An ultra-marathon is a marathon-plus race. It is any distance over the standard 42.195km, usually with additional packets of 10.5km thrown into the wash. Other formats are multiples of marathon distance, i.e. 84km, 136km, 168km; there are 50-milers and 100-milers in the USA. Our previous interviewee, Alan Giraldi has completed the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, and has qualified for the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (26-27 June 2010) – which is very hard to get in.
On Sunday, 27 December I will participate in my second ultra-marathon. Why? All for a t-shirt…and then some. I ran 52.5km last year, which are 5 loops of the off-road, 10.5km track. I aim to complete 6 loops this year, and earn another ultra-marathon t-shirt.
From 7.00am till 7.00pm, the established local running club of MR25 will facilitate this boutique race that attracts about 300 runners annually from Singapore and abroad. My friend, Ironman John Cooke will fly from Perth to do this race again. Multiple-Ironman winner and Kona finisher, Tobias Frenz will drive from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on Saturday just to do five or 11 loops, depending on how he feels.
This run route takes place on varied terrain: road, sandy trail, and rocky track. There are water-points at strategic locations, but it helps to carry your own water. The organizers provide water, electrolyte drinks, fruit and even lunch. If you register by 6.30am at MacRitchie Reservoir on Sunday, you can join us. You have 12 hours to complete as many loops as you wish to, and stop whenever you want to. It is a great year-end gathering of old friends and new ones; it is as much a personal test of endurance and willpower as it is a social activity – you can chat to fellow runners when the gremlins start gnawing at your back at the 30km mark.
Next year, I intend to run in the Adidas Sundown Marathon and complete the 84km distance. One step at a time...
Wish us good weather tomorrow!
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