Fin Del Mundo Marathon – Race Day

2nd Race Day, Fin Del Mundo Marathon, Ushuaia, Argentina: Sunday March 6th -

After getting up very early, the first thing I did was look out the window. I could not really tell about the weather, but I could see stars and thought that was a good thing. Went down to breakfast at 0630 before the bus would leave at 0700.

Again, the big question, what to wear! I picked out the shoes and socks as planned, polpypro pants as planned and then decided on cotton turtleneck and warmer polypro top with singlet and shorts overneath to pin the race number on.

It turned out in the end to be the right decision!

I almost missed the bus after all of this! After fiddling around with clothes and knapsack and such, I came down around 703 to find the bus full and pulling out, but one extra mini-bus that was getting ready to leave. I literally made it by seconds to spare!

We then drove a very long way to the starting line which is the end of Route 3 (all the way north to Alaska), where we had the usual congregation that happens at pre-race. Even after all of this, I had brought extra clothes and spent the next hour trying to decide what to wear. Even though it was sunny and getting warmer (10c), I thought it might get cold or even rain by the time I was through and there was NO way I was going to be cold again.

Race started dead on at 0900 and we then ran for around 18km on a dirt and gravel road through the national forest. It was incredibly beautiful and the same road we had taken into the park the previous day. I started out incredibly strong (for me – doing the 2nd marathon in 8 days) doing the first 10k in about 1:05. There were water and Gatorade stops every 5km and they also had bananas, fruit and granola bars at these stands, that was great. They also had sponges every odd 5 km (7.5km e.g.) and really nice and enthusiastic Argentines manning these stops.

I started playing mind and time games with myself already targeting what the next 5km should be and where to be at the 20k, but no more than 5 or 10km ahead. It was a great run and by the time we had left the park, I had made it to 20k in record time (for me again), around 2:10-2:15 and the halfway point, 21.1k at 2:25 or so. I started thinking a little about breaking 5 hours at this point, but was mostly thinking about just trying to finish.

First my left knee flared up and starting hurting well before 10k and the right knee started throbbing well before 15k. I remember thinking, “oh now, they balance each other out!”.

The hardest stretch was around 21-28k where we had to run up to the domestic airport and turn around and come back. The first part had been a lot of uphills and downhills and so was this part. It was also fairly desolate and tough as I could see all the runners ahead of me coming downhill after the turnaround.

But I made it and focused on reaching 30k in around 3:30, again which would have been record time.

We then ran through the town and San Martin street which was pretty fun as at least there were more people cheering there.

By the time we reached 30k, it was just around 3:35, and I knew if I really slowed down and started slopping on the k’s I would not reach 5 hours and finishing was still in jeapordy.

I was mostly running in a pack with Debra Iketani, another guy and a couple of others, who we kept passing each other or getting passed in return.

The stretch of 30-37k was absolutely the toughest. It was all uphill on a lonely road above the city with cars whizzing by just inches from my head. But it was here that I started to pick up time on the pack and when I looked back, I had put distance between me and the group I had been keeping pace with.

I hit 35k right around 4:00 and now the mental toughness would come in.

I know I needed to do about 2k every 15 minutes (7.5 minute k’s) which might squeak me in around 4:58 or pretty close to 5 hours.

Luckily, from around 37k, it slightly sloped downhill with just a few uphills left.

I hit 37k at or around 4:14 and when I hit 39k at around 4:28, I started to get really excited about a personal best.

When I hit 40k right around 4:35, I knew if I really sprinted in, and did the next 2.2k in 14 minutes, I could break 4:50 which would shatter my personal record (PR) and put me well in front of breaking the 5 hour mark.

I knew it was now or never and was willing to take the pain in the legs and body to go for it. With no more markers left it was just me and my stopwatch.

I finally saw the finish line and hoards of people around both sides. I could also see the ticking clock by this point and it was around 4:49 and ticking!

I raced with every ounce I had through the cheering people with no energy to look around at all. I just wanted to not see 4:50 come up on the clock. By the time I crossed the finish line it was right at the mark of either 4:49:59 or dead on 4:50:00. Either way, since we had a few seconds to reach the starting line, I had a personal best and all I could think about was how AMAZINGLY happy I was!

I had finished 2 marathons in a week, two different continents, a personal best, and felt great! What was really neat was after finishing hanging out just over the starting line with people we knew from the ships and congratulating each other on our runs and taking pictures. I guzzled down a bottle of Gatorade right away and just relished in the moment.

Soon after, the other pack runners started coming in at 4:55 and over 5 hours.

We got our medals, and after putting on some warm clothes finally found a taxi to go back to the hotel for a well deserved hot shower and some more liquids!

That night we had an awards dinner and it was also the last time we would see each other. We formed many emotional bonds during the trip, being around mutual goals and really helping each other to compete.

Alyn, who won the Antarctica marathon, also won Ushuaia. She is 53 and was there with her husband who is around the same age. She has short spiky hair and they live in Denver area, a very nice couple. Karen, the young girl (20’s) who was there with her father, came in 5th.

My roommate from hell, finished around 5 hours, which bettered his Antarctica time of 7:55!

One more night of sleeping hell and I would be on my way! What a Journey!