Start of my adventure: Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan
Saturday 07:00 - at home in Penarth
It all began on Saturday morning. I was planning to have a lie in as I wanted all the rest I could muster for my own endurance as a counter for the 24 hour race, but I still woke up at about 7 in the morning. So I utilized the time to get some meditation in to prepare myself for the weekend. When my son woke up, about 8ish, I played with him for a few hours then my wife took him to stay with my parents for the night, so I used the opportunity to get a bit of a nap, which I did manage for about an hour. At 12 o'clock midday, just as I woke from my nap, I spared a thought and brief meditation for the runners at Tooting Bec Athletics track just starting their 24 hour race, good luck to them all.
Take the National Express
Saturday 16:00 - at the coach station
Just as the runners were entering their 5th hour into the run, I made my way into Cardiff to catch the bus to London at 5pm, as I was planning to do the midnight to midday shift on Sunday. I popped into Run & Become to have a quick chat with them (most of the staff there are followers of Sri Chinmoy and a few of them are also going to London to help), got a quick sandwich from Gregg's then made my way to the bus station. I said goodbye to my wife, she couldn't come with me as she was working Saturday evening and was busy Sunday, then climbed aboard the National Express to London which left on time. So, a positive start to the journey.
Saturday 17:00 - on the coach to London
It was a beautiful Saturday evening, the runners had reached their 6th hour, and I felt very good about myself and was looking forward to helping at the race, but I was still feeling a bit apprehensive about what it was going to be like. I was also a bit worried about meeting other Sri Chinmoy followers as I had only met a few so far. So I settled into my seat with headphones on to listen to some music to pass the time. I decided to listen to some music by the Police (the group not the men in blue).
Saturday 19:30 - approaching London
As I approached London, I changed my music and listened to some songs by Ananda - peaceful, meditation tunes to prepare myself for the hustle and bustle of London on a Saturday night. At this point, the runners had been on the track for 7 1/2 hours. The journey went by very quick and was improved by the view of the moon rising over London, so as I arrived at Victoria coach station on time (8:20pm) I was very calm and relaxed.
Saturday 21:00 - in London!
Before I caught the tube to Tooting Bec, and the runners were reaching their 10th hour, I was feeling a bit peckish, so I bought a bag of chips from a takeaway just outside Victoria Station before making my way to the underground. Even the tube journey was a pleasant experience so I got to Tooting Bec fully prepared (physically as well as mentally) for my marathon lap recording. I strolled down Tooting Bec Road with my excitement building with each step then I finally reached my desitination, Tooting Bec Athletics Track, earlier than expected at about 9:50pm.
At Tooting Bec Race Track, London
Saturday 22:00 - 10 hours into the race
I entered the stadium as the runners (about 40 of them) were just approaching their 10th hour on the track, and it seemed quite a calm and sedate affair, with occasional cheers coming from the helpers as the runners passed them each lap. I then made my way over to a big marquee sort of thing, with about 10 or 12 people sitting at tables, who I assumed were responsible for recording the lap times of the runners. It was then I saw both Charana and Pabhavati who waved at me to join them. They were both very pleased to see me and the whole atmosphere there was one of happiness and enjoyment, with little or no stress to be seen, considering the race had been going on for almost 10 hours.
After a brief introduction to everyone and a phone call to my wife to say I arrived safely, they asked if I wanted to start logging the times now or go and have a rest first. I thought I might as well start, I could always have a sleep later as I did bring a sleeping bag with me. So Charana explained what was involved, it was very straight forward. Each runner had a number of sheets with the laps and distance on them, and all I had to do was record their time every time they passed the starting line, giving them a shout of encouragement so that they knew I'd seen them. Each helper had 2 or 3 runners to log, so I was given 2 to begin with. So I sat down at a table under a makeshift tent, in Tooting Bec Race track at just before 10 o'clock on Saturday night, ready to log the lap times of runners for the next 14 hours. What had I let myself in for?
Sunday 24:00 - 12 hours into the race (1/2 way)
As the night progressed I started getting into the lap times recording and was beginning to relax and enjoy it. I was getting into the shouts of "Well done. Got-cha. Your doing great" as my allocated runners passed me to let them know I've seen them, logged their time and give a shout of encouragement. The temperature was getting colder, but I had a thick jumper and a warm coat on, and my sleeping bag was wrapped around my legs for added warmth, so I felt quite comfortable. There were other helpers on hand constantly bringing out hot drinks - tea (herbal and normal), coffee and hot chocolate, as well as some simple food - jam, banana or peanut butter sandwiches, which kept us all going through the cold, dark night. Spirits were high and even the runners were smiling every time they passed us, especially as we all made a point to shout out words of support for them. The runners were allowed to walk, run and even take breaks as often and for as long as they wanted, it was quite a relaxed race.
The hours seemed to pass very quickly, so by 4am I thought I may as well stay until the end, another 8 hours away, as I was on a high from the atmosphere in the tent as well as on the track, or it might have been the amount of caffeine I had consumed. Every 4 hours the competitors did change direction on the track, so went from running clockwise for 4 hours, to anti-clockwise for the next 4 hours, then back to clockwise, and so forth. It was an wonderful experience being at the race track in Tooting at that hour of the morning and it was amazing watching all the athletes who had been running / walking around the track for 16 hours, still with a smile on their faces. It was really inspiring, and that what kept me going through the dark, cold night. One thing I did notice and feel was the sense of calmnes and love amongst all the helpers in the tent with me. None of them moaned about being here, they were here of there own choice and were doing it out of the goodness off there heart and for the love they felt for everything. It is very difficult to put into words what I was feeling, but it was wonderful and made me feel very happy and relaxed, even though I was very tired.
As dawn approached and the sky slowly got brighter, everyone realised that the end was in sight and so the excitement and anticipation was escalating. We were all thinking who, and how many, would reach and pass 100 miles, and our cheers of support for all the athletes was getting louder. We were supplied with porridge and apple compote (both helpers and the athletes) at about 7am and then given a full cooked veggie breakfast (for the helpers), which was just what I needed to give me the energy to continue to the end.
Sunday 10:00 - 22 hours into the race
8 o'clock came and went, then 9 am, and 10 o'clock passed. Only 2 hours left to go. Considering how long people had been awake for and how long the runners had been on the track - 22 hours - the atmosphere was still very calm and relaxed. It was then that runners started passing the 100 miles and everyone roared when a runner reached that milestone. 11am came and we all new that the end was very near and the excitement in the stadium was electric. The runners all found reserves of energy to pick up their pace a bit as they were determined to reach there own individual targets. Runners approaching 100 miles were given that extra boost which enabled them to reach and pass it.
Sunday 12:00 - 24 hours
Then as 12 midday approached, 24 hours after all the runners starting, the horn blared out and all the runners collapsed were they stood, with sandbags placed on the track for each runner so their final distance could accurately be measured.
All I can say is what an amazing, wonderful experience, I have never felt anything like this in my life. I had an amazing buzz when I ran London marathon back in 2006 and, although the atmosphere at the marathon was filled with emotion and excitement, this was altogether different. There was an emotion here, but it felt more personal as each athlete on that track had given something extra to compete in and finish the race. We were all absolutely exhausted, especially the runners, but everyone had a smile and their face at the end.
After the race, I helped tidy up, put the tents and equipment away and, just before the results were announced and prizes award, I tucked into a wonderful plate of veggie pasta, and boy did it taste good. The unofficial timing results were announced and 16 runners had ran more than 100 miles, with the winner running just over 129 miles. One runner finished just short of 100 miles, but after the result were checked, he had actually run a distance of 100 miles and 53 yards! Go to the
official results web site to see how all the runners got on. Congratulation to all the runners who took part in the race, what an amazing achievement and well done.
What an experience I had over the past 14 hours, my respect goes out to each and every runner for taking part. And the feelings of love, happiness and support for everyone from all the Sri Chinmoy followers was unbelievable, I didn't really appreciate that people could be like this. Although I was feeling absolutely exhausted, I felt an amazing sense of achievement and well-being. I'm going to have to remember these feelings when I'm next having doubt's about myself or I am losing faith.
Sunday 14:00 - 2 hours after the race finished
The journey back home was not as good as coming here, I was very tired and just wanted to get home. The tube journey was fine and gave me chance to relax for 20 minutes. But, due to delays on the M4 and bad weather, it took about 4 hours to reach Cardiff but the amazing feelings a had in Tooting kept me going till I got home.
Have look in the
race photo gallery to see all the runners and helpers in action.
Next:
Doubts and Uncertainties
