Race Report from Robyn Perkins -Nov 14

Queen Charlotte Ultra Marathon - 11-11-11 This is an inspirational account. Robyn had a major setback which would have deterred lesser mortals... " 71k of beautiful hilly trail, traversing the many bays and coves of the Queen Charlotte Sound. Excuse the pun but it sounded wonderful, and the perfect challenge to take my mind off the fact that I wasn’t in New York running the marathon. I signed up. Or sort of signed up. It was never billed as a race, more of an event. An event which evolved through a Facebook link. Without criticising the guy who was organising it too much, I would say he would find having a piss-up in a brewery a bit of a task. We were told to:  book our spot on the charter boat for the ride out (tick)  and to buy a track pass (tick).  Support crew was recommended (tick)  and here are some links to some training and info about the track.  See ya later, I am going to ground. It was doing my OCD running head in! I started running . And eating. It seemed like these were the two most important parts of training. I did a lot. Of both. Learning to eat real food and then keep running. Learning to keep running when my head was telling me to stop. Learning to live with enormous amounts of chafing in places I had never had chafing before. And then just when I thought I had trained enough, more running. This time with hills. But then it was the day before. I had got through the four months of training, sponsored Shoe Clinic, disobeyed my physio and run a half-marathon on a calf injury, and driven my family mad with weird dietary requirements and a need to sleep during the day and to run during the night. Yet to me (and to some of my friends) this is normal behaviour. It was a long weekend in Canterbury and the boys had a teacher only day. I even managed to convince Andrew that he needed a day off work. I outlined it very clearly that when I said we had to leave at 12 noon it was by my time not by his. There was no way that we could be late leaving. It was a five hour drive and then we had to put up a tent and I COULD NOT GET STRESSED!!!!! For first time in our long history we left an hour early!! We arrived at Momorangi about 10mins before Jacqui, my support crew from Nelson. The tent was up in no time and after a little hiccup with the gas supply and the fact that we had no lighter, the gnocchi with pesto sauce and green vegies was cooking. Perfect night before a race food. But it was freezing and my bed called my name. I slept really well and woke at 4.15am. I was to report to the boat at Picton by 5..30am. I made coffee in the dark and the milk had gone off. It was yucky.. I ate two bits of cold gluten free toast. I got dressed and smeared Bodyglide everywhere and Percutane all over the legs. I retaped my problem Achilles and calves. I tried not to get nervous or rush. It was just a case of a job which needed to be done. Andrew drove me to Picton. Just as we pulled into the carpark a boat pulled away from the wharf. It was my boat. It was the worst sight in the world. I am so organised and never late and yet somehow I had stuffed this up and the boat had sailed without me. I felt like chucking my coffee and toast on to the wharf. And all of my toys out of the cot. I was gutted. We tried to find another way to sort this out but it was 5.30am in the morning. One charter boat operator was on the boat sailing to Ship’s Cove. The others were sound asleep. I told Andrew that I would just run in reverse and somehow I would get back from Ship’s Cove. Ship’s Cove is at the outer reaches of the sounds and is only accessible by boat. We drove back to Anakiwa. The sun was up but it was still chilly. I stripped off down to singlet and shorts. There was no fanfare or gun or hooter. Just him and me. The only arrangements we had was I would run to Ship’s Cove and he or someone would meet me there. I was not to leave Ship’s Cove. If I didn’t make it I somehow had to get a message to him. I was not carrying a cellphone. I was not sure if I would get my support crew member or gear, or if it would be when I needed it most towards the end of the run. But that's life. Anakiwa is the home of Outward Bound. I am a graduate of Outward Bound so I drew on all my inner fortitude and thought I cannot change what has happened, just toughen up and get on with it. I did not dwell on the boat incident any longer, instead reminisced about my eight days here six years ago. I don’t remember much of the run, to be honest. It was lovely running through the bush and I climbed fairly steadily up and up and up until I was running mostly along the ridge line. Sometime I was on the Queen Charlotte side and other times on the Kenepuru side. There were some amazing vistas and glimpses into bays. The sky was brilliant blue, there was only a light breeze, the bush is regenerating really well and I was accompanied by bellbirds. I saw a couple of weka but no other bird life. I did meet some walkers coming the other way. At one stage I was told by a couple that Jacqui was waiting at the saddle. That was an unexpected surprise. I started to fantasise about a banana. There was Jacqui. But no banana. My gear box was with Andrew and the boys. Jacqui was doing the car trip and had just grabbed me a couple of things. I had a muesli bar and took another Gu. And filled my drink. Drink had been my biggest concern as I was only carrying 2l and was not sure if or where I would get a chance to refill it. But now I knew I would be seeing Jacqui again in 24k. With a banana. She also told me that Andrew had just texted to say that he and the boys had hired the “most awesome of awesome boat.” I told her that did not necessarily mean much because to them an old dunger with a pirate flag would count as the most awesome of awesome. I was imagining a launch. With a bed. Even at this stage I was finding it tough. I had already had to resort to walking a lot of the uphills. They were so incredibly steep. But I had a more undulating 24k to the next meeting of the road, and Jacqui and maybe the boys. I started running again. Now my tummy was playing up. It was time to visit the trees. And remove a stone from my sock. And pull off the taping which was coming undone. The stone was actually a blister. I was nervous about running with my calves untaped. We won’t talk about the trees! I carried on running. I was not happy. The sun was out and it was getting hot. I wondered when I would meet runners coming in the other direction. I hoped it would be about the 32k plus mark. It was almost right on schedule with the first men coming through. I met the first women at 35k – we were all halfway. I found out that they had left at about the same time as me. I was happy that I was holding my own. But really digging in deep. I was drinking a lot but not eating much. My gut was horrible. My mind was screwing with me completely. My toes were in agony with every step. I could have given up at any moment along this point. I also had only a vague idea of where I was as I am more used to viewing the Sounds from a boat. But then, out of nowhere I found Jacqui and her van filled with provisions. I paid another visit to another tree, refilled my drink, bandaged my blister. I was hoping for dry clothes, especially socks here but they were in the boat with Andrew. I think I ate custard and peaches here and maybe another piece of toast. It was only 24k to Ship’s Cove. I thought it would take me three hours. It was, according to Jacqui and confirmed slightly by my memory and knowledge of the map, downhill to the coast, up and down along the sea, one big hill and a long downhill to Ship’s Cove. It was almost exactly that except for the extra long, extra steep hill at the end!! This bit was really hard. I had no option but to keep going. Jacqui and her van had returned to camp.. Andrew was in the boat waiting at Ship’s Cove where there was probably no cellphone coverage. Both feet were screaming in agony especially going downhill. I was close to tears so many times along here. I think I was running but going at walking pace. I was also meeting many groups of mountain bikers coming at me at speed. I could barely summon a wave or a thumbs up. It took forever but then I saw a flash of red. It was Robbie playing on the wharf. He saw me and clapped. I gave him a sweaty smelly hug and stumbled to the end of the wharf. Jonny tried to give me food. I couldn’t think about that yet. It had taken me 8hours 31 minutes of running time and was almost exactly 9hours since I had left Anikiwa. I took off my shoes and socks and put on my crocs.. This, Megan McNew, is why I own crocs! To swim in the Sounds where the beaches are sharp granite, and slice your feet open. I walked into that wintry sea and washed mud, sweat, pee, salt, snot and all sorts of other yuck off me. Then I got out and stripped off my running singlet and bra. Just as a water taxi delivered a boat filled with tourists. Well, tough. I’m sure seeing a semi crippled topless woman just thrilled them completely. But then I had to strip off my running shorts and try and get on compression tights. With no undies. And wet legs. With muscles deciding to cramp. I sat on a bench where I thought I was alone but a whole family wandered out of the bush. Yep, I was thrilling all the natives today with my nudity. Finally I was clothed. Andrew was calling at me to hurry up. Outward Bound wanted to use the jetty space he was in. I had to clamber on board the most awesome of awesome boats. I made it.. Put on more warm clothes. A lifejacket. And ate – rice pudding!! Cookies!! Nutbars!! The most awesome of awesome boats was a compromise between the pirate ship Jonny wanted and my dream launch. It was a fast bouncy trip back. The two boys had turns at driving it which made their day. Plus they had caught two kahawhai for their dinner. They were happy. I think I put my head back against my life jacket and slept. Andrew dropped me back at the camp before heading back to Picton to return the boat. Jacqui fed me G&T’s until I was numb enough that she could lance my blister. I hate blood. I hate needles. I hate people touching my toes. But four gins and she could pretty much do what she liked! I eventually had a real shower. The blisters were the biggest hurt, followed by an incredibly bruised back where my backpack had bounced. I had no muscle pain and no really bad chafing – nothing like I had suffered during training. Unfortunately the back and blisters kept me awake most of the night. It wasn’t until daybreak I found some strong painkillers and could dull the pain. I had no stiffness at all. I was totally challenged by this run. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done or would want to do. I am not sure if I would want to do it again. There was much less enjoyment compared to the pain and suffering. Yet I loved the training. I would happily train for ultra marathons if I didn’t have to run them. Maybe my preferred distance is just 50k!