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Well what an experience!
They say its not what you look and but what you see that matters. Not only did i see but I got to do.
The entire day yesterday went perfect. Was 4am start with the bus leaving at 5am. We got to Ying Yang square for the start on time(which is not normal). Had a hour to put kit bags away, warm up and soak up the atmosphere. 2800 runners all ready to run. I left at 7.30 in the first wave and had no problems with the first 5km up hill run climbing 300m in 3k. Then it's the wall. 3.5km along the Great Wall of China! Amazing! This took 25minutes. I couldn't believe it went so quick. I ran what I could an walked the steepest bits and the parts where there arnt bricks but rocks. Then it was 25km through the villages of duanzhuang, xiaying,chedaoyu and quingshanling. The villages are very basic but it's was amazing to run through them . It seemed all the kids in the villages were out to high five you and the adults to laugh at you. I still felt great running and was making good time.
At the 33km mark It was time to enter the wall again but in reverse. I headed up what is called goat track and it was hell. The burning in my calfs and thighs was so hot. My legs just would not respond to my brains instruction to lift.
Not doing any stair training was not smart. It took 23min to run!!! Haha shuffle up 1km. I used the hand rails when they were there to pull myself up the steps taking the effort away from my legs. At this point I came across a lady selling drinks and ordered myself a beer. Thinking i will make this as enjoyable as I can. It was neat to have on the wall and I got lots if cheering as other runners went past but ultimately it was such a dumb idea. I now had a belly full of gas! I burped my way up the hill some more walking when I could but mainly crawling on my hands and knees! I crawled past one other runner who was sitting down screaming with pain. I couldn't look him in the eye, feeling sorry for him I just crawled past. He had been asked by the medical staff to pull out of the race but he refused as he wanted to finish. It felt like being in the trenches. The wall was full of runners just standing and staring or yelling profanities. And we paid to do this! I finally got of the wall 1hr later my legs and now my mind was shot. I had a 5km down hill run to go and did as best as my body would allow. I continued to get past by other runners which is demoralising. I think about 20 would have past me from the wall to the finish line. I got to run back into the square and cross the finish line and end what was such an incredible experience. Most of it was so so much fun but overall a real test of how much your body can take.
I finish in 4 hours and 41 minutes and came 85th overall in the marathon out of 800 runners. It was a great time which I'm rapt with.
After having lunch and a beer I got to have a hit shower! It was so nice then it was back to the square for an hour to cheer on the other kiwi runners I had joined. Then 3 hour bus ride to beijing which was less fun.
In the end what a fantastic day. Everything went perfect including the weather which was overcast an cooler. It would have been 20 degrees instead of 30 odd.
Anyway that's the GWC marathon done and dusted!!!!!
- comments
Rosie Congrats Matt ,85th ,wow that is just amazing ! Well done you. Hope the body is recovering well today.
Nicky Well done Matt you did amazing
Tracey Awesome well done finishing :-)
Stu Reid You are a legend amongst the proud RAAFC members my friend - well done
Colin Great effort, Matt - now just sort out that small disagreement between North & South Korea and your trip will have been a glorious success!
Doug and Val Glue Well done you Matt .
Mum That is pretty amazing.Well done
Renee Congratulations Matt on your great achievement. Toby wrote a really cool story about your race. I am sure he will sure it with you when you get back.