This was definitely my most difficult race to date. The combination of insane heat, high humidity and dust. Maybe it was a good thing that I don't really do my homework before a race - maybe I would have never entered this crazy race.....nah...I would have.
16 Brave runners from all over the world ventured in to deep dark Africa for the Burkina Faso adventure. This race toook 'lost in translation' to the next level. Broken English was spoken between runners, but in the end you knew exactly what the other person was saying. Lets call it the language of the Ultra runner.....Aaaahh, Ouch, Aaaahhh, Ouch, %^&!!!
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| The BRAVE ones |
We were such an awesome mix of people - Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Burkina and Cameroen....and some funny place called Luxembourg??
The race was held in the South West of Burkina Faso, in the Banfora area. A lot of dirt roads, little shade, warm water and many small villages. And a lot of very friendly locals that were always willing to give you some water to cool down. Those little pit stops at the villages saved many lives!!!!
The Italians were always in front, so by the time I got to a little village, the locals already knew the drill. "Bonjour madam, l'eau pour la douche, s'il vous plait" "merci madam"
It was so ridiculously hot, that I really had to have very long and hard conversations with myself. Anything can happen out there, and dehydration is a reality. So I was always trying to be conscience of my body the whole time and how I felt at any given moment. Because tomorrow will be another long day. And I am going to finish this race!
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| Water pump in the village |
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| Ingrid having a 'shower' |
One of my collegues asked me 'so what do you think of while you run' - to be quite honest. Nothing.
or maybe, only one thing - don't die.
OK, now I sound like a drama queen. Yes, the race was very difficult. Yes, I slept in a tent and no sleeping mat. Yes, my feet where shattered. Yes, I had to carry all my food etc on my back. Yes, I LOVED IT!
it is difficult to explain to someone why I do these kind of races.....mentally unstable does pop up now and then....
maybe I want to see how far I can push myself, and after this race I know I am physically and mentally tough enough to face anything that comes my way.
There is so much to tell.....but let me tell you about the race...
A typical day in the Ultra Africa Race:
3:00am - wake up.....because the sleeping pill only works for about 6 hours. toss and turn. fuck, I should have brought a sleeping mat.
aaaahhh, now I have to pee.
3:30am - try and sleep a bit more....no success
5:00am - get up, start the 'stove' and make some coffee. I promised Timo coffee in bed every morning. he was too busy dying, so like a good race wife, I make the coffee. men!
6:00 - 7h45am - check if yesterday's blister is looking better. cool. merthiolate did do the job.
get dressed (smell my race shirt....shit, why do I do that....it stinks) a well, nothing like wearing the same running shirt for 5 days.
pack and repack my backpack. I'm sure I have more stuff in this bloody backpack than yesterday. It's not getting any lighter!!!
Fill up water bottles (with the 2 liters......only 2 litres......do they realise how f%ing hot it is)(i'm going to die)(No, I can die when I get home....it will be to much of a mission to get my body back to South Africa if I die in Burkina)
Ipod - check
sunscreen - check
Vaseline...... - check
8:00am - let's run party people.
8:15am - fuck I'm tired - think I will walk for a bit.
8:17am - just run for peet's sake. or try and run more than you walk. 50 counts run, 20 counts walk...and repeat
8:20am - might as well take a picture because I am walking AGAIN.
8:22am - fuck it's hot
8:23am.......and onwards......
this race was a serious mental challenge from the word go. I had no idea how long a day will take me, I had no idea how far I've run and how many km's still to go. Pffff.
The CP must be here somewhere.....and then the familiar face of Christene, with some water....only 2liters....Jerome will be driving up and down with extra water if you do need more. Duh??? Yes.
and Jerome or Vincent were always somewhere patrolling the 'streets' of Banfora. And they gave me some xtra water without me having to point a gun at them.
aahhh..... a ice cold coke will be so nice right now. TUN!!!! Really, we are in the middle of nowhere....and you mention COKE! aaahhhh, these Luxem-burgers!
(In my next life I will be Ryan sandes....don't think he is much of a walker during races like these....one day.....)
Apart from drinking a lot water with added electrolytes, I tried to eat at steady intervals.
My 'running food' consisted of Racefood (super tasty nougat), Jelly beans (they don't melt) and dates (just to get some food in my stomach)
+- 3/4pm - the camp site must be here somewhere....yes is should be here.....OK, this is the little 'town' mentioned in the road map book......hallelujah!!!! the familiar green banner of Ultra Africa!!!!
First things first.....recovery 101.
Get 'stove' and fuel block. Make tea. Drink tea. Eat Parmesan cheese. Gonna puke. Lie on my back.
Make soup. Drink soup. Think I'm dying. Nope. Just tired.
Lucky for me, I recover quite quickly after a long day on the road. So within an hour or so I had enough energy to go and make some more boiling water.....don't feel like this Sweet and Sour chicken....according to Cecile 'it looks like something we feed our dogs in France'....thanks!
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| Team Espanol |
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| Carlos in the kitchen |
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| Fire almost burning....or not |
FORCE FEEDING!!!!!
6:00pm...EAT....don't want to....EAT. mmmm, this Bobotie is quite nice....you want to taste Timo?
6:10pm to 6h59pm. laugh at Ollie and Tun's jokes.
7:00pm. aahhhh....Sleeping pill time
7:25pm. SNORE!!!!!!!
Between the time you reach the camp and going to 'bed', there are a lot to do. Everyone is busy making dinner, sorting out backpacks for tomorrow and then 'movie time' ie. fixing blisters. Hahahaha, our campsite looked like a refugee camp every evening. Body's lying everywhere!!!
and Isabelle looked like she really enjoyed 'fixing' blisters.
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| Ollie's sexy feet |
Some runners where in more pain than others, some runners could not finish the race because of very bad blistered feet. But almost everyone had a smile on their faces everyday. A smile makes everything better. Even if it is just for a minute.
Anatole's daily saying "don't worry, be happy"
And how true is that!
If you let your mind go to that dark place, you will really struggle to get it back.
Mind over matter!!!
even though this was an extremely difficult race, I loved it!!!
The camp life, the new friends and a lot of dirty jokes....thanks Tun....the number 71 will never be the same.
And to my wingman/race husband....Timo....what a lovely honeymoon we had.
But next time I will choose the honeymoon destination. OK!!!
Now I will rest for a while...a week or so....because Sahara Race-Jordan is around the corner.
lots of positive vibes from a sunny Stellenbosch.
the infamous WEST
(I'll do another blog post on the travels in Burkina, Ouagadougou, Bobo and Banfora)
