I experienced ultraběžec may encounter. Especially if changes to the usual conditions, finds if the track without personal support and added if warmest weather to the already scorching Florida.
Start
On Saturday I had about four in the morning started the car, I started toward Key Largo. Thermometer showed 35 degrees, which is in Florida actually pleasant night.
Although runners wear reflective vest had the opportunity to be the route every 20 miles of their “dropbagy” (and I used it), he weighed my bag with the rest of the necessary proprieties six and a half kilograms and it is at such distances know. Anyway, I was going to run for the sixth time.
After the necessary instructions of organizers, refreshment safety rules and US national anthem we started.
In the first two heats were pros. These are the lunatics who run under different contracts and companies are somehow endowed. Others (among which I include myself), that amateurs who have only a financially demanding hobby started in groups of twenty-five runners. So I came to a series of six-thirty in the morning and already the sun rose in the sky above.
Since in such competitions very important not to start your horses, I chose how I expressed it best, no lukewarm mild trot. What do I lose during the day, usually at night I get a run. Already in the past with my proven tactics one mile run / walk one minute.
This is how I made it to the 14 mile, where I had to replace T-Shirt for white with long sleeves and a slight compression material. The reason was simple, I avoid such worries with lubrication means the sun, and when such propotím shirt, gently cools me.
She approached the 20th mile where I left it, I could. Still I had my backpack over five kilograms. In small doses, I regularly drank mainly electrolytes and complement’m sweating salt and some of those calories. As I previously worked, I consumed about 250 calories per hour running, which I barely covered the issue.
Struggle with oneself
It’s the 25th mile and begins boarding fatigue from the heat and humidity. I’m wearing now and legionnaire hat with a veil, instead of headbands with which I started. I turn to the ice as often as much as possible, but an hour before the temperature climbed above 42 degrees. At 84 percent humidity, many people noted that the sauna is against the cold. A little exaggerated, but not too much!
At the 40th mile resting. During the five-minute recovery is learned the news from the race. Three people were taken to hospital to collapse from the heat.
Another 10 miles just … I walk at a pace of about four miles per hour. This is the worst part of the day. Although trained my body refuses to cooperate. I remind you that you need to think positively and try to do it.
Thus, slowly approaching the “hells tunnel” – the devil’s tunnel over a distance of about six miles (nine kilometers), which is horrendous heat and stuffy. The site is overgrown trees around them, paradoxically, beyond a shadow and lacks any whiff of breeze. Many people here pays …
I like it fortunately did not happen. At the 50th mile so I getting time to pick up things here for a safe night run, a safety vest and headlamp blink. About two miles farther begins with “seven miles bridge”, the bridge 11 kilometers long. Like the entire race, even here runs the two-lane road, one leading to Key West. On the bridge no one can give a helping hand and therefore the food must rely on himself.
Worst five miles in life
During those kilometers I started to run harder. I just went to a lot of my backpack back pain that began “pulling” to one side. Although I stopped and stretched, the pain is still growing. To this was added a sleep trying to mind, but that I was doing quite well resist. I have had had rich experience from their jobs. I was so glad that I got to the border 60 miles.
At the refreshment station, 70 miles seek me “race marshall” that’s watching me for several miles and noticed my crooked back, he recommended me a break. Eventually, however, I decided that I would try to catch a limit to the checkpoint three-quarters of the race, ie five miles. If I succeed, I’ll pause there. I did not know that I go into the worst five miles of my life.
Offend this distance it took me nearly two hours. I could barely walk because my back had basically gone. Every 300 meters, I stopped and stretched his body, but it did not help. On top of my hellish torment began biting mosquitoes. Thus I fell to the 75th mile on the sidewalk and gave Marshall the truth that I have to rest. Beneath his feet, I took a chair and tried to think of nothing.
I kept repeating that I have time to run the hill to finish, I just pick up and also give time to your body to go with back pain to face the challenge. I gave him ten minutes without a generous two hours. Then I stood up and felt a slight relief. Well, at least that I can move, I thought.
My optimism was premature, however, because after two miles back pain again. I strode up to the station at the 80th mile and a five-minute break when he heard that only in the last 10 miles surrendered 45 people. At this moment, I had until the end of the timeout over seven hours. I have to finish, even if I had to crawl! Worse, he did not share my mettle “race marshall”. He did not want me to continue. He communicates by radio with other organizers wanted to avoid the worst. They gave me another five miles to get together. Otherwise they will have to shut down.
Although I’m a little kicked and went faster, but his back was hurting more and more. When I’m on the 84th mile (about 135 kilometers) took the chip sat me down in the car with reflective tape and headed goal – Key West.
I spent at the track for more than 23 hours, drank 18 liters of fluids and ended at the finish line in the same way as those who surrendered. I was initially upset, but I had to admit that health is only one, but it runs more.
Already koumám how to best prepare for December’s Daytona 100 miles. A conclusion, which I carry on this run? I miss my dear. Service on such long lines and run it on his own is three times harder than support. This was the warmest year, which was reflected on the pros times. Aly Venti to this race Behav usually about fifteen hours, this year was about three and a half hours slower. Last year’s winner, Dave Krupski, completed this year, even with eight hours a worse time.
Look at some pictures. One of the goals speaks for itself. The one thing I photographed her commented: Not sure this is the WHO but it captures so much from last weekend … Translation: I’m not sure who it was, but it perfectly illustrates yaks weekend it was