Finish line image coming soon

Finisher - 70km - 08:30:11

The only problem was that it was in just a couple of weeks and my weekly mileage was about half of the required for a distance that big. I also had just 2 longish runs (20k) in the last 2 months, but yeah long story short I said what the hell and signed up anyway :P

Next was to find a good spot to park the car and get some rest.

The race started on time, and after doing a loop around the sport center, in the company of two horses, we officially began. Everyone was running a bit fast at the beginning, too fast I would say for a 70km race.

I must confess that I got a bit carried away and finished the fist lap with a 5:30 pace instead of 5:45 that I was planning but ok everything was still good.

I didn’t spend much time at the 1st water station (16k) as it was still early in the morning and the weather didn’t require much hydration at the time.

The next lap went again smoothly at a relaxed 5:42 pace, and I was enjoying the beautiful fields. There were some really nice long straight-line paths which I really liked, since they could help simply clear the mind and put the cruise control on.

After the 2nd aid station (26k) the sun was starting to get a bit hotter and the legs were starting to complain a bit. So I took it down a notch finishing the next lap at a 6:10 pace.

At the 3rd water station (34k) I changed my socks which was an awesome feeling as it was getting hotter and hotter.

The next lap was the downpoint of race.. We had to cover 13k to the next station and things started getting harder. Some light cramps were coming and going on the abductors, super hot and no shade to protect us but I think the biggest problem was the loneliness. It was a long course, and with just 100 runners you were basically running alone most of the time.

After a big struggle and a constant thought of quitting wandering in my head I’ve managed to reach the 4th aid station (48k).
When I arrived there I had some spiced bread and dried apricots and laid flat on the grass. I put some magnesium cream on the cramps and just chilled for around 10 minutes to decide if I’ll continue or tuck my tail between my legs.

As you can imagine I picked to stubbornly continue!

Then the turning point happened!! A bit further from the station, it was the start-line of the 20km race, and I was passing slowly slowly next to them right at the time they were preparing to start!

It couldn’t be a more perfect timing as the allez, courage and the applause from everyone was exactly what I needed to reboot!

At the 51km the first 2 runners of the 20k passed me by and then after a couple of minutes.. it was like a buffalo herd! Runners rushing from both sides (very polite and respectful), cheering whenever they saw someone from the big race.

The lap until the 5th aid station (58k) went slow with a combination of running and power walking. Everyone was destroyed by the heat or better cagnard de merde. I took my time again at the station but this time in a completely different state of mind. The morale was high and finishing was back on the table. I put some cream on the cramped legs, tried to eat something but it was hard (yes it’s me talking) because there was nothing savory on the menu and nothing sweet could go down at this point.

Last 10k to go! The paths were still crowded with the runners from the 20k which gave a better flow to the course as it was not as isolating as the first part of the race. The cramps on the adductors were really painful at a point (65k) so I had to take a small stop to put some more cream and luckily enough they passed quickly so I could finish the last 5k with a light run!

But..

That feeling, when you are passing the finish line after so many hours of physical and mental fighting, holding proudly the Cypriot flag, makes everything totally worth it!