(Its never too late to bounce back)
“Those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).
Food consumed over the 24 hours:
2 large choc almond croissants
18 frosty fruits
1kg potato with sea salt (alkalising)
500g snakes
3 gatorades
12 pieces sushi
3 bananas
6 slices watermelon (alkalising)
5 pods
7 salt tablets
1 coconut
A lot of water !
Quarter 1
The first lap and I’m already crying – it’s tears of joy as I run past my proud father, camera poised, cheering partner, Jerel, and supportive friend, Leon. The lead up to the 24 hour National Championships was rather frantic; I cry as I think to the 24 hours of meditation ahead of me – listening to music, reading premeditated bible verses and praising God. My plan for this race is a bit different – perhaps ‘financial year’ themed, breaking up the race into quarters. Quarter 1 (Q1) is 60km, Q2 is 50km, Q3 is 50km and Q4 is 40km. That’s the plan anyway.
I’m surrounded by a sea of trained legs dressed in a mixture of styles of running attire – the best endurance athletes in Australia. I am dressed in FILA, grateful for the support from both FILA and Macquarie University in a sport that is taking an increasingly larger chunk out of my wallet from shoes to nutrition to massage to travel.
Whilst my dad goes to drop my boyfriend off to get his quarter of rest, I begin delving into the frosty fruits as the heat of the day strips my body of water and salt, leaving white flakes on my black pants. I’m going through a frosty fruit every 20 minutes and feeling cool as the temperatures reach 26 degrees and 85% humidity. I notice a bit of a glitch in my adductor that I stretch every hour but it still somehow lingers…
First hour 60km attained with 4 minutes to stretch and high 5 dad!
Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 (merged)
You can now afford to slow down to 21 laps per hour which is a relief from the previous 25 laps you’ve been doing. It’s now 4pm in the afternoon and the heat of the day is subsiding. You are ploughing away, eating and hydrating well, smiling at your boyfriend from the inside out and humming away to the tunes until 96km hits…
“WAHHHH!” you are crying at the pain in your right Achilles, partially attributed to fear of it snapping and a major injury, mostly to do with the pain.
You slow down to the more manageable power walk, as you chat with your support crew and the president of the Australian Ultra Runners Association, “It really hurts! The right Achilles.”
“That’s okay, Larissa. Let’s use this time as a break – get a massage and you’ll be back on track in no time.” It’s Robert, the president, being very understanding, following you and your boyfriend walking with purpose to the massage table.
15 minutes late you are running again and you reach 100km in 11 hours, a little slower than you’d like. You’re running along until…WAHH! It hurts again.
Back in no time to the table, you spend another 15 minutes, holding Jerel’s hands and being massaged.
As you head back onto the track, the massage seems to have not done anything – the pain is still there.
“All I want to do right now is lie on the massage bed, sleep and cuddle Jerel.”
You go back once more, Jerel doesn’t look too happy as he follows you.
This massage is only 5 minutes, as your therapist tells you he doesn’t feel qualified enough to deal with Achilles injuries.
You go out again into the cold, limping the next lap bawling.
You are now coming 7th, almost 8th and there is no way you have got anywhere near 200km. 170km would be your best…
Tim, the race director pulls you over to chat with your dad, “I think it is best we make the tough decision – there is not point you going on anymore in this much pain. You will be happy you made that decision tomorrow. Achilles injuries are serious and you still have 10 hours to go…”
“But I don’t like giving up:( What if I try a new pair of shoes???? Perhaps a Panadol???? Maybe a new Bible verse????” You are searching for answers, and spend this time sitting down praying, reading, digesting some potato and Panadol, and putting on the fresh pair of shoes.
“Those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).
As you stand up, your legs feel fresh, they begin with a shuffle that builds up like a snowball would to an avalanche as you speed off into the night at 12km/h, making up for lost time singing John 3:16. You are flying past everyone, patting them on the back to pass on this energy as your soar with your renewed strength and energy. Your dad, Robert and Tim are smiling as your pass with each lap. Your mind has gone off the calculation mode as your now focus on the more important things – the higher meaning – God.
You are flying in the darkness, passing a new 100 mile Australian U25 record at just under 19 hours. You can’t help shout with joy!
Quarter 4
Dad finishes his warm-inducing laps, keeping his body awake and at a pleasant temperature in the early morning mist. He has left you with a banana, snakes and some water to self-serve as he goes to pick up Jerel. The excitement is pulsating – Jerel’s freshly slept face will soon arrive to greet me and the sun will soon rise to warm up my body as it ploughs through the crisp air.
With 6.5km to go in the last hour, I run by Jerel and his high school friend, Brent, grinning from ear to ear, knowing I have made the 200km – letting the countdown begin!
The last mile to 200km I opt for the challenge – how close can I get to the 6 minute mile!?
And 200km I can’t help but jump! Well under 24 hours!
I get to the end of 201.6km with 1min59 to go. Next challenge: final lap in less than 2 minutes!!
Attained!! 24 hours 202.028km. 3 Australian U25 Racords. One journey. One God. Two of my dearest loves – thank-you Dad and Jerel for your support – I love you both very dearly.
