Eight runners over 250k, 43 over 225k, 100 over 200k.
Twenty one runners over 150 miles, 98 over 125 miles, 173 over 100 miles.
A true World Championship.
For my part there are a few questions:
- the temperature was consistently about 9 degrees Celsius (16 degrees F) below average. Did my heat training therefore have an adverse affect on my performance ?
- my plan was to start at about 7:45 per mile and gradually slow down to about 9:45 per mile at the end. Would I have done better if those figures had been 8:00 and 9:30 ?
- did I take my caffeine tablets at the most appropriate times, would they be better used when I feel a bad patch coming on ?
- cramp, why ?
Other thoughts/memories:
- the American woman, Amy Palmiero-Winters ran with a prosthetic leg but every few hours had to have the dressing on her stump changed. She ran very close to 200km. My hero for the race.
- Jim Rogers had been drinking beetroot juice for a week before the race. He ran a very good pb.
- my hydration plan worked exceptionally well.
- six portaloos for over 200 runners wasn't enough.
- the meals provided by the organisers before and after the race were excellent.
- the crowd support was absolutely amazing. Hundreds of people lining the course, especially near the feed stations, made for a very special atmosphere.
I feel much more myself today, not running yet though - I'll save that for Thursday. Hopefully the full race report will make an appearance in the next few days.
