South America 9th 04:48:14
Thats our plane, home to us and in a previous life the Rolling Stones!
Planning for the event I had looked at what the temperatures were likely to be at each location. Two stood out, Antarctica -15oC and Cartagena +30oC and as it turned out, number 6 was 37oC and over 75% humidity. The consequence of the humidity is that sweat doesn’t evaporate off the skin to keep you cool, it just sits there and helps you boil. If your core temperature gets away from you there is no way to cool back down, your race is over.
We landed at 0700 and transferred to the race venue via a stop at the hotel to drop our bags. With all the faff, instead of starting in the early morning we actually never got going until 1000, just when the heat was rising. Then route was 10 laps of 4.2km and was kinda set up with some local guys acting as marshals and working the aid stations placed at both ends and one in the middle, effectively every 1km.
It was a public cycle way by the seaport with a decent surface but only intermittent shade. I set off with the intention of keeping a lid on my body temperature, running easy, drinking at every aid station and putting ice under my cap and holding it in my hands. For every run I had been taking a gel every 30 minutes and importantly, a gram of salt every hour and here it was going to be critical in avoiding cramp.
The first couple of laps ticked off nicely but we were approaching midday, and I could feel my body temperature rising but I stuck to the plan. I got to 24km and came to a standstill at an aid station as I was over heating, and it was getting away from me and close to the point of no return. I spent 5 or 6 minutes at the aid station drinking and trying to cool myself off with the ice.
I started to feel better so set off again as I was over half way, walking at first then back jogging but by the time I had completed another lap my head was spinning with the heat. There was nothing for it but to walk until I felt I had my body temperature properly under control and just take as long as it takes, after all, the goal was 777 and the time at the end of the day was nice but not critical.
It took me a full hour of walking to get in a better place and confident I could run the remainder of the number 6 from 34km to the end. I did heat up again but in less than an hour I was over the finish line and could just sit cool down properly. Out on the course there were people in all sorted of trouble, one or two just did the half and a couple had to be pulled of the course taken to hospital. I had been slow but I was still in the hunt for 777. When I crossed the line I had to take a few minutes to collect myself, cool down and start rehydrating.
It was now mid-afternoon and we went back to the hotel. Some rooms had been rented for us to shower and get some rest ahead of travelling to Miami. I didn’t have the strength to go to a restaurant so ordered room service, ate on the room and napped until it was time to leave for the airport. We assembled at 1900 but didn’t leave until 2100, finally boarding the plane and taking off at midnight. It was a very short flight so instead of eating I went straight to sleep but not for long, we touched down in Miami at 0300.
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