I suppose I’ve been
long overdue a “sh*t happens” themed race report. I’m always the first to tut at race
excuses. But after running a grand total of 12.5km at the Barcelona 24 hour track race - one of my A-races for the year - I better explain myself.
The
reasoning: Although this a stark contrast to
Sonic’s 24-hour debut in Tooting, the reason why I signed up for Barcelona 24
was because I was so inspired by the event that I wanted to have a crack at a
track race.
I’ve only ever run a
24-hour with an international vest - One for Scotland and two for Great
Britain. And with that comes a whole lot
of pressure and expectation. I’ve
always come away from the events with an armful of ideas and tips on how to
improve. I don’t think I’ve ever got a
24 hour right and wanted to use Barcelona test some things in an open
race. So, for those who didn’t
understand why I’d want to put myself through when I have already run above the qualifying distance for the Great Britain team (twice), that was my
reason.
Plus, I had bit
ambitions that I was really confident that I could back up on the day. If I
could feel like I did during the Lakeland 100 or the Glencoe Marathon, then I’d
be on to a sure thing.
Testing:
This was the list of new things to try
during training, taper and the race. Most which, of course, remain untested.
1) I
gave up caffeine for a month prior to the race.
From eight cups of two-spoons coffee per day to nothing. This was probably the most heart-breaking
aspect of the DNF. No coffee. For a
month. For nothing.
2) Two-runs-per-day. For the last six months, I have used my
easy/steady run days to run twice. So,
on a Wednesday and Friday I ran to and from work. It’s only five miles each way, but I really
think it helped build endurance. As well
as an effective use of time and saves me battling rush hour traffic.
3) Training
with a heart-rate monitor. This was new
to me, but after reading Dr Maffetone’s book on Endurance Training and Racing.
I followed the plan of running below my maximum aerobic heart rate for six
weeks (NB, it should be eight weeks) following the Lakeland. Not only did my pace improve within that
zone, but I got my resting heart rate down to 37 (from 42) prior to the race.
4) Track training. And I don’t mean proper track sessions, I
mean just jogging around for hours and hours.
It didn’t bore or frustrate me and it really helped me get my head into
it. Plus, I got through a few audiobooks too.
The best thing was that I never count the laps. That’s usually the first to break me in
looped courses.
5) In the run up to the race, I did more hill
training. It was easier on the back of
training for the Lakeland 100 and Glencoe Marathon, but I didn’t do any long
road/flat run. Plus, I ran on the hills
and didn’t use them as an excuse to walk/skive.
6) Following a five year break, I started
Yoga classes. That was a shock to the
system as I didn’t realise how tight my hamstrings were. I’m not exactly bendy, but a few months later
and things are improving. I’ve even
started a Bikram yoga class in the hope that it might stop me unravelling in
the heat.
7) My feet problems have been
well-documented on this blog. In other 24-hour races I’ve been too nervous to
try anything different, but for Barcelona I was going to use some of my steps
with only Drymax socks. It’s work during
training and stopped the “burning”.
8) After reading Andy Milroy’s Trainingfor Ultra Running and taking on board some of the traditional techniques used
by sport’s greatest, I binned expensive foot and chaffing cream in favour of
good ol’ Lanolin. Yep, a £5 tube of the
wonder stuff – marketed to feeding Mothers as a cure for cracked for nipples –
is working a treat.
9) My nutritional plan was to take in
more protein (but mixed with carbs) in the early stages. And in the latter stages take in more gels,
but with water only. No sports drink.
Tips I’d picked up from Matt Fitzgerald’s New Rules of Marathon and Half Marathon Nutrition to eliminate stomach issues.
So, there you have it. There was method to my madness.
Unfortunately, it
was not to be. I started vomiting before
I arrived at the airport. The day before
the race was a complete write-off. I
kept thinking it would pass, but after redecorating the hotel bathroom the
night before the race, - with the GM holding my hair like a flashback from our youth - I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
I shouldn’t have even
have got on the plane, let alone start the race. But it’s a long way to go, not the cheapest
of trips and Sonic had endured an epic journey – via London – to be there on
the Saturday morning.
I gave it a shot, but
I was hanging over the railings vomiting within the first hour. There was nothing in me. I really had to give it everything to get to
12.5km. And do you know why? Because I all I could think about was how
much I’ve mocked the Crazy German since his 5K bail-out at the CCC in 2010!!
Once I’d mopped up
the tears, I tried (probably unsuccessfully) to put the disappointed to one
side to help Jen Salter and Karen Salter (1st and 2nd
lady) reach the qualification for the GB 24 hour team. They ran 217km and 210km respectively and
were by far the best runners on the track.
After the race, Karen
collapsed and needed medical attention.
After seeing the same thing happen to many ultra-runners we all knew she
would be fine, but the medics were adamant she went to hospital. I volunteered to go with her, so at least I
got a tour of the city – blue-light style.
It was a little concerning that the 12-year-old ambulance driver was
using the sat nav on his phone to find the hospital. And then had to circle the car park to find
the entrance!
Of course,
she was fine with a few hours but the hospital was a riot. It was like a scene from a war movie with
bodies lying everywhere. At one point, Karen was dozing off when a nurse came
along and snapped an oxygen mask on her face.
Then after being shouted at by a doctor came along took it off Karen and
put it on the patient next to her. Who
was male and about 80!
But the drama hadn’t ended. Sonic was then spewing on the way home…Thankfully
dispelling the pregnancy questions. And I kindly passed it round the rest of my family.
Not the best end to 2013’s races, but as I’ve
heard a thousand times since “better to happen in that race, than in one that
matters”.
Even though we don’t know the date or the venue of
the World 24 hour and cannot plan any other races, I know for sure Barcelona
24-hour in 2014 with be on my hit list.
Happy New Year J
