The World’s Toughest Marathon (Or at Least Mine)

Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis

There comes a time on all ultra-marathons and difficult trail races when I question not only whether I will finish the race but why did I sign up for it? I was about halfway through a trail “marathon” and I was beat. I use the word “marathon” loosely because like many trail races mileage numbers are really approximations. It was three loops and the first loop according to my Garmin was well over nine miles. It was now my time to do the math. I had to calculate if I would be able to finish before the ten hour cutoff time.

A ten hour cutoff for a marathon seems long but this was no ordinary marathon. Oh wait as I wrote before it is already going to be longer than a marathon (Just under 29 miles.) and secondly it had two long steep climbs on each loop. (I recorded each loop at 2,200 feet.) Thirdly I had tweaked my knee a few weeks before the race so I was not in peak condition. Lastly, I should also note that this race was originally a snowshoe race but there was no snow just a lot of icy patches on the trail. We also had to carry our snowshoes which added another obstacle.

While I was calculating my chances of finishing I realized that I had already made two mistakes that were costing me. While I had actually done very well on the first lap doing it in about 2 hours and 20 minutes well ahead of the pace needed. I had not really refueled my calorie intake at the aid station and was feeling light headed. In fact I probably should have packed in more calories before the race. I quickly took out a granola bar and some nuts to get me through to the end of the second lap.

It was at this point in which I was deciding whether I should be satisfied with just two laps and almost twenty miles or push myself to my limits with a third loop. This is when I thought of the motto of the Endurance Society which was hosting the race “Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis” which I believe translates to “physical strength, mental fortitude”. I had enough time but I had to keep moving forward and be smart about it.

My plan for the first loop was to be steady on the uphill’s and attack the downhills and have a steady run on the flats. It had worked on the first loop. While not extremely fast on the climbs I kept moving. On the downhills I flew. The first one was a long almost mile of a steep descent. I was with two other runners when I took off and I heard one say “Ray is flying!” and I was. I never saw them again.

Yet when I hit the second loop, the first ascent was not steady and while I was pushing through it I was struggling. Even on that fun descent I was not as agile as I was on the first descent so I was going at three quarters the pace I did the first time. I was also feeling a pain in my left toe and knew that this race would cost me a toenail. For me it was the flats in which I really had to push myself both physically and mentally. Every fiber in my body wanted to just walk but I knew that would slow me down and prevent me from finishing. Funny thing is when I started to run slowly my body and mind started to shift gears and adjust. Running was not just okay but preferable and even lifted my spirits.

It was “Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis” getting me through this second lap. Yet I would need more than “Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis” to get me through the third loop. I needed fuel. I kept saying to myself push yourself for the food and water. When I got to the aid station the race director asked how I was doing. I said I need calories. He said “We have pulled pork.” My eyes and stomach lit up. Yes, I had a bowl of pulled pork with some rice. I savored every morsel. Then I went to my car and downed a lot of water and electrolytes. Ate a pickle, granola bar, nuts and dried fruit. I have had some exquisite meals in five star restaurants but if you really want to understand the value of food as fuel, run an ultra-marathon.

The race director who was very attentive asked how I was doing. He said if I can keep this pace up I should finish with plenty of time. I said I would not be able to keep this pace up and brought my headlamp just in case. My “Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis” was waning. I had arrived at 1:40PM and had until 6PM to finish but I spent a lot of time eating and drinking but four hours should be enough time to finish. Though it meant I had to keep pushing. I also discarded my Yaktrax because they had fallen apart probably from the quick descents.

My knee was holding up but that may have been because I was pumping Ibuprofen into my body. While I am an older runner I usually do not have too many issues with my leg muscles but my quads, hamstrings and calves were all barking.

Completely hydrated and with a full stomach I set out. It is amazing how refueling really helps the mindset. Yet that positive mindset was confronted by a steep climb. Steep ascents have a way of taxing the body and the mind. I kept telling myself when I started this I had two difficult climbs. I did them before, and I can do them one more time, though slower. Without my cleats however I fell a few times on the ice.

When I got to the second climb I realized that time was waning. There may not be anyone left on the course because of the cut off times. I did come across a solo hiker and we chatted a bit at the top. He said here comes your competition. There in the distance came another runner or should I say power walker. This motivated me to push on. I did not feel like getting passed in the homestretch. So when I came to the next descent I sped up.

Yet every once and a while I heard the pounding of his trekking poles echoing through the forest behind me. They were urging me on. I am a bit competitive and my fragile ego did not want to be passed even though it really did not matter. Darkness was setting in but I would not need my headlamp.

I came into the aid station with 20 minutes to spare. I even got fifth place and the power walker with the loud trekking poles behind me, got sixth place. I thanked him for pushing me. To say that I was in fifth place shocked me. Apparently the brutal course and lack of snow had kept half the runners from either finishing or even starting the race.  Most entrants were also much smarter than me and opted to run just one loop.

The questions that I asked myself about halfway “Will I finish the race? Why did I sign up for it?” Were answered. Yes I would finish the race I had the mental and physical strength to finish. Why did I sign up? That is easy because I wanted to test my physical strength and mental fortitude. I will obviously sign up for another race for the same reason. There is nothing like it. Robvr Corporis Fortivdo Mentis.