Arrived 3 days before my marathon, I had just landed in Leh, in Laddak region, north of India next to China and Pakistan. I have decided to arrive earlier, it is one of the rules that I settled for my 2 years travel: I would know where I am going to run, to get use to the weather and to rest before my race. For this marathon, this rule specially applied. I would run at 3500 meters high, first time of my life. Hopefully, I received specific advices from women that I interviewed two weeks ealier. « Drink salty water in order not to be dehydrated », told me Parul, a former runner of Laddak Marathon. As I did not know it, I followed all theirs others advises.
Two days before this race, I went collect my number. I couldn’t believe it, I would ran in one of the highest mountain of the world and we would be only 10 people to do that. For me, it was so different than my last races, I was used to run with others runners or encouraged by people on the road. What I needed to do was: stay focus and take care of my breathe, everything would be alright. Breathing is the paramount thing that you have to control because if you didn’t know, as me before being in Laddak, in this place it’s really hard to breathe!
The day before the race, I wanted to be sure that I could run this marathon in the best conditions as it was one of the biggest athletic experience of my life. I was not sure I would be able to have a proper breakfast, so I decided to buy some energetic food : peanut butter, almonds, bananas and candies. Peanut butter is not my favorite food in the world but it contains so much energy! Almonds and candies would be useful during the race.
I have learnt while running marathon (this is my third one) that I need to eat different kind of food during my race. For the 20 first kilometers, no need to eat but only drink if you had a nutritive breakfast. After running half way (21,1k), high energy food is required which will help to run the last 21,1k. Almonds are good for that but you can eat all kind of nuts, dry fruits or cereals bars. It depends on the country where the race takes places.
So far, during my travel, I could not find all the time, cereals bars, nevertheless nuts and dry fruits are almost everywhere that why the become my best friends.
Another thing I learned, after 35e kilometer, most of the time, you can feel a little bit down because you have burned almost all your energy. This is the right time to take sugar to boost yourself. Sugar bags are available in all countries in all world. That is a good news! Usually, I take this but if I can find candies, it’s always better. It’s my reward before the finish line!
D-day, some cloud and cool weather, it’s perfect, the race would be less harder than if there would be blue sky. I met the women that I would interviewed later and the 9 other persons who was going to run the full marathon.
We began to run and I found a co-runner, Vipin, an Indian men I met earlier in the bus on the way to the marathon. He wanted to run half-marathon. So we were supposed to stay together for 10k after he would come back. In fact, this race is a way and back, if you have to run 10km you go back at 5k, if it’s 21k, you should go back at 10k. Of course, you know when you have to go back for the full marathon ! We talked about our lives even if it was difficult, breathing was harder and fatigue came faster. Vipin needed to stop at 7,5k, so we split at 3rd water stops.
This race was perfectly organized because they offered stops each 2,5k. I kept on running but when I reached 10k, I experienced one of the worst fear of runners: going to the toilets. Even tough all the water stops were well organized, you have to find a bush (when you are a woman for sure, it’s different when you are a man) right in the middle of fields and mountains.
Then, I was going for the half-marathon and I passed by Hariz, a man about 60 years old. I was really impressed by his determination, we discussed around 18km. At this time, the first runner of this race crossed our way, he was already at 24k. Come, let’s keep it up!
To go to 21k, there were more hills, so I slowed down my pace, I even walked. I had promised myself not to do it, but i could not stop from doing it. It wasn’t my legs which felt pain first but the lack of oxygen. What was awesome: I was facing mountain, at this point I almost cried because I realized that I could run here! It was breathtaking in all meanings. But I did not quit: I ran, trotted, and walked. Finally, only 10k to go, and I started a inner battle with myself. I was alone, and I heard this little voice inside my head : “Maud stop, why do you do that!” Then I tried not to listen to it, pretty hard! I focused on what I had already done, where I was running, on the music that I put… I really understood at this point what meant to fight against yourself because when your run with others, they push you. But there it was me and only me. Arrived at last water stop, I stopped, drank. For the last kilometers no matter what, I would run. Crossing the finish line walking was not an option.
I ended in 5h21 theses 42,2 beautiful kilometers. I congratulated all runners and I was already sad that it was this end. But what a great experience if you want to learn more about yourself .
If you want to participate to this race, it takes place in July. You can also go for the 5km, 10km, 21km. Go on ZENdurance website or send me an e-mail to worldwildrunneuze@gmail.com, if you want to have more information.
