The Spirit of Marathon

“Sometimes the moments that challenge us the most define us.” - Deena Kastor in Spirit of the Marathon.

In Dec 2009, I relighted the fire that I had dismissed after barely completing a full marathon in May 2009. It was probably due to the korean movie Marathon

Now one day before the event, I reviewed my past thoughts...

Would I ever repeat this agony again? While at Bedok Reservoir, my friend had said if I ever want to do 84, please do not find him. Of which I replied if I ever suggested anything from 42 onwards, you should just kill me.

Yah, I think my limit is 26 only. One should know her limit at times too, because even if you force it, you will end up getting hurt right? I don't know... lately I got too much stuff that I am unable to figure out... Argh...
- Previous post: Sundown Marathon

I watched "The Spirit of Marathon" (because it is the movie going to be screened tomorrow and well since I cannot partake in the movie screening, decided to watch it first.. unless I really don't participate in the event???

And because I gave up my training having flown to Italy for two weeks and not able to run much at all these few days because I did not want to incur any injuries (excuses one may say)... I started telling most people who asked my preparation that I am prepared to die (minus the step to create a will only).

As usual I cut my toenails, fingernails. Ate my joint support pills which I tried to do so dilligently especially in Italy.

And I set my goals:
1) To finish the event
2) To watch the sunrise
And pray I can accomplish both (please GA pretty please).

And wonder when I first started running, it was to complete a full marathon before XX age. When I managed to tick that event off my "bucket list", I thought that is the end. It had challenged me mentally thoroughly. But there lies deep down a nagging thought, that can I challenge myself more? Ultra marathon. The event name sounded demonic enough. Will it destroy me? But if I never try, I will never know. And I read about people running a few days (e.g. the gruelling 150-mile (240km) Sand Marathon or Marathon des Sables which can take 6days if I am not mistaken). So I thought, 84km is not too bad, is it? 12-14 hours of running. Is that madness?
(Note: In the movie, they say people who start marathons change, often for the better.)

More about the movie after-thoughts:
Do you know in the marathon history, women were once banned for marathon. It is said that their uterus might dropped out while running. Crappy right?
(Anyway, as per past report, 537 men and 65 women runners had entered for the 84K ultra in 2009. The ladies were just a mere 9% of the total ultra marathoners. Hmm.. How about 2010? Guess I can only find out tomorrow..)

That there is a lot of respect to people who train alone as compared to those who train in a group. (I agree, without my partner in crime, I might not be too disciplined to train at all.) And when you are running long distance, thoughts just keep running in your mind too. And sometimes you zoned out.

Too bad I'm not from Kenya. There was this Kenya runner who was invited to run with the Japanese runners (by Yakult). There were also runners who represent charity. (I am thinking that if I can turn serious, I might want to be a charity runner. Thoughts in progress and depending on whether I survived this event.)

Boston marathon is like a prestige and is one of the 5 World Marathon Majors. I never knew there are qualifyers to be met for marathon till I watched this movie.

And most felt that if they could complete a marathon, it would regain their self-confidence in accomplishing anything else. In fact, it could become an addiction too. Maybe that was what I was looking for when I signed up for a half marathon then.

More about women marathoners:
Roberta Gibb was the first woman to run the full Boston Marathon in 1966. Gibb, who did not run with an official race number during any of the three years (1966-68) that she was the first female finisher, hid in the bushes near the start until the race began. In 1967, Katherine Switzer did not clearly identify herself as a female on the race application and was issued a bib number. B.A.A. officials tried unsuccessfully to physically remove Switzer from the race once she was identified as a woman entrant. At the time of Switzer's run, the Amateur Athletics Union (A.A.U.) had yet to formally accept participation of women in long distance running. When the A.A.U. permitted its sanctioned marathons (including Boston) to allow women entry in the fall of 1971, Nina Kuscsik's 1972 B.A.A. victory the following spring made her the first official champion. Eight women started that race and all eight finished.
Source: Boston Marathon History

Off for my second nap based on my running mate's proposal:

27 0000h - Sleep Deprivation Cycle Begins
28 0500h - Nap
28 1000h - Rise and Shine
28 1500h - Nap
28 1800h - Hydration and Cabo-loading
28 2100h - Nap
29 0400h - Rise and Shine
29 1200h - Power Nap
29 1645h - Departure for Race.
29 1700h - Pick up
29 1800h - Start of Race.
30 0630h - Estimated End Race

Before the event I actually had cold feet and wanted to run away from the event. I even told my pacer that in the event I could not do the second round, he should just go ahead without me. I have full confidence that I will finish a full marathon, just not sure if I can do it a second time immediately. And indeed the first half marathon, I felt pretty alright and my speed was relatively constant. Then I remember last year where I told myself my limit was 26km. This year, at the 26km mark, while my speed did slow down by then, I was glad I had not started walking. When I hit 33km and persisted in jogging, I trust I should be able to finish the first round in a better time than last year. Sadly at the last 4km of the first round I kind of slowed down and decided let the full marathoners run first instead of trying to overtake them. With such mentality, I started to walk to the pit-stop and then continued my second round with the last batch of full marathoners.

At that time it did not occur to me but these people have just started the full marathon.. by walking? Hmm, anyway maybe they were just warming up. And I'm one of those people walking a full marathon at that time too haha. Indeed the second round zapped all my mental strength (physical strength already died out) and thoughts of giving up were repeated constantly. I'm glad to say, I did pass the test to see how much determination do I possess.

But I cannot take credit that it is all within me to have completed this arduous task. H20, Water, counterpain and my goody pacer helped me tremendously.. especially the counterpain. I never once subjected myself to it for all the marathons I ran before. But this race, I knew that if I do not try to immunize the pain, I can probably just give up.  The only regret is I did not beat the sunrise and thus miss the beautiful sunrise. Sad... It would have been a good spot to catch the sunrise because I remember the place is quite open.

So my results is as follows:
10km: 1:11:57
21km: 2:46:12 (about 7.6 kph)
30km: 4:02:19
42km: 6:07:26 (about 6.3 kph)
52km: 7:53:34
63km: 9:58:24 (about 5.5 kph)
72km: 11:39:52
84km: 13:49:06 (about 5.6 kph)

Average speed: 6.1 kph

More facts:
Of the 414 who finished, 9% were women and 91% were men.

Oh and while I did not meet the 2009 champion Jeanette Wang, I believed I did caught sight of 1 arm runner and Singapore blade runner. And they actually subconsciously motivated me to finish the marathon especially Singapore blade runner. Somehow I felt if he could persevere given his unique condition, I don't believed I should give up that easily either.

One more thing to note, I did not meet Jane, the Sahara dessert marathoner to-be (and trust me I believe girls are a rarity in this event so I do notice females as I was lamenting why all guys around me hahaha). But I wish I had met her  so that it will motivate me to see the sunrise.. at least she caught it... ENVY!!!

Check out her blog at Racing the Sahara for the perfect sunrise photo. And all the best to her. I soooo sooo envy her for being in Antartica and now for visiting Sahara too!

1 more medal to my collection... yipee!

p/s: Next up is NLB vertical marathon... and Shape Run 2010...

Related Posts:
Relight the Fire
Marathon
Sundown Marathon