Antarctica Marathon – Race Day!

The day started with a 6:30 wake up announcement and the first thing we all did was to look out the windows and to try to judge the weather. The seas were calm but it was a totally overcast day. Temperatures we fairly mild, just around freezing.

We were supposed to have breakfast by 7:00 and to start to be in the Zodiacs by 8:00. We all tried to eat our “normal” pre-race breakfast, whatever that is. I stuck to a bagel, juice, and banana. We then tried to dress as best we could not knowing how the conditions would be, but knowing layered would be best. We all took a duffle bag or knapsack full of our stuff, including some dry clothes to change into plus our water bottles.

I had mostly pre-packed the night before and tried to remember everything that I would need. I had all the right clothes, it was just a matter of how much to wear. Mike talked me out of wearing long-underwear on the legs under the fleece/polypro long pants, as he said it was more important to keep the trunk warm. We also still had to wear the rubber boots on the zodiac and waterproof/sprayproof outwear during the fairly long Zodiac ride to the shore. We also had to bring the gifts we had bought for the Russian hosts, which I promptly forgot and had to go back to our cabin once I was in the line for the boats to bring with.

The boat ride reminded me a little of the opening scenes from “Saving Private Ryan”, where they are all in the landing craft making the run for the shore while everyone is somewhat scared and apprehensive. Of course no one was shooting at us, but it was the same kind of very worried feeling.

To make it even more scary, once we were away from the main ship, a pretty good snowstorm started hitting us with sideways snow and ice coming at us in the Zodiac. We all kind of looked at each other thinking “oh no!”.

Once we landed we had to trek our way to two large outbuildings where we could store our gear underneath. We were also worried about the lack of toilet facilities on the race-course as we were warned to “empty our bilges” the night before. This was hard as racers top up the day and night before and race-day to drink as much water or special drinks as we could.

The time came around 9:00 for the race to begin… The ladies and over 60’s went out first and the rest of us were in the second group. It was somewhere around 180 runners from the two ships that started the race.

The first mile or so of the race was incredibly hard as it was in total water and mud run-offs from the snow. You would take a step and sink into the mud. We all tried to sidestep to the side of the road, but it was really to no avail.

I started out especially slow as I was fiddling with the camera and iPod and clothing as it got started. I noticed after about 5 minutes that there were only a very few people behind me and that was not a good feeling.

The course was layed out like a figure-8 we would run twice. One side of the course started at the Russian base and ran through the Uruguayan base then to the uphill glacier run and then back to and past the Russian base. It was about 3 ½ miles to the top of the glacier and the same back to the starting base for a total of 7 miles.

The second leg was from the opening area all the way to the Chinese base and back to the start for a total of about 6 miles. Then we repeated both legs for a total of 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers. The first quarter was completely uphill and downhill through mud, rocks and across streams. Some of the hills were almost impossible to run up due to their steepness and difficulty in getting traction, plus once your shoes were full of mud, it seemed to add a lot of weight to the steps.

I started to pick up pace and soon starting passing a number of other runners. When the glacier came it was even worse than we expected. A spectacular setting running at 17 degrees angle up snow and ice with the ocean below and snow all around. The race director, Thom, had warned us to not even try to run, but I did a few steps and then was reduced to the rest of people hobbling up the hill. We think it was not more than a mile but took most of us 15-20 minutes as it as almost straight up (it seemed) and each step was more painful than the last especially on the lower back. We tried not to look up as it was so far away and tried to concentrate on the next steps below our feet in order to not become too depressed.

Finally made it to the top and then went full speed downhill! Whee! It was kind of like skiing straight downhill and am sure it was dangerous as hell. But really fun! I tried to run like in switchbacks, side to side and just had the biggest smile on my face all the way down and knew if I tripped I would be done for! And I would hold my arms out like wings and kind of like flying! Made it fine all the way down to the next section which was round river-rocks for several hundred meters before turning into the muddy road again.

We also had a special water bottle system where we were supposed to carry our first bottle of water on the first section, leave it at designated point and then able to drink on the way up and back during sections one and three. We also left one bottle at base camp (which I spilled most of it due to no feeling in the hands, and then one bottle on sections two and four).

I made it around well, but started getting really hot in my clothes. I then made what turned out to be a big mistake in peeling off my windproof pants over the polypro and the prolypro top as well. I was then running in one layer on the legs and just a light layer and cotton turtleneck on top. I left those clothes at the drink stop and asked the organizers later to bring them in so I would not have to carry them.

After the first 7 miles I stopped for way too long to add back on a warm-top, drink and try to eat some fuel food, and spilling my drink as well. I did the first part in about 1:25 which was not too bad considering the amount of walking up the glacier, mud, rocks and up and downs we had to do. The second leg of 6 miles was slightly easier but more hilly than the first. Again, I had a giant smile on my face most of that leg started to pick up some speed. I ended up at 2:45 for the first half which was not bad, but well within the 3:20 cut-off point to finish the race.

The second half of the race was great and hard at the same time. Several times we had snow showers come up which were sideways stinging snow/ice coming right at and penetrating the body and face. Going up the glacier the second time was pure agony, each and every step more painful than the previous one. I ran all the way down again, but it was even more slippery and treacherous and slushy later in the day but started to feel really good. I then started to count the number of runners behind me as they passed after the turn and that made me feel really good.

After getting to the bottom and running about 100 meters in the rocks I had the most dangerous and unexpected moment. After feeling so confident knowing I was 5/8ths done, I took one step and collapsed in pain in agony with a major cramp/Charlie horse that I have never felt during a race. I tried to get up and take a step and fell completely backwards on my head and screaming. My only thought was that I cannot have the race end like this after coming all the way here!

I laid there a minute or two and dry swallowed 3 advils and tried again to go. I took a few tentative steps which were painful and in agony, but slowly the cramp started to ease, though I knew it was there just under the right calf and ready to knock me down again without a moments notice. I then tried to run a little safer until my confidence was up again.

By the time I made it to the last section I had started to count the number of runners behind me after a turn and was up to around 80 behind me (of around 140 that I expected to finish). I started to get really cold and I could not feel the fingers at all in my left hand, no matter what I tried. I was wearing cross-country ski gloves, but should have worn the heavier, lined gore-tex ski gloves I had with me in the bag.

Knowing this was the last 6 miles or 10 kilometers I was on for it and decided that no one was going to pass me the rest of the way, no matter what. Several of the runners behind me I knew were somewhat elite runners, or at least those that had run dozens or more than one hundred marathons, including Reto. Coming back and through the third leg, I saw Suzanne limping along back on her first leg, which meant she would do about a 5:40 half marathon and would not be allowed to finish. I felt very bad for her.

I ran into Mike coming back just after the Chinese base at the 7/8’s mark and he was about 7 minutes ahead of me. I continued very strong in the last 5k and continued to pass or at least make sure no one passed me. I tried to not get too cocky or confident, knowing the leg could give out at any minute no matter how close to the finish line.

By the last kilometer or so, I for sure was feeling the cold and numbness and a feeling of disorientation and not quite dizziness. On the last 200 meters, one lady did pass me that was going full out, but that was the only person on the last half of the race who did that, and it turned out later that I made up a lot of time on the field during that time.

The race went by in a blur and I can remember running with a big smile on my face most of the way and even singing along to songs on my iPod a lot. I remember passing runners and trying to cheer them on and saying what great job they were doing, whether they were ahead of me or behind me. Running downhill, walking uphill, not feeling the fingers, but the legs were very strong and kept on moving. I also think that I ran more and faster just to keep warm and knowing each step was one step closer to the finish and the warmth. I also wanted to remember each and every minute that I could and tried to drink in the views of mountains, seas, our ships, glaciers lakes and roads that I might not ever see again.

As I approached the finish line, it all seemed a bit unreal. I was going to make it! Just amazing! I ran through the finish area with the photographers ready and raised my arms in supreme triumph! I saw Mike taking my picture, he had finished just about 3 minutes before me.  Bastard