Running with horses: Ultra-Running Research - Completing 70km in 6 hours

Earlier in week i was a little concerned if i was ever going to make this run. After promising Colin - one of the sport science/human physiology professors from Sunshine Coast University (who is also an ultra-runner himself) that i would be healthy enough to participate, I was caught between doing what i thought would be best for my body (i.e. rest), or take another step of folly to see what the body is capable of. I was certainly not confident in the shape of my legs. They were still sore from all the running/hiking i have done the week before. Besides, the injuries that i picked up after the Flinder's tour have not been fully resolved yet. My left plantar was still a touch painful when i applied pressure on it.

The day before and the morning of the run, i made sure that i fully loaded myself with large amount of complex carbohydrates, protein and anti-oxidants, in order to deal with the repetitive stress of muscle contraction, tearing and shearing, and of joint-loading. I spent the night before the run with God too, reading His Word, being in His presence, and asking for His protection. Nothing is more comforting than to be in the presence of my heavenly Father. :)

Come the morning of the run, I arrived in Sunshine Coast University with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. Colin brought me to his exercise lab and introduced me to his two other German scientist friends and told me how it was going to work. I was to run around the track (1.3km per loop), and every hour i would stop for an EEG for the analysis of the brain activity, answer some questions on how i felt at that time, and complete a mathematics quiz. This would go on for 6 hours.

I started the first hour without any sizable problem. Since this is a run against time, i know there is no point in going fast. I would just run at a very steady pace, to allow the body to burn as much fat (rather than glucose) as possible. The first hour went by quickly. I clocked 12.5km. Time for all the testing to be done. I was out in the door running in less than 10 minutes.

The second hour went fairly quickly too. I clocked another 12.5km.

Half way in the third hour, I started to feel some slight discomfort in my left plantar. My plantar was starting to spasm (instead of contracting properly). And each time i landed, the fascia was stretching against tension due to the spasm, producing great amount of pain. Within 15 minutes, my plantar fascia was as tight as a fully stretched rubber; there was no room for it to stretch any further. The pain just skyrocketed in a matter of minutes. I was visibly limping at that stage. The mileage read 36.5km.

At the end of the third hour, I was very fearful. On one hand, I was just too shy to tell them i was not able to continue. On the other hand, I was worried if i continued, I would incur irrepairable damage that would end my dream of running the TMBT 100km in Borneo.

The 4th hour was the hardest. The pain had obviously decided to stay. I had to stop every lap to stretch and apply pressure on the plantar. It was definitely the most painful run i have had. At the end of the 4th hour, I was seriously contemplating quitting. The mileage stood at 46km.

Throughout the time, I was praying to God that He would somehow provide a way for me. I know it sounds silly, that here i am inflicting pain and injuries on myself and then asking God to take it away. I knew no other way. Like how He often showed up in the most desperate of times in the history of mankind, I was praying that He would come through for me. At the same time, i could hear the familiar devilish voice in me: 'Why would He care about you, you insignificant punk? He does not listen, He does not care or maybe, He does not even exist!' The inner battle was on.

I started the 5th hour with the intention of alternating between walking and running. Somehow, as i continued, I started to feel the pain easing away. It seemed like the dark curtain of my mind was finally starting to lift. As i continued, I began to pick up my pace again. My heart was filled with joy and relief. 'This is impossible', I thought. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude. I looked to the heaven and all i could say was: 'Thank You, Father!'

At the end of the 5th hour, the mileage read 58.5km. I knew I just have to run another 11.5km to finish 70km in 6 hours. The rest of the run went exactly as planned. No dramas. I was like a little child whose daddy had just bought him a new X-box! Just so relieved and happy. I finished 70km with a few more minutes to spare. I was not going to go further. That was it. :)

For the entire run, I consumed 6 GU gels and 3 yoghurt bars, adding to approximately 2000kcal. I was not tired at the end of the run, even though this is the longest run i have ever done in my life. I think i am starting to understand the secret of ultra-running. There is definitely a built-in, God-given natural bodily mechanism that allows us humans to keep going and going. All it takes is for us to develop this natural ability.

I did not know whether to laugh or to cry at the end the run. I witnessed two things today. First - the miracle of God. Honestly i was not expecting Him to show up. I have had so many injuries so far this year that i know well enough to sit back and deal with it on my own. The nice healing stories described in the bible are, hmm.. nice. I never thought it could ever happen to me. I was so filled with indescribable joy and gratitude.

The second thing was - running is a gift from God, much in the same way as dancing, music, preaching are to other individuals etc. Whilst i was running, I saw a lady who was semi-crippled and she was walking around in a very unsteady gait. She kept walking back and forth like she was lost. My heart was touched by the sight of her. It made the pain in my left plantar seem like a child's play. It then occurred to me that there are many people in the world who are not able to run because of their physical limitations. I thought about people like Singapore Blade Runner, whom i had the privilege to run with during TMBT 50km last year, despite having one of his legs amputated, he was still determined to pursue his passion in running and mountain climbing. It not only teaches me to treasure little things that we have, but also to be willing to use our gift and passion well for a higher purpose.

Everyone has a gift in something. It may be singing, playing a musical instrument, speaking/debating, writing, having administrative skills, possessing natural leadership quality, dancing, cooking, encouraging etc. They are God's gift to us to nourish, heal and build up the broken world we live in. I pray that we will all use our gift well for His Glory. :)