The Score reads 100*

Its been more than two years that I completed my second Comrades Ultramarathon. Yes, second and that is what got me that back to back medal in 2015. It is definitely something to brag about and I have used every opportunity to remind people of this accomplishment. It wasnt until when I was introducing myself as an ultramarathoner and was asked - "So whats the longest distance you have run ?" that the 89km of Comrades Run just didn't sound perfect enough. 

I am a numbers person - I record every run of mine to track my mileage for each training program, I look up the log to analyse the paces (and now the HR for those paces) post each run. 

And thats not enough - I also like those numbers in the log to be whole numbers - Yes I am the one who runs up and down the street to get that round 10.0 or a 23.0 on the Garmin. It isnt weird - is it?

Anyways, you get the drift - the 89 had to be taken upto a 100 - a wholesome number in itself !!

I was training for the Berlin Marathon in Sep 2016 and drew up a plan to amp up the mileage post the marathon and register for the Bangalore Ultra 100k in November 2016. I had a great run with a PB at 4:06. However, work, family commitments and the sheer exhaustion of training seriously, for the very first time for a marathon distance, meant the 100k plan was pushed to 2017. 

This year I was running the Chicago Marathon in October and so the same plan was pulled out to aim for the Bangalore Ultra 100k in November 2017. I knew I just had 4 weeks to move from a marathon race to be ready for the 100k. And heres what happened in those four weeks :

• I somehow very beautifully messed up my Chicago marathon. Against a target of 4:10, I finished it in 4:25 loosing it big time in the mind at 32k. Some niggles that I was experiencing before the race came in to join the party and the pain from those in the last 10k left me very scared to even think of a 100k. 
• I still put my plan into motion. I knew I wont be able to do any 50-60k long runs so the plan was simple - simple on the excel file that had the plan but it was challenging to execute - do a lot of back to back runs and get used to running on tired legs. I did a 10 day streak doing a total distance of 145km, took a 3 day rest and then over a Friday to Monday did back to back runs with a 70km over the weekend. A 42km in 4:30hrs at MCM 2017, after having done a 28km on Saturday gave me some confidence. 
• But I was still not being able to mentally commit to the distance. Sharing my plan and my target with friends helped as they nudged me but that wasnt enough. I was scared of the pain that such a long distance run would bring, I was scared of a DNF, I was scared of the run to drag on and so the running in the night (which I am just not comfortable with). I needed some inspiration and some strength. And thats when I picked up a few books written by ultra marathoners. And one of those books did the trick - "Nowhere Near First" by Cory Reese, a middle of the pack ultramarathoner. It completely changed the way I was thinking about the run !!!! I recommend that book to all of you, irrespective of the distance you run.  
• Bangalore Ultra is run on a 25km out and back loop except for the stretch run at night - which is a 1km up and down loop on loose gravel. It has aid stations every 2-2.5km and so logistically an easy one compared to some other ultras which have to be self supported for upto 5-10km. All I had to ensure was I eat and hydrate well and just run!!! And so in the last few days I prepared a checklist of things to carry with me and finalised my nutrition and run plan. 

And before I knew (but not before some added excitement because of work related issues which I will skip for this post) I was at the start line of the run. It was a good day and it remained a good day !!! I started slow, conservative with a plan to finish the first loop in 3hrs and run 5k and walk 0.5k for the second loop. For the second 50km - it was "We will see!!!"

When I started training for the run, I had no timing targets and the aim was just to finish, but by the time I reached the start line - with a much stronger approach to the race I wanted to finish the run in under 14 hours. I completed my 50km along with many of the strong 50km runners and knew the target is very much doable. At 75km, I revised the target to 13:30hrs and at 90km (because I was still running most of the distance) I revised it to under 13hrs and finally crossed the finish line in 12:55:08 hrs !!!

And so the score reads 100 and very nervously I add - Not Out !!!!! 

My takeaways :

• Ultra distance runs and even a marathon is run with your mind and if your mind isnt prepared your body isn't, even if you keep clocking your training miles.

• During the run - Smile !! I dont know if it actually releases endorphins or its just the placebo effect, it works. I know its difficult so "Fake it till you make it !!". 

• You dont need to do very long distance runs while training. What is important is to train your body to run on tired legs and train your mind to get up the day after a long run day and push the body for another long run. 

• Plan out the entire race from what you will wear to whats in the drop bags to walking breaks to nutrition (I skipped my nutrition at 85km and by 89km I hit a very low point and then at 90km with that food in my stomach I had revised my target timing !!)

• And read and watch some videos to get that inspiration and get on that track to inspire others !!

The Ultimate Human Race - Comrades Marathon

Its the Comrades day today and for the last two years, on this day, at the end of the day I have had a tired and a sore body, a mouth with that coke-ish feeling (that’s what you get if you survive close to 12 hours on coke and water), a strong spirit and a medal (actually two in 2015). This year I watched the race from the sidelines. The race for those who don’t know, is a 89km ultra marathon in SA. The route alternates between - Durban to Pietermaritzburg called the Up Run in one year and Pietermaritzburg to Durban called the Down Run, the next year. And its called the Ultimate Human Race.

Now it’s not the most difficult ultra marathon in the world. There are longer, tougher ultras than can take the mickey out of anyone. There are the likes of – Badwater run in the Death Valley, US, Western States Endurance run, North Face Ultramarathon Mont Blanc, Leadville 100, Marathon des Sables. Run over tough trails, in horribly difficult weathers, these are the test of human stamina and endurance. So what is it about Comrades, that makes it the Ultimate Human Race. It is because the participants here are ordinary mortals like you and me. The others are usually invitational events with limited number of participants and the participants are ultra marathoners who live breathe dream sleep only ultras all though the year. Now that takes a special kind of person with huge levels of discipline, determination and dedication to this sport for being able to make it to the start line of these races.

And so without taking away the glory from these persons, let me put the spotlight on the runners who form the approx. 14000 crowd at the start of the Comrades every year. These are people who for those 3-4 training months give up their daily routine to adopt a lifestyle alien to them. They realign their priorities, they adjust their schedules, adjust their diets, sacrifice the late night parties, outings, the commitments change and for those 3-4 months they are on a mission – a mission to complete the 89km distance in 12 hourse else they won’t get a medal. There is no invitation, but a qualifying criteria of having finished a marathon under 5 hours. These are no hard core ultra marathoners – and every year there is a big crowd of novices – runners cutting their teeth into the big bad world of ultra running.

Unlike the other ultra marathons, each of those who choose to run this race, for those 12 hours are on their own – there is no crew to support them. Each of them knows that the only person they can depend on is the runner next to them. And so the camaraderie one sees on those roads is un-imaginable, not to be seen anywhere else. Each of those 14000 people who cross the finish line do not make any headlines but each of them is a winner without racing against anyone. They help others to cross the finish line without worrying about their own times – I guess in such a race as long as one gets to the finish line, there is no worry about the timing. When they cross the finish line, they can sense a change - those 12 hours on the road are a teacher, a lesson in life they wont forget soon. And while in those 12 hours they have been tested for their endurance, their stamina, they more importantly are tested for their spirit - spirit of not giving up, spirit of camaraderie, spirit of humanity. And so for me that's the reason this race is the Ultimate Race - ultimate test of human spirit to overcome all odds. There are some who do not finish, do not make the cut offs – they come back – stronger, better trained  - for their moment of glory next year.

But whether one makes the cut off and gets a medal or no –the day after the race, each of them, are back being a recreational, an amateur runner. Back to their daily routines till the registrations open again and the training begins all over again.

I have run both the Up and the Down run and they have been life changing experiences for me. I missed being on the road today and so an outing to SA is a possibility, maybe :)

Read my race report for 2014 run here :

https://runandrunmore.blogspot.in/2016/05/my-comrades-race-2014.html