bYK5ZcmUERPGiz2PSxfwtgYmHfUgNxFoOHV26eqVAmXdWCULWti7diqpXEIzU0xbPG_CdOGICOM6RJ6YWWK9Fl-UEWzbzYlOLKY2MPvtr/s400/DSCN3332.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(The early miles along the canal)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">My backpack had 3 small carton</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">s of chocolate milk. I had lugged the milk all the way from the US. Since the girls were meeting me for the first time around mile 31, I intended to spread those 3 cartons across those miles. The heavens had opened up even more by the time I got to the first Feed Station (as they call Aid Stations in the UK - how cute!). I had my chocolate milk, had them top up the bottle that had Pocari in it along with the water bottle and I was out of there in a flash. As far as the Feed Stations went in the first 70 miles, I was in and out within a minute or two. I did not linger long and managed to socialize even in those few minutes, something I am wont to do and like to do in races.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Keith Godden and I played leapfrog for most of the first 30 miles. He had sent me an e-mail last year, in November or so, with the offer to mail me a copy of the Trail Running Association's newsletter that had coverage of last year's Thames Ring 250M race. The article had a picture of me running into the mile 82 Checkpoint (CP# 3). I eventually received the copy in December and was grateful to him for his kindness and I was looking forward to meeting him. It was indeed wonderful connecting with him and running those 30 odd miles "together". I took a few pictures of him and he reciprocated by taking some of me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTwLKH-MVZvXtCAF3JxhlgzSRSIeaBy0UO_55entyuWl83eyfk-tTOCpnkt9jmfvVMSA-vcVs11Y2YjLZa_Sb3CSgnLvFaEktgE4XZ0CqlSIuV6i_kmHXW4fFJFK4WpqteW7d/s1600/DSCN3344.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480647307657220242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTwLKH-MVZvXtCAF3JxhlgzSRSIeaBy0UO_55entyuWl83eyfk-tTOCpnkt9jmfvVMSA-vcVs11Y2YjLZa_Sb3CSgnLvFaEktgE4XZ0CqlSIuV6i_kmHXW4fFJFK4WpqteW7d/s400/DSCN3344.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Keith Godden)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Tlt4aQ0Ttd-FD-7T-gg-ODHqukiSzWkiWHaho0Hg43TEKQygja0poPW_Bq9DshBansLP1wJkR2NFWmXZqECq6WDw7TF7dpuuCLeWA6059O8fo25PoLata0uQkd9G1Dl-D6o/s1600/DSCN3347.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480863055137096338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Tlt4aQ0Ttd-FD-7T-gg-ODHqukiSzWkiWHaho0Hg43TEKQygja0poPW_Bq9DshBansLP1wJkR2NFWmXZqECq6WDw7TF7dpuuCLeWA6059O8fo25PoLata0uQkd9G1Dl-D6o/s400/DSCN3347.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Beautiful!) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">We actually ran up and through Shrewley Tunnel together and then for a bit beyond. I had to stop to pee so he kept going.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I then found myself running with a few other runners on and off. I remember talking to one runner who had run the London to Brighton 56 mile race. Another runner had started the GUCR the year before but stopped at mile 70 because he had gone out too fast. This was only the second time he was attempting a race longer than a Half marathon! Amazing!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The second Feed station came and went by again. I refilled my Pocari bottle with more Pocari powder and left the aid station soon. I wanted to meet up with the girls as soon as I could.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9B5urHuHBG6MlBUd1Od9muPpq2ErMRBnv5QU2WcJ5E8w83sfeuRc9GxnYqRirtrI1NhJ3dpVqoJqIQR-iPkXBXPFC2a5jdDugu4vNr9F97eg9K9PyVfmod30iLTcFZkZ1yVT/s1600/DSCN3364.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480647936449715074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9B5urHuHBG6MlBUd1Od9muPpq2ErMRBnv5QU2WcJ5E8w83sfeuRc9GxnYqRirtrI1NhJ3dpVqoJqIQR-iPkXBXPFC2a5jdDugu4vNr9F97eg9K9PyVfmod30iLTcFZkZ1yVT/s400/DSCN3364.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(One of the users of the canal) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I ran a lot, a lot, of those first 30 miles. In fact, I ran a huge portion of the first 70 miles. I would hazard a guess and say it must have been around 60 miles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The bridge under which I was to meet up with the ladies came soon enough and I was very happy to see their cheerful faces.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_seAOgN7fOigFADuoTFXa2-qCZ72LQUiuZg-FhKpDuCO2UBymngG1gdZwx9I2wztkKpKxXfzxMQU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Coming into the 31-mile meeting point) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I quickly replenished my supply of chocolate milk and gels and headed out as soon as I could. The ladies were looking to go and check on the phone I had purchased the day before for use in the UK.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Miles 31-70</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I continued to run for many long miles before walking 5-6 minutes every hour. I wanted to get to mile 70 as soon as I could. One of the places I had been looking forward to revisiting was the Braunston Tunnel. This is where I had spent 20-30 long, really long, minutes looking for the path to the other end in last year's Thames Ring 250M race. This time around the path was crystal clear in my mind. It was wonderful to exorcise my Thames Ring ghosts.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I was with 3 other runners when we went over the tunnel. On the other side 2 of them stopped to get some food from one of their crew members who rode up on a bike. I continued on and the phone rang. It was Anju asking me where I was. I knew I was within a mile or so of the 48.5 miles bridge. This is exactly where they were! I soon came to the bridge and was very happy to see the 3 beautiful ladies.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx40OdBoMdhMa_Kz8-MuuHVVeM-QvOgQ3DeYVpQOqPnwZ0oT4_QcqJKMz-O0ejsFJrlkfALAmlcxYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Coming to the 48.5 mile meeting point)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpH7GYwnN0fPbhq637Br5tivnNiQEXn_M6BfgVlgj3ZH7GTWu5YDZOnDWtx8Sktrl9T5oyj5l2obiUYf8AF8C1JCah0zk9K8EVNW_pXisbqfsQLH4M86MnZTNd1dn5DKM-BLA/s1600/DSCN3379.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480648653003292690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpH7GYwnN0fPbhq637Br5tivnNiQEXn_M6BfgVlgj3ZH7GTWu5YDZOnDWtx8Sktrl9T5oyj5l2obiUYf8AF8C1JCah0zk9K8EVNW_pXisbqfsQLH4M86MnZTNd1dn5DKM-BLA/s400/DSCN3379.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Mile 48.5 meeting point) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I asked them to meet me again, for the last time until mile 70.5, in the very next meeting location which also happened to be a race Feed Station. This was in Weedon a.k.a the Heart of England.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I met up with them again in Weedon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyvL2ogPoLqZwl4CblFUkVbbCHBZtssHT_7T-pAf5VXiYS41aF08ySFhVoTShWJhix9n3PSjWmf2B0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Coming into the 53.1 mile Feed Station - </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Weedon, Heart of England)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJV6Z7fHggDiC4JQppK8bznBekqvJs0erGE3QRIMWKiIQugZurF7PBvFXAVVj8FiyjOOMHhtBbUja4Ja2zHSK_b0Nlugs7D0E5PN5xdJwTK3kw45B-47JiFGpNFnkF4RYkOUI/s1600/4672486800_80fe2501c3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: "courier new";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480857739740114738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJV6Z7fHggDiC4JQppK8bznBekqvJs0erGE3QRIMWKiIQugZurF7PBvFXAVVj8FiyjOOMHhtBbUja4Ja2zHSK_b0Nlugs7D0E5PN5xdJwTK3kw45B-47JiFGpNFnkF4RYkOUI/s400/4672486800_80fe2501c3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(The 53.1 mile Feed Station) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I was in and out of that Feed Station and on my way to get to mile 70.5 i.e. the Navigation Bridge. Another place I was looking forward to revisiting was the Blisworth Tunnel. Right at the top of the climb, I realized that darkness was setting in and so I spent a few minutes putting in fresh batteries in my hand torch as well as my headlamp.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I was soon back running along the canal. It was around here that my blood sugar plummeted. I popped a gel but suddenly my ability to run was gone. So be it. I power walked most of the way to the 70.5 Checkpoint i.e. the Navigation Bridge. I finally reached and was very happy to do so. I sat on the bridge and enjoyed Anu and Indu's pampering. I wolfed down 3 hot soups and 2 cheese sandwiches.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYW7tVPzwoKofg1DNCl7A7iqxgrfmmaAInGeyjB9A8PLHGHglpj0ZICrSKaIDDydDZxmw49MqNTfk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Putting in lots of calories in the 70.5 mile Feed Station) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I then headed to the car to change into warmer clothes and replenish my supply of chocolate milk. Anju was my pacer for the next 10 miles. I had changed into Tevas for, hopefully, the rest of the way. I had used the Tevas during a 26-mile stretch in last year's Thames Ring 250M and also for the last 36 miles of last year's Lean Horse 100M and they were the best thing I could have worn.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Miles 70-120</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Anju was wonderful. She was very supportive and inquired after me all along. Those 10 miles took what seemed like long, really long hours. This included passing many bridges whose numbers would increase infinitesimally i.e. Bridge 74A, 74B, 74C, 74D and then it would start all over again a few bridges later. Anu and Indu called us a few times to ask where we were and we would give them the bridge number and not be able to tell them how close we were to them!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The Peartree Inn Bridge, at mile 80.4, came eventually. This is where Anu was to take over pacing duties for the next 16 miles. Anu and Anju swapped places and soon we were off. Anu has placed me in many races before and she knows how to get me going. By now my nausea, which had reared its head during Anju's pacing stint, had achieved full blown status. I could only walk fast not run. So be it again. Anu would shuffle ahead and come back to encourage me. I kept plodding on steadily.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The mile 84.5 Feed Station came eventually around dawn. I ate a bit here, drank my chocolate milk and, at Anu's insistence, was soon out of there. The sky had a lot of light by now and the Sun's rise was imminent. The rains of the previous day had been replaced by loads of sunshine on Sunday. The day started to get warmer by the hour. I was still only able to walk so walk I did. The miles went by slowly but went by they did. It must have been around mile 95 or so that we spotted the familiar figures of Christian Hottas and Christine Schroeder ahead. We soon passed them and were also upon the Ivinghoe Bridge where Anu would swap places with Anju. I ate some more food here including some much needed coffee.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Anu, like Anju before her, had done a superb job of not only taking care of me but also motivating me to push now and then as best as I could.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Anju and I set out from the Ivinghoe Bridge at around 9 a.m. or so. My desire to answer Mother Nature's call had now become a pressing problem. It must have been within a mile or so that we came upon an opportunity to use the restroom. I was lucky that the Inn, closed at that time, had the owner in the backyard about to leave. He was kind enough to open up the restroom to me. I spent a good 10 minutes in the toilet. It was like I had been given a fresh lease on life!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">We soon came to the Grand Junction Arms, the 99.8 mile AS. One of the 3 runners who had been with me going over the Braunston Tunnel was here and seriously contemplating dropping out of the race. His feet were killing him (he did drop there). Anju shepherded me out of that AS as soon as she could and we started the journey to the next meeting point with Indu and Anu which was under Bridge 140, mile 104.3, in Berkhamsted. This is where Indu was to take over pacing duties for the next 4 miles i.e. until the next meeting point at Bridge 149 and mile 108.5.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I was power walking now and Anju had to shuffle or jog to keep up with me. That was a good sign. The nausea was hanging around but I was determined to make good time. The phone rang again and we told the girls to meet us under the bridge. Once we got close, I changed my mind and decided to go to the car. It was a wonderfully warm afternoon. The sky was dappled with clouds, none of them rain-bearing. People were walking the tow path and enjoying the lovely day. I reached the car and sat down for a couple of minutes to enjoy a chocolate milk. Despite the nausea, I was able to drink chocolate milk at will.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR4yIUqV_j2ctpGonM_SHJQVTyse7CCmrerlJsz39olbw7IgYEopLPnQfDrrw8Lc1fdmbgAUFP7DLFHzis7MtA6CMfvv_G_83Lj4Oa9NsAYQmxeu5CBnjfF7YnvxAApUNOnim/s1600/DSCN3382.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480844148012398162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR4yIUqV_j2ctpGonM_SHJQVTyse7CCmrerlJsz39olbw7IgYEopLPnQfDrrw8Lc1fdmbgAUFP7DLFHzis7MtA6CMfvv_G_83Lj4Oa9NsAYQmxeu5CBnjfF7YnvxAApUNOnim/s400/DSCN3382.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">(Do swans preen?) </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Indu and I started by running the first mile or mile and a half as and when the nausea permitted me to do so. I then slowed it down to a fast walk and those 4 miles went by in a flash. Anu took over pacing duties again from mile 108.5. This is where things got interesting.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier new;"><br /></span>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Anu's foot had not been doing too well. Anju's ankle, twisted weeks before this UK trip, was in bad shape too - hats off to these ladies for pacing me despite their aches and pains. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">It was with Anu that I turned up the walking into real power walking. I set off at a blazing walking pace and Anu, finding it easier to run than to walk, would go ahead and come back for me only to do it all over again. We passed a lot of bridges here and Dick Kearn's detailed notes gave us mileage numbers for many of these. I was thus able to calculate my pace - it was between 13 and 13:30 min/mile. The phone rang once more. It was the girls asking if I would like French fries. Would I ever!! So we met up under Bridge 165. The French fries and the ketchup were manna from Heaven!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">It was here that Anu </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">asked Anju and Indu to meet up with us in the Springwell locks race Feed Station at mile 120.3. In all the confusion, Anju and Indu understood that we would meet again at mile 118.0. Anu and I soon covered the next 5 mile at the same rapid clip that we had started off her pacing stint at. To our surprise Anju and Indu were nowhere to be seen. Anu was hoping that they were held up and still on their way there to pick her up. I quickly ate some food and while doing so had an idea. Steve, another runner, had been with me on and off for the past many miles. He and I reached this Feed Station together. He had gone off to the side to his crew car. I went over there with Anu and asked his wife if she would be kind enough to ferry Anu to the 133-mile Feed Station in Southall. She mentioned that they would be making a stop, to help Steve, around the mile 126 or 127 mark. That was fine with Anu. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I left with a bit of concern for Anu and the girls. Where were they? It was just past 5:00 p.m. now and even though sunset was not for another 4-5 hours, it was starting to get a tad chilly. A mile or so after the Feed Station I asked Christian Hottas, who I caught up with, if he had a spare flashlight. He said he did and that it was in his drop bag in the 133-mile Feed Station. That took care of the flashlight/headlamp problem for the night. I now had to make arrangements for warmer clothing just in case I was not able to meet the girls.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The phone rang a couple of times. It was the girls! It got cut off each time. What was going on? I had another great idea. I took Steve's wife's phone number from him and called her to find out about Anu. They were fine and making their way to the 127-mile meeting point. I started to run. I was in Urgency mode by now - I had to get to Christian's drop bag as soon as possible so that I could head on to the Finish and, maybe, not need the light or warmer clothing. I flew down the path at 8:00-8:30 min/mile pace. Before I knew it I was at the Cowley Lock Bridge (#188). Steve's wife and his other crew members were outside an inn. Anu had run to their car to get warm clothes for me. She had found a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Seeing her running towards me with all those clothes made me choke up - I could understand how worried she must feel not only for herself and the girls but also for me knowing that it was going to get colder.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I tried to call the girls on their phone. Dark thought were going through my mind. What if something had happened to them? I had even called Vandi and Vasudha to confirm their phone number. Finally the phone rang and it was Anju asking me where we were. She and Anju were waiting back at the 118.0-mile meeting point. I quickly told them to head off to the 133.0-mile Feed Station and that Anu would be there. I then called Steve's wife to have her inform Anu that the girls were OK and that they would meet her in the last Checkpoint. This took a huge load off my mind. I was free to run without worrying now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n3h_86PkBJf3O47Q3YcQWmbKoFgN3YUCHG5duLVb3ra4uwDNkTN9pqOKsrSAr1QiXZ_1iFh1TRGhQeQZkGhovXVrckeADD9dYX7CPs2uWoXvn_u-gRwahJ_ucaypDDt_bEz0/s1600/DSCN3384.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480843837783035266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n3h_86PkBJf3O47Q3YcQWmbKoFgN3YUCHG5duLVb3ra4uwDNkTN9pqOKsrSAr1QiXZ_1iFh1TRGhQeQZkGhovXVrckeADD9dYX7CPs2uWoXvn_u-gRwahJ_ucaypDDt_bEz0/s400/DSCN3384.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Anu)
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I flew. Flew is truly the right word. It was as if every muscle and tendon in my body came together in those 6 miles to the last Checkpoint. I passed many runners who had been at least an hour ahead of me. I finally made it into the Southall Feed Station sometime around 9 p.m. Mission accomplished. The lovely ladies, reunited now, were waiting for me. This feed station, unfortunately, had no hot food. Neither did the pub in whose parking lot our car was parked.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8P73I8kEdR15YcDznOOpWhnj_IpQswXP7UQ_ZZvX-peu6U9YcbfBd9Z6-h65BUIQafLNeR2wu2ss' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(Southall Feed Station, mile 133, interview)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_3FW71JFWlmh1Q99cya9tFaXTcojH8rJWnYqavpX3PMAqVFzjXxgDpAfeusrCx1_WAgwMiM6MzMJEj0wq99BGGIMlVEdIzRG4zbpTU6VjiUgf0Uf9BYQmnYXHu7CfYt5LHuu/s1600/DSCN3388.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480844718483590770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_3FW71JFWlmh1Q99cya9tFaXTcojH8rJWnYqavpX3PMAqVFzjXxgDpAfeusrCx1_WAgwMiM6MzMJEj0wq99BGGIMlVEdIzRG4zbpTU6VjiUgf0Uf9BYQmnYXHu7CfYt5LHuu/s400/DSCN3388.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(After having changed into warmer clothes) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">I quickly changed into warmer clothes, put on my headlamp and started off with a few gels in my fanny pack. I had left the backpack behind. I did carry 2 bottle, both filled with water.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">The Grand Union Canal for the next 2 miles was pretty sad. Booze bottles here and there. Signs of nighttime fires. It was obviously a section used by homeless people. British Waterways, working on a section of the canal, had closed it off 2 miles into it and Dick had given us detailed turn-by-turn direction to reconnect to the canal further up by taking a detour through an urban neighborhood. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Carr Road to Rothesay Ave to Currey Road to Oldfield Lane. Oldfield Lane led to the Black Horse pub which was on the canal. I promptly went into the pub to use their restroom facilities. That took about 15 minutes and the little bit of rest did me a lot of good.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: courier;">Upon joining the canal, I saw a signpost that told me that Paddington was 7.75 miles away. I had been along the canal for about 2 miles after leaving the 133.0 mile Checkpoint. That meant that the urban diversion had been approximately a couple of miles long. I was pretty much alone here at this point. Sleep was starting to make its presence felt but I was able to keep it at bay by singing Hindi songs loudly. Looking back with around 6.5 miles to go I noticed lights. They soon caught up with me. It was Steve, his friend and his wife. We walked together in companionable silence. The rest of their crew was meeting up with them with approximately 6 miles to go. We soon spotted them and Steve stopped to eat and drink while I pushed on.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "courier new";"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Sleep was coming on in waves now. I would have periods of intense sleepiness followed by spells of clear vision and thought. Across the canal on the left I was passing factories and manufacturing plants that had people in them for the parking lots were full of cars. There were similar companies on my side with the occasional aroma of foodstuff wafting across my nostrils. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "courier new";"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Out of the darkness ahead I saw a light coming towards me. My alertness went up just in case it was someone I would not like to meet in a dark alley (or canal path!) at night. It turned out to be Christian Hottas's friend, Hartmut, who was supposed to run the race but had dropped out a few weeks ago. He had walked the 3-4 miles from the Finish and I was the first runner he met. He promptly reversed direction and started to walk with me. He was a boon. I could not have asked for a better pacer. He kept me regaled with stories of running in Germany and his other exploits. Sleep came in waves still but I was better able to control it. I did ask him to wake me up in 5 minutes while I sat down on a little bench for my one and only stop in those last 12 miles. That 5-minute nap helped. I kept asking him about how far the Finish was because I knew that the girls would be waiting anxiously for me. The phone even rang a few times and I gave them a best guess of where I was. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "courier new";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Finally Hartmut pointed to a very distant light and told me that the Finish was kind of near there! That perked me up tremendously and I called the girls to let them know I was close. It must have been about 300-400 yards to go to the Finish when the phone rang again. It was Rajeev Char asking me how I was doing. I told him I was 300 yards from the end and that it was the most beautiful experience ever. It was! I had gone further in the Thames Ring 250M (183 miles) but had failed to reach the Finish line. This was, now, the longest successful race finish I had achieved.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "courier new";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">The 3 ladies were waiting for me. With a few hundred feet to go, one of the race volunteers came out to warn me not to get too exuberant with my celebrations as someone was sleeping. I kept that in mind when I crossed the Finish line! Anu, Anju and Indu were there to hug me, take pictures and even record an interview of me.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxcyVL_k4njwVdjZRWZSqCyETl-gJ6FUvfrfyzyV82D8czWZEqu9sfK6HGBdOIaUeKbG4YtiV08qrZmo3LiG2c5eKCca_fxMQk5JCnu78DFNLMNqS8Z1wf-Oe4GX59cvFZuvb/s1600/DSCN3403.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: "courier new";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480845107778540274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxcyVL_k4njwVdjZRWZSqCyETl-gJ6FUvfrfyzyV82D8czWZEqu9sfK6HGBdOIaUeKbG4YtiV08qrZmo3LiG2c5eKCca_fxMQk5JCnu78DFNLMNqS8Z1wf-Oe4GX59cvFZuvb/s400/DSCN3403.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">(A blurry picture of me post-finish)
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">What an epic race it had been. Never for once, during those 43 hours and 22 minutes, did I ever doubt that I would not make it. I pushed hard when I needed to. My past 100M races had shown me that I could turn it up as and when I had to so I was confident of that ability even during those few times that I was a bit close to cutoffs.</span> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">A big Thank You to Dick Kearn and his amazing band of volunteers. They kept me alive with their hot soups and good cheer. I am looking forward to next year's Thames Ring 250M (June 22). Anthony Taylor and Dick Kearn have already confirmed that I can start to get excited about my participation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Anu, Indu and Anju were the best crew members and pacers ever. Always loving, always helpful they fill my memories of the race with a golden glow that is not about to fade for a very long time. I love you three!! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">This 145-mile (233K) race finish means that I have qualified to apply for the 153-mile Spartathlon (from Athens to Sparta) run annually in Greece every September. I will send in my application one of these months for the 2011 race.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Race Reports</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Paul Ali </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><a href="http://earley-gunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-grand-union-canal-race-report.html">http://earley-gunners.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-grand-union-canal-race-report.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/mylifeasarunner/race-reports/gucr-2010">http://sites.google.com/site/mylifeasarunner/race-reports/gucr-2010</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Race pictures</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramonaultra/sets/72157624048773463/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramonaultra/sets/72157624048773463/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11659262@N07/4671831483/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/11659262@N07/4671831483/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">My Fotki pictures</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://public.fotki.com/rajeevtherunner/gucr-trip-photos/gucr/">http://public.fotki.com/rajeevtherunner/gucr-trip-photos/gucr/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">My Facebook album </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rajeevtherunner?v=photos#%21/album.php?aid=174995&id=688528118&ref=pb">http://www.facebook.com/rajeevtherunner?v=photos#%21/album.php?aid=174995&id=688528118&ref=pb</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">
</span></p></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-78642812638676941342010-04-12T17:20:00.000-07:002011-10-24T11:31:30.037-07:00AR-PR<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIuJu7n8eVgtCJeK4liH81lV7mY8smYCoDRzCODUky5nX4CODHWMmprYAlkzErCOchhyOFwaI4gR4tAB4huBo9CzNs6n31bbqamqFIo0LBWW8djtW_ezN5YT7rLKm71hepiIy/s1600/26913_1379213192922_1009660337_31139082_546945_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><b>Race: American River 50M<br />Date: April 10, 2010<br />Location: Sacramento, CA<br />Time: 10:10</b></span><br /><div><br /></div><div>I do not remember ever running the last miles of any ultra marathon as fast as I ran the miles from 31 to 47 in the 2010 edition of the iconic American River 50-mile race.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm putting down numbers (approximate ones at that - my memory is, at best, suspect) just so I can look back, years hence, and get an idea of how much knowing AND coming to love the course helped in each subsequent AR race I have run.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Year <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1-31M <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>31-50M</span></b></div><div>2006 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>6:00 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span>5:34</div><div>2007 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>5:56 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span>5:13</div><div>2008 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>6:31 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>4:51</div><div>2009 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>6:16 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>4:23</div><div>2010 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>6:14 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>3:56</div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing that leaps out is that the last 19 miles have gotten faster every year. This year's section from 31 to 47 was something that amazed me a lot. I was on fire and it only let up some once I got to the final climb up from the river. </div><div><br />I have grown to love those last 19 miles. Rewind to 2006, my first AR50, and I remember running that race in lots of mud, fast flowing rivulets and streams and mid-shin deep water crossings once or twice. I detested those 19 miles. I then encountered them twice in the 2006 Rio Del Lago 100M 5 months later. A portion of that section, going south, made me lose a huge chunk of the 45 minutes buffer I had built up. You get the picture. Those 19 miles were my <i>bete noire</i> until 2008. During that (2008) race I told myself that there was nothing I could do about the course. What had to be done had to be done in my mind. I have come to love them now. They are so different from the first 27 miles, to Beals Point, that they add a lot of character to AR50.</div><div><br /></div><div>My first 27 miles were uneventful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUWKajQeH1UHNvf07xftuvYCKnrhas092xIiKVNGSYDjVEcL5F8koQf47k0pnsd3kK3Qavnv1GoHyM5LJeeJ-StqHkfVFjzqPsHocsWW74lvuixk7eqCF_SgQbpCNmR_Ek882/s1600/2010_AR_Early_Miles.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUWKajQeH1UHNvf07xftuvYCKnrhas092xIiKVNGSYDjVEcL5F8koQf47k0pnsd3kK3Qavnv1GoHyM5LJeeJ-StqHkfVFjzqPsHocsWW74lvuixk7eqCF_SgQbpCNmR_Ek882/s400/2010_AR_Early_Miles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467936415593571842" /></a><br />(The early miles. Photo courtesy of Brian Harvey)<br /><br />They were pretty much a copy of 2009 i.e. marathon in around 4:55, Beals Point just past the 5 hour mark, slow down between Beals Point and the next AS at mile 31 and then a resurgence/renaissance in the last 19 miles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHgnIGpg_I6EgCbWKXZ10qRYmGQTHzy2wtNSYtW35zVj4e-Yv3gdTQFLjOUbFyk9ppzx23BbNF_JGe7ynhBXUQve9Og8GRZgLANlaL18XZKeK6_-OP37xiYF5MhHOIbEvyc3D/s1600/26913_1379213192922_1009660337_31139082_546945_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHgnIGpg_I6EgCbWKXZ10qRYmGQTHzy2wtNSYtW35zVj4e-Yv3gdTQFLjOUbFyk9ppzx23BbNF_JGe7ynhBXUQve9Og8GRZgLANlaL18XZKeK6_-OP37xiYF5MhHOIbEvyc3D/s400/26913_1379213192922_1009660337_31139082_546945_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467641060335698674" /></a><br />(Coming into the first AS. Photo courtesy of Daniel Fabun)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zRwc08OYfqY7sEfi98Gq1dP5APLrJo8_WCdsFEDJa3B82pR23LRDTeeu6MOthiWixWGxYJ_fo-uqzeig2E3dDaTYIw8AO6bQQKc4fM1DSbEYqwjLvCIuhP2sFSVfYA7T5MZY/s1600/26913_1379213552931_1009660337_31139090_8061192_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zRwc08OYfqY7sEfi98Gq1dP5APLrJo8_WCdsFEDJa3B82pR23LRDTeeu6MOthiWixWGxYJ_fo-uqzeig2E3dDaTYIw8AO6bQQKc4fM1DSbEYqwjLvCIuhP2sFSVfYA7T5MZY/s400/26913_1379213552931_1009660337_31139090_8061192_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467641064126395778" /></a><br />(Second AS. Photo courtesy of Daniel Fabun)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P11uOQK0RtM7AU2dnoYAdSsQ79aujAa2kiHntpCvuuXYZ_yDi30vT3W7p3pep_jVXqAS2P6bN_DXeAoqq7cHgNAmlhfwIUIbrvmsPsxF5e7Kf49NTbcaqqHrUd5nDbISEi6N/s1600/23700_426986742925_776442925_5391480_8238367_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P11uOQK0RtM7AU2dnoYAdSsQ79aujAa2kiHntpCvuuXYZ_yDi30vT3W7p3pep_jVXqAS2P6bN_DXeAoqq7cHgNAmlhfwIUIbrvmsPsxF5e7Kf49NTbcaqqHrUd5nDbISEi6N/s400/23700_426986742925_776442925_5391480_8238367_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467937356700499778" /></a><br />(A few miles after the Nimbus Overlook AS. Photo courtesy of Brian Recore)<br /><br />The only difference is that I ran those last 19 miles way, way faster than I did last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first 27 miles to Beals Point were largely uneventful save for the fact that for 3-4 miles before Beals Point my blood sugar was lower than I liked and that led to my slowing down quite a bit. It did not recover until I switched to Coke in the 31 mile AS.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been in the zone before in races (2008 AR50, 2009 AR50, 2007 Miwok 100K) but this time around it felt like there was no Rajeev, just a body moving along doing what it loves doing most. I never looked at my watch after leaving the 31 mile AS and it was only an accidental glance at a volunteer's watch in the Manhattan Bar AS (mile 43.92) told me that it was 2:46 p.m. I was in shock! I knew I had run fast, the miles between Aid Stations were passing by in a comfortable and fast blur, but this was ridiculous. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I was on fire! The goal had become a sub-10 hour 50M (finish before 4:00 p.m.). I picked up the pace even more. I fell in behind a lady and her pacer who were moving at the same pace as I was. We blew by so many runners that I lost count. We finally reached the left turn from the river that starts climbing to Last Gasp. This is where I backed off a bit. I walked most of that hill. I ran/walked to the Last Gasp AS and went through. The final 2.8 miles were a run+walk that saw me finish in 10:10. Probably the best race I have ever run. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder what next year will be like.</div></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-57092996251978951872010-03-08T16:05:00.000-08:002013-03-01T11:48:06.915-08:00Howling at the Coyote Two Moon 100MRace: Coyote Two Moon 100M<br />
Date: Mar 5 - Mar 7, 2010<br />
Location: Ojai, CA<br />
Time: 38:25<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Trail or I:who would first relent?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Up we went into the dark night.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">On finishing I was hellbent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Then it came, the first long ascent:</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">The start of a long drawn out fight.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Trail or I:who would first relent?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Last year, up Topa, I was spent.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">This year I made it there upright.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">On finishing I was hellbent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Down to Rose Valley, then ascent</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Up to Topa; end of first night.</span> <span style="color: #3333ff;"><br />Trail or I:who would first relent?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Rain, snow: of chill a grim portent.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Fought hard to stay in the spotlight.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">On finishing I was hellbent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Sleep and cold tried to make a dent:</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Fought them I did with all my might.</span> <span style="color: #3333ff;"><br />Trail or I:who would first relent?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">On finishing I was hellbent.</span><br />
<br />
What an epic race this one was. Having traversed almost the entire course except for the descent to Gridley Bottom and the subsequent ascent to Gridley Top in 2009, I was confident of being able to finish the race this year. The inclement weather from noon on Saturday until almost 3 a.m. on Sunday made the race that much more epic.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">Thursday, Mar 4</span><br />
Anil and I flew into Burbank airport and made our way to the Ventura Bowling Center in Ventura for the 6 p.m. bowling festivities. The alley was filled with familiar faces - Catra, Andy Kumeda, DC, Gillian, Georgeanna Quarles, Dave Combs, Deb Clem, Chris Scott, Nancy Warren, Dean Dyatt, Diane Vlach and a host of others. It was like coming home and like a year had not gone by.<br />
<br />
Anil and I were on a team that also had DC, Gillian and Andy and Marie Boyd. Marie is the RD of the Bishop 50M race. I was probably the worst bowler on show in the alley and our team finished dead last.<br />
<br />
We checked into the Capri Hotel later that evening and fell asleep after making a few drop bags.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">Friday, March 6</span><br />
We woke up late Friday morning and spent at least 30-40 minutes making the drop bags. Race briefing cum lunch was at 11:30 so we did not eat a heavy breakfast. We drove a few blocks down the road to an electronics store to buy a charger from my iPhone and then to a grocery store for water and a few last minute things. On then to the race briefing.<br />
<br />
People were already in line for the food when we got there. We sat at a table with Glenn Tachiyama, DC, Gillian and Dave Combs. Chris Scott soon started talking about the race and we listened as carefully as we could. It looked like the rest of Friday was going to be clear but the rain could roll in on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Anil and I went back to the room and got our drop bags etc. for drop off to the Thacher School. We picked up our bib numbers along with our goodie bags and got a free pair of Drymax socks from the company.<br />
<br />
Back to the room it was to rest a bit, tape our feet and return for the 6 p.m. Start. Anil and I had gone to Boccali's to pick up pasta and a sandwich. We finished taping our feet, ate our respective dinners and drove to the Start. I had decided to run the entire race in compression shorts over which I had on thick tights. A short-sleeved base layer T-shirt was covered with my favorite Brooks long-sleeved orange shirt over which I had on a green rain jacket that had a hood. Injinji gloves on my hands, feet (sans socks) in Brooks Cascadias and gaiters around the ankles completed my running outfit for the next 40 hours.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh87GqA7ZQ4TMqgrMEeCr0_dRTZaD5YTJquHFdHqObHesF4oBpg_2EeTj4AbbZuoOSHKBdQvrBAkhmO9JVHqZkHTTxs3Pn3dS_mrsUnkNpXnM5ArGuytSaKiV766uGEYFko_t/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Before_Start_4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448002071379234498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh87GqA7ZQ4TMqgrMEeCr0_dRTZaD5YTJquHFdHqObHesF4oBpg_2EeTj4AbbZuoOSHKBdQvrBAkhmO9JVHqZkHTTxs3Pn3dS_mrsUnkNpXnM5ArGuytSaKiV766uGEYFko_t/s400/2010_C2M_Before_Start_4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
(Anil and I before the Start. Photo:Andy Kumeda)<br />
<br />
The Start area was a hive of activity. Even people who were starting hours later were there just to flag off our group. It felt great to see the camaraderie and the banter between these amazing runners. Catra even remarked that my bib number 33 had been her bib number the past few years and that I was going to finish for sure. Prophetic words!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY3ERx_3JKjKtUyElz8V5aEDj1X6qrrzEkaVV2tibrB7455dMck8Rs8aOtIhEheoTDxjtGSZX_m-fuAWH3y0AanbKNqpJ8FIzSEw5Pz0x_z6mhgQPo4akReBQ5zfvve1sxIl7/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Before_Start_3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448002706872827378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY3ERx_3JKjKtUyElz8V5aEDj1X6qrrzEkaVV2tibrB7455dMck8Rs8aOtIhEheoTDxjtGSZX_m-fuAWH3y0AanbKNqpJ8FIzSEw5Pz0x_z6mhgQPo4akReBQ5zfvve1sxIl7/s400/2010_C2M_Before_Start_3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="color: black;">(Catra pointing to my bib# 33. Photo:Andy Kumeda)</span></span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Thacher School ===>Sisar</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0bXG_S8vC2-hjZagWVy77nNaJ8j1V3zjWrsQOtdbcegRKpSraiu_4bj5Gll4wmwVpZxzo2x-B7uS1Aa6GasC3Odswql-Dda4TEJzWzHri5OtBPpNIkpYRI7whY_4bAPmQyWa/s1600-h/26323_389302213625_839578625_4991304_8300649_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448004602489875570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0bXG_S8vC2-hjZagWVy77nNaJ8j1V3zjWrsQOtdbcegRKpSraiu_4bj5Gll4wmwVpZxzo2x-B7uS1Aa6GasC3Odswql-Dda4TEJzWzHri5OtBPpNIkpYRI7whY_4bAPmQyWa/s400/26323_389302213625_839578625_4991304_8300649_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(The 6 p.m. start group. Photo:Stan Jensen)<br />
<br />
We started promptly at 6 p.m. Soon we were in a long line of runners snaking up the Horn Canyon trail. Thacher School is at 1500 feet while the top of the climb was at 4500 feet i.e. we had a 3000 foot climb in 4 miles which meant an average gradient of 13-14%. Great way to warm up!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8rI9QKh4Blwlsb0tDOP4bwEl7P5XvM6q1hMAVa0dX04yonb8Nqd6GdiRomSSyyUgIa7AXMVKXOEHoOJJeQ04k_tVOTQCDBYPp9ntoKd-vKga9TLpxZ2ysmemI60K7LSZdDuz/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Start.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449675938214391314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8rI9QKh4Blwlsb0tDOP4bwEl7P5XvM6q1hMAVa0dX04yonb8Nqd6GdiRomSSyyUgIa7AXMVKXOEHoOJJeQ04k_tVOTQCDBYPp9ntoKd-vKga9TLpxZ2ysmemI60K7LSZdDuz/s400/2010_C2M_Start.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 287px; width: 400px;" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">(Finally!)</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>The copious rains this year meant that the 3 stream crossings we made were done so with a lot of water flowing past. My shoes got wet while crossing the last one. The runners started to spread out soon. Pretty soon we could see just one light up above us, that of Levi Rizk, which meant that Anil and I were in "second" place. We soon reached the top and began the long 7-mile downhill that would lead us into the first Aid Station, Sisar, at 11 miles. Anil and I enjoyed this long section since it gave us a chance to open out our legs. There were a few streams in the last few miles before the AS and my feet got soaked again in one of them.<br />
<br />
The AS finally arrived. I quickly downed a chocolate milk and put the other one in my backpack for the long climb up to the next AS, Topa. Anil and I were out of there in less than 7-8 minutes.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Sisar ===> Topa</span><br />
It was about a half mile from the Sisar AS that we met Dean Dyatt and Andy Boyd. Dean had found Anil's cell phone along the trail while Andy had found Anil's blue bandana. How amazing that they had spotted these objects in the dark! Anil and I thanked them and resumed our climb, marveling at how amazing it was that they had found them.<br />
<br />
This climb is interminably long and it gets steeper the further up one goes. We soon passed the point where we had made a right turn to go down to the Sisar AS. Now the trail got steeper and narrower. We kept plugging away at the slope relentlessly. Up above us we could see the occasional flash of Levi's headlamp. He looked like he was way up high and we wondered about how far the AS really was!<br />
<br />
I started remembering parts of the trail from last year and came to the section where George Ruiz had passed me on the trail in 2009. I remembered that the AS had come up quite soon after George had gone past. Sure enough we reached the AS a scant 15-20 minutes later.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v5s8pSJAnlD_AKL8NI0Qm1buzyfRdOUSWG-k8nEqjXZ6kk-ixtMt5Fb2r7i5JdSg8hPRIUwbq1IqTh_WJZG2NKDZ_8sQffCFYgtt4sYDsCugJAELiV4AsKe8L1foVzElKUn1/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Atop_Topa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449671275864877122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v5s8pSJAnlD_AKL8NI0Qm1buzyfRdOUSWG-k8nEqjXZ6kk-ixtMt5Fb2r7i5JdSg8hPRIUwbq1IqTh_WJZG2NKDZ_8sQffCFYgtt4sYDsCugJAELiV4AsKe8L1foVzElKUn1/s400/2010_C2M_Atop_Topa.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(In the Topa AS)<br />
<br />
It was cold up here. The volunteers, however, were so warm and helpful that it took our minds off the cold. I had a chocolate milk here again and Anil and I left almost right away to begin the short but very steep climb to the top of Topa. The entire trail had been covered with snow in 2008 (Steve Ansell told me this last year) while only the top of Topa showed snow in 2009. This year we hardly saw any snow. The steepness was unchanged but the absence of the snow let us follow the narrow trail that switchbacked its way up the cliff. On the way up I noticed something glinting iff to the side of the trail. It was 3 spent 30-06 cartridges! Anil promptly put them safely in his pocket.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">Saturday, Mar 6</span><br />
The top had a little bench on the side of which there was a talking head and a deck of cards. As instructed, I pressed the button to activate the talking head. "My head hurts ..." came the nasal voice, marring the idyllic silence atop the 6800 foot Topa cliff. Anil and I switched off our lights and sat on the bench for 45 seconds enjoying the expansive view below us and taking in the beauty of our lovely planet. Then it was time to get back to the race.<br />
<br />
Our descent was done relatively fast. We met a bunch of our fellow starters on the climb. We met Wendell Doman in the AS. He was about to tackle the Topa climb. That meant that he was just 3-4 miles behind us. He had started a full 2 hours after us! These people are so talented!!<br />
<br />
We did not linger too long here again. We ate some solid food (cheese quesadillas) and set off for the long 6.3 mile trek down to Rose Valley.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Topa ==> Rose Valley</span><br />
This stretch is actually the one I like the least in C2M. It has unsure footing along the way added to a pronounced camber in some sections. Nonetheless Anil and I made good time reaching the bottom of the descent. The next couple of miles wound their way uphill and then past a few stream crossings to the Rose Valley AS. This was the first of 2 visits to this AS (at mile 21). The next one would be around mile 45 or so.<br />
<br />
Marie Boyd (Andy Boyd's wife), the RD of the Bishop 50M race, was here waiting for Andy to show up. She was so very helpful! In fact, she was there at every AS I went to after Rose Valley and it was sheer pleasure to interact with her. Her calm and very helpful demeanor made for a very comforting experience all through the race. The tape on my toes had started to come off because of all the stream crossing. I spent 5 minutes sitting in a chair getting rid of all the tape. Mari was kind enough to offer me some Hydropel. After drinking my usual chocolate milk, Anil and I set out to begin the climb back up to the Topa AS. It was starting to get cold the further up we went. I was looking forward to the night ending and the Sun making its appearance.<br />
<br />
We reached Topa around 6:30 a.m. It was very, very cold up there on the summit and I was in awe of the volunteers who had braved the cold all night helping runners with their race. Anil and I ate some more food, warmed up a bit by the fire and then left the fire to make the long trek down and then up to the Ridge on the way to the Ridge Junction AS.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Topa ==> Ridge Junction AS</span><br />
The Sun's appearance had chased away Hypnos (Roman God was Somnus) and his hordes. We were eager to press on and get to Ridge Junction as early as possible. It would be great, as I told Anil, to start the long descent to Cozy Dell, with some light left.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8u1gEbrJfwrSdjqeA4bJXYLctkgvIhXey9ThIzXbKLxIcbcQ0rvcj9VD3vU_45cHbzRyEGgbJPUGhSgHRISFnKgzDKMhT0Pe6xloFFdzI-doJOKmE1k_LubJE8kaizJE67CX/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_AS_Mile_41.7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448003307653981266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8u1gEbrJfwrSdjqeA4bJXYLctkgvIhXey9ThIzXbKLxIcbcQ0rvcj9VD3vU_45cHbzRyEGgbJPUGhSgHRISFnKgzDKMhT0Pe6xloFFdzI-doJOKmE1k_LubJE8kaizJE67CX/s400/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_AS_Mile_41.7.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Coming into the Ridge Junction AS)<br />
<br />
I remember passing the point where the Horn Canyon trail meets the Ridge (the 4 mile point at the beginning of our race; many hours ago!) at 8:18 a.m. We soon reached the Ridge Junction AS around 8:45 a.m. Andy Kumeda and Fred Ecks were there along with a few other volunteers. Nattu rolled in here right behind us. I was very impressed - he had started 2 hours behind us and caught up around mile 42.<br />
<br />
Anil and I ate a quesadilla each and left after thanking the amazing volunteers.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Ridge Junction AS ==> Rose Valley</span><br />
A couple of miles after the AS, Anil had to answer the call of Nature (I had gone around 6:45 a.m.). It was while I was waiting for him to finish that I spotted a familiar figure - Martin Casado. He, Anil and I now formed a triumvirate that made our way along the ridge. It started to rain now. The rain soon turned to sleet and soft snow. It was so beautiful. Before we knew it, we were at the turnoff that went down to the Rose Valley AS.<br />
<br />
This is one of the steepest descents, and ascents, in the C2M 100M race. Martin had problems descending. The top of his foot, where the ankle meets the leg, was tight and hurting badly. Anil, who is a very strong runner, took off here like a hare and disappeared from sight. Martin and I gingerly made our way down the fire road. Soon Martin was a few hundred yards behind me. It had started to rain by now. I rolled into the AS and promptly sat down to eat a quesadilla and drink my chocolate milk. Martin came in and one of the volunteers was kind enough to offer him the use of her Stick. Diane Vlach, Peggy Davidson and Diane Vlach came in soon after. The 3 of us left very soon after.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Rose Valley ==> Howard Creek</span><br />
It was on the climb out of the Rose Valley AS that Martin flirted with the idea of dropping out of the race. His plan was to get to the Howard Creek AS but he was not sure if his sister would be there to give him a ride back. Being an ultra runner (= nutty, like all of us) he decided that he wanted to get at least 60 miles in that day before quitting. His plan now changed to traveling the 9 miles back to school from the top of the climb. We soon parted ways - he went off to the left while we took the right turn towards Gridley Top. It was here that the rain, which had caressed our skin until now, became a horizontal force transformed into sleet and snow. Anil and I were now walking along the ridge, hunkered up against the cold and the driving sleet but still enjoying this adventure of adventures, looking for the turnoff to Howard Creek. After a long descent the turnoff finally showed up.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHTzTIaubk0gy73w0PTx1zxW7AtGXuee_u85mdzbLdpPEiF06vhvNYqEqhaq0DNwNzt6Nbi0MjUjRJr_Tc_aYNbz5B3zYrxqEuOKb61z6COnl2vw9JHr8GcGQc9dpvcGLAjBI/s1600-h/IMG_0633.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448006634717107186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHTzTIaubk0gy73w0PTx1zxW7AtGXuee_u85mdzbLdpPEiF06vhvNYqEqhaq0DNwNzt6Nbi0MjUjRJr_Tc_aYNbz5B3zYrxqEuOKb61z6COnl2vw9JHr8GcGQc9dpvcGLAjBI/s400/IMG_0633.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
(Running down to the Howard Creek AS. Photo:Glenn Tachiyama)<br />
<br />
The 3 mile trail down to the Howard Creek As is the best trail in the entire C2M race. Eminently runnable with soft earth and a thin carpet of leaves, it was a pleasure to finally open up the legs and let them fly. It was on this descent that Diane, Nancy and Peggy caught up with us. Soon there were 5 of us making our way into the Howard Creek AS.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAKpgzUIEv9yI8WWgjqec1G_pIp2XNxmcoeXn0r6ubpUwlfuduACk8ByqgNx7kN-y3qAvTgCawy6gGCDfXN3flndWasrnKv9sCqB8rIDjYGdKA8R9O-GUpDQy_aItbalIh6js/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Howard_Creek_AS.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449658334391973810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAKpgzUIEv9yI8WWgjqec1G_pIp2XNxmcoeXn0r6ubpUwlfuduACk8ByqgNx7kN-y3qAvTgCawy6gGCDfXN3flndWasrnKv9sCqB8rIDjYGdKA8R9O-GUpDQy_aItbalIh6js/s400/2010_C2M_Howard_Creek_AS.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(With Anil, Diane Vlach and her parents in the Howard Creek AS)<br />
<br />
Somehow our drop bag was missing here. I settled for a quesadilla and some water. Marie Boyd, who was helping Andy in a tent, was kind enough, once again, to give me some Hydropel for my toes. We must have spent about 10 minutes here. I met Diane Vlach's parents. Her friend, Jose, was at all the aid stations and he took a picture of us together.<br />
<br />
It was time to get back on the ridge to start the last two descents, one of which was the longest at 7.7 miles.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Howard Creek ==> Gridley Top</span><br />
The trudge up the trail from the Howard Creek AS went by smoothly. It was not a very steep trail and the footing was secure. The rain hit us a bit once we got to the top but it looked like the worst of it might have passed. We followed the ridge a mile or so down to the Gridley Top AS.<br />
<br />
My initial calculations had us leaving this AS at 4:30 p.m. To our surprise, we reached at 3:40 p.m. and were out of there at 3:51 p.m. I had been telling Anil stories about my battle with the Cozy Dell ascent from last year and he was kind of prepared for this long descent and climb back up to Gridley Top.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Gridley Top ==> Cozy Dell</span><br />
The initial 0.75 miles is a climb and Anil and I manfully trudged up the slope. Then began a mile long descent, we could see the trail forking off from the ridge below and to our left, down the ridge. The views at just past 4 p.m. were sublime. A left turn put us on the trail down to Cozy Dell. I had to stop a half mile down the trail to empty my shoes of the gravel that had gotten in. I could hear the voices of the 3 girls, Nancy, Peggy and Diane, above us as they too joined the descent.<br />
<br />
The next few miles were along a narrow trail that had a few places where the drop off was precipitous. We made our way through those sections gingerly. Very soon we were off the narrow trail and a right turn put us on a broad trail that led to a right turn onto a narrow trail a mile or so later.<br />
<br />
This trail started to get slick underfoot. Very soon we were battling clay mud. This is a surface that is hard to run on. One feels like one is skiing. Mark Swanson, a 2010 C2M 100K finisher, described clay mud as Vaseline on steel.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoitFhL5M-JBdcpXwDdmfCcvQViYSISkI5VJzWOPKazL4z5kBkqEGdjYRmFf23X6XJrcMD9jRUpbzRHY_tikZMAUGSu54juQyWFfe2d_D6VhJNRirGWs67crKeOxgjhCLYu86/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Cozy_Dell_clay_mud.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449677801582143122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoitFhL5M-JBdcpXwDdmfCcvQViYSISkI5VJzWOPKazL4z5kBkqEGdjYRmFf23X6XJrcMD9jRUpbzRHY_tikZMAUGSu54juQyWFfe2d_D6VhJNRirGWs67crKeOxgjhCLYu86/s400/2010_C2M_Cozy_Dell_clay_mud.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Mud near Cozy Dell Photo: Doone Watson)<br />
<br />
The closer we got to the Cozy Dell AS the worse the clay mud got. Numerous were the times when both of us almost overbalanced. I had been telling Anil horror stories of the absolute last section of this trail, the part of the trail that was covered with a lot of rocks and poor footing. In reality, this year, it did not seem as bad.<br />
<br />
We ran into the Cozy Dell AS at around 6:25 p.m. i.e. a 2 hours and 35 minutes after leaving Gridley Top. That was pretty good going I reckoned.<br />
<br />
A couple of the volunteers spent 5 minutes looking for our drop bag which was finally found. Anil, whose heel was hurting, changed into his extra-wide Brooks Addictions and we departed after eating a bit and drinking our respective race drinks (Chocolate milk for me and Ensure for Anil).<br />
<br />
What an ordeal the climb up turned out to be. We soon found out that going UP clay mud was infinitely harder than "skiing" down. I fell at least 3 times as did Anil. My hand bottles were mud covered as were my legs and my hands. We knew that we would have to endure this discomfort for 2 miles, a distance that was sure to take us at least 40 minutes if not more.<br />
<br />
We sucked it up and kept moving forward, all the while warning runners who were going into the AS about the clay mud. Finally the left turn came. We were glad to get out of the muddy section and onto firmer ground albeit one that sloped upwards a tad steeply for a mile. I was a bit ahead of Anil at this time and I would wait for him to catch up. We eventually reached the narrow trail that would take us to the ridge. It was a little bit up this trail, around 8:16 p.m., that Anil urged me to go ahead. He asked me to let Chris Scott know that he was on his way up and would not be very far behind me.<br />
<br />
I felt terrible leaving my buddy behind and did it only because I felt like I could put the hammer down in the next 15-20 miles and ensure my finish since I did not see myself returning next year.<br />
<br />
I left Anil behind and settled into a fast pace up the hill. I reached the ridge at 9:00 p.m. or so. It was very cold up there. A half mile into the mile long climb and my right hand was feeling intensely cold. I decided to put my hand bottle in my open jacket pocket, the flashlight in my mouth and run with my fists pressed into my butt to keep them warm. I only managed this for a half mile but I lost my bottle in the process. Never mind.<br />
<br />
It was an extremely cold, hypothermic and wet Rajeev who reached the Gridley Top AS at 9:45 p.m. I promptly asked Chris and Luis Escobar if they had spare gloves.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-XEDe6FfaBM0_n_ubd492IiZ7ZhvLvTrvUXGW1WFB8nA-_sfXLi8bmTogX20OAxjWIsuptbJshQbWTVrDP84A9v4dXh5haR3_E2AA_FNCXBroCbN8QipKW2ktAW3aMV0FNAK/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Gridley_Top_After_Cozy_Dell.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449658425354319202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-XEDe6FfaBM0_n_ubd492IiZ7ZhvLvTrvUXGW1WFB8nA-_sfXLi8bmTogX20OAxjWIsuptbJshQbWTVrDP84A9v4dXh5haR3_E2AA_FNCXBroCbN8QipKW2ktAW3aMV0FNAK/s400/2010_C2M_Gridley_Top_After_Cozy_Dell.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 224px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Talking to Chris Scott and Luis Escobar in the Gridley Top AS)<br />
<br />
I took off my jacket, my T-shirt and my base layer to put on a fresh base layer that had been in my backpack. To my disappointment, that base layer was wet too. I decided to put on my wet clothes and get out of the AS as soon as I could. Sue Johnston, Chris Scott's wife, was a darling! She loaned me a pair of her dry gloves. They made the last 25 miles of the race so easy for me. Thank you, Sue. A big hug to you too. :-)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Gridley Top ==> Gridley Bottom</span><br />
The descent got warmer the lower I went but I also got sleepier. So much so that, 38 minutes into my descent (10:38 p.m.) I sat down in the middle of the trail and dozed for 5 minutes. I got up, swallowed a caffeine tablet and started the descent again. The caffeine kicked in in about 10 minutes and the rest of the descent was uneventful. Negotiating the crazy rocks during the last 0.75 miles of this descent was not pretty. My whole body jarred with every step from rock to trail or onto another rock.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold;">Sunday, Mar 7</span><br />
The Rajeev caravan rolled into the Gridley Bottom AS at around 12:30 a.m.<br />
<br />
I had someone call Chris to find out about Anil. I was glad to learn that he had left Gridley Top at 11:09 p.m. to make his way down to Gridley Bottom. I was very happy to hear that.<br />
<br />
I drank a chocolate milk, took out Anil's Lake Sonoma 50M jacket from the drop bag and put it on under my T-shirt and sat down by the big, warm fire to doze for 15 minutes. Sleep was not easy to come by so I finally got up and left that AS around 12:55 a.m.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Gridley Bottom ==> Gridley Top</span><br />
The 3 NorCal girls soon passed me on their way into the AS. 5 minutes later I felt an intense urge to answer the call of Mother Nature. That took me a good 10 minutes and I remember starting the journey up around 1:25 a.m. Feeling infinitely better, I settled down into a fair pace and a good rhythm. I came to the point during my descent where the trail had taken a sharp right turn. It was a left turn on the way up. I was not more than 50 minutes from the top. With about a mile or a mile and a half to the AS, it came into view. It kept showing up every now and then, getting closer but at a terribly slow pace! Sleep was starting to crowd my brain once more.<br />
<br />
It was such a relief to stroll into the AS and promptly lie down on a sleeping bag provided by Luis Escobar. He was kind enough to cover me with his blanket. It was 3:27 a.m. when I closed my eyes to try and sleep. It was 3:50 a.m. when I got my butt off the floor and it was 3:54 a.m. when I began the long 8 mile hike to the Ridge Junction AS.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Gridley Top ==> Ridge Junction AS</span><br />
I was cold though not as much as last year when I had started at pretty much the same time (3:55 a.m. this year compared to 3:30 a.m. last year). It had been bitterly cold last year but this year was just perfect. The snow covered the entire ridge. I could see a long ling of footsteps snaking their way up into the darkness. Walking on fresh snow is slow so I opted to step in the footsteps of those who had gone by earlier. Time and again I would use my flashlight to scan the ridge ahead and would still find it climbing up.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJcfDXfSf3e9idDUrIJjmcSKoA_v77OhT1957P0aw5TuD5ekvITKht3IKAQAa3FqHRv2iMwKavxlVEK2eC5nCXZHVKcPr5Perg9-PnjMxKRkdms9JQkAm3UBxOvbx_wV3Hfak/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Wintry_Conditions.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449678075981925586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJcfDXfSf3e9idDUrIJjmcSKoA_v77OhT1957P0aw5TuD5ekvITKht3IKAQAa3FqHRv2iMwKavxlVEK2eC5nCXZHVKcPr5Perg9-PnjMxKRkdms9JQkAm3UBxOvbx_wV3Hfak/s400/2010_C2M_Wintry_Conditions.jpg" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Wintry conditions Photo: Doone Watson)<br />
<br />
A few times I stopped, bent over because breathing was a bit hard for me, like it had been many times in the past 87+ miles. The beautiful views to the right of me, of Ojai and beyond, acted as a palliative for my struggles with the snow. I thought of my Dad, orphaned when he was 8 or 9, struggling to make it in this world (make it he did - big time!!). This struggle was nothing compared to what he had faced. My spirits lightened and I came back into the moment, as I had been through much of the race. I stopped wondering about how much more I had to climb and focused instead on finding the right footsteps to put my feet into.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsslB6MFoCpIslTVKsvxLLgfsEE0ALDRThIOAae0TwrKTDX3nXvyMoNpGfoAoYRsDJ0p1a3OEcFzbJlKw0j9zO7eOHKfPMSDi40A50FiO0fDSIJjsaUaHaCOXpaIPy35Q9LkHr/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_AS.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448003894851470722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsslB6MFoCpIslTVKsvxLLgfsEE0ALDRThIOAae0TwrKTDX3nXvyMoNpGfoAoYRsDJ0p1a3OEcFzbJlKw0j9zO7eOHKfPMSDi40A50FiO0fDSIJjsaUaHaCOXpaIPy35Q9LkHr/s400/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_AS.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(The beautiful views that greeted the early morning mind)<br />
<br />
Before I knew it, I had crested the 1.5 mile long climb up from the Gridley Top AS and now faced a rolling course back to Ridge Junction. The sky was getting a bit more blue and the snow covered ridge was beautiful. I had been seeing lights behind me the past 0.5 mile and they belonged to a male and female runner who passed me on the rolling section. I stopped to pee and had a bit of fun making an interesting pattern on the pristine snow.<br />
<br />
I soon caught up with the two runners again. The lady was kind enough to give me a Honey Stinger chew. It tasted pretty good at 6:00 a.m. I fell in step behind them and, looking around me, realized that we must be pretty close to the AS. So close that I was truly shocked when it suddenly showed up in front of me.<br />
<br />
It was 6:30 a.m. It had taken me 2 hours and 35 minutes to cover the 8 miles from Grifley Top to Ridge Junction, a pace of just under 20 minutes a mile. Not bad I thought to myself.<br />
<br />
Incredibly enough, Fred Ecks and Andy Kumeda and another volunteer were still up and smiling when I came in. I had my water bottle filled, grabbed a chocolate covered macadamia and headed for the Finish after thanking them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9e4UAijREBqn2YMAXbGfIQiYrsz2UC8ykawjJD11NTplGDA3cnoyXyU9T5E7RVIn3dL15DHvXcyz95maUJiVoI_IWphaj5xg4tAKb3FR6ssiu6yYwWKIt0l5lAkj7l3ewKhK/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_Mile_95.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448005031713360050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9e4UAijREBqn2YMAXbGfIQiYrsz2UC8ykawjJD11NTplGDA3cnoyXyU9T5E7RVIn3dL15DHvXcyz95maUJiVoI_IWphaj5xg4tAKb3FR6ssiu6yYwWKIt0l5lAkj7l3ewKhK/s400/2010_C2M_Ridge_Junction_Mile_95.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
(In the Ridge Junction AS at 6:30 a.m.)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-weight: bold;">Ridge Junction ==> Thacher School a.k.a Finish</span><br />
The right turn onto the Horn Canyon trail came up at about 6:50 a.m. There was snow for the first 0.7 miles and the going was slow. The snow soon disappeared but the rocks and the steepness did not! I had to step this way and that just to get good footing. It was here that the top part of my foot, where it meets the leg, started hurting. I had to be careful now - I did not want to worsen it. I kept plugging away and eventually reached the point in the trail where I could hear a stream below me. A few 100M/100K runners passed me here making the descent look easy compared to my labored one.<br />
<br />
I was finally at the bottom I clearly remembered this section from last year. Andi Ramer and I had made it to the Finish line around the same time and that memory was crystal clear in my mind while the realization was also there that I was making a new one today.<br />
<br />
Beat Jegerlehner passed me with two stream crossings and 0.7 miles to go to the Finish. I too started running once I got past the 2 streams and found myself chucking my backpack and green jacket on the grass as I made the obligatory run around the soccer field to finally reach the "Finish" at around 8:25 a.m. for a race time of 38:25.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mgShs9FlisTXcqfV-5lE7iTDpKSR4lnvnD8Kh_CF9_fQJm9Ps2kyaHIADd1KbP_uyeAytr0oeU1mahMyj6aueVX2nmWTwiVn9w4CxrWVW033dOwL_glUNyKVNDYpL4V28LW6/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Finish_4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448005733902901010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mgShs9FlisTXcqfV-5lE7iTDpKSR4lnvnD8Kh_CF9_fQJm9Ps2kyaHIADd1KbP_uyeAytr0oeU1mahMyj6aueVX2nmWTwiVn9w4CxrWVW033dOwL_glUNyKVNDYpL4V28LW6/s400/2010_C2M_Finish_4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Finish at last! Photo: Stan Jensen)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y4lAzcorjPGcA8C7RRr-NUJqxD0J8Pg8in4YWmwnwjGuzYWBAqf-9krzIeG-80nmk39EW1SMmecAVxiUKbbfDpJ2LOswSVqty4PTvfOidZxdjYc2S-9jmbDilxsE74REgnA_/s1600-h/2010_C2M_Finish_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449671673106827554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y4lAzcorjPGcA8C7RRr-NUJqxD0J8Pg8in4YWmwnwjGuzYWBAqf-9krzIeG-80nmk39EW1SMmecAVxiUKbbfDpJ2LOswSVqty4PTvfOidZxdjYc2S-9jmbDilxsE74REgnA_/s400/2010_C2M_Finish_2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
(Hugging Anil after the finish)<br />
<br />
I was happy. I had finally completed this brute of a race. Funnily enough, it had not seemed as hard this time around as it had last year.<br />
<br />
Will I go back next year to run it? As of today, the answer is No. I want to volunteer instead. As many hours as I can physically manage. It will be wonderful to help someone else achieve their dream of finishing this hard, hard race.<br />
<br />
I was bummed to find out, after the race, that Anil had stopped at mile 81 (Gridley Bottom). Nonetheless, he knew best what he had to do and if stopping was the decision, so be it. Good luck to him the next time he does this race. I am very confident that he WILL finish.<br />
<br />
Chris Scott is a fantastic RD. I love his sense of humor and the approach he has to running. His volunteers must love him a lot to brave the blizzard conditions atop the ridge for hours and hours while helping us. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You folks ROCK!!!Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-6465406066951142072009-11-02T16:42:00.000-08:002010-10-18T16:13:24.501-07:00Jappy Jours in Javelina Jundred<div>Race: Javelina Jundred 100M race</div>Date: Oct 31 - Nov 1, 2009<div>Location: Fountain Hills, AZ</div><div>Time: 28:36:59</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Having my feet taped in the pre-dawn chill,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Mulling over the long miles up ahead.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">And then we are off, soon snaking uphill,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">And soon the sweat moistening the forehead.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">The pink glow on the distant mountain peaks</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Soon will light up the dusty, rocky trail.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Soon the morn sky adorned with orange streaks.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Soon the Sun shows, our wills to soon assail.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Slow steps forward through the heat of the day,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Heart gladdened by the sight of wild horses;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Be present, the Finish is far away,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">And watch the smiles on the passing faces.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Night passes; the new morn brings new purpose:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Time to run fast to the victor's dais.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Race pictures: <a href="http://rajeevtherunner.smugmug.com/Other/2009-Javelina-Jundred/10184937_2yyoK#701248008_4aHzX">http://rajeevtherunner.smugmug.com/Other/2009-Javelina-Jundred/10184937_2yyoK#701248008_4aHzX</a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the most fun and, may I say, comfortable 100 mile races I have ever done. My blood sugar stayed constant pretty much all through the race and I was able to run as fast as I wanted to in the last 15 miles.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Friday, Oct 30</span></b></div><div>I took a 5:30 p.m. flight from SFO to Phoenix and, after picking up my Hertz rental, I was in the Comfort Inn in Fountain Hills by 8:45 p.m. I decided to go to a grocery store to pick up a few supplies like bread, PB and water.</div><div><br /></div><div>I met Dave Combs outside in the parking lot and he directed me to a Safeway a mile and a half away. I was back in 30 minutes and spent the next 30-40 minutes making my drop bags. I finally lay down on the bed at 11:00 p.m. having set the alarm for 3:00 a.m. My intention was to reach race Jeadquarters by 4:15 a.m. in order to (a) get my toes taped and (b) pick up my bib#.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fugitive was showing on TV and I could not resist watching it. I reluctantly switched off the boob tube at midnight and dozed off.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Saturday, Oct 31</span></b></div><div>I was up at 3:00 a.m. and quickly showered and had a quick breakfast of chocolate milk and a bagel with PB. I parked my car in the JJ Jeadquarters parking lot, picked up my bib# and goodie bag, put them in the car and went to get my feet taped. It was chilly and I was shivering a bit while the taping was done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZVpGoJ-bAbeCAwIYsATTE_kTrYLtP92OO_T-0nGrjnVDWJXbUR1sq9HZw1ZmaWRXR6Nu7D5SkXyy7nG6PgME9D8wpngaWXw2Wj4zfe6FtfqMHY0UPvAuhkfpn2Vn_VsB8BSa/s1600-h/701629962_hBDYe-L.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZVpGoJ-bAbeCAwIYsATTE_kTrYLtP92OO_T-0nGrjnVDWJXbUR1sq9HZw1ZmaWRXR6Nu7D5SkXyy7nG6PgME9D8wpngaWXw2Wj4zfe6FtfqMHY0UPvAuhkfpn2Vn_VsB8BSa/s400/701629962_hBDYe-L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400440160653573890" /></a><br />(Al taping my feet)<br /><br />Al, from Kachina Rescue, did a great job of the taping. He was fascinated by the fact that I was planning to run the entire race without socks. I had already run the Dick Collins 50M sans socks and so knew where my hotspots were and the taping pretty much took care of them the entire way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was back in the car at 5:00 a.m. I turned on the engine and the heater while I pinned my bib to my shorts. I tried to doze for 20 minutes but the constant glare of passing headlights made it hard to come by. I finally gave up and left the warm confines of the car and stepped out into the cold to go look for Diane Forrest. We had planned to run together.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uEBnEqFhDDZY_uaFlSyeYkQ34LTkfn76FjePKoY7g1r3TMdCWhsLyI6gmxkBDBquBirwtVudTlKRJ-nhlCo-WE39JHxHaTO6nzDuM2Zy3qDFNtFhZJOb9IBrnIsH2CLU2twO/s1600-h/DSCN2800.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uEBnEqFhDDZY_uaFlSyeYkQ34LTkfn76FjePKoY7g1r3TMdCWhsLyI6gmxkBDBquBirwtVudTlKRJ-nhlCo-WE39JHxHaTO6nzDuM2Zy3qDFNtFhZJOb9IBrnIsH2CLU2twO/s400/DSCN2800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400440929561619938" /></a><br />(Sandy (L) and Diane)<br /><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IEGnkmNFEd8UmUNdoOvLhmPCGXIQ2DuxDmoyVFvBfS8wC2U0ZtlZ445AwKeWa-UfZHLf0BJ0j28ZPkyo5GL285VXUx_gm7lHdtf6EdQCwk9yA0r7PZDI0ZstIhFCdeWY-GPp/s400/DSCN2798.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400440485743254354" /></div><div>(My buddies Phil Rosenstein (L) and Donn Ozaki)</div><div><br /></div><div>I met her namesake, Diane Vlach, Dean Dyatt, Steve Ansell, Dan Marinsik, Jakob Hermann, Donn Ozaki, Phil Rosenstein and a host of other familiar faces. I finally found Diane at the back with her friend Sandy Baker. Both Diane and Sandy were attempting their first 100M race but did not look nervous. </div><div><br /></div><div>Very soon the runners were off and Diane and I noticed that it took us almost 55 seconds to step on the starting mat (we were being timed using a transponder that went round the ankle). The first loop was clockwise so we veered off to the left. The first 5-8 minutes I encouraged Sandy and Diane to walk. We started running a half mile or so after the Start and continued until we hit the first climb. It was not steep but it did take us a few hundred feet above the desert floor.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pink glow rimming the distant mountain tops had bloomed into shades of orange and red and we knew that we were in for a toasty day ahead. On top of the climb, the trail leveled off gradually and then began a gentle climb all the way to the first AS. We could see the long line of runners snaking off into the distance.</div><div><br /></div><div>That first AS, Coyote Creek, soon came into view and we were in and out of there quite quickly. Sandy had run this loop earlier in the year, in September, during the 12-Hr training run that Jamil and Nick Coury had organized for the benefit of JJ100 participants. </div><div><br /></div><div>My arm warmers were the first to come off. My jacket followed later. The headlamp had been safely tucked into my waist pouch long ago. Diane, Sandy and I made our way at an easy pace towards the next AS, Jackass Junction, which was one of 2 drop bag Aid Stations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6eQdi7Tss75FWOtg1FFcEGadYdyau-Trb6CnkvmGhJwBn5vRkiJg4IhtlndkEn8F1KMRfrkJ8hFcWy0qFKUWKBcisNlLM96kWnTm3XoyE-UBtscQFudeXgSsW8TIfWdQCkmZ/s1600-h/DSCN2816.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6eQdi7Tss75FWOtg1FFcEGadYdyau-Trb6CnkvmGhJwBn5vRkiJg4IhtlndkEn8F1KMRfrkJ8hFcWy0qFKUWKBcisNlLM96kWnTm3XoyE-UBtscQFudeXgSsW8TIfWdQCkmZ/s400/DSCN2816.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400441521650687058" /></a><br />(With Jody van Zanten (L) and Jean Ho)<br /><br />A mile or so before the AS we saw homes on the left and even remarked about the wonderful sun deck one of the homes had. To our utter delight we came round a bend and saw 3-4 wild mustangs cantering off to our right. I quickly took a couple of pictures of these magnificent beasts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M0V32ZU5ohlWQbRB-mWlMJuwEOZ_rKEGCAp2E2Mh0njzsLlRwUUnKg0ng12DSMMYJx61SazcptXkALn2bDJ01SLl_NHK8hRGLZ8dJxt1JgUa7klO3lNRA8oQ8IX_fSwxiNVb/s1600-h/DSCN2821.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M0V32ZU5ohlWQbRB-mWlMJuwEOZ_rKEGCAp2E2Mh0njzsLlRwUUnKg0ng12DSMMYJx61SazcptXkALn2bDJ01SLl_NHK8hRGLZ8dJxt1JgUa7klO3lNRA8oQ8IX_fSwxiNVb/s400/DSCN2821.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400441840588509554" /></a><br />(Dave James giving the horses a run for their money)<br /><br />The eventual winner, Dave James, passed us going the other way. I was awestruck. We were at 10 miles while he was already at 24-25 miles 3 hours into the race! (he ran the first 2 loops in 3:53 and the entire race in 14:20, breaking the previous CR, held by Karl Meltzer, by over an hour!!!).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYgJ3Gb5A750V7fQNbvYNuHnK6DgFZPLE0Ox9-TDpAXckfqVFeUk78rHcBZqz3MzqThe2Bp3fTaOXhZhjZ0t6a90w2q55tNoRbYfU3OoKhpL9MiNd0NSe8sSIicXyZVknaOjB/s1600-h/699706400_92uWf-L.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYgJ3Gb5A750V7fQNbvYNuHnK6DgFZPLE0Ox9-TDpAXckfqVFeUk78rHcBZqz3MzqThe2Bp3fTaOXhZhjZ0t6a90w2q55tNoRbYfU3OoKhpL9MiNd0NSe8sSIicXyZVknaOjB/s400/699706400_92uWf-L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400441204801845826" /></a><br />(The early miles)<br /><br /></div><div>We left the Jackass Junction rather quickly. I refreshed my Cytomax bottle and downed a small chocolate milk.</div><div><br /></div><div>The section between Jackass and race Jeadquarters seemed easier than the first 10 miles and we ran across the timing mat for the second time that day in 3:36. I quickly went to my drop bag</div><div>and drank some chocolate milk and picked up additional gels while dumping my jacket and arm warmers into the bag.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second loop was to be run counter-clockwise. This was the first time I was doing a 100M race that had more than 2 loops and was looking forward to finding out how easy/tough the "washing machine" loops would eventually prove to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>The sun was definitely warmer by now so I made sure I got some ice in my Cool Off bandana from here on out. It was fun seeing other runners, they were the front runners obviously, going the other way. We got to see all of the fleet of foot ones - Bev Anderson-Abbs (the women's winner), Jorge Pacheco. I met Sean Luitjens a few times. Jakob Hermann and Dan Marinsik showed up eventually. Steve Ansell, Craig Slagel, Craig Heinselman and a few other friends had already gone the other way looking strong. </div><div><br /></div><div>Somehow the counter-clockwise direction felt a tad tougher. We rolled through the Aid Stations one by one and eventually found ourselves back in JJ Jeadquarters to cross the timing mat for the third time. We had done the 2nd loop in a more conservative 4:14.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKXEjEfviDKWUK8l7G8yBLJN2FVVOXtMEA3An0dCpH1E5lgusPb4eI13yMaka9rZdDdjSr4Pv-11JE1mUZ8ptvpyAu2DzZu-G5oPXlr-ok935uxmwdcL7eAWTKIA63K6sVfx/s1600-h/End_Of_Second_Loop.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKXEjEfviDKWUK8l7G8yBLJN2FVVOXtMEA3An0dCpH1E5lgusPb4eI13yMaka9rZdDdjSr4Pv-11JE1mUZ8ptvpyAu2DzZu-G5oPXlr-ok935uxmwdcL7eAWTKIA63K6sVfx/s400/End_Of_Second_Loop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400713473036931122" /></a><br />(End of the second loop)<br /><br />Off we went into the 3rd loop, clockwise again, with food in our bellies and ice in our bandanas. It was almost 2 p.m. when we started and I asked Diane and Sandy to walk for the next 2 hours or so.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58tI-UAyP6sMaPBRlvkw3AESphVAU4JYlX4AShyDnbiGjC95wQTFjrj6VFdQBg9cdV7kIqSicE8zXywsgo5f_jbXInmNj3l1kl-2UaLz5QyxxlPzqONlJtAZCt6gWIPN89Yuf/s1600-h/DSCN2850.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58tI-UAyP6sMaPBRlvkw3AESphVAU4JYlX4AShyDnbiGjC95wQTFjrj6VFdQBg9cdV7kIqSicE8zXywsgo5f_jbXInmNj3l1kl-2UaLz5QyxxlPzqONlJtAZCt6gWIPN89Yuf/s400/DSCN2850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400442682606238002" /></a><br />(The eponymous fountain in Fountain Hills)<br /><br />That walking saved us from being overly ravaged by the 3 - 4 p.m. heat and we savored the gradual cooling down on the other side of 4:30 p.m. The loop was uneventful.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anu and Raj had landed in Phoenix around 4:30 p.m. and I asked them to drive straight to the race instead of going to the hotel. They were waiting for us when we reached the end of the loop, 46.4 miles down, at 6:11 p.m. Sandy, Diane and I hit the restrooms and then our drop bags in order to get into warmer clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took off my shoes to check on the taping and noticed that some of the toes were starting to have their taping fray at the edges. Having another 54 miles to cover, I decided to spend a few minutes having the taping redone. The few minutes actually became more than 30 minutes! It was around 7:10 p.m. or so that Anu, Raj and I set off on Loop 4 (counter-clockwise). They were both happy to be moving and we had a blast talking up a storm. Anu had come down with the express purpose of evaluating the course to see if she would want to run it next year (as of today her answer is No). Nonetheless she had fun running at night. </div><div><br /></div><div>The 3 of us walked a lot of the first 10 miles. I then decided to run up the hills in order to use a different set of muscles and give the hammies some rest. We had caught up with Dan Marinsik around 53 miles into the race and he was with us for another mile or so before we left him on the way to the Coyote Creek AS (mile 55 or so). Anu was initially reluctant about eating in the AS for fear of not leaving enough for other runner but was reassured when I told her that pacers were more than welcome to the food. She had a slice of a bean burrito as did I. We eventually completed the loop around 11:00 p.m., in about 4 hours. Anu and Raj quickly got me a few burritos and soup. I got into slightly warmer clothes, picked up a spare headlamp and left around 11:30 a.m. Anu and Raj went back to the hotel to get some sleep. They were planning to come back, to pace me for the last 10 miles, around 8:45 a.m.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiGDCw_bKICYzDv9Vg4Ubv07U0_soXmPDcItwnIArrZIK5dHwaZS_n_TFjwucx8kM6vnWBRRwHa5gsBwCed8RNgRDzNoNLBiMPV4rrclp5LmjBj4beYCjLyCBWRKCPQPRUb0f/s1600-h/DSCN2868.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiGDCw_bKICYzDv9Vg4Ubv07U0_soXmPDcItwnIArrZIK5dHwaZS_n_TFjwucx8kM6vnWBRRwHa5gsBwCed8RNgRDzNoNLBiMPV4rrclp5LmjBj4beYCjLyCBWRKCPQPRUb0f/s400/DSCN2868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400718461492079282" /></a><br />(Getting ready to start Loop 5 after being paced by Anu and Raj in Loop 4)<br /><br /></div><div>The next loop, number 5, was one where I ran not a single step! I know not why but I could not run more than 2 steps! Strange feeling. I decided to surrender and walk since that was what each moment was bringing into my life. I had switched off my headlamp 30 minutes into the loop and went through the night section relying on moonlight. </div><div><br /></div><div>4 hrs and 35 minutes is what that loop took me. The Aid Stations in the loop had some cold bean burrito slices that I ate with relish while downing chocolate milk. Once back in JJ Jeadquarters, I quickly used the restroom before starting loop 6.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first 8.5 miles of this counter-clockwise loop went pretty much the same way as the 15.5 miles of the previous loop - I could not run.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dawn had broken by now and I stowed my headlamp in my jacket pocket. All through the night I had moved up small slopes into warm air and down small dips into cooler air. Other runners remarked after the race that they had felt cold at night. I felt comfortable and enjoyed being alone in the darkness. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was just before Jackass Junction, at around mile 82, that I was passed by a woman runner who was going at a pretty good clip. I found out later that it was Ling-ru, the 2008 RDL 100M women's winner. She was pacing Sandy Baker. I finally caught up with Sandy about a half mile before the Jackass Junction AS. I sat down in a chair to down my chocolate milk and eat something while Sandy and Ling-ru just breezed through. I eventually got up and continued on my way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Daylight was upon us and I was glad to be able to see off into the distance once again.</div><div><br /></div><div>A male runner soon passed me followed by 2 women, dressed in costume. I watched them go up a couple of hills and wished them good luck. I looked at my watch and it showed 6:50 a.m. Did I want to walk the rest of the race? No came the answer. This is where I "commanded" my brain to find me fresh resources in order to finish the race sooner. Oh boy! Did it ever find me resources!! I took 2 steps running, around the 86 mile mark, and did not stop running until I had reached the end of the loop, at mile 92.8. This was the most powerful I have ever felt in the end of a race. The running was effortless, whether going uphill or downhill, and the breathing easy and controlled. I passed the male runner and the 2 women runners and then a host of runners making their way to the end of the loop.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWulKbqHYqU4AAG4h74b5XdLLrR3QMpAJAEmN9o7TKmqdDvPqigXOcaLqzBz63XyVm-hGf-VJiyXPzA0HMoKVwxWwcKhYAH9E63GbwzhrF7PwkACYBru6DdKalEBPsqg-0A1G/s1600-h/701636541_b6rsv-L.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWulKbqHYqU4AAG4h74b5XdLLrR3QMpAJAEmN9o7TKmqdDvPqigXOcaLqzBz63XyVm-hGf-VJiyXPzA0HMoKVwxWwcKhYAH9E63GbwzhrF7PwkACYBru6DdKalEBPsqg-0A1G/s400/701636541_b6rsv-L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400717885021662562" /></a><br />(Turning on the afterburners)<br /><br /></div><div>It must have been a mile and a half before the end of the loop that I passed Diane Forrest and Jennifer Blake, her pacer. I complimented them on their great form and moved as fast as I could towards the end where Raj was waiting to pace me the last 8.6 miles. In and out I went of Jeadquarters. I walked with Raj for half a mile and then decided to turn on the "jets" once again. Up the hill we went, passing admiring runners (they said as much), and continued running all the way to the Coyote Creek AS for the final time in the race. We had my bottle filled up with cold water and were shown the Tonto Trail for our last 3.7 miles back. The Tonto Trail was a gentle decline all the way back to its intersection with the Pemberton Trail which is the name of the 15.4 mile loop I had run 6 times earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxWYAa5bGPe2rGneYmwksjV-w_ojpaaM9hiQmjCbnmYOGHbqKNmGXp908oGCjLCMyGZsvT8Ad1lzDp7KzdnspvJqzoxO8yDUa6f6ntS3K5flxizGKE9QSlWXuCiswTyrtAw3j/s1600-h/Sunday_Morning.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxWYAa5bGPe2rGneYmwksjV-w_ojpaaM9hiQmjCbnmYOGHbqKNmGXp908oGCjLCMyGZsvT8Ad1lzDp7KzdnspvJqzoxO8yDUa6f6ntS3K5flxizGKE9QSlWXuCiswTyrtAw3j/s400/Sunday_Morning.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400684464424822226" /></a><br />(With Raj Singh, my pacer for the last 10 miles)<br /><br />This is where we wound up playing leapfrog with Jimmy Dean Freeman (3rd overall in the 2008 RDL 100M; a very talented runner and coach) who was pacing his wife, Kate, to her first 100M finish. We eventually came to the Pemberton Trail where we made a left turn. A few rollers later I could see the Jeadquarters and the Finish area off in the distance. That lent my feet more wings and I finally stopped just after the mat in a satisfying 28:36:59.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had covered that last 8.7 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes or so.</div><div><br /></div><div>Diane Forrest came in to the Finish area about35 minutes later but waited, in a great show of friendship and love and caring, for Sandy to show up so that they could cross the Finish hand in hand. Way to go Diane and Sandy! You women rock.</div><div><br /></div><div>A big thank you to Jamil Coury and his band of volunteers that included Dave Combs, Chris Rios and others.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNiLd5wVIIUwEWXu5UboZpPwTBqyz9ySdBiahNu2j0cg3OjleoQi6EmUkDxK_fFUzL6lPJuAS0XT5sn9qIKNrXJ_nWWtO-V9eLfOQNC7JgVy5bHi2b5pDKDyY_0PC2ReC6qS0/s1600-h/DSCN2840.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNiLd5wVIIUwEWXu5UboZpPwTBqyz9ySdBiahNu2j0cg3OjleoQi6EmUkDxK_fFUzL6lPJuAS0XT5sn9qIKNrXJ_nWWtO-V9eLfOQNC7JgVy5bHi2b5pDKDyY_0PC2ReC6qS0/s400/DSCN2840.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400442100611749426" /></a><br />(Dave Combs)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-n7FY8jtxXVuadXRNhyfiDraLQhyVKYQLLxwENNiBYOBEkQdMcKVzS9d5uIhMVH7ZOM2FCErmh_1F0oT8TPnYTRS6Zwwt17mR3binXoavUc7Spbq11uPHttA83PEr5DaMbHE/s1600-h/DSCN2841.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-n7FY8jtxXVuadXRNhyfiDraLQhyVKYQLLxwENNiBYOBEkQdMcKVzS9d5uIhMVH7ZOM2FCErmh_1F0oT8TPnYTRS6Zwwt17mR3binXoavUc7Spbq11uPHttA83PEr5DaMbHE/s400/DSCN2841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400442318282816418" /></a><br />(Chris Rios)<br /><br />Thanks also to <a href="http://365ultra.blogspot.com/">Rick Gaston</a> who took pictures throughout Saturday and also paced a friend. Seeing him and Dave there made the race that little bit more comfortable! </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be back!</div><div><br /></div></div>Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423699.post-79229850794683011462009-08-25T15:55:00.000-07:002013-05-02T16:31:05.930-07:002009 Lean Horse 100M<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><b>ANU'S SONNET</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">He who knoweth her a fortune hath found:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">A treasure trove of Love and Happiness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">A precious gift 'tis to have her around</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">In our lives I must truly confess.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Her tinkling laugh, her lovely doe-like eyes,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Her capacious heart, her heavenly voice,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">She is larger than life: don't go by size!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Love her we must. We have no other choice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Cry with you she will, feel your pain she will;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Reach out she will in your darkest hour.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">A Guiding Light on the climb up Life's hill,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Of mental strength she is a tall tower.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">So heady, vivacious, loving and kind,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Another like her you will never find.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Date : August 22-23, 2009</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Race : Lean Horse 100M</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Location: Hot Springs, SD</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Time : 29:13</span><br />
<br />
And then I choked up again and again and again ... At mile 30. At 60. At 80. Along Argyle Road. I cried after the Finish. For months I had been looking forward to this race and I knew that I would get very emotional during and after the adventure. How prescient I was!<br />
<br />
This was Anu's race. What a fabulous race she ran. Truly one for the ages.<br />
<br />
It all began late last year (2008) when she asked me if she would be able to run 100 miles. I assured her she could run one with appropriate training and that gave her enough confidence to sign up for Lean Horse at my insistence. I had run the race in 2007 and 2008 and knew the course well. To say that I was excited is an understatement.<br />
<br />
Given that the only cell phone provider that works in Hot Springs, SD, is Verizon I bought a couple of Verizon track phones for our race. AT&T phones work in Rapid City. Raj and I also both bought a couple of digital camcorders for the race.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Thursday, Aug 2</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">0</span></b><br />
As I do every year, we decided to fly out Thursday morning. Our tickets had been booked way back in February and a friend of ours, Bharti, had also signed up for the trip to help crew and pace Anu.<br />
<br />
We left Anu's home around 5:00 a.m. in their van to catch 7:18 a.m. flight to Denver from SFO. That flight took off on time and we landed in Denver airport hungry and promptly started looking for vegetarian restaurants, We settled on a Mexican restaurant that had pretty decent food. I hydrated with a beer. :)<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378944679417315554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Oup9o-q5shZmaUNvH0C63Nvdcoj8a-GBpvyCYe6WBBA3LXS3m0iP48GwmAlKm1572ZKlw1yNc_7c6DOCUcAmqZ8pbe7gVSkFBfZPMlCTofypQ13o7dkgQIYlVJNTDmAKsS3r/s400/DSCN2546.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /><br />
(On our way to Rapid City, South Dakota)<br />
<br />
We trudged across the terminal to the gate for the flight to Rapid City operated by United Express. It was a small commuter plane and the flight was short and uneventful.<br />
<br />
We soon got our rental car, an SUV, and headed into town to Walmart to pick up much needed supplies for the race.<br />
<br />
Raj and I picked up a Thermocol cooler, ice, water, cookies, chocolate milk, water and other small supplies for the race. There was no way of knowing if some of these would be available in Hot Springs. We also found the address of an Indian restaurant close to the Walmart. We ate a light lunch, at 5 p.m., and had them pack rice for us to be used in the race as lunch & dinner for Anu. In the cooler went the 7 bottles of Persian yogurt drink that I had brought in my checked bags from San Jose and string cheese.<br />
<br />
We drove the 60 odd miles to Hot Springs and decided to head straight for Argyle Road to help Anu get an idea of the rolling hills between miles 5 and 16.5 (miles 83.5 and 95 on the way back). That recon drive really helped her on race day as she had a mental picture of what was coming up and how steep/gentle the climbs were.<br />
<br />
We checked in to the Holiday Inn Express and I started the process of making the drop bags. That took a good 30-45 minutes and they were soon ready. We retired to bed early that night. Bharti and I were in a small room with 2 bunk beds. Raj and Anu were on the big Queen bed while Nishad slept on the floor on a couple of blankets.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Friday, Aug 2</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">1</span></b><br />
We woke up around 7:30 a.m. and I was soon down in the restaurant eating breakfast. The others soon came down too and we had a great time talking to other runners. We met Phil Rosenstein who had run across the US to raise money for his charity. Very inspiring stuff.<br />
<br />
Off we went to the Mueller Center to deposit our drop bags and make it in time for the 3 p.m. briefing. That briefing was short and we were soon in the Pizza Hut across the road for an early dinner. Anu cannot eat pizzas so she ate in the hotel room - we had brought some microwavable Indian food from the Bay area.<br />
<br />
Raj and I then went to a local grocery store to buy Velcro, duct tape and some cloth that we were planning to use to cover the holes I had made in Anu's shoes in the front to give her toes more wiggle room. We eventually engineered makeshift covers for the shoes that were held onto the sides using Velcro (they were eventually discarded 20-25 miles into the race).<br />
<br />
Sleep that night was wonderful.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Saturday, Aug 2</span></b>2<br />
Race day dawned bright and warm. Anu and I quickly showered. I went down to eat breakfast while Anu was getting ready and reconnected with Phil. I also met Scott Giddings for the first time in person. Scott and I had run Lean Horse in 2008. He was back this year to try and go under 24 hours (he eventually came very close!).<br />
<br />
We soon got into the SUV. Phil rode with us to the Start. Into the Mueller Center we went and checked in as instructed to do so the day before. Anu sat down on a chair and put on her socks, shoes etc. while I met and talked with Bonnelle Murphy and Joe Judd. I took a few videos of all of this.<br />
<br />
With 7-8 minutes to go we were instructed to go outside. Jerry Dunn, the RD, gave us last minute instructions and we were soon off. I recorded the first 10-15 seconds after the start on the video and then put it away for later use.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378945461835693314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKdS6V8ltVGyLSbeqTTiB2Ychyphenhyphenr2ojfrtlZPrxs19pAcrYDhUC-A3uDV1_ypTA4TiFI4xJBHTq1LNhaDlP_w2KSc4YvekJiJLFPaZlF0moBXVPD-WPycXBbuCxQGsP25tP1ve/s400/DSCN2556.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /><br />
(A few minutes before the 6:00 a.m. Start)<br />
<br />
Anu was wearing a yellow fluorescent top with a blue skirt. She had a Cool Off bandana around her neck along with a visor and sunglasses. I had a waistpack that had the portable digital video camera, a digital camera and gels. My backpack had an extra 2 bottles of water to go with the 2 bottles I was carrying in my hands. One bottle had Cytomax while the other had water. A Cool Off bandana around my neck matched the orange visor.<br />
<br />
I had Anu walk the first 5 minutes. We spent those minutes talking to a few runners, Jim Phelan one of them, who were doing the 50M race.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9-hCj_4blsy84-C-n7tUxu9629-lZuJ6zM2QBZCHC8bkIqowurReFKt13kj7a1bRWcpOZLhYi6auaS6Pt-_11-28LefCRlK3ZRa6i_vG6wvRu1i_0msdFsnXOwzCucOjRlk1/s1600-h/DSCN2557.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378946010461934226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9-hCj_4blsy84-C-n7tUxu9629-lZuJ6zM2QBZCHC8bkIqowurReFKt13kj7a1bRWcpOZLhYi6auaS6Pt-_11-28LefCRlK3ZRa6i_vG6wvRu1i_0msdFsnXOwzCucOjRlk1/s400/DSCN2557.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(The ever friendly and loving Anu with 50-mile runner Jim Phelan)<br />
<br />
5 minutes into the race we started running. We were soon joined by Francine Weigeldt, another first time 100 miler. She stayed with us until mile 26-27 after which she took off on her own. We saw her once more, around mile 50. She was on her way back from the turnaround and she looked strong.<br />
<br />
We soon left the asphalt roads behind us and began the trek to the first AS, Coldwater Creek, at mile 4. Anu was settling down into a good rhythm and I made her rush through the AS while I refilled the bottles. I caught up with her a quarter mile out. The left turn onto Argyle Road was soon upon us as was the large yellow 5 mile marker on the left side of the road.<br />
<br />
This was a sustained climb of 1.5-2.0 miles and Anu maintained an impressive pace up. The road turns into rollers after the top of the long climb and before we knew it, we were at the second AS, Morph Road, at mile 10.5. Deb, Laurie Woodrow's friend, was volunteering here and she took a picture of me. I took one of the AS.<br />
<br />
In and out like a flash from the AS. We had done the first 10 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes i.e. 15 minutes a mile pace. Excellent pace given the terrain.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPwfEK-3bS2khTiZbZc9U9X6udYyKEr33SBuHYltHNihHlPLoz-vuDgr9hAzvFUR7dj-8uu8Ro48j1l1Qa7w7BE4oVCWXfc8oH-NmrCPhNnA0M523Ua97Z4EE4hrwDgyaCAgc/s1600-h/DSCN2581.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378946730312997970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPwfEK-3bS2khTiZbZc9U9X6udYyKEr33SBuHYltHNihHlPLoz-vuDgr9hAzvFUR7dj-8uu8Ro48j1l1Qa7w7BE4oVCWXfc8oH-NmrCPhNnA0M523Ua97Z4EE4hrwDgyaCAgc/s400/DSCN2581.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Anu motoring at a very good clip, around mile 13 or so, just<br />
after leaving the Black Hills National Forest)<br />
<br />
Anu kept up this relentless pace all the way to the first AS where we could hook up with our crew - Argyle Road at mile 16.5.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbaryFMOYF_UlrzE-HcAoQiTmsAz6UNRgvXVXudkPk_9sy-vbBn43Pb3fAmgp0JdeKIqXgBKOeH-ZpJC-sKqffIL_QiTy053flyfNS7hF2gV8jHta51KIvlSdT30z7J4Id1bb/s1600-h/DSC_0806.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378947265408582962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbaryFMOYF_UlrzE-HcAoQiTmsAz6UNRgvXVXudkPk_9sy-vbBn43Pb3fAmgp0JdeKIqXgBKOeH-ZpJC-sKqffIL_QiTy053flyfNS7hF2gV8jHta51KIvlSdT30z7J4Id1bb/s400/DSC_0806.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 265px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Coming into the Argyle Road Aid Station (mile 16.5) at<br />
10:00 a.m. on Sat, Aug 22. Nishad on the right)<br />
<br />
We reached there exactly at 10:00 a.m. i.e. 240 minutes for 16.5 miles or 14.5 min/mile. She had picked up pace between 10 and 16.5. To say that I was impressed is an understatement.<br />
<br />
The cloth covering her right shoe had kept coming off so Raj used duct tape to glue it to the sides. Anu changed out of the yellow top into another yellow one that was thinner and better for running in the heat. Anu drank half a bottle of the yogurt drink. We both put ice in our bandanas and headed out quickly. Onwards to the next AS, Like Kiln, at mile 20. From now on we would meet our crew, Raj, Bharti and Anu, at every AS.<br />
<br />
It was in the Argyle Road AS, as I was rummaging through our drop bag, that I met Lynnor Matheny. I had read her posts on the Ultra mailing list and had been looking forward to meeting her. She is a very sweet person as is the friend she was running with, Sherry Meador. Anu, Francine and I played tag with them for the next 6-7 miles or so. Lynnor was walking off food she had eaten in the AS with a very purposeful stride.<br />
<br />
It must have been around mile 18 or so that Anu experienced a panic attack. She was quick to recognize signs of low blood sugar and asked me for a gel. I gave her an Accel gel and within 5 minutes she was feeling good again. The day was getting very hot by now. 10:45 a.m. with nary a cloud in the sky and the trail glinting brightly ahead of us for as long as the eye could see.<br />
<br />
We trudged on to the Lime Kiln AS. Here we refilled the bandanas with ice, ate a bit and headed out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e8eLCcrQjuihmpnsmGJLcPZGdIr1YHe7HGmeu_ua0VmmZZxfhUMxyyEJhd159HZw6EVLWE_mqn6jyZ39iGe9nYUL3-XAqijpxtTNH57p8Ig-zcPhQ4T2zRTpaTx1VJX0v8dV/s1600-h/DSC_0812.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378947755635879234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e8eLCcrQjuihmpnsmGJLcPZGdIr1YHe7HGmeu_ua0VmmZZxfhUMxyyEJhd159HZw6EVLWE_mqn6jyZ39iGe9nYUL3-XAqijpxtTNH57p8Ig-zcPhQ4T2zRTpaTx1VJX0v8dV/s400/DSC_0812.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 265px;" /></a><br />
(Adjusting Anu's ice bandana in the Lime<br />
Kiln Aid Station (mile 20))<br />
<br />
Anu asked Bharti and Raj to prepare her lunch, rice and yogurt, for her to eat in the next AS which was Pringle at 24.5.<br />
<br />
The trail between Lime Kiln and Pringle, after an initial flat section of about 1.5 miles, was a gentle and then a slightly more pronounced downhill. It was fun to be running again. About 5 minutes from the AS I asked Raj to turn on the air conditioning in the SUV so that Anu could cool down while she ate her lunch. We probably spent 10 minutes here. Just before we left I helped Anu stretch her left hamstring. I drank chocolate milk. This is pretty much what I had throughout the first 50 miles in addition to the gels and Cytomax/Gatorade. It must have been after 12:50 p.m. that we left Pringle. It was very hot now and Anu had the hardest time in this long, unshaded stretch that paralleled Hwy 385. Raj, who had gone to Custer the day before to rent a mountain bike, now accompanied us with ample water and additional gels if needed.<br />
<br />
I could tell that Anu was trying to conserve her energies. She is a very talkative person but this section saw her quiet as a doormouse. She was fighting and my respect for her, already very, very high, inched up with every passing mile.<br />
<br />
It was in the Carrol Creek AS, at mile 30, that she informed me about her blister. Early treatment can be the difference between successfully finishing or dropping out from pain and an altered gait. I quickly took out my foot care kit (thank you, Zombierunner!) and had it popped, coated with Neosporin and taped up in no time at all. She had run the 30 miles in 8:20 i.e. we reached the AS around 2:20 p.m. She and I left the AS soon after the blister work and began the long stretch, 5.5 miles i.e. 35.5 miles into the race, to the Harbach AS. Someone had moved the 35 mile marker way ahead, almost to the 33.5 or 34 mile mark. Anu was glad to see the sign though and I could see it reflected in her stride.<br />
<br />
It was here that I fought with her! She had been agonizing about the improper information her new Garmin was showing about the distance (she was trying to reconcile the mile markers with the Garmin numbers) and was constantly anxious about her pace and whether she would eventually be able to finish given the amount of walking we were doing.<br />
<br />
My experience with previous very hot 100M races had taught me that power walking between 12 noon to about 4 p.m. would pay off big dividends later in the day, especially at night. I could understand her anxiety but my Ego refused to give up on "I am right. Just follow my advice. No need to consult your Garmin. Trust me". We had a small spat as we were walking into the Harbach Road AS and my anger erupted in front of Raj, Bharti and Nishu. To say that I was mortified and disgusted with myself is truly being generous to myself. I was sick to the core of my being. How could I fight with this little bundle of love and joy who was struggling hard enough to complete a very, very tough challenge? She certainly did not need my ego-driven anger. All she needed were calming words.<br />
<br />
Unbeknownst to me (I was fixing my shoes in another part of the AS) she gulped down a bottle and a half of the yogurt drink. That amounted to 1000mg of Sodium. As soon as we left the AS, I took my hourly Succeed salt tablet and gave her one too. That was almost 1400 mg of Sodium in 5 minutes! No wonder she threw it all up in the next 2-3 miles.<br />
<br />
About 0.5 miles out of the AS we passed Akos Konya going the other way (we were at mile 36, he was at 64!). All he carried was one hand bottle! Given that he was probably covering the miles between aid stations in 45-60 minutes, why would he need more????<br />
<br />
Anu hit an emotional low a mile or so after passing Akos. My anger, combined with the heat and her anxiety, made her burst into tears. Raj consoled her and took care of her while I walked by her side in intense pain and feeling 2 feet small. I decided to talk about my flare up at a later time and to continue to help her as a coach by making sure that she was still taking in enough fluids and calories.<br />
<br />
We soon passed another runner, Ray Greunewald, who was having a tough time. He had done many 100s before but was having the toughest race of his life. Anu, the ever compassionate soul that she is, offered him words of encouragement.<br />
<br />
It was here that a couple of runners went by the other way. One of them pointed to me and said "I love your blog!". Whoever you are leave me a comment with your name so that I can come back into this post and give you credit! Thank you. That added a nice touch to my race.<br />
<br />
We soon saw a familiar figure running towards us. It was Nishad running from the AS to assure his mother that (a) she was doing very well, and (b) the temps had fallen a bit. We had been told the day before in the race briefing that Custer and beyond would definitely be cooler. Cooler it certainly was. We were close to 5800 feet in altitude and that little coolness was so very welcome after the battering ram of the Sun that we had been subjected to all day.<br />
<br />
Anu was feeling a lot better by now. Her queasiness had dissipated and she was feeling charged up with the knowledge that there was a very long downhill section coming up in a mile or so. We spent very little time in the Mountain Trailhead AS (manned every year by school kids) at mile 40.5.<br />
<br />
Raj was still on the bike. We set out to begin the long downhill to the Oreville AS. A mile or so after the Mountain Trailhead AS, the downhill really began.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0C2ZOs9pHMEQXQYrV6Du3AEq36RMuHDWWOdgwhE1BdtGHyPkmF9WFI6xzWT0Zl9e-UAZDyaW3yVBjonXZAqzFyASletvVLBDGeNvZ-s4EcCwFLrnacC4apCfoZM__WmeHoTi/s1600-h/DSCN2607.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378948398084798066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0C2ZOs9pHMEQXQYrV6Du3AEq36RMuHDWWOdgwhE1BdtGHyPkmF9WFI6xzWT0Zl9e-UAZDyaW3yVBjonXZAqzFyASletvVLBDGeNvZ-s4EcCwFLrnacC4apCfoZM__WmeHoTi/s400/DSCN2607.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Anu flying down towards the 50-mile turnaround. Crazy Horse on the right.)<br />
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Anu was by now flying at 11-12 minutes a mile pace (even faster in some sections!). I let her go, not wanting to interrupt her amazing rhythm. She stopped, for a few minutes, in the Oreville AS (mile 46.2) before pressing down on the accelerator once again all the way to the turnaround. Holy smokes is all I could say all the way there!!!! She reached 50 miles in 13:38 i.e. at 7:38 p.m. This turnaround was on Deadbroke Street in Hill City, SD.<br />
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We looked at each other and heaved a big sigh of relief. She now had an additional 82 minutes to add to the allotted 15 hours (900 minutes) to make it back to the Finish. Those precious minutes not only gave her an extra 1 minute and 36 seconds a mile (overall pace for the last 50 went from 18 min/mile to 19:36 mins/mile!) but untold confidence and faith that she COULD actually finish this behemoth of a race. I was so proud of how she had run the last 7-8 miles to the turnaround.<br />
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She ate her rice and yogurt again. I helped myself to some of it. The evening did not presage a chilly night. As soon as we had gotten all we needed from the SUV, Raj left to go and return the bike. He wanted to meet us in the Oreville AS at 54.6 miles. Nishad, Bharti, Anu and I set off to begin the long trek back to all the aid stations in reverse. We were power walking and must have reached Oreville around 10:00 p.m. It was here that Anu and I changed into warmer clothing. I put on a Brooks running jacket and Anu put on a skull cap and long sleeves. Nishad had a headlight. I had my headlamp and Bharti had her light. Anu was safely ensconced between us.<br />
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The climb back up to the tunnel just before Crazy Horse was a long one. I had kept telling Anu that the tunnel marked the end of the climb and it eventually came into view. We could even see someone's flashlight coming towards us. Nishad correctly guessed that it must be his Dad. It sure was Raj. We now walked in companionable silence to the Mountain Trailhead AS (mile 59.5). Bharti's foot was hurting by now so she decided to stop and drive the SUV along with Raj. The plan was for Raj to pace us from the Harbach Road AS (mile 64.5) which was the next AS.<br />
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After eating a bit, Anu, Nishad and I left. It was a downhill for a little bit and then flat all the way into Custer. Anu was finding it painful (pain on the inside of both knees probably brought on by tight Vastus Medialis or Sartorious muscles) to walk but did not feel the pain when she shuffled. We covered those 5 miles at about 15 minutes a mile pace. It was incredible what Anu was able to do in these late stages of the race.<br />
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We spent a good 10-15 minutes in this Aid Station eating and putting calories into our bodies. I had decided to switch to my Tevas here so it took us those extra minutes. Anu too switched to Tevas. Raj and I stuffed each of her gloves with chemical hand warmers.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Sunday, Aug 23</span></b><br />
The procession now had Raj and Nishad accompanying us. Onwards to the Carroll Creek AS, at mile 70. Those 5.5 miles were the longest in the race. I remember leaving Harbach at 12:50 a.m. The AS refused to show up! It eventually did at 2:30 a.m. It had taken us 100 minutes to cover 5.5 miles i.e. 18 minutes/mile. Not possible. Anyway, we sat down so that I could eat some tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Anu had some buttermilk and half a sandwich.<br />
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The empath she is, she is the only one who noticed that there was a runner sitting to her right who was crying (he had dropped). What a woman!<br />
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It was 2:37 a.m. when we decided to hit the road. I had been doing math while eating and realized that we HAD to reach the Argyle Road AS, at mile 83.5, by 7:00 a.m. at the latest to have a decent shot at finishing. I asked Anu to dig deep and do the next 13 miles in 4 hours tops.<br />
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Nishad had by now done 19.2 miles His plan was to go another 0.8 miles to make it a round 20. Bharti was given the task of finding the next spot where she could pick him up. It was dark, there was lightning in the air for the next hour and Bharti could not find an opening immediately. The trail had diverged away from Hwy 385. We asked Nish if he could continue to Pringle. He was OK with it so we asked Bharti to go straight to Pringle and wait for us.<br />
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We passed another runner, Louise, along this stretch. She eventually was one of the last people to finish. This section too felt interminably long.<br />
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The Pringle AS had been abandoned. There were a few people there, runners who had dropped and their crew members. One of them made us a PBJ sandwich. Raj and I had asked Anu to continue on while we picked up supplies. Anu passed Pringle at 4:30 a.m. It had taken us 113 minutes to cover the 6 miles from Carrol Creek to Pringle i.e. almost 19 minutes/mile pace. I know I was moving way faster so there was something way off about the race distances!<br />
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This next section, with a 2 mile gentle climb and a 2 mile flat after that, to the Lime Kiln AS was amazing. Anu covered those 4 miles in 59 minutes! She shuffled at 14-15 mins/mile, even up the slight slope. The Lime Kiln AS was totally deserted. Since we had Bharti and Nishad in the SUV we decided to push through to Argyle Road, 3.5 miles away. Given how hard Anu had been pushing for the last 10 miles and knowing that we would reach Argyle by 6:30-6:35 a.m., I asked her to ease off a bit.<br />
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We both felt the intense need to answer Mother Nature's insistent call. That took us 5-7 minutes. We eventually made it into Argyle Road at around 6:35 a.m. Anu quickly changed into day time clothes, the same orange top and white skirt she had worn for her 24-hour run around the West Valley tracks, while I shucked my jacket and my back pack. The SUV would now be alongside us all the way to the 95 mile turnoff! What a boon that proved to be!<br />
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Anu had delivered on the 4 hour from mile 70 to 83.5 promise to me. I was a bit worried about the next challenge, the biggest one yet, in the race - the rolling hills between 83.5 and 93. We left the Argyle Road AS at 6:47 a.m. Anu and I soon got into a great rhythm and we quickly passed the 85 mile mark. The Sun was up and it was a beautiful morning to be running towards victory.<br />
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To my utter and complete shock we were soon upon the site of the second to last (second one on the way out) AS - Morph Road. There was a lady who came out of a camper when she saw us and we gave her our bib numbers and just sailed past. I was excited! I knew that the 90 mile marker was not far off. It eventually came at 8:08 a.m. Anu The Magnificent had covered the last 6.5 miles in a stunning 81 minutes i.e. 12.5 mins/mile!! Holy mackerel. I had thought the hills would chew her up and spit her out. SHE was the one who chewed up those rollers and flattened them out!! I was in total awe of this little bundle of courage and determination. I knew I was watching the greatest exhibition of motivation, guts and chutzpah that I would ever have the privilege to witness.<br />
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Mile 93 came soon enough and we stopped briefly at the top for me to put on my Team Anu T-shirt. I had had them specially designed for us. Bharti, Nishad and Raj were planning to wear their shirts in the last 200 yards to the Finish.<br />
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We now flew down the hill to the 95 mile marker and the right turn just after it that would lead, in 0.8 miles, to the Coldbrook Creek AS at mile 96. Raj and Nishad took off from that turn to head into town and wait for us just before the Finish.<br />
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I gave Anu a gel here so that she could go straight through the AS. She and Bharti waltzed right past while I decided to go in and grab a cup of soup. The last question Anu asked me (it was exactly 10:00 a.m. i.e. 28 hrs. into the race when we reached the 96 mile AS) was if we would finish inside of 30 hours! Bharti and I chuckled at that comment but it was a telling one. She had been intensely keyed up for 28 hours and was just then beginning to realize that it would soon to be over.<br />
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To put the miles from the mile 70 AS to the Argyle Road AS (mile 83.5) and from Argyle Road to Coldbrook in perspective I want to offer up this statistic:<br />
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Mile 70 ==> Mile 83.5 ==> 13.5 miles in 4 hours<br />
Mile 83.5 ==> Mile 96 ==> 12.5 miles in 3 hours 13 minutes<br />
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It is the most amazing statistic. She had covered 12.5 miles of steep, rolling hills much faster than the flat terrain of the previous 13 miles. Wow! Wow!!<br />
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My soup was hot so it took me a while to gulp down. In the interim I flirted with Elaine Doll-Dunn, Jerry Dunn's wife, and the other female volunteers.<br />
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I soon caught up with Anu and Bharti a half mile out of the AS. They were slowly walking up a hill. I assured them that we had only a couple of small climbs left before the downhill that ended on the asphalt roads of town. The day had gotten very hot by now and Anu's asthma had started to bother her a lot. She realized though that the Finish was round the corner, so to speak, so she put the discomfort at the back of her mind and started running as soon as we hit the downhill into town.<br />
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She started power walking as soon as we got onto the flat section. We could see Uli The Walker (5 times in a row Lean Horse finisher) ahead and Anu soon caught up with him and surged ahead with about 0.75 miles to go. Past the waterfall we went and soon saw Raj and Nishad waiting ahead of us, 400 yards from the Finish. Raj had handed his video camera to my friend, Joe Judd, so I ran ahead to within sight of the Finish and let Joe know that we would all be coming in in a minute. In the meantime Raj, Bharti and Nishad had donned their Team Anu T-shirts.<br />
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I waited for Anu and the others to join me. Anu broke down right there and I asked her to hold it in for a few more paces. We all rounded the corner and ran towards the Finish amidst loud applause from other runners. It was the most amazing Finish ever! Anu, who had been holding her emotions in a tight rein for 29 hours and 13 minutes (her finish time), now let go and started weeping. Raj hugged her as did Nishad and Bharti. I gave up when she put her arms around me and sobbed into her shoulder. I was the proudest I have ever been of any person in my life.<br />
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Raj had biked more than 30 miles the day before and run an additional 19 with us. Bharti had paced us for 25 miles while Nishad had matched us step for step for 25 miles too. Thank you, you wonderful crew people!<br />
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We slowly made our way into the Mueller Center to drink, collect our drop bags, get a massage and chat with other runners. The award ceremony was planned for 12:15 p.m. so Anu, Raj and Nishad went to the hotel to let Anu shower. She did get a massage before leaving though. Nishad and Raj later told Bharti and me that Anu had fallen in the bathroom owing to hypoglycemia. This was soon remedied by giving her food.<br />
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The ceremony started at 12:15 p.m. sharp but there was no sign of the three of them. She eventually came in around 12:25 p.m. and I knew something was wrong. She sat down next to me and asked for a doctor 5 minutes later. The attending medical officer was summoned by Raj and they helped her walk off to a stretcher in the back of the room. Jerry Dunn, the Race Director, pointed to her and said that she was one of the successful first-time 100 mile runners to which the crowd responded with applause.<br />
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It took Anu 2 hours and a lot of salty water and soda to recover from the dehydration. We eventually made it back to the hotel room around 3:00 p.m.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">Monday, Aug 24</span></b><br />
The next day we visited Mt. Rushmore on the way to Rapid City and the flight back to San Francisco. On our flight from Rapid City to Denver were Lynnor Matheny, Sherry Meador and Phil Rosenstein.<br />
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Lynnor, in her race report e-mail a few days later, stated that Anu's finish was "one of the most inspirational things she had ever seen". High praise indeed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPKy0Kyqxflna4cHN59d39y1xaj-rrSv22L_Ar0oLnmbHWZJUtq55SqwAr2m1JTFFtjM_5XQbce6Eebp_KCv-AG_r52-jl2PonVh88BAo3eBNfgPgQeN8DA8Kkt9rAaSEYWzS/s1600-h/DSCN2610.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378948888337159954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPKy0Kyqxflna4cHN59d39y1xaj-rrSv22L_Ar0oLnmbHWZJUtq55SqwAr2m1JTFFtjM_5XQbce6Eebp_KCv-AG_r52-jl2PonVh88BAo3eBNfgPgQeN8DA8Kkt9rAaSEYWzS/s400/DSCN2610.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
(Rapid City airport. L to R: Sherry Meador, Lynnor Matheny, Anu Singh, Phil Rosenstein and Raj Singh)<br />
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We spent an hour with them before the flight, which was delayed by about 30 minutes, and it was great fun to share stories.<br />
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Many thanks to Jerry Dunn and his band of volunteers. Very helpful and cheerful, even in the wee hours of the morning.<br />
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I am intensely proud of Anu. I am humbled and awed by the manner in which she fought her demons and eventually triumphed. Way to go, babe!!Rajeevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05440842184525325640noreply@blogger.com27