Part 21:No pain no gain!....

There was not one single cloud in the sky this morning; and when I looked up to the heavens, gritting my teeth, It was as clear a sky as I'd seen in my life.
But the magnificent scenery was in no way acting as a distraction from the pain I was feeling, with the intense humidity and heat scorching the trail. There was a thin layer of dust all over my body, mixed with sweat, insect repellent and sun lotion, forming a really itchy, uncomfortable sticky residue all over my exposed skin. It was pretty clear and obvious that I started the race way too quickly, naively thinking the pace could be maintained; so I had a major rethink, adapting my tactics. Slowing down to almost walking pace, whilst hugging the edge of the track - the only area in the shade. Inhaling huge intakes of oxygen through my nostrils and breathing slowly out, filling my lungs up-to capacity with big breaths of air, holding for a brief second, before exhaling out, doing my best to control my breathing.
This technique started to work after a while and along with my pride, was the only thing that kept me going.
My shins were in agony from pounding the hard track, plus the new Merrell running shoes were getting tighter as my feet swelled like balloons, adding to my growing list of ailments!
Since slowing right down, (not that I had much choice) several people started to pass me, and my target of a top 100 finish was looking increasingly unlikely if not completely unrealistic. I did not care anymore and just wanted to finish one way or another, that in it self would be a fantastic achievement.

A tall English guy then passed me, nodding in acknowledgment, Introducing him self as he ran along side me for a while, exchanging words briefly as best we could considering we were both so exhausted - turns out he was in the armed forces; anyway he soon steadily left me behind with his long leggy strides.
Locals were still waving and cheering whilst race officials passed us on scrambling motor cross bikes picking up some exhausted contestants who had reached their limit.
I came extremely close to joining them, but thought otherwise and just kept going, slowly but steadily.
The scenery was getting more dramatic with some sheer drops to my left, jagged mountains and jungle to my right, but I still couldn't look up for to long incase I lost my footing; you had to really concentrate where to plant your feet because the track was riddled with holes and loose rocks. The sense of adventure it gave me was brilliant, and as much as I was in pain, this was a pretty amazing experience for me.
Obviously I couldn't take any pictures, which was a shame really, but this was something I would never forget.
My pace was beginning to steady, and now it was my turn to pass some of the other runners who had skipped passed me earlier. Confidence was slowly, but surely beginning to grow again, holding my own I started to wave back to the locals, trying my best to hide the pain in my feet and legs; to be honest I was in agony!
Just ahead I noticed the English soldier who slowed down at a steep section looking exhausted, with pain etched into his bright red face; I slowly over took him, now this was an even bigger boost to my confidence leaving him behind, especially since this guy was military, younger than me, and I was more than holding my own against him. I steadily kept going till I reached another filling station, grabbing 2 plastic cups of freezing cold water as I passed several other runners who had stopped.
My strategy was still working, but still the track was getting steeper and steeper. It was really tough and completely exposed to the the sun with no shade; making me light headed, and every single step up in this section was gruelling; and if that wasn't bad enough, I could taste the hard boiled egg, almost coming really close to throwing up! So many things were going through my head, and I had a bit of a wobble here to say the least.
I was close to quitting and couldn't take much more of the pain with the trail definitely getting the better of me now. My eyes were watering and everything around me becoming a bit of a blur, so I thought of a happy place back home, playing with my nieces and nephews.
Visualising they were at the trail side cheering me on, as somehow I composed myself once more and kept going.
The heat was practically unbearable, I needed another filling station and fast.
But then ahead through a clearing of bushes we reached a congested section as dozens of runners had stopped, realising when I got nearer, that it was a thick muddy section around 30 meters long, under low bamboo framing or cage that was almost to hot to touch from the sun, and we had to get on all fours to crawl slowly under the bamboo, through the sticky thick mud and my chin was barely above the soggy slippery quagmire, but at least I could get some kind of breather, plus it cooled me down somewhat.
This section was great fun, watching everyone scramble and crawl through the mud swamp, trudging through as quickly as I could, getting absolutely caked from top to toe in the brown clay like mud, it was in my hair, my face, everywhere. Several people even lost their shoes. This caused a bit of a traffic jam, luckily mine were going nowhere, as they were so tight, becoming more of an extension of my body with my swollen feet, still it was pretty amusing watching them dig into the deep, sinking mud trying to retrieve their shoes as I wriggled past them.
Some had to finish the race with one shoe, or worse barefoot.
Now it was everyman for himself as I got through, and with a fresh boost of adrenaline off I went.
The track was all uphill now, and so relentless it actually began to annoy me! This is how it went for the final quarter, a mixture of anger and emotion where the only things that kept me going now. All around me you could see people with agony on their faces similar to mine, many sat down giving up.
One long section was practically impossible to run up so I slowly walked; it seemed to go on for ever and you could not even see the end of this strip, as it veered off to the right around a sharp corner. Mr military closed in on me once more and passed me again; not even acknowledge each other anymore, you could definitely sense the competitiveness between us now.
His long strides served him well on the steep sections and we were engaged in a right old battle.
Officials were still cheering and more crowds were gathering by the side of track. 'How much further' I gasped
'3km' one shouted as he held 3 fingers up to me. At least I knew how far was left now, but every section was up hill, getting steeper and I was literally dragging my feet.
Suddenly you could make out steel drums, and African bongos and the feint voice of the American host, there seemed quite a party at the finish - even though we were getting closer I was close to breaking point. How devastating would that be if I quit now; onwards and upwards I went.
My thighs were stiffening up quite bad, consequently causing my strides to became shorter, it looked quite funny but due to the hill heavy track, everyone one else's running style looked the same. The sounds in the background were really deceiving because the end was still nowhere in sight; how much longer I kept thinking to myself?
The music and cheers kept getting louder, everyone by the sides were cheering and willing us on and It was definitely giving me an extra boost to keep going. The mud all over my body had dried into a dry uncomfortable mess, but at the very least offered some protection from the burning sun on my skin. Picking up the pace ever so slightly me and mr military were neck and neck. He was in pain, blowing hard, his face was bright red and scorched by the sun, looking more like a classic brit abroad and about to collapse; we both continued to push, giving it everything.
What ever the outcome, I ran this soldier really close, feeling that in it self was quite an achievement for me.
A photographer was taking lots of pictures of the runners and snapped a couple of really close up shots of my face; it was not a pretty sight, and if the last uphill section wasn't hard enough all the track was completely exposed to the sun - these race organisers were certainly not taking any prisoners.
All I could taste was this hard boiled egg in my mouth, with a chronic acid indigestion burning in my chest, it was disgusting and making me feel sick.
I began to panic and thought
'Oh no!! Not now'. With no filling stations in view, I was on the verge of throwing up in front of all these people, photographers and cameras.
My mouth was so dry and I kept swallowing but held it down, only just though, instead focusing on the finish line dead ahead. Honestly there was not much more I could take as Mr military started edging in front of me.
I did not have much left in the tank
but the clapping crowds were a welcome sight, willing us all on, giving me another little boost of adrenalin, and knowing how close I was to the end I kept battling.
The african drums were playing as we approached the finish line. It was very difficult to describe the feeling in writing as the end was less than 20 yards away. We were all getting huge cheers and applause from the crowds, and adrenalin was sweeping through my body, I was getting quite emotional.
Raising my arms as I finally crossed the finish line, it was euphoric, emotional, so exhausted and barely able to catch my breath
The American host and a TV interviewer approached, congratulating me on conquering the Merrell adventure trail. And proceeded to ask me a host of questions.
What was I doing in the philippines?
Where was I from?
What my name was? And why was I covered in more mud than anyone else?
Doing my best to catch my breath I answered all their questions.
She asked me what was my favourite part of the track'
'You need me to answer that'
I laughed, pointing at the mud on my body.
They congratulated me again before I was led away by race officials to a filling station as they handed me a bag full of Merrell goodies,
Quite a few people wanted to have a picture with me for some reason but I was in agony and just wanted to curl up into a ball.
Eager to learn if any of my fitness group had finished ahead of me, I looked around the camp for them.
They were nowhere to be seen, so I sat down on the edge of the track and waited for them, barely able to move my stiffening legs, pouring cold water on them for some relief, peeling off my muddy shoes from my swollen feet!
Then a full 35 minutes later, Lala who was the fittest in our group rolled in covered in mud and she immediately asked me when I finished.
I'm not convinced she believed me as
I told her over half an hour ago.
But we all had electronic chips in our race numbers, and the results would be announced on The Merrell website anyway.
The friendly banter continued as the rest of the group rolled in later and we all hugged, posing for pictures, looking a right state.
There was an out door shower trickling out water, facing the mountain ranges.
I showered with around 15 men which was quite an experience. Doing my best to wipe the mud off, I stripped to my shorts.
My Filipino friends were taking more pics and making fun of me asking if I bought my Oil of Ulay and shampoo! Mocking my apparent vainness.
After the shower, I limped back to the car to get changed, relieved that it was all over.
I was struggling to get changed in the open field, trying to peel off my muddy clothes - then a young man saw my struggles before inviting me into his small house to use it as a changing room. He could not stop smiling as I entered his modest home.
There was no running water, just a small unit with wooden plates, and a tiny table. Washing was hanging on a line through the middle of his home as I ducked underneath to make my way to a tiny bedroom with a small bamboo bed and no mattress.
His young children were sleeping in 2 small home made hammocks.
I was quite overcome, firstly with his generosity and by how he was living with his family, no tv, no electric, no mod cons and certainly no wifi.
It was as hot as an oven inside, and completely constructed from bamboo and cardboard.
I warmly thanked him and his family handing him 200 pesos.
'Its ok, its ok' he repeated.
Seeing how genuinely nice and humble this man was kinda got to me a little bit. I never really experienced anything like this and it had an effect on me.
Already overcome by a little emotion from finishing quite possibly one of the biggest challenges of my life and learning my finish position was 105th place, I was ecstatic and equally surprised, but ultimately humbled.

What an end to an emotional day.....