Words By: Gigi Young
Is it a dream? If it is, please don’t pinch me because I don’t want to wake up!
This dream goal started in August. My coach Howard (who is the US National 24hr Ultra Running Team Leader) mentioned to me that based on my performance at the Keys100 in Florida (160km in 19hrs 27mins) I might be able to run well in a 24hr race and suggested that I might have a chance to reach the National Qualifying standard for the 24hr World Championship. Wow! To me this sounded a totally unrealistic goal being a leisure runner! However after a few emails backwards and forwards, Howard guided me to contact the HK Ultra Running Association. First, I needed to find out if HK is registered under the International Association of Ultra Running (IAU) and participate in a 24hr IAU certified race that would enable me to qualify for the World Champs.
During my usual home visit to Hong Kong in August, I decided I had nothing to lose. I contacted the HK Ultra Running Association and asked what plans they had for any 24hr races, as well as checking out any other IAU certified races in other cities. However the HK URA committee told me that they were organising an international 24hr certified race in January 2015. As a Hong Kong born Chinese, there would be nothing better than to run a race with friends and family support! At that time, deep down I knew I had already quietly and secretly decided to set this “unrealistic” goal! I was going to run a 24hr race!
Training started; Howard scheduled quite a bit different schedule than the one for Keys100, I quietly ticked the box day in, day out, morning and evening running sessions, paying a lot more attention to nutrition and the all too important recover time between my back to back sessions. I had to admit this training was never easy, but is it not what we go for – to push our limit?
During the training period, I have only told a very few running friends; the group that I felt comfortable to talk to, the group I trusted and never needed to hide my fears. On the other hand, I was so nervous I couldn’t even bear to tell the public that I was training for this epic race! I was speechless when my running buddies Nick and Lesley decided to make a trip to HK to support me and John! My very dear husband as usual, never questioned me and always stood by my side and supported whatever I wanted to try to achieve.
After a horrible nerve-racking and uncomfortable taper, John, Nick, Lesley and I met up in HK a few days before the race. We attended the race briefing, met some other running friends who I had bumped into on previous ultras in South Africa and the enormity of the challenge hit me hard. I was running with some great runners and this was going to be a huge challenge. We discussed what I needed during the race, etc. The 24hrs race was set around a 1.1km running track with just two timing mats at each end of the track. Runners would run round and round on the track within 24hrs and see what the maximum mileage we could tuck in! I always laughed and described this like a monkey running inside the cage! This race was obviously not just physically challenging, but also very much a huge mental challenge. This race was strict with no pacers and assistance from official supporter in one very small area along the route. John, Nick and Lesley could only pass me things when I ran pass the runner’s helper tent. So you could imagine how “exciting” a job they had to do – standing and sitting for 24hrs watching runners running round and round! As a runner, I can tell you it is a much harder job as a supporter! Needless to say, they did a fantastic job to support me; they did a top job to making sure I have enough balanced nutrition during the race. At the first official weigh in (being four hours into the race) I had lost 1kg. At the second weigh in, I had lost 1.7kg. My supporters in Dubai upon hearing this were very jealous of my weight loss and I got lots of rude comments over the SMS! During the dark and down periods, the rain and wind started from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and I had to change to waterproof gear, but to see my supporters also stood in the cold and just watching all the runners, I can’t really describe my feeling! I told myself over and over that I had to stay focused and keep moving, I dare not drill into any negative energy, all I needed to do was keep running, walking or even crawling – as long as I didn’t stop I would make the 24hrs!
Rain stopped around sunrise and this gave me a bit of a lift. I glanced at the official timing clock and saw 20:10:00, it means I just had less than four more hours to run. I also dared to open up myself to my support team; that my goal was to run 180km, as this is the National Qualifying mileage for the World Championship! When I passed the timing mat on lap 164, my team told me I have ran the minimum 180km! They were jumping up and down and so did I! I am not sure who was happier. I was happy but exhausted and when I looked at the Timing Clock again I realised I still have another 1hr 20mins left to run!
Immediately I asked myself “Am I going to stop now?” I have done what I came for. I was tired and every bit of my body was screaming at me that I’m in pain. But the other side of me was also telling me that I might still have a bit more to give; no pain no gain theory! So with a bit of a stubbornness and determination, I did it. I ran 190km in 24hrs! Exceeded my own expectation!
I realised that this was no longer a dream, my dream had come true! I got three awards, 1st Hong Kong Female, 3rd Overall Female, and I exceeded the National qualifying standard! Lastly I was officially invited to represent Hong Kong in the 24hr World Championships in April in Italy.
Of course the above would not have happened without all these wonderful people helping me during my training period: Andrea, Jerry, Kerry, Julie, Noel, Monique and Samantha, they are truly my running buddies.
I wouldn’t have done this race without John, Nick and Lesley’s support – their physical and mental support was outstanding and kept me going even during the darkest hours of this race. When I stood on the stage to receive my trophies and all the glories, I looked at these three wonderful people. They had done all they could to help me achieve my dream. It’s hard to describe my feeling. I just know those faces will stay in my heart forever. I can never offer enough thanks to them. I hope I did them proud. Another wonderful and memorable time was to see all my very good friends in HK: Sean, Sandy, Simon and family, Anita, Tracy, Connie, Fanda who all came along to cheer me and share the moment with me during the awards ceremony. Many people have asked me “How can you run on a 1.1km track for 24 hours? Wasn’t it boring? Was it hard? What were you thinking? My answer was it was never easy, but with all the above mentioned wonderful people being part of this journey, I can say it was well worth it. A wonderful lifetime experience!
