Continental centurion

Shaz and I settled well when we arrived in the Netherlands nearly one week ago.  It was terrific to reconnect with friend in the small city of Woerden.  It felt familiar and homely, after the last 18 months were spent in very different places across Africa and South America.

We cycled to Rotterdam on Thursday, then rested on Friday.  We felt good, and thought we would do well in the continental centurion, due to start at 12pm on Saturday.

Weather was perfect, with no rain for the event and a starting temperature about 16 degrees.  Mostly cloud in the sky, this meant the maximum temperature of 25 degrees never felt hot to us.  Some of the Dutch would have preferred a cooler maximum temperature though.  The wind was also generally very light, apart from a few hours where it was necessary to lean slightly to balance against it.

Sharon and I started well, sitting on a pace between 7:30 and 7:35 per kilometer.  We ate every 3.805km lap, and drank just enough to maintain hydration without needing to go to the toilet too often.

6 hours complete and we had covered over 46km, which was right on our usual schedule to ensure we would manage 90km in 12 hours.  With 90km in the bank by that halfway mark, we only need to walk at a very comfortable average pace of 10 minutes per kilometer until the end, to achieve the almost 161km final distance.

12 hours arrives and we have crossed the start and finish line for the 24th time, with 4 minutes to spare.  with a 1.1km "lap 0" to ensure the 100 miles distance is achieved when eventually crossing the timing mat for the 42nd time, this meant we had completed 92.4km.  Perfect.

From here, it should have been relatively easy to finish the 100 miles.  We have never failed or even particularly struggled when arriving over 90km in the first 12 hours, so long as we haven't pushed too hard to get there.

But, for me, some trauma began soon after we started to slow the pace. I started to shake violently, was light-headed, hot and nauseous.  I have no idea why.  A trip to the toilet seemed to help momentarily, but then I was suddenly cold and cramping, and struggled with my vision.  It was almost impossible to stand up.

I insisted that Shaz keep going, while I sat down in a sheltered place at the back of one of the support tents.  I ate and drank, and then very carefully started to move again.  With difficulty, I completed one more lap, which took my tally past 100km, but the speed was too slow and the effort did not feel sustainable.

I sat again, and tried to convince myself that I could keep going.  But alas, the foibles of the body were stronger than my will power or physical competence and I stopped.  Disappointed, but not devastated.

Sharon powered on.  With the usual discipline, she did slow down as normal, but was able to still comfortably keep a pace of just under 9 minuter per kilometer.  That saw her eventually finish in a time of 22:22:22, to be first women and third overall.  Well done to her, on what we think is her 11th or 12th centurion finish.

Monday was restful in our lovely AirBNB in Rotterdam.  We did venture out for a short cycle to assist recovery, and did also go for a slow walk.  Everything is sore and chaffed of course, but there are no areas for concern.

On Tuesday we cycled 100km to Antwerp in Belgium, and are still here two days later as planned.  We have been cycling and walking, and are now recovered from the sleep debt of the centurion event.  Sharon's body is still a little sore in some places and blisters on her toes will take a while to recover properly.  But thankfully there is nothing to prevent good final preparation for the Parish Walk.

I showed no adverse issues as a result of the problems in the race.  This failure does make we a little nervous for Parish, but with 22 centurion finishes and a lot of other longer events completed, I'm aware that occasionally these unexplainable issues can arise.  I won't let that Rotterdam result get into my head.

Tomorrow, we are off to Mol in Belgium to spend 10 days with friends.  Then, we cycle towards Calais, take a ferry to Dover, and cycle along the south coast of England to eventually arrive in Bridgwater.

Though Belgium is quite flat, we will be trying to find a few hills in the next two weeks, to give our bodies a taste of what the Parish walk includes.  If I'm not mistaken, the biggest section of climbing starts just after the 19 miles marker.  Sharon and I will be ready!

**Photos in reverse order again.  Start at the bottom, and work up.  :-)