Page 141 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

Having previously competed for many years on the track at numerous disciplines at many levels, I felt it important that as a senior athlete I needed to focus on new challenges. I
had always toyed with the idea of moving to the multi-event arena and with a little gentle persuasion took the plunge in early 2017 at the National Indoor Championships in Sheffield. Immediately the bug had caught me and there was no turning back!
I had looked on to see what the season’s goal was going to be and the challenges I faced by attempting so many new events in close proximity to each other with little or no formalised training leading into the forthcoming competitions. I have to say that I was slightly daunted but excited about the prospect of the new venture and did all I could to gain new skills to assist me along my journey.
My route into Ultra Multi-Events was by accident and with a little research, noticed there was an opportunity to compete in Helsinki at the World Indoor Ultra Multi Events Championships. I reluctantly made plans to compete and flying the Army flag I was successful over 14 athletic events surprisingly breaking many World and National records...this paved the way to go one bigger and enter the World Icosathlon Championships in Belgium in August of 2017.
A bit of background on the competition – the event consists of 20 athletic events in Track and Field starting with the 100 metres on the morning of Day 1 and culminating with the 10000 metres on the evening of Day 2. This with 18 others sandwiched in between! It is a gruelling schedule and anyone who has run 400 metres will understand the fatigue after – not taking into account there is a 100 metres, 3000m steeplechase, 800m, 5000m and 200m hurdles event plus field events on that same day also.
Day 1 always starts with a fast sprint – the 100 metres. This was a great start for me as one of my strongest events to put down my marker for intent for the champs. I raced well and broke the British record for the perfect start. Long Jump and 200m hurdles (also a British record) followed and with this I pulled away with a very healthy points score going in to event 4. Shot putt was average and a leveller for the ego as my throwing events are typically poor. Finishing the morning off with a track 5000m truly sobered the legs before a deserved lunchbreak. The afternoon session began with an 800m, I ran hard knowing there were a couple of weaker and an equally stronger events to follow in the remainder of the day’s competition.
The High Jump followed and I was disappointed to not achieve the height target that I had previously set. Points being the key focus, this drove me to run my favourite 400m event max out to gain valuable points buffers against my closer rivals. It went well; I was well clear of the rest and now added to my confidence. A poor throw once again in the Hammer and average 3000m Steeplechase closed out Day 1 with a strong 5300+ points.
0800hrs on Day two saw the 110m hurdles event starting us out. Being another favoured event it was a great way to start the road to the finish. A clear win put me in the frame once again knowing I had a poor throwing event to follow. The Discus throw led in to the 200m – again a very good event historically for me. I ran well and put more daylight between following competitors and was comfortably the quickest sprinter over the 72 participants. A decent Pole Vault and half decent 3000m metres finished the morning session of the second day and light was beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of fuel consumed powered me into the tough afternoon with the 400m hurdles, Javelin Throw and 1500m in close succession. A much higher than expected points haul on the track here really helped to push my confidence further.
Two more events to go, the Triple Jump and a track 10000m. The jump went exactly to plan and I knew that if I jumped well I mathematically could hit the track in the final event with a little daylight for the final furore. I entered into the 25-lap final event knowing that the Frenchman in second place would need to run heroic times to catch me now – patiently keeping him in my sights I passed him and raced to a faster end so as to make absolutely sure I had done enough. I crossed the line fatigued but elated at actually completing the event – it truly is the Ironman of Track and Field Athletics and awaiting the results I knew that I would be proud irrespective of what colour the medal was.
It wasn’t long before finalised results were announced and I was World Champion. I had won by a margin of 775 points and was told that I actually won before the 10000m and could not be caught. The not-knowing was the key to maintaining the focus. It was by far and away the most enjoyable and challenging event I have had the privilege to be part of, to be champion of the World makes it all the more sweeter. Next challenge? Helsinki again in April 2018 – keep bringing home Gold!
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WORLD ICOSATHLON (DOUBLE DECATHLON) ULTRA MULTI EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
SSgt (SSI) CD McMullen RAPTC
Podium World Icosathlon SSgt McMullen World Indoor Champs SSgt McMullen Podium SSgt McMullen Hurdles Finish