My goal was to skate the Athens to Atlanta 86 mile Ultra-Skate in under five hours. It was a reasonable goal based on last year's time of 5 hours and 15 minutes.
I started training seriously in February. The course is very grueling - hill after hill almost the entire length. It has 6 checkpoints to stock up on water and bananas. Before the first checkpoint, I joined a 16-person pack. Inline skating is a "pack sport" like cycle racing. Skaters can draft off each other to improve their efficiency. The pack is always faster than the solo skater.
By the 2nd checkpoint my toes were aching. My skates were too tight. I'd lose the pack if I stopped to make adjustments. But I had a bigger concern -- the fatigue that I felt in my legs. Something was wrong. I should not feel tired so soon. Then I realized -- I was not drinking enough water. Remember the Robot in the "Lost In Space" TV series? Warning: Will Robinson - H2O deficit! Repeat H2O deficit! All skate systems will shut down in approximately 2 hours.
Checkpoint 3 is always a bittersweet sight. It is almost half way; but the toughest hills are yet to come. My time was 2:18 hours. My toes were numb. The fatigue in my legs was increasing. My back was starting to ache. But, I was still in a strong pack.
A short distance after checkpoint 3 we dropped a few skaters who could not climb the huge hills. The pack was dwindling.
After checkpoint 4, we climbed several relentless hills. This year, those hills were more difficult than I ever experienced in the last two years. The fatigue in my legs had turned to intense pain. I could barely move my legs. I used my hands and arms to push my legs up the hill, audibly groaning with each push. My entire body ached with flu- like pain. I had "bonked" a.k.a. "run out of gas" or "hit the wall" or "been humbled."
At 65 miles, the pack slowly moved ahead. Losing the pack would kill my hopes of reaching my 5-hour goal. Devil on my right shoulder: "Quit." God on my left shoulder: "You can do it." I prayed, "But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31. Could I rally and catch the pack? No. I was far beyond weary. I cried out to God, "Why isn't my strength renewing?" His answer: "I am all you need."
I approached the legendary one-mile long Silver Road Hill with some well-founded fear. It's the fastest hill on the course. At the bottom of the hill, several spectators were cheering as I rolled by at 35 mph. They couldn't know the pain I was experiencing - but their cheers encouraged me to skate up to the top of hill and the next checkpoint.
Checkpoint five. Skaters were getting first aid after crashing on The Hill. I thanked God for getting me safely down the steep part and for the strength to get me up the other side. On a different hill, two skaters half my age were laying in the grass after succumbing to their fatigue. (Old goal - under five hours. New goal - just cross the finish line!!) I prayed for an upcoming pack. Yes! A five-person pack came from nowhere. Thank you, Lord. I jumped in and we were soaring. It only lasted a few minutes. My body went through another painful melt down. Devil: "You can't finish." God: "I am all you need to finish."
Checkpoint six. Eight more miles to go! Good news: it was flat. Bad news: very rough asphalt. Georgia skaters call it "gator back." It jars your bones and muscles - it's no fun. I thanked God for being the only "pack" I needed for the last 21 miles. I crossed the finish line in 5 hours and 28 minutes. My time earned Second Place in the 50 to 59 age division -- personal best for this race.
Lessons re-learned:
1.) Set goals. We can achieve so much more when we
do. However, it's okay to revise your goals when unexpected circumstances
prevail. "Falling down isn't a sin, staying down is."
2.) Faith will
get us through any adversity (not spare us from adversity.) I relied on
God to get me up the hills and across the finish line. Bonking renewed
my faith in God.
3.) Next year, I'll drink a lot more water.
-- Larry L. Griffin, a2a, October 7, 2001
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