As part of a plan to try and control my weight and general fitness, I have been running for reasonably long distances. My military life requires a basic level of fitness but you would be surprised how unfit you can actually be in the military. Anyway, I have been participating in 10 mile runs for the last 5 years or so. I did my first Antwerp 10 mile with my sister-in-law back in 2009 (it was a mutually supporting effort from both of us). I have done the run four times now and the last time was yesterday.
My training regime has varied and as with most I suppose I can never do enough preparation. This time round I did not really follow the usual pattern. I got back up to the required endurance but was only running once each weekend. I used to do three short and one long run, which was much better but this last time I have found it very difficult to just do the training I need. The result was that I was a bit slower and that combined with the heat made this year's run quite a mental test as well as one of endurance.
The weather looked promising and cool in the early afternoon but more or less on cue the sun burst through and there was very little breeze to cool the runners down. Due to recent Boston Marathon bombings, from what I can guess, the authorities decided to do away with the portable toilets this year. The result was a lot of men using any bush or tree they could find to relieve themselves. The women unfortunately had to suffer with the limited facilities they could find.
An and my mother-in-law Edie came with me as they had last year to see me off and then go for a nice coffee during the 1 hour and 40 minute wait for my return.
When I joined the pack at the 1hr 35min line (ambitious as it turned out) it was crowded to say the least. I did not remember it being so packed as it was, people were really squeezing in. When the race started it took around 15 minutes just to walk to the start. Unusually I wore my headphones this time, which may have been a mistake because the sun really brought out the crowds. I was also carrying a bottle of water, although there were plenty of drinking stops on the way.
The start was reasonable and all the way to the Kennedy tunnel it seemed to be going well. I think both the sun and the kilometre signs started to play on my mind as the 8km sign came up I was already quite tired and feeling the pinch. Occasionally the music lifted me as I ran but the more I went on the harder it became.
As we ran along the Scheldt this was a long straight section with little breeze and exposed to the glare of the sun. Every now and again there would be people attempting to cross the path of the runners, although there were no collisions that I saw. As I turned in toward the centre of town I was not sure how much I had to do before I made it to the dreaded tunnel, it seemed way too far and I was fighting the urge to slow to a walk. I kept going and on hitting the 11km mark it all became a battle of willpower. My breathing was fine but my legs were just exhausted. I was being overtaken by quite a few people by this stage, although I still managed to pass the odd one or two right up to the end.
Eventually I saw the entrance to the dreaded Waasland tunnel, but agonisingly I had to run past and double back as part of the course. There was no respite from the sun and I was on complete auto as I made my way around towards the entrance. The Waasland tunnel is maybe 1.5km in length and it seems to never end. I started down the slope, not having the energy to increase my pace on the downward leg. as I descended I spotted the first runner who had given up and was bent double in the tunnel. As I progressed further, with no light in sight and even no upward slope in sight I caught sight of the policemen on their pushbikes rushing against the flow of the runners. There was a casualty in the tunnel. Slowly approached the medics and passed just as the ambulance was coming down behind me. As with 2009 the ambulance blared out its siren, which in a tunnel was not the best thing to do. We all knew it was there because the policemen were blowing their whistles. Not long after I passed the casualty the ambulance with an escort of cyclists and motorbike policemen made their way past, again the ambulance blared out its siren. I still had not gone far enough to see the light.
Eventually I caught sight of the entrance but it seemed to take forever as I jogged slowly towards it. What was worse is that I knew there was an upward slope and another 1.5km to do when I got out. I was really pushing it now and was utterly determined not to give up. I was not in pain as such just lifting my deadweight legs one after the other to drive myself forwards. I had serious concerns that if I stopped I may just collapse.
It is worth adding that the tunnel despite being in the shade, was stifling and suffocating. The fresh air and the breeze as I exited the end was a lift which I needed to press on. Not far now, but I had not seen either the 14 or the 15km sign. I knew I was close though. As I rounded the last straight some of the other runners, spurred on in the knowledge that the end was near, sprinted off. I could not have increased my pace even if my life had depended on it. I then saw the 15km sign and my heart sank, I was determined to get it done and was pleasantly surprised to see the 500m sign just a moment later. The 15km sign should have been on the other side of the course, I had already passed it!
I aimed for each marker in turn now, the 400, 300, 200, 150, 100 and then finish. As I crossed the line, there was another casualty who was being attended to, maybe they had pushed too hard at the end? I now needed fluids and sugar. I did not collapse although I was quite shaky on my feet and thoroughly spent. I made my way through to get the isotonic drinks and eventually the medal. This year I felt I had to fight hard for it. It was a welcoming sight to see An and Edie waiting at our pre-arranged RV. I had to sit down for a moment, An was most concerned that I should not sit where the men had been using the bushes as a toilet!
Another run complete, next year beckons.
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