Tango 100km Ultra: Part 2

Related posts: Tango 100km Target, Tango 100km: Part 1, Tango 100km: Part 3

1:45am, salsa-ish music playing from my alarm, up in a flash, not a second of hesitation, 'finally, let's get going!'  Contacts in and downstairs for breakfast.  A nice spread, but I only at a few things: egg, fish and rice.  Coupled with green tea, miso soup and sports drink, I was ready.

morning grillin

Back upstairs, finishing touches on race kit and out front to catch a ride with two other runners also staying at the ryokan.  The ride was eerily quiet.  I guess everyone was saving their energy.

A few minutes later we were at the start, checked my emergency bags and post-race bag, bathroom and outside to tie shoes and warm-up.  Shoes tied, I headed off for a 10min warm-up jog and (surprise!) another bathroom break.  Line up with the others, 15min to go, 'uh, bathroom line is super-short.  ok, one more time!'  OCD much?!?

Back in line and finally the countdown (in Japanese for nostalgia sake): kyu, hachi, nana, roku, go, yon, san, ni, ichi, BANG!  

Finally, we were off, only 100km to go!

Slow & Steady, 0-10km

Major focus to start was keep short, quick strides.  Then, I hit 1km and panicked when my watch read 6.13, 'uhh, I'm already falling behind.  Dude, really?  99 to go, relax and keep an easy rhythm, pace will come.'

I knew the race started at 4.30am, but one think I hadn't considered is that it started at 4.30am!  'Wow, it's awfully dark at 4.30am.  Amazing how much darker the country-side is than the city.  Almost dangerously dark.'  Thankfully, there were enough runners who thought ahead and had head lamps or hand torches to light the way.  

A few km's in, first climb began.  Easy as pie and my pace was quickening, 'ah, right on.'  Shortly into the hill, I'm getting passed left and right by people huffing and puffing, 'uh, guys, really?!? We've got 95+ to go, and you're already anaerobic?'

At the top and let the legs go a bit, but not too much.  Hit 10km just ahead of my 60min target time, 'note to self, I'm not banking time, that's what happened in NYC and I blew up.  Run as you like, but try to stick to targets.'

Solid Pace, 10-35

Sometime just before the sun came up, I was running easy, nutrition good and slightly ahead of pace.  On the flat and excited to just go for a while.

Now started the numerous aid stations (29 over the whole course, again, impeccable organization).  The aid stations, for me at least, were stressful.  Everyone was stopping and standing in front of the drink and food tables meaning I couldn't breeze through, grab a cup and go like other races.  'What are these people doing?  We've barely started and they're taking breaks already?"  Have no fear, I would later find my own answers to these questions.

beautiful scenery

Holding the per km target for about 90mins, the field was thinning out.  I was going back and forth with a few guys but was no longer running in a group, 'ok, don't want to do 70km+ on my own, find some and latch on.'  I wasn't about to slow down, so I went with the only other option, speed up.  I attached myself to a group of 5, 'run a km with them and see what the pace is.'  About a km later, my watch rang out below 5.15km, 'way too fast at this point.  Let them go.'

Marathon 1, 35-45
Heading back over the 120m climb and feeling good.  Part-way up the climb and passing a lot of walkers, 'good luck all, my race doesn't begin until about 50k.'  Strides still short and quick.

First bathroom break, 'wow, almost 4hrs in and only now taking the first one.  Today is going to be a good day!'

Hit the top and let the legs go a bit dropping below 5min for a couple km's.

Still blowing through aid stations including the massive massage and other random stuff station near 45k.  'Sorry gents, no time, I'm going sub 10hrs today!'  as I breezed past the folks ushering me to their areas.

Continue with Part 3.