Monday, September 18, 2006
Day 12 - What a difference a day makes
Just when i thought things were going well, i have a miserable night just to set me back, the cold that had been hanging around me (probably not helped by regular rain and a few cold showers at some stops), had set in overnight, spent most of the night sniffing and feeling like rubbish (and filled both handkerchiefs i could find), i was amazed i didn't keep everyone awake.
So it's up in the morning feeling like rubbish, knowing i've got the longest day ahead of me (75.48 K's), at least yesterdays performance meant i had some confidence in the Nike Frees, how misplaced it was i found out later but i thought i'd see if JB could organise a hotel for tonight as i really needed a good sleep and i think the sleeping bag (too hot or too cold never quite right) was not helping.
Appears as though my swollen legs and feet had also grown during the night as after a few K's realised that the socklike structure of the Free meant it was cutting into my left ankle, all i could then do was take my sock off to decrease the pressure somewhat. Absolute struggle and the body really was telling me just to stop it still 10:50 (almost 3 hours behind the stage leader) and i was there and a hotel waiting for me.
Interesting night at the hotel, as we had no scheduled meal i ate there, however the lady there did not speak English and their was no translation for the menu so basically i bought something which appeared to have a fair bit in it (more food = more fuel for the run), only wish i'd written down the name of the menu so i could look it up. Two plates, one with a sort of mashed potato and one with bacon and vegies, i have no idea how i was supposed to combine these, though i have the feeling i made a right hash of it as the only other people there had a little boy who kept on watching me eat and absolutely killed himself laughing (i assume at the strange way this man ate whatever this local delicacy was !!).
Worse was to come i woke at 3 and found that having a blanket and sheets meant that i had put more pressure on my leg and it had swollen more (at least the cold seemed better), not having a fridge it meant i had to put my legs in the shower (sitting on the toilet seat) and put cold water on them - great way to spend an hour, had a feeling for a while that the luxury of a hotel stay may have cost me a finish.
So it's up in the morning feeling like rubbish, knowing i've got the longest day ahead of me (75.48 K's), at least yesterdays performance meant i had some confidence in the Nike Frees, how misplaced it was i found out later but i thought i'd see if JB could organise a hotel for tonight as i really needed a good sleep and i think the sleeping bag (too hot or too cold never quite right) was not helping.
Appears as though my swollen legs and feet had also grown during the night as after a few K's realised that the socklike structure of the Free meant it was cutting into my left ankle, all i could then do was take my sock off to decrease the pressure somewhat. Absolute struggle and the body really was telling me just to stop it still 10:50 (almost 3 hours behind the stage leader) and i was there and a hotel waiting for me.
Interesting night at the hotel, as we had no scheduled meal i ate there, however the lady there did not speak English and their was no translation for the menu so basically i bought something which appeared to have a fair bit in it (more food = more fuel for the run), only wish i'd written down the name of the menu so i could look it up. Two plates, one with a sort of mashed potato and one with bacon and vegies, i have no idea how i was supposed to combine these, though i have the feeling i made a right hash of it as the only other people there had a little boy who kept on watching me eat and absolutely killed himself laughing (i assume at the strange way this man ate whatever this local delicacy was !!).
Worse was to come i woke at 3 and found that having a blanket and sheets meant that i had put more pressure on my leg and it had swollen more (at least the cold seemed better), not having a fridge it meant i had to put my legs in the shower (sitting on the toilet seat) and put cold water on them - great way to spend an hour, had a feeling for a while that the luxury of a hotel stay may have cost me a finish.
# posted by Aussie Ultra Runner @ 4:41 AM 
