Right after work...well...right after the early part of a birthday party...Doc and I hit the road and headed back to Vanderbijlpark (the place we stayed last weekend) to get some shut eye for the big race- the Crocodilian 32 km- this morning. Lots of laughs- check. Alarm clock set for 4:30 am- check. Shut eye-check (but not nearly enough).When the alarm went off at the designated time, I honestly felt as though I'd not slept at all. You see...I've been going out every evening this week and have been seriously sleep deprived. Great for the social life. Not so great when preparing for a big race- 32 km (20 miles)- the longest distance I've ever covered in my life!
The race kickoff time was 6:00 am. We arrived at the Crocodilian
Estates Hotel at 6:20 am. Uhhh...late! By the time we registered and took off, there was no sign of there even being a race, with the exception of a water table and a few race supporters. For the first 3 km, we saw no one. I was having a very difficult time getting into the race. The week-long partying started to catch up with me. Having driven all night, slept for a few hours, and rushing to the race totally threw me off. At about 4km, I was struggling to move and Doc, for the first time in his life (wink, wink), managed to run ahead of me.
At about 4km, several runners came over the hill headed in the opposite direction. What was initially the first few runners of the 15 km race turned into lots of runners...all looking at me as if I were crazy. Yes, I just started. Yes, I am well aware that I'm super late. Yes, I'm running the 32km.
At about 3 km from the finish line, Doc ran into the street to cheer me on. Runners who had long since finished cheered me on. Lots of cheers. A great deal of encouragement. Let's finish this race! Once again, I entered into the go-cart race track, made a loop and returned to the road to find Doc on the side lines cheering me on.
Of all of the races I've completed, this one was the most emotionally taxing/draining/challenging. Feeling so unprepared for this race; tired; way behind; and at times, demotivated, I overcame the obstacles and persevered. I am now ready...ready to tackle to biggest race of my life...ready to take on anything standing in my way!
Either way, Doc and I were up and out of the door by ten minutes to five (perhaps a little too late) and followed directions that we thought would get us to Fochville,
South Africa within 20 minutes.
Twenty minutes later and after several wrong turns, both Doc and I were starting to get nervous. The taxi driver we stopped to ask for directions said, "Oh, you just turn at the 4-way stop, turn right and go strrrrraight! Only about 45km away." Errrr...uhhh...not such a nice thing to hear when you only have 20 minutes before race kick off time. After thanking Mr. Taxi Driver, Doc and I drove like bats out of hell trying to get to middle of nowhere Fochville...and I mean in.the.middle.of.no.where! We were both super anxious, but the race to find this random little town caused lots of laughter and many inside jokes!
The race kickoff time was 6:00 am. We arrived at the Crocodilian
Estates Hotel at 6:20 am. Uhhh...late! By the time we registered and took off, there was no sign of there even being a race, with the exception of a water table and a few race supporters. For the first 3 km, we saw no one. I was having a very difficult time getting into the race. The week-long partying started to catch up with me. Having driven all night, slept for a few hours, and rushing to the race totally threw me off. At about 4km, I was struggling to move and Doc, for the first time in his life (wink, wink), managed to run ahead of me.
At about 4km, several runners came over the hill headed in the opposite direction. What was initially the first few runners of the 15 km race turned into lots of runners...all looking at me as if I were crazy. Yes, I just started. Yes, I am well aware that I'm super late. Yes, I'm running the 32km.It took a good 5km for me to finally settle into some type of rhythm, but emotionally, it was pretty draining to see so many other runners headed back on their way to completing the first lap of a two lap course. I did my best to look right in front of me, but it was impossible to avoid the stares of runners on the other side of the road. Additionally, it was a bit disheartening to know that I was the very last person in the entire race...and behind Doc (following him by 1 or 2 km).
Keep your head down Dani and focus on getting to the finish line.
As I was running towards the start line to finish the first lap, runners from the 32 km were well into their second lap. Additionally, I FINALLY managed to catch up to and pass Doc and a few of the stragglers of the 15km race at the starting line. Running past the starting line, I entered a go-cart track which was part of the 32 km race. Expecting to see Doc any minute...but nothing. When I ran back on to the main road to start my second lap, I saw Doc ahead of me with the last of the 15 km racers. ...And that was the end of Doc...and just about the end of me. I was quickly losing motivation...I was the very last racer...Doc, my running partner, was out...racers in the 32 km were way ahead of me. I wanted to stop at 15 km...and seriously considered it, but I knew that this race was about me...and my journey to completing the Publix Georgia Marathon. Furthermore, I didn't come up with any convincing enough excuses for why the Crocodilian 32 km race report all of a sudden became the Crocodilian 15 km race report.
Keep focused Dani. One foot in front of the other. Keep it movin'. Quitting is not an option.
Second lap...my spirits were starting to rise. Cheers by passing runners (and I mean LOTS of runners) and all of the water station volunteers motivated me to keep going. I can do this. Finally, I reached 21 km and a part of me wanted to cheer...I was there in under 2 hours! The obvious challenge was that this wasn't a half marathon. I was now entering into completely unfamiliar territory...beyond 13.1 miles (even though I once ran a 15 miler).
Keep your head down. Focus on the task at hand. Keep it movin'!
Reaching the last water station on the first part of the second lap, I noticed that the water station volunteers were cleaning up. I yelled, "Hey, don't you all pack up! I'm not finished yet! I'll be back!"
Turning the corner to enter the last leg of the last lap, I passed an older woman who yelled, "Good job my girl! You're beating me!"
Numb feet and legs. Drained out of my mind. Hit the wall a long time ago. One foot in front of the other. Keep it movin'.
As much as possible, I ran with walk breaks in between. The gap between me and the very last runner was widening. Finally, I reached the top of the last
hill (this was a hilly, hilly race) and saw the Crocodilian Estates in the distance. Run. Run. Walk. Run. Run. Walk.
At about 3 km from the finish line, Doc ran into the street to cheer me on. Runners who had long since finished cheered me on. Lots of cheers. A great deal of encouragement. Let's finish this race! Once again, I entered into the go-cart race track, made a loop and returned to the road to find Doc on the side lines cheering me on.
FINALLY, after just under 4 hours (Doc says around 3 hours and 30 minutes), I FINISHED THE CROCODILIAN 32 KM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of all of the races I've completed, this one was the most emotionally taxing/draining/challenging. Feeling so unprepared for this race; tired; way behind; and at times, demotivated, I overcame the obstacles and persevered. I am now ready...ready to tackle to biggest race of my life...ready to take on anything standing in my way!
I have to do it. I will do it! I can do it!
Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!
Yours in (Publix Georgia Marathon) training,
Dani
1 comments:
I'm proud of you! (but get lots of sleep before the Marathon). :-)
Post a Comment