I'm not going to lie. I really wanted a great race at Survivorfest this year. I wanted to get that age group record and was willing to do whatever I had to on the day to get me there. I wasn't exactly at my most fittest, but I genuinely believed that it was in my reach.
Unfortunately, the best laid plans sometimes go belly up, and a couple of weeks prior to the race, Andy found out that he would need to travel to Sweden and then the UK on business which would result in him missing the race. This was somewhat disappointing as he was meant to be my crew, but I also knew that I could crew myself if needs be, and with the level of support at the event, I wouldn't be alone and somebody would be willing to step in if needed. I did put out an ask for help on social media, and was really happy to have two experienced crew offering to help me out - they were already crewing other runners, but they offered to help me out and also to share their tent on the day to save me having to set things up on my own.
On race day morning, I travelled to Sherwood Park with minimal gear, making sure I had the essentials and didn't go overboard. The weather was bright and sunny - very different from the previous two years - and the forecast was calling for sunshine all day long with temperatures in the low 20s. We'd had cool temperatures with lots of rain so far his summer so the heat would need to be managed - I was sure to pack an ice tube just in case I needed ice later in the day, and also plenty of salty foods and electrolytes to keep myself hydrated.
Arriving at the track, I made my way over to the tent area and found my spot pretty quickly. I would be sharing the tent with Wayne and Natalie and Sue would be next door, and there was already considerable gear in the tent for the other athletes. I set up my own little area slightly to the side to ensure things didn't get mixed up, and laid out some crucial items for me to grab on my way past if needs be - I wasn't sure how much help I would be getting given that the focus was on the others, so I had a back up plan and made sure I would be able to crew myself if that's what it came to. For once I felt organised, I knew where everything was, and I had even printed out my pace chart and list of food stuffs with number of calories for both me and the others to refer to if needed later on, just to be sure I stayed on track for the record, and also to keep me fuelled and hydrated.
Shortly before 9am, the national anthem was sang and the athletes started to gather on the track and then bang on 9, we were off.
My plan for the race was simple - no fast than a 2.20 lap, and no slower than a 2.45 lap - so long as I stayed under an average of 11 minute miles for the full 24-hours, I could get close to 200km and break the age group record. The record stood at 196km give or take, so the 200k seemed the most sensible goal overall.
For the first few hours, things were going exceptionally well. I was managing the heat, I was eating and drinking without any problems, the ice around my neck and the cold water on my hat were greatly appreciated, and I was running well. I passed 50k within my goal times and then surged onwards towards the 50 miles. At some point in the afternoon, it started to feel like I wasn't getting enough calories inside of me. I really needed to eat more but I kept missing the crew, and I ended up having to dip into the tent to grab things as I passed by. Due to the sun and the heat, my things had been moved to prevent them from melting or getting hot in the sun, and I wasn't able to find some things as quickly as I was hoping. Time was slipping by when it shouldn't have been doing, and by the time I hit 50 miles, I was about 20 minutes behind the slowest time I had set to ensure I hit my goal. With another 15 hours to go, I honestly believed that I could gradually claw that back over the next few hours - I was still feeling good despite the lac of calories, and if I could just get some more fuel inside of me, I would be motoring again. Unfortunately, the calorie deficit was too much. If I tried to eat lots, chances are I would then be sick, but by not getting enough inside of me, my energies levels were gradually diminishing and I could see my 200km goal slipping away. I ate perogies, pancakes, bacon, P&J sandwiches, gels, chocolates, potatoes, and goodness knows what else - I would feel the effects of taking on board the fuel, but then 20 minutes later, I would need more and I was having trouble keeping up with the energy I was using.
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| Feeling strong and focused earlier on in the race |
I also hadn't peed for several hours despite having drank lots of fluid, but the dehydration was also setting in even though it felt like I was drinking like a fish.
Seeing my goal slipping away was disappointing, but I persevered, my goal now to hit 190km and to qualify for Team Canada again for next year, but even that started to slip away. I had been spending far too much time in the tent eating, drinking, replenishing ice, and given that there was still a huge chunk of time remaining on the clock, I was starting to lose motivation. I was craving meatballs but they wouldn't be served until 1am. They usually give me the energy boost I need but it would be another 2 or 3 hours before they would be served, and there wasn't much else that I fancied. I passed the 100k mark still on target to potentially go over 180km if I kept going for the full 24 hours, but then it became more about just hitting the 100 miles as even the 180km started to slip away. It was so frustrating as I knew with more food I could have done it - I was not feeling sick or dizzy or anything - just terribly hungry, and nothing was satisfying that appetite.
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| To carry on or stop - that is the question! |
At around 2am, I sat down in the tent and decided I was done. Carrying on to the 100 miles was not required. I had nothing to prove, I didn't need another belt buckle, and I really didn't want to walk on a track for the next 7 hours. I went into the zen den, lay down on a bed, and slept for a couple of hours, finally calling it a day on my race with 125km or around 75 miles under my belt.
I emerged from the zen den at around 5am and some of the runners were having incredible races. By 9am on Sunday morning, friends had become national champions, others had broken national records, and others had set personal bests or qualified for Team Canada, should they wish to put their names forward for team selection. Those performances were truly outstanding, and it was inspiring to see the grit and determination from all those still out on the track or running the "track and trail" loop.
I stayed for the presentation, got emotional seeing others receiving their awards, and then headed for home. It hadn't exactly been the weekend I had hoped for, but that's ok. I've had enough disappointments in recent years to know I just put them behind me, don't dwell on them, and move on to the next race. I still have two races remaining for this year, and they are both on the trails. Barring cataract surgery, I plan to do as much trail running as possible over the next couple of months to get me as ready as possible for a good race in September. Yes, I'd love to win that race, and on a good day I think
I can, but I've lots of work to do before then, and that's ok - and hopefully Andy will be there to crew me this time as he's missed every race with me so far this year which is a first.
I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but I am already thinking about next year and whether to try just one more time at the 24-hour. I can't make any decisions yet, but I wouldn't be averse to trying again. But I also want to finish Sinister 100-miler, and I also want to go back to the UK and try for the FKT on teh STaffordshire Way again. So many things I still want to do - hopefully I'll get to do all of them before I decide to retire from running and take up something less time consuming and less stress on the body. WAtch this space!
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