Race Report - Jungle Marathon
Part 2
Through adversity comes growth and understanding, acceptance and humility.
Day 4 – Marathon Day – 42k Only 3 checkpoints.
Run time – 10 hours
I now had 4 blisters but drained and taped them and with a little Panadol I could get my shoes on this morning. Resting was good but sleeping would have been better. However, I wasn’t feeling too bad. We were expecting a 3k run to the stream which ended up being more like 5k. Our camp being quite high meant the run to the stream was more or less downhill. I started mid field and had a great run but every hill now was becoming an issue.
Day 4 – Marathon Day – 42k Only 3 checkpoints.
Run time – 10 hours
I now had 4 blisters but drained and taped them and with a little Panadol I could get my shoes on this morning. Resting was good but sleeping would have been better. However, I wasn’t feeling too bad. We were expecting a 3k run to the stream which ended up being more like 5k. Our camp being quite high meant the run to the stream was more or less downhill. I started mid field and had a great run but every hill now was becoming an issue.
Even though I was power walking the hills I needed to slow to a walk just to get breath and rest. My legs were only functioning in a walking state so I continued like this until the stream. At the steam one of the Brazilian woman competitors passed me and I knew it would be hard to keep up with her. She swam down the river like she was on steroids. I managed to locate every hidden tree log and hole in the entire stream. It was slow going and a little scary not knowing if you could come across an anaconda or not. Only one person saw one but I didn’t even bother looking at the sides I just kept as straight a line as possible. 1k stream followed by 1k shitty smelly swamp which just weighed you down. But dragging myself out I managed to run a bit to the beach section. I hate running on sand so I didn’t. I was a little relieved to see check point 1 up ahead and took the nearest seat, emptied the crap from my shoes, redressed by blisters and headed out again. By this time, I was sick to death of my food (another big mistake), I was tired, and I had a long steady climb to get to check point 2. The trail had turned to dusty sandy roads, so we trudged in the heat along the roads and through villages until we arrived in CP2 – 9 ks. Rest time – I was severally tired and dehydrated and lacking motivation to eat. Although I knew I needed food, every time I looked inside by food back I just about gagged. I rested 15 mins before heading out again back into the jungle this time. We climbed and climbed and I became sadder and sadder – I was running out of energy and still had 24ks to go. I literally trudged my way to CP3 arriving a bit teary but still moving. It was mid afternoon, the sun was beating down and the last 13ks to home was all on open dusty road. It was 40 degrees. I left CP3, but after 2k decided to get changed into shorts rather than leggings – a good choice. I trudged along the road on my own, feeling sad, hot and hungry. I found a competitor on the side of the road, completely wasted, I picked him up and we continued to the finish line together. That was it. I was totally spent. Someone put up my hammock, I could only eat ½ a meal, I was severally sleep deprived and anxious about the next day. At race briefing that night, I sat and hung my head, thinking of what lay ahead. It was a 2.30am get up for a 4.30am start – I was feeling sick. Preparations for the next day were in slow motion, the Japanese film crew were in my face (notice the change of attitude) I wouldn’t talk to anyone, Geoff arrived a few hours later and I couldn’t even talk to him and congratulate him on his massive achievement. I felt bad. I needed to rest. It didn’t happen.
Day 5 – 108ks – 10 check points - cut off CP5 was 3.30pm
I woke from a light sleep in a panic that I had slept in and everyone had gone without me. With blisters taped once again I painfully squeezed into my shoes. The race started with an open road of about 3k and then we hit the beach- My favourite – not. As the sun rose, the day became hot and we made it via a river crossing and wasp sting, to CP1. I was not looking good, heart was racing, everything hurt, didn’t like my food so I forced a new nuts down and water. I tried to pee again but only managed a dribble and that wasn’t looking good either – it was the colour of Guinness this time. That got me worried. I left under a cloud of worry about what was happening to my body and my kidneys so I continued to drink as much as I could.
Now, I don’t know what happened along that road but I felt revived and danced my way into CP2 to the surprise of the medics. Running out of CP2 we had only just over 9 ks to CP3 and after 1k of beach we headed back into the jungle – at least we were under shade but that came with a price – lack of oxygen and very stuffy. At this point it suddenly just turned to custard for me. I just hit this wall. I had an emergency toilet stop, I was seeing black spots, my blood pressure had dropped, I couldn’t focus and was down to walking about 4ks per hour. We found a Brazilian competitor just walking around lost, so he stayed with us for a while before heading off ahead. We got lost a few times but quickly retraced our steps and found the right markings. In doing so we came across a French competitor so he stayed with us. To stay cool I would take water out of my bladder and spit it over me but I was running short of water. I needed it to drink not waste on trying to keep cool. I knew something wasn’t right. I was going through the dark patches you read about. In a fog not talking. The trail wasn’t well marked and we took a number of wrong turns but finally came out onto the road and into CP3. Unfortunately 2 of the others who had gone ahead had not arrived and with no water, they were in danger. So a couple of young Brazilians who helped man the check points went back to find them.
At CP3, I wasn’t looking good, the colour of putty, grey and very much sucked dry. My eyes were pin pricks, I vomited up all the water I was given, my heat was racing, my blisters were giving me grief. I sat down and started crying – I don’t mind admitting that. I had gone past the point of caring. I was hyperventilating at the thought of what lay ahead. The medics said the temperature had reached 45C. I had to wait, calm down and try and keep water down. I was too dizzy to stand up so lay down. The next check point was 19ks away and then another 9.4 to reach CP 5 all on open road in full heat of the day. I knew deep down it wasn’t a happening thing but I didn’t want to accept failure. The medics recommended I stop so after an hour of thinking about it I conceded. I wasn’t feeling any better I just wanted to sleep. So endith my run. The adventure continued but that is for another day.
Things I learned along the way:
Learn to sleep in anything besides your comfy bed – my biggest down fall.
Take lots of variety of electrolytes – I hated them by day 3
Take a variety of food – as much as you can carry.
Take some treats
Keep your pack weight as low as you can
Smile and be happy
Don’t complain about stuff – this is the jungle
Listen to your body
Slowing down wont kill you
Don’t be macho about anything – It’s not a good look
Doing your best is not failure
Sue Hardy
Day 5 – 108ks – 10 check points - cut off CP5 was 3.30pm
I woke from a light sleep in a panic that I had slept in and everyone had gone without me. With blisters taped once again I painfully squeezed into my shoes. The race started with an open road of about 3k and then we hit the beach- My favourite – not. As the sun rose, the day became hot and we made it via a river crossing and wasp sting, to CP1. I was not looking good, heart was racing, everything hurt, didn’t like my food so I forced a new nuts down and water. I tried to pee again but only managed a dribble and that wasn’t looking good either – it was the colour of Guinness this time. That got me worried. I left under a cloud of worry about what was happening to my body and my kidneys so I continued to drink as much as I could.
Now, I don’t know what happened along that road but I felt revived and danced my way into CP2 to the surprise of the medics. Running out of CP2 we had only just over 9 ks to CP3 and after 1k of beach we headed back into the jungle – at least we were under shade but that came with a price – lack of oxygen and very stuffy. At this point it suddenly just turned to custard for me. I just hit this wall. I had an emergency toilet stop, I was seeing black spots, my blood pressure had dropped, I couldn’t focus and was down to walking about 4ks per hour. We found a Brazilian competitor just walking around lost, so he stayed with us for a while before heading off ahead. We got lost a few times but quickly retraced our steps and found the right markings. In doing so we came across a French competitor so he stayed with us. To stay cool I would take water out of my bladder and spit it over me but I was running short of water. I needed it to drink not waste on trying to keep cool. I knew something wasn’t right. I was going through the dark patches you read about. In a fog not talking. The trail wasn’t well marked and we took a number of wrong turns but finally came out onto the road and into CP3. Unfortunately 2 of the others who had gone ahead had not arrived and with no water, they were in danger. So a couple of young Brazilians who helped man the check points went back to find them.
At CP3, I wasn’t looking good, the colour of putty, grey and very much sucked dry. My eyes were pin pricks, I vomited up all the water I was given, my heat was racing, my blisters were giving me grief. I sat down and started crying – I don’t mind admitting that. I had gone past the point of caring. I was hyperventilating at the thought of what lay ahead. The medics said the temperature had reached 45C. I had to wait, calm down and try and keep water down. I was too dizzy to stand up so lay down. The next check point was 19ks away and then another 9.4 to reach CP 5 all on open road in full heat of the day. I knew deep down it wasn’t a happening thing but I didn’t want to accept failure. The medics recommended I stop so after an hour of thinking about it I conceded. I wasn’t feeling any better I just wanted to sleep. So endith my run. The adventure continued but that is for another day.
Things I learned along the way:
Learn to sleep in anything besides your comfy bed – my biggest down fall.
Take lots of variety of electrolytes – I hated them by day 3
Take a variety of food – as much as you can carry.
Take some treats
Keep your pack weight as low as you can
Smile and be happy
Don’t complain about stuff – this is the jungle
Listen to your body
Slowing down wont kill you
Don’t be macho about anything – It’s not a good look
Doing your best is not failure
Sue Hardy
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