Race Report: 12 h Track Run

May 6

After I finished the 12 h run on the track on November 11, 2021, I somehow couldn’t bring myself to write about it, I had no words. It turned out to be a completely different experience than I expected, and I felt that at the same time there was nothing to say, and so much to say. In addition, after nearly a month of riding the high of the 12 h run, my mind and body also wandered into a slump, which coincided with winter blues and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It took me a lot longer, but here it finally is - the story of running around in circles for 12 h straight!

The idea of running in loops around a track was in my mind for quite a while. When I prepared for Connemara Ultra Marathon, which turned out to be a virtual race, I knew I want to run around a track for 12 h. My curiosity was simple, I wanted to see if in a safe environment - that being a track - I can run for 12 hours straight, and what would happen with my body and mind during this time. It would then be a sort of a blueprint for future longer runs. As I had no other races planned for 2021, I decided to work towards my 12 h run on the track. I read a lot about 12 h races, how to prep, what to pay attention to, I sought advice from other ultra runners, read how other 12 h races are organised on a track (main advice: change running direction every 3 to 4 h); there was a lot to learn, and a lot to figure out. The only thing I knew I won’t need to worry about is logistics of resupplying, as I will be running in circles.

In July, 2021, I decided I will be running 12 h around 400 m track loops on November 11, 2021. November 11 marked exactly three years after my first marathon - Athens Authentic Marathon - it would be a great way-marker of how far I have journeyed in my running. The dedicated training began.

I approached the training really intuitively and planned it week by week, keeping in mind only a weekly total, and scraping idea of long and short runs, instead I did it by my gut. I also made sure that I get used to running on tired legs, meaning, I ran two, three, four days in a row, and I also did two runs in one day. In addition, my one weekly obligatory session was intervals, which closer to the race date, also was a way to train my body to eat while running. I would go for my interval session on the track, eat, and then head out for another 6 or 8 kilometres. It allowed my body to get used to digesting food on the move with an elevated heart rate. As an upset stomach was one of my main worries!

In training my body, I added a lot more strength training. One of the many ways I joined strength training and running together was filling up my running pack for every run, doesn’t matter long or short, I was always carrying 2 kg on my back. I also concentrated a lot more on low HR runs when I ran any distance, and during my interval sessions I worked on speed, and gave it all that I’ve got.

And then there was a mental training. For many this might be the most challenging part, how do you run 12 h straight in 400 m loops? I didn’t know. However, I knew that mental side of things won’t be an issue for me. In 2018 I did 10-day Vipassana Residential Retreat, which is a meditation retreat, where for 10 days straight you meditate 11 hours a day, no talking, no eye contact, and every day there would be an hour long session during which you were encouraged not to move; stillness in the body, so there can be stillness in the mind. In all honesty, running for 12 hours seemed a lot easier than meditating for 11 hours 10 days in a row!

Apart from interval runs, I didn’t do much training on the track itself. On November 3, a week before the race day, I did four hours on the track, and ran 34 km. It was a horrible run! Even before I stepped on the track my stomach was upset, and I felt sick throughout it. After the training run, I thought, if I can run for 4 h feeling this crappy, I have enough in me to do it also for 12 h. Though the doubts, of course started to sneak in. Whether I am physically well enough prepared, why I am doing it at all, who cares and what is the point. Conclusion, I was doing it for myself and myself alone! And the trees! As I decided to also raise funds for Hometree Charity, to support their work in rewilding Ireland.

On Novembr 10 I got keys to the track, thank you Ellen and Tanja from NUIG Sports Centre for your support here. It started to feel very real! Last preparations, lists, food prep, liquid prep, time slot prep for runners who will be joining, and figuring out what time to start. The evening of Thursday, November 11, the race day, was promised wet and windy. Late in the evening before the race, I decided to move the start time to 6.00 a.m. from 7.00 a.m., I will be starting in the dark, but hopefully finishing before the rain and wind arrives.

In 2020, a year earlier, I ran 64 km in 8 hours, so anything beyond this marker was an achievement for me. I didn’t have a pace in mind, I was mainly thinking that I will run a long low HR run, and see how far I can get.

I slept well, got up at 4.40 a.m., breakfast, coffee, foot massage and off we go! Worth to note, that this was the first time ever, that I tied my shoes and didn’t feel like I need to re-tie them. I was ready!

We arrived at the track at 5.45 a.m., it was dark and cloudy. At 6.00 a.m. in the company of my fiancé, Michael, and our friends, Owen and Aoife, the 12 h run x 400 m loops started! I could just about make out the lines on the track. For the first 3,5 h my partner was running alongside me. We talked, ran in silence and organised my resupply spot, and I was already thinking what snacks I might want to in the afternoon.

My partner left just before 10.00 a.m. I stopped for some food, and put on headphones to listen to a podcast. Sun was out and it felt warm! At around 10.30 a.m. I saw someone jumping the fence, I soon found out that it is Greg, a local musician and a Boston Marathon finisher. He heard about my run an evening before in a pub, as someone who knows me was playing a fiddle with him. Plenty of conversations and stories were shared. An hour later Chris and his partner joined. An hour after that Owen and Alice, the fiddle player, joined. And each runner stayed until the next one arrived! Their generosity of their time was remarkable!

At 2.00 p.m. Peter joined and shared his extensive knowledge and experience with ultra running, he brought snacks and magnesium (good to avoid cramps, for that I also had pickle juice and pickles). At 3.00 p.m. my partner came back to look after and support me during the last three hours of the run.

Now it was starting to get colder, and windier. One side of the track felt like a wind tunnel, so I mainly walked it, it was too hard to fight the find after running nine hours. Beside the track there wasn’t really any shelter from the rain. As it started drizzling my partner moved the supplies under the trees, and in a dry bag to try and keep everything dry. And just as the next runner, Mark, arrived it started lashing (thank you for your energy and singing throughout the rain)! But we continued moving! My feet got soaked, and there were some puddles on the track and wind was relentless. At 5.00 p.m. my fiancé’s sister, Laura, and her daughters and friends came with posters, I was thrilled to share some laps with the kids! At around 5.30 p.m. everyone who joined earlier in the day and more came to share the last thirty minutes. The rain stopped and the Moon came out!

During the day we also problem solved and charged my watch while running, as it wouldn’t have lasted the whole 12 h. I had a glass of water with magnesium around three hours before the finish to keep the cramps away. Throughout the whole day there wasn’t a moment that I felt like stopping, and in all honesty, when it started to rain it gave me a second breath. I think I forgot to be bored, and I don’t remember what I thought about while running, however I do remember stories that people told me while sharing laps with me, and jokes, and support that I received throughout the whole day. I think my main thoughts were around food and whether I am taking in enough liquids!

I vividly remember, Nikki, one of the runners, saying that she thought she will find someone grumpy going in loops on the track, but I couldn’t be happier that evening! The Moon was out, rain stopped, and I had a great community around me sharing the last laps of the 12 h run! It was exceptional! As it drew closer to 6.00 p.m. the NUIG Athletics club joined on the track. I looked at my watch and I knew I can do 90 km in total! And as it turns out my last km was the fastest since 28th km. I am not sure what it was, but I felt elevated and happy! Truly grateful to my mind and body for going the distance.

In 12 h x 400 m track loops I did 90.08 km with two minutes to spare! And together we raised 570 eur for Hometree to support restoration, conservation and afforestation of native Irish woodlands.

When I planned my run and even on the day I began my run, I thought I will have long hours by myself, instead the community, my yoga and meditation students, and runners from Galway Bay Brewery Running Club all showed up. At the end, I only spent 45 min by myself on the track. During these minutes I called my family. So really, I had support throughout the whole 12 hours. Which is incredible, and made this experience completely different than I imagined, and I am so grateful for it. And completely astounded! Thank you all for your support.

And just as we packed up and started walking towards the car the evening rainstorm arived. I was thrilled that we moved the start time an hour earlier.

I would also like to say thank you to Runamics for kindly gifting me the running gear for the race day. They make planet-friendly sportswear, most of their products are also now Craddle-to-Craddle certified and some are even biodegradable. Leave only footprints when running!

And I would also like to say thank you to Kelpman Ocean Blends for providing the best recovery protein blend made from natural and real ingredients. All plant based.

On November 11, 2021, I ran for 12 h x 400 m track loop; I ran 90,08 km.