“B****cks, it looked flatter on the map!”

A year or so ago I was surfing on the web to check out races around Europe and stumbled upon the 101m in 24h. Six months later I had moved to Spain and as was looking for a race to do so I took the plunge and signed up. I had been to Ronda and fancied the idea of running in the area.

I had come a long way since my days where I hated running and this would be a serious challenge but had confidence if not in muscles then in my pigheaded stubbornness to get me through.

Training for this feat was an enlightenment as it was the first time that would run such mileage. There were days when I had to run 20k three days in a row or a 40k after doing a 12k and 15k the days before. What I liked the most was the feeling that my legs could handle it and that all this running was done in my beloved racing flats. I had long left traditional runners and was now a racing flats fan.

Read on for more…

All in all training went well. When the joints were squeaking I would change terrain to barefoot beach running or even cycling.

Finally race day approached and so we headed off to Ronda. This race is organised by the Spanish legion so the execution of it is done military style, like clockwork!

Ronda is situated in Andalucia on a plain up at an altitude of about 740 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains. The scenery is breathtaking but the temperatures can be very hot in the day and cold, damp with mist in the night.

The evening before we found ourselves looking down the valley below Ronda muttering “B***cks it looked flatter on the map”.

The damage was done. I was here and was actually looking forward to seeing the country side even with all the pain that would come along with it! I went to the giant tent and dug in to my pasta, army style!

Disaster one- I suddenly had a lost in translation moment. On race day we would be carrying a sort of passport which would be used to identify ourselves and to receive stamps at the different secret check points along the race + chip. This needed a photocopy of my passport. Panic, 8:30 in the evening all shops were shut, internet cafes seemed not to do copies. In the end this amazing guy in a computer shop offered to do it for me for free. What a star!

I was now tired a bit from running around town and worried for tomorrow.

I woke up after only 6 hours of sleep, had half a Tupperware of rice with sweet corn and headed to the football stadium for the send off.

They were speeches and fireworks and lots of fun and half an hour after the MTBs had set off the gun sounded and 2500 people poured out of Ronda football pitch.

The day had started with a small shower but we could see sun coming our way.

I put my thermal jacket around my waist as I wanted to keep on to it for a bit. Weather was very inconsistent.

We ran all the way through town to the cheers of everyone and tried to take it all in as soon we would be in the sticks.

Ronda is an amazing town and just given the opportunity to run through it is quite something.

Within no time we were in the countryside. We were all packed quite close together and was a bit challenging to find a good pace.

We were running through rolling wheat fields with wild flowers and people taking a piss lined up in covered areas.

At this point I was finding it difficult to run with the right clothes. With the thin long sleeve top it was hot, without it there was a cold breeze that would chill my neck to dangerous levels. I settled with the top on and rolled up sleeves.

At 5k I met with Irene who was going to be following me today and dropped the thermal, slapping on some sun cream as things were getting hot.

The first 20k went pretty much uneventful. I had my camelback with 1l, my sports drink, and homemade pittas made form precooked cornmeal. The plan was, every 20-30 min water and every 40-60 min walk for 5 min and eat half a pitta washing it down with sports drink. There was water every 5k and fruit and sports drinks every 10k, but I had heard of long queues so wanted to be independent and not waste time.

Mark 23k was the first check point so I happily got the race passport out for its first stamp! This was good as no one knew where these would be so it made sure no one cheated.

At 25K I decided to fill my camelback again so it could get me through the next stages.

Irene was in Ariate waiting for me and it was good to feel that I had completed 1/3 of the race. The body felt pretty ok even though the legs felt quite tired but figured, well it is 33k after all!

Right outside Ariate there was the first horrific hill. Everyone came to stand still and was hiking up. It was hot, long and rough ground as the recent rain had turned the dirt track into what looked like a dry riverbed with a bit of soil. The only consolation was a drinks stop somewhere at the top!

At 40k I changed my drinks bottle with afresh one. It was hot, my legs were a bit tired, my feet had seen better days but I changed my socks 10k back and all was well. The next 20k till my mid race stop in Setenil was going to be lonely and very hot as the roads were open with no tree cover and by this time the sun was scorching.

I was just under 5 hours so far so was quite happy. I had a target of 15 hours but at the end of day finishing was the aim of the game!

I plodded along trying to keep a pace of around 7 min/k. I was concerned about what would happen after 51k as it would be virgin ground. I decided to run as much as I could and save myself on the hills by walking up.

At some point I had a couple of dry figs, just to change the taste in my mouth but felt some strange movements in the stomach so decided to stay away from them.

The army had everything sorted and in some water stops they had just dumped a water tank trailer with taps on the side. Of course some did eventually run out of water as I was to find out.

Near disaster two- I arrived in Alcala del Valle at about 51k, sucked on a slice of orange and passed the water tank thinking I was ok for water. The name of the village suggests it is in a valley. So when you go down you have to come out again. And come out we did with a hill about 300-400 m long and around 23% inclination.  At the top, I took a good slug of water and realised that the camel back was now dry. What I hadn’t realised was that in the beginning I was consuming 1l in about 25k but as the day went on the consumption had grown.

I had two options, go back down the hill or run 7k with no water. I chose the latter. By this time it was around 6 in the afternoon and the sun was on the way down but still 27degrees and a long way to go. I joined up with a couple of guys and got into a good pace again. My mouth was getting dry but could do nothing about it.  2k outside Setenil I found one of those army water tanks and my eyes lit up. I pressed on the tap for the gushing water put nothing came out. B****cks 15 minutes more for some water.

Arriving in Setenil 57k was a revelation as I had been waiting for this moment for 6 months. Setenil is built within hill that was cut away by a river. It is surreal, but the local were cheering like mad and their voices were echoing underneath the rock. Irene was there with the car and provisions. First thing was water and lots of it. Ate an egg, a bit of a pitta and stocked up on food and a pair of socks just in case. I changed shoes to my older racing flats that were a bit looser. Even though I had taped my heels I had left a patch on the back uncovered and there was a blister growing. It was too late to tape, too early to burst. I would just have to keep on like that.

1k up the road was the official stop where you could have picked up a bag with provisions of your own. I had nothing so grabbed a banana and pushed on. Leaving Setenil they gave us an arm light for later on, an indication that the race was moving into the second phase. There was still two hours of light so I wasn’t worrying yet.

At 65k there was hill number 2. This was tough but had teamed up with another runner now and we got each other up that one. At the top Irene was there. I gave her a look and yelped “get me the coke”. Yes it was down to coke now to lift me out. I was tired, my quads were stiff, there was still sun but in the shade it was cold.

I gulped down some flat coke and put the thermal back on. Next stop, the hot food station at 77k.

This stage went well and hooked up with another guy who actually lives five minutes from me! My body felt like it had been on the go for 8+ hours but the conversation helped and at some point I started feeling good.

At 75k I felt amazing. My feet were not too bad but I could run at 6min/k and felt fine!.

Just before the hot food stop Irene gave me a top up with the coke to get me through the next few kilometres. As suspected the hot food stop was primarily meat orientated; a hot watered broth with some rice with pieces of meat. I grabbed the banana that went along with it, had some of my food and headed off. I would be at a disadvantage to all the rest who were tucking into their meal but there was nothing I could do.

Major disaster three- I left with high moral but got that got smacked down 3 minutes later when the blister on my right heal burst sending a pain through me.

I had only one option. Happy thoughts and keep moving. I forced myself to run and pretend that nothing happened. Funnily enough the pain subsided until I had forgotten it completely.

I met Irene for one more gulp of coke and off I went for the last piece of this race. It was now dark and the head lights were out in full force. I knew I had around  20-21k left with a couple of hills in but had no idea as to what was to come.

We started going up a hill, walking now because running in the dark on a trail is inconceivable. The hill turned ugly into a 1k stretch at 23% inclination. The cold was now settling in and my leg muscles were tightening by the minutes. I had no idea how long the hill was or what was waiting for me. All I knew was I had to keep going.

At Montejaque 84k I was in a bad state. I could not run downhill and my hamstrings were on the verge of cramping. I didn’t care about pain just fear of seizing up as that would mean end of race.

After a brief stretch of road the course went off road in a mix of paved, rocks and mud patches.

I managed 17k in 3 hours. This was the toughest part. The euphoria at 77k had thrown me off and I was paying for it. Seeing Irene one last time was a bright moment.

5k left, I could run flats, walk fast uphill and shuffle downhill and I had one hill to go. One hill of just over 1k at 20% inclination. I would arrive, it was just a matter of time. And I did. At the top of the hill, with a smile on my face I started running, running through the streets of Ronda where I had passed 15 hours earlier. Even though it was 2:20 in the morning there were people in the street cheering!

I felt amazing. 100k and I could run with no problem at 6 min/k. What a revelation!

I passed the finish line, got my last stamp on my race passport and the precious ceramic medal the locals call “the brick”. Yes Fr Jack, I love my brick too!!!

I broke down completely, cried like a baby and then that was it. I couldn’t walk one step.

My muscles were so tense that even half way through the massage I had to get up as my hip flexors were in spasms. I was a poor sight indeed but a happy one!

Lessons learnt: the mind is an amazing specimen that is capable of anything. I managed to forget pain, ignore my tense muscles for as long as I need to. Absolutely amazing!

Quote of the day: Only a half marathon left great! (sincere)

Three days later I could not remember a real moment of pain and thought, “I could do that again!”.

Hmm sometimes I wonder!

Stats:

Max altitude 915m

Min altitude 420m

Accumulated ascending distance 2231m

Accumulated descending distance 2239m

Max ascending inclination 23,3%

Max descending inclination -31,1%

For photos of the race click on this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42920856@N06/sets/72157626690435782/