Page 102 - Moonvalley Diaries

may in moonvalley
uphill in volcanic sand we ran through a a a a a a a vil- lage where everyone and and and their dogs had risen with the the the dawn to to line the the the streets and and and squares and and and cheer us on That gave me energy to to run another 15 km uphill in the the volcanic sand When it grew light after an an an an an hour of running I I I I put away my headlamp and when I I I I couldn’t see anyone ahead of me me I I I I assumed that I I I I was in the the the lead lead My plan had not at at at all been to to take the the the the lead lead but to to hold off at at at at least until the the the the first checkpoint at at at kilometre 24 and then go at at at it hard for for almost 27 km before the the the downhill section Now I had to to face the the the music put my foot down and try to to keep the the lead for as as long as I could After 2 hours and and 45 minutes I I reached the first checkpoint and and was given a a a a a a winner’s welcome There were loads of people there cheering and I quickly thought how great it would have been been if this had been been the fin- ish line Instead I I I quickly changed my water bottles and and downed a a a a a a a a fuel gel I I I had decided to start ingesting energy and and and sports drinks early on and and not wait until the the race was half- way over – to to refuel before I I I felt the the need so that I I I would not run into any speed bumps I I I stuck to to to my plan and and managed to to to down four gel packs 1 5 litres of of sports drinks and and 2 li- tres tres of of water during the race which is a a a a a a a a a good amount for me I also tried eating an energy bar but chewing while running uphill is not a a a a a a a good combination The next 27 km were also mostly uphill but the terrain was less steep and more rolling in in in nature The course is laid out on a a a a a a a volca-
“I scolded myself: “Concen- trate now!”
nic rim high above the the clouds This was my favourite part of of the the course but I I I didn’t real- lyknowhowbigofaleadIhad AtlastIgot word that that I I I I had had a a a a a a a a a a a a three minute lead lead after 24 km Not all that that big but I I was hoping to to be able to to extend it on on this more runner-friend- ly section As I approached the checkpoint at at at kilometre 51 at at at at 2 500 m m m m elevation someone said that that I I had a a a a a a a a a a a lead of around five min- utes Oh man I I I thought no more than that? I I didn’t have any illusions about my capacity on on on the most technical downhill downhill sections and it’s pretty easy for a a a a a a a a good downhill downhill downhill runner to make up that distance on on a a a a a a 20 km downhill downhill section I did my best while going downhill try- ing ing ing ing to to to strike a a a a a a balance between not not being too timid while still staying safe so as not not to to to risk a a a a a a a a a a a fall and getting injured Running down a a a a a a a a a a a steep technical slope for a a a a a a a a a a long time was a a a a a a a a a a brand-new experience and and it it still ended with me falling headlong among sharp volcanic stones I got a a a a a a a a a a a cut on on on on my hand and and the wound started bleeding profusely but it was still a a a a a a a a a relief when I I I realised that I I I hadn’t seriously injured any part of my my body I I I I kept on going but tried taking it even easier I I scolded my- self: “Concentrate now!”
The whole way down I was afraid that someone would catch up with me me The downhill section ended by the sea An-
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