My other goal was to do it with only what I could carry on me (this is because of the many years of cycle touring I did... carrying something on you is not the same thing as carrying stuff in a bicycle pannier... but old habits die hard). I had 1.3 litre of water with a little Gatorade powder added to it, and few granola bars. I finished with a little water left as well as granola bars :-)

This was my 6th marathon (the 1st was May 1999) and the end of my second running season... I couldn't have been more rewarded.

This year ultra marathon was limited to people that participated to previous editions to celebrate the 10th anniversary... I managed to fit in because I had registered last year although I had not run. Looking back a year ago... I was not ready mentally for this kind of effort... everything happens for a reason...

Been in a small group has allowed me to focus properly and set the right speed for me. Usually with a large crowd you get sucked in to speed and make mistakes. We had no real mileage references like in a regular marathon so you really have to read your body... and this is a very good exercise.

We had 9km on a trail in the woods that I really enjoyed because was very soft for my feet and you have to be very careful where you run that you forget the effort you are making... the rest was all asphalt and open fields...

I did run alone for quite sometime... and all the sudden I realize that the little dot at the horizon was Albert, that many know as the man of the 52 marathons in a year. I kept increasing the speed and at about 35km I was running with him... :-)

Albert wasn't feeling that great. He had problems with one leg and just couldn't keep a regular run. At about 40km all the sudden he just slowed down and I speed up again. This time I had no one to catch up to... I am not used to this. You really have to work with your mind because you are not following anyone. Keeping a constant pace gets harder also.

My crisis started around 45km.... but luckily a friend showed up in a van and started chatting with me and I regain control and strength... I have experienced how important is moral support in these crucial moments. Doreen kept telling me that 15th St. E. was just around the corner (the problem was that the road was only strait)... ;-) She had the opportunity to pay me back for what I was telling her during the Gray Owl's Cabin walk/run... "There are only few km left... and always few"... but they where a lot, lot more... ;-)

When I saw the Messiah Lutheran Church on 15th Ave. E. I believed her.... as she was ready to say goodbye on the corner of 15th St and 15 Ave. E. she said that Albert was now right beyond me. He had gain strength and speed.

Right then something new to me happened... I wasn't going to let him pass... I felt really competitive.... I had kept for the entire run my short and low step. At that point I just open my legs full length and the power was there. I did the uphill of 15th Ave. full steam... :-)

The feeling was great... a sense of power and control. To speed to the limit avoiding to over do..... this was truly the first time a felt this way....

After the finish I had to keep stretching and walking for a good half an hour and a wonderful shower at George's place did the rest.

Happy running to all....

Stephen :-)

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