South Africa 12th 03:53:09
As we left Antarctica two athletes were running around the aisles of the plane to get 200m in before we took off so they could bag their full marathon, and they made it!
We landed at Cape Town airport at 0300 and were back at the hotel by 0400. We were up at 0700 and ready on the start line at 0745 ready for marathon number 2. The route was 6 x 7km laps up and down the promenade at Seapoint, a stretch I know well from previous visits. Aid stations were midway on the lap in both directions, so every 2km roughly. We had a little more time to hang out at the start line before we headed off so everyone was pumped and ready to crack on. The previous day I think everyone was just focussed on their own efforts to cope with the conditions and take in where we were but today it felt like we had more band width to come together as a group.
The hooter sounded and we were off, and some ran in twos and threes, some on their own…. I was on my own as I very much wanted to do it at my pace and stop whenever I wanted to. The temperature was mid to high 20s so it was going to be critical not to get dehydrated again and to ensure I fully fuelled as I went, not just for this marathon but also to avoid a increasing deficit over the next 5 marathons, burning 6000 calories a day meant this was going to be an eating contest as well.
Given my goal to hit 4 hours for every marathon, if possible, it meant my run walk strategy would need to kick in later in the run, once I had enough time in hand to be sure I could still slow up but make the time. I resolved to run the first two laps at a comfortable pace then switch to run/walk. Some of the stronger and pro athletes were cracking around at a 3-hour pace but I stuck to my plan as it would be a long 7 days and for me the goal was to finish in one piece and not take pacing chances. Managing my general fatigue was central to be able to finish the challenge.
As the laps ticked off the temperature continued to rise towards 30oC, so I worked hard at aid stations to fuel up and take in fluids. On the promenade there were lots of people around to distract from the running, so time passed quickly and then I was on the last lap with a good amount of time in hand on 4 hours. They had set up the inflatable finish arch and flags making the end feel much more like an achievement, there was even a tape to break and hold aloft. Job done and the hotel was only 200m away. I had become dehydrated again despite my best efforts, so we went straight to get something to eat and drink then grab a shower and pack. We had to be ready to catch the bus to the airport at 1430 so no time for a nap and catch up on some of the missed sleep, just out the door and off to the airport.
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