After I got back to the ship the full impact of what I had done, and not done, hit me. I had a hard time dealing with the fact that I didn't do the full marathon. I have never gone into a race thinking I wouldn't finish so even though I knew it was the right decision I struggled with "only" doing the half.
I had a pity party that evening but then knew I had to get over it to enjoy the rest of the trip. The next day I found out that a record number of runners changed to the half from the full, and several people were not allowed to finish due to time constraints.
One of my shipboard buddies was there to complete his seventh continent marathon and he was pulled off the course so he was really disappointed. My roommate got back a long time after I did and she had finished the full but only with the help and encouragement of another runner. It took them 7 1/2 hours and they were not the last ones!
Many people fell frequently including my roommate who fell 4 times, sprained her ankle, had a limp on her knee, and road rash all down one side. Many others had similar stories so I felt lucky to only be sore!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Race day, part 3
When I got back to the center point of the course and started toward the actual research bases the path was smoother but had longer hills, and those were covered with fist-sized frozen rocks which really hurt the neuroma in my foot. The course was poorly marked on this loop, with flags on sticks but the researchers also use flags on sticks to mark their paths, and there were no arrows at any of the turns.
There was nobody in front or behind me that I could see, so at one point I realized I was at the airport and was not supposed to be there! I backtracked and found the turn I had missed. Then about a mile later I missed another turn, ran about half a mile and found another woman who couldn't figure out where the race course was, so we backtracked together and found the next turn. We were able to warn some people behind us, and they really appreciated it. I figured I ran an extra 2 miles due to missing the turns.
Back at the center point I used the "bathroom" and got some water and headed out to the first section again. It was as bad as I remembered! My ankle started hurting from all the twisting and almost falling. When I was at the top of a hill the view was wonderful, but I could only look around when I stopped, otherwise I had to keep my eyes on the ground to watch for ice.
When I got near the turnaround I didn't know where it was and had to ask some Russian scientists who happened to be working near the course- they knew what I meant and they pointed around the corner and finally there it was. Slipping and sliding back to the finish I was feeling very disappointed to not do the whole marathon but relieved to be done with tripping and slipping. There were a few support crew at the finish so I got a couple of cheers but otherwise the finish was not too exciting. A friend was working as part of the supporters so I got my camera and she took a photo of me with the big library card. I walked around a bit and saw some penguins and suddenly started getting very cold. I put on my big red overalls and boots and waited until one of the zodiac boats was ready to go back to the boat, then hopped in.
There was nobody in front or behind me that I could see, so at one point I realized I was at the airport and was not supposed to be there! I backtracked and found the turn I had missed. Then about a mile later I missed another turn, ran about half a mile and found another woman who couldn't figure out where the race course was, so we backtracked together and found the next turn. We were able to warn some people behind us, and they really appreciated it. I figured I ran an extra 2 miles due to missing the turns.
Back at the center point I used the "bathroom" and got some water and headed out to the first section again. It was as bad as I remembered! My ankle started hurting from all the twisting and almost falling. When I was at the top of a hill the view was wonderful, but I could only look around when I stopped, otherwise I had to keep my eyes on the ground to watch for ice.
When I got near the turnaround I didn't know where it was and had to ask some Russian scientists who happened to be working near the course- they knew what I meant and they pointed around the corner and finally there it was. Slipping and sliding back to the finish I was feeling very disappointed to not do the whole marathon but relieved to be done with tripping and slipping. There were a few support crew at the finish so I got a couple of cheers but otherwise the finish was not too exciting. A friend was working as part of the supporters so I got my camera and she took a photo of me with the big library card. I walked around a bit and saw some penguins and suddenly started getting very cold. I put on my big red overalls and boots and waited until one of the zodiac boats was ready to go back to the boat, then hopped in.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
race day, part 2
Because the crew did not have much time to set up due to bad weather, there was only one "bathroom", the blue tarp at the middle of the two out and back sections. With my concerns about intestinal issues that was not good news! We each had to bring 3 water bottles and there were 3 places we could drop them, so they had to be carried the first time we did each of the two sections so we could leave them. The first loop went out about 2.4 miles then back to the start/finish, then the second loop went the opposite way but was about the same mileage.
With only about 60 runners the start was casual, and within the first 1/4 mile I saw someone fall.The course follows paths used by the researchers who drive vehicles with Caterpillar treads to navigate the mud, rocks, snow, water, and hills. Due to the hard freeze the day before, the mud was like cement, and the water, of course, became ice. Running on frozen Caterpillar tread imprints was hard and my toe kept catching on the grooves between the treads. The ice and snow also made it very difficult to run, as did the constant hills, and some places had such big areas of ice that we had to go way around and off the course to get past the worst slippery parts. Most people walked on the really bad parts, and I stopped counting how many times I almost fell.
Early in the race I realized that falling was quite likely for me, and being a small-boned older woman, it would not end well! I didn't want to ruin the rest of my trip by getting hurt, and I certainly didn't want to miss the next week of Antarctica, so I decided to change to the half marathon. I knew that getting tired later in the race would make it even more dangerous for me so I accepted that doing the full race was not a good idea. As it turned out, they had a record number of runners change to the half marathon during the race because it was so difficult and dangerous.
With only about 60 runners the start was casual, and within the first 1/4 mile I saw someone fall.The course follows paths used by the researchers who drive vehicles with Caterpillar treads to navigate the mud, rocks, snow, water, and hills. Due to the hard freeze the day before, the mud was like cement, and the water, of course, became ice. Running on frozen Caterpillar tread imprints was hard and my toe kept catching on the grooves between the treads. The ice and snow also made it very difficult to run, as did the constant hills, and some places had such big areas of ice that we had to go way around and off the course to get past the worst slippery parts. Most people walked on the really bad parts, and I stopped counting how many times I almost fell.
Early in the race I realized that falling was quite likely for me, and being a small-boned older woman, it would not end well! I didn't want to ruin the rest of my trip by getting hurt, and I certainly didn't want to miss the next week of Antarctica, so I decided to change to the half marathon. I knew that getting tired later in the race would make it even more dangerous for me so I accepted that doing the full race was not a good idea. As it turned out, they had a record number of runners change to the half marathon during the race because it was so difficult and dangerous.
race day, part one
5:30am wake up announcements, breakfast at 6am. The friends at my table were so funny and we were laughing so hard for so early in the morning! A great way to start race day.
We loaded our bags with running shoes, extra gloves, dry clothes to put on after the race, cameras, food, three water bottles, and whatever else we wanted on shore during the race. The temperature was not too bad but it was cold enough that my camera battery wouldn't work unless I warmed it in my hand first, so I opted to not carry my camera during the race.
The race started at Belingshausen Station, a research area on King George Island- there were 4 research facilities-Russia, China, Chile, and Uruguay. There was also an airport which is one reason the race is held there- if anyone gets badly hurt they can be airlifted out. We were all required to have $100,000 medical evacuation insurance, but fortunately nobody needed to use it that day!
Changing into our running gear, we put our water bottles in a row on the ground near the start banner and used the very primitive bathroom- a tarp slung over a rope tied between two rusted out boats, and buckets for toilets.
Belingshausen Station
We loaded our bags with running shoes, extra gloves, dry clothes to put on after the race, cameras, food, three water bottles, and whatever else we wanted on shore during the race. The temperature was not too bad but it was cold enough that my camera battery wouldn't work unless I warmed it in my hand first, so I opted to not carry my camera during the race.
The race started at Belingshausen Station, a research area on King George Island- there were 4 research facilities-Russia, China, Chile, and Uruguay. There was also an airport which is one reason the race is held there- if anyone gets badly hurt they can be airlifted out. We were all required to have $100,000 medical evacuation insurance, but fortunately nobody needed to use it that day!
Changing into our running gear, we put our water bottles in a row on the ground near the start banner and used the very primitive bathroom- a tarp slung over a rope tied between two rusted out boats, and buckets for toilets.
before the race started- the blue tarp in the back is the bathroom, but it did get pulled higher before they put the buckets under it!
Drake Passage, days 5-6
Rocking gently to sleep was fine, but in the middle of the night we really hit the Drake Passage and my Nook and notebook slid off the shelf at the head of my berth and onto my bed! Things got a bit rougher but still not too bad. We spent the second day in the Drake having lectures on protocol for Antarctica and getting fitted for our waterproof overalls, parkas, and rubber boots that we will wear during excursions to shore.
After two days of the Drake Passage we headed to King George Island where the marathon would take place. Unfortunately the weather suddenly got much worse, with 40 mph wind and a 20 degree temperature drop. The spray from the boat crashing into the waves was freezing on the deck, and the excursion for the morning was cancelled. We also had the disheartening news that the weather was too bad for the crew to set up for the race, and the race would be delayed if they could not get to the island that day.
Fortunately late in the day they made a mad dash to the island and did what they could to get the course marked etc. We had a "vacuum party" which is the staff inspecting and vacuuming every piece of clothing, running shoes, and bags that we would be taking to the island for the race. The extreme care to not introduce any species or germs to Antarctica is very impressive, and wonderful. We had to disinfect our running shoes and scrape them clean, then put them in our bags since we would wear the rubber boots to get to the island, then change into our running shoes.
After two days of the Drake Passage we headed to King George Island where the marathon would take place. Unfortunately the weather suddenly got much worse, with 40 mph wind and a 20 degree temperature drop. The spray from the boat crashing into the waves was freezing on the deck, and the excursion for the morning was cancelled. We also had the disheartening news that the weather was too bad for the crew to set up for the race, and the race would be delayed if they could not get to the island that day.
Fortunately late in the day they made a mad dash to the island and did what they could to get the course marked etc. We had a "vacuum party" which is the staff inspecting and vacuuming every piece of clothing, running shoes, and bags that we would be taking to the island for the race. The extreme care to not introduce any species or germs to Antarctica is very impressive, and wonderful. We had to disinfect our running shoes and scrape them clean, then put them in our bags since we would wear the rubber boots to get to the island, then change into our running shoes.
my roommate cleaning her running shoes
Monday, April 22, 2013
day 4-5, Ushuaia and Drake Passage
after a very early flight to Ushuaia, known a " fin del Mundo", or the end of the world. It was a 3 1/2 hour flight and most of us slept. The Ushuaia airport was quite a striking building, and landing there was exciting because on my side of the plane all I could see was water, even after we landed, so it looked like we landed on the ocean!
We had a few hours in Ushuaia before we boarded our ship, so souvenir shopping and wine purchases were the activity for most of us. It's an interesting city at the base of the mountains so all the streets are very steep but it's a nice friendly place since they get lots of tourists who leave from there on various trips to Antarctica as well as quite a bit of cargo shipping.
My roommate and I found our cabin on the 5th level of 6 levels of the ship, and fairly nice for research ship accomodations. We had the mandatory safety drill with life vests and finding our lifeboat, which was a small, enclosed vessel which held half the people on the ship - which would be about 50 -that would be a very claustrophobic experience if we ever had to use it! We had dinner and a briefing of our next few days, then set out for the infamous Drake Passage. After leaving the Beagle Channel the water started getting a bit rougher and we all put on seasick patches. The boat rocked through the night and I found it quite calming and fun to feel the rise and fall of the ship while I was sleeping!
We had a few hours in Ushuaia before we boarded our ship, so souvenir shopping and wine purchases were the activity for most of us. It's an interesting city at the base of the mountains so all the streets are very steep but it's a nice friendly place since they get lots of tourists who leave from there on various trips to Antarctica as well as quite a bit of cargo shipping.
My roommate and I found our cabin on the 5th level of 6 levels of the ship, and fairly nice for research ship accomodations. We had the mandatory safety drill with life vests and finding our lifeboat, which was a small, enclosed vessel which held half the people on the ship - which would be about 50 -that would be a very claustrophobic experience if we ever had to use it! We had dinner and a briefing of our next few days, then set out for the infamous Drake Passage. After leaving the Beagle Channel the water started getting a bit rougher and we all put on seasick patches. The boat rocked through the night and I found it quite calming and fun to feel the rise and fall of the ship while I was sleeping!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Day 3, Buenos Aires
well, I have already missed my vow to post daily, best laid plans and all that, I guess.
Monday in Buenos Aires we walked to the Cathedral where the new Pope had been the Cardinal, and also to the Casa Rosada, site of the famous Evita balcony speech and many other events in Argentina's colorful past. The city seems to be under a lot of construction, almost every street was being worked on, and someone said it was because of the upcoming elections and the current politicans are trying to make it look like they are accomplishing a lot- some things are the same in every country!
A group of us went to a popular local area and had lunch in an outdoor cafe, which was very nice. Three women and I had reservations for a tango club dinner and show, and we enjoyed it very much- nice to see the tango show
since it is a big part of their culture. We got back to the hotel at 12:30am and had a wake up call of 5am to get ready to fly to Ushuaia, so it was a short night but hey, we can sleep on the 3.5 hour flight to the very end of South America!
Monday in Buenos Aires we walked to the Cathedral where the new Pope had been the Cardinal, and also to the Casa Rosada, site of the famous Evita balcony speech and many other events in Argentina's colorful past. The city seems to be under a lot of construction, almost every street was being worked on, and someone said it was because of the upcoming elections and the current politicans are trying to make it look like they are accomplishing a lot- some things are the same in every country!
A group of us went to a popular local area and had lunch in an outdoor cafe, which was very nice. Three women and I had reservations for a tango club dinner and show, and we enjoyed it very much- nice to see the tango show
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