I guess we all know the famous proverb that goes “every journey starts with a single step” and for me this journey includes a new challenge, a new goal and a new dream. And as I’m sure we can all truthfully admit, the first step isn’t always easy or painless, regardless of its simplicity.
The Sri Shinmoy Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race at Tooting Bec London has been going since 1989. Each year this race attracts some of the finest and aspiring ultra runners in the world seeking to Self Transcend not only their perceived limitations but also looking to transcend national and world records.
This well organised event under the skilful and experienced Run and Become, a specialist running shop in London (also in Edinburgh and Cardiff) offers each participant a chance to see that the boundaries we place on ourselves are not truthfully boundaries at all, but mere perceptions of unchallenged desires. https://www.runandbecome.com/
I had the good fortune to join this challenge this year on the 21-22 September 2019 and I hope that what follows may be of use to someone who may want to transcend their beliefs about their potential.
My journey really started earlier in the year as I was attempting to run the Grand Union Canal Race in 24 hours or under. For those who may not be familiar with the GUCR, it is a 145 mile non stop point to point race from Birmingham to London next to the Grand Union Canal. I don’t want to dwell too long on this race, however, it was instrumental to my running my first 24 hour race.
I planned, I trained, I rested and I started the GUCR in good spirits, I kept to my schedule and made good progress up until mile 34 where I started struggling with the heat. I live in Cumbria and although we have mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and coastal oasis’s we do not have much sun or heat. I learned that I was struggling with sunstroke and although I fought like a South African Viking for the next 50 miles I collapsed at mile 84 and called it a day. Needless to say, I felt broken and cheated and had the definite inclination to give myself a hard time for not being prepped for every obstacle.
I searched for an opportunity to measure my understanding of the lessons that I have learned from the GUCR and found the Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race. I applied and through the kindness of Shankara Smith received my place on the track. I was thoroughly stoked and set out training immediately.
One aspect of my character is to ALWAYS set the bar higher than anyone around me. I started looking at records for both British and South African national records. I learned that you only had to run in excess of 135 miles in 24 hours to gain an automatic entrance into the Spartathlon. I also learned that the South African national record for a 24 hour race is 160.35 miles and if I can run 120.5 miles I can secure 3rd place on the South African national record table. I also learned that you only had to run 155 miles to be considered for Team GB. Needless to say, my bar was set pretty high but I felt it was achievable.
I trained hard, consistent, smart and focused a great deal on efficient running, consistency and nutrition. I tried many different nutritional products in training and it was not until I visited my local sports nutrition shop Key2 Sports & Nutrition https://www.key2sportsandnutrition.co.uk/ that I was directed by Jonathan Graham to new and fast growing nutritional specialists with fantastic products called Voom Nutrition. This will be the first time that I recommend any product on the web and I don’t do this lightly. Voom hydration drink and Voom energy bars have changed my nutritional plan for races practically indefinitely. https://www.voomnutrition.co.uk/
On my way down to London I had the privilege to pop into the HQ of Voom Nutrition and meet with the CEO Robin Higgens who explained the origins, philosophy and future of Voom Nutrition. I also explained my intentions and aspirations for the race at the Tooting Bec athletics track. He was kind enough to give me a hamper of Voom Nutrition that could literally see me to the moon and still have energy left!
21 September 2019, 10am and I arrive at the track, clear blue skies and a beautiful sunny morning. I registered and got my race numbers, chip, T-shirt and proceeded to set out my spot next to the track that would end up being my HQ for the duration of the race. My body started to tingle with excitement as if every capillary was prepping for the next 24 hours. The other athletes was also setting up and I immediately met Luke Latimer and Jo Newens who set up on my one side and Nate Filer who set up on my other side.
Just listening to the race stories that the other runners were sharing it was clear that if one wanted to achieve something today, you’d have to dig deep and go all the way, I was excited.
One of the common fears that one encounter in the ultra running circuit is the fear of monotony when you mention running a 24 hour track race. Let’s be fair, it is a 400m track with no diversions, no elevations and no sight seeing and seemingly an endless supply of time with no physical end. I was part of this thinking until I decided to experience the journey and make up my own mind.
After a short briefing the race got underway at exactly 12 noon. It was already warm at this point and I knew from experience that if I wanted to go all the way, pacing was the main priority followed closely by hydration and salt intake. These were lessons learned from my earlier GUCR 145 mile DNF.
I enjoyed the start and found myself at the back of the pack very soon, but this did not bother me at all. I knew it would take at least 2-3 hours for me to find a good sustainable rhythm in this heat. My strategy when faced with the heat in the morning was to run conservatively for the first 4 hours and then hopefully it would be cooler so that I can pick up the pace a bit.
Four hours passed and we changed directions for the first time, this is where I had hoped for the heat to have subsided. Some runners who started fast and strong was starting to show some cracks in the upholstery and I myself could feel the strain of the sun beating down on us. This is where I wanted to pick up the pace a bit but found myself stuck in the same gear.
The field was full of joy and determination, everyone wanted to be the best that they could be. We all passed each other saying hi, commenting on the day, learning about each other and most importantly, enjoying the journey. Hours went past and we were turned around to go in the other direction which meant that we’ve been running for 8 hours now. The sun has gone and although it was cooler the heat of the day left a definite impression on all runners.
At times the mood was somber, at times full of joy, at times all you could sense was deep grit as we all clinged to our internal motivation. With 11 hours of running in circles no two laps were the same, so for me the fear of monotony have been debunked. Each lap had something different to offer, sometimes doubt, other times joy still other time nothing at all, just a void where thought were meant to be.
I couldn’t speed up as hard as I tried even though I felt great. I had no GI problems, no cramping, no lightheadedness, no blisters and yet I just couldn’t get to the next gear. This started to play with my mind, I scrolled down my mental checklist, hydrate (check), fuel up with nutrition (check), balance salt intake and perspiration (check), take in solid food (check), keep a positive mental attitude (check), push harder (check) and still no closer to any increase in my pace. Every now and then I’d glanced at the scoreboard to see the front runners Robert Payne, Peter Windross and Jo Newens covering beautiful distances, the same distances that I had intended to enjoy and then I’d spot my name way down at no. 29.
I was starting to realise after 16 hours of running that today was not the day where I will sit at the round table of the achievers. I have to admit that it felt like a roughly sharded wooden stake being driven through my heart very slowly but very definitely. I could feel the day slipping away and my focus falling below the point of use and I realised that I need a secondary goal to keep me in the game.
I remembered that to be third on the South African list of 24 hour records all I needed was 120.5 mile, I decided to shift my focus and head to this new outcome. It was now just over 20 hours of running and the field changed quite a bit since yesterday. The heat from yesterday limited the field slightly and the warmer morning so far caused a fair amount of stress on the runners already. Although I was unable to speed up I was able to just keep going at a consistent pace right from the start with no decrease in speed. At 12:14:21 I reached a 100 miles and the farthest that I’ve ever ran in one go without stopping.
Everyone was giving what they had left in the final hours of this journey, you could see the pain, the determination, the grit and the complete unwillingness to give in despite not achieving what had motivated them at the start of the race, myself included. As the time ticked away a strange phenomena started to happen, where once it seemed we had an infinite amount of time to achieve our goals, we now seem to have not enough. Another wave of dread washed over me as I again realised that I will not even make the 120.5 km to make third on the South African table of records.
The final hour came round far too quickly and soon the whole athletics track was engulfed with a kind of energy that I have never experienced before in my life. It was the most beautiful feeling and although I may not have accomplished what I set out to achieve, you were part of the journey of those who have. Robert Payne kept whizzing past leaving an intoxicating energy current that engulfed the whole field and pushed each ultra runner to go beyond the limits that we have of ourselves.
In the final few hours of the day I managed to move from 16th to 9th on the table and for my last few laps I was accompanied by young Luke who were to make sure that my correct distance would be recorded.
Exhausted, elated, depleted, joyful, disappointed, grateful were just a few words that passed through my mind on the last lap. 24 hours later and the final bell rang, we all as a collective at very different positions on the track collapsed to signify the end of a journey. To each person the journey had been life changing in one way or another, for some in multiple ways.
I am most grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this life changing experience and will remember the heroic efforts of each and every athlete on the track for as long as I live.
My gratitude also extends to all the staff and volunteers that was at our side at every point of this journey to give food, drinks, soup, support, encouragement, lap counting, physio and all the behind the scenes efforts that we will never know about but what made this a truly Transcendent experience.
So the question remains, just what exactly did I achieve and what have I learned from this journey?
After my failed attempt at gaining automatic entry into Spartathlon, not making the distance for Team GB consideration and not making the distance for South African top three National Records for 24 hour running, what else is there?
Well, I have a new personal record and a debut into 24 hour running. I am also fourth on the South African National Record list for 24 hour running. I placed 2nd on the South African 24 hour running list for 2019 and ended with a respectable 9th place with 189.086 km (117.49 miles) at the 29th Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race in 2019.
I’m not entirely sure why I couldn’t shift my gears to run stronger even though I had plenty of energy and my body felt great, even post race I felt great, supple and had energy to spare, so a good thorough investigation is in order. I have learned that even not making our primary goals, you can always find the next, perhaps smaller goal to keep your focus. I’ve learned that 24 hours around a track is far from monotonous and by sharing in the victory of others you gain strength that you may not have had by yourself.
I want to end this blog by thanking from the depths of my being all those friends and family who have sent me messages of strength, belief and encouragement and I wish you too may find that you may be operating far below your potential. I also want to thank Run and Become for hosting such a life changing event and I want to express my deep gratitude to all athletes for your beautiful energy and wonderful comradery.
Finally I want to thank Jonathan Graham and Key2 Sports & Nutrition Workington and Robin Higgens at Voom Nutrition for supporting my aspirations.
If and when we fail, remember to fail forward! I’ve heard a saying recently “I don’t fail, I just win or learn” I really like that! Despite what the outcome is, the way we look at things, changes the things we look at.
Next up for me is another go at my 24 hour goals. Crawley A.I.M charity 6, 12 & 24 hour races, 18th April 2020 and then my first 6 day attempt at the Kauhajoki Ultrarunning Festival in Finland on 29.06 – 5.07.2020. And in between then and now, lots of running in the fells!!!!
Namaste.
The Runners Daily 
Etienne, you did really well for your first 24 hour race. We were impressed by your consistent pace – it’s always good to see someone steadily moving up the scoreboard rather than down! I’m sure you will hit your targets in future 24 hour races now that you’ve got a really good experience under your belt, it will help you so much in other races.