Island race pace

It was 3am when my alarm went off. I'd been awake for ages, so it was easy to get up. I quickly got dressed and went down to the reception area where they had opened the lobby bar up early for breakfast. I ordered a coffee from the waitress there, and she was surprised I was going for "regular" coffee because she had served me every day with decaffeinated as I forced myself to ensure a good hydration policy for 72 hours before the race. She was also surprised to see I was vegan, and commented on my running vest. She thought it was awesome and said she admired my commitment.

For once I ate a good breakfast. We had found a belgian chocolate vegan granola out there (which ironically comes from Yorkshire in the UK) and I loved it. I ate a big bowl of it and drank the coffee. I wasn't my usual nervous wreck which was probably due to the fact I was doing this race for the hell of it and just to say my year of injury was over and I was on the way back. I was hoping for around 5 hours as a finishing time, but I considered the fact that I may take between 5.30 - 6 hours. It didn't concern me though. I'd read this was a carnival marathon and lots of people had a lot of fun doing it, and I was going to be one of them. Of course, being a qualifier for Boston and Miami marathon meant there were people here with big aspirations, but I later learnt that there were far more people who just came here for the fun of it.

As the time for the shuttle buses approached, we went down to the lobby to wait. The lifts were full of people in race gear, all laughing and joking. The lobby was full of runners and there were a lot of photographers and film crew. They were all focussed on a runner/supporter from Team Diabetes Canada who had turned up in an orange tutu with matching orange hair. One of the photographers spotted Graeme and I (obviously in the Vegan runners vests) and took a few pictures. This turned out to be the beginning of a sort of fascination with "The Vegan Runners from the UK".

The shuttle bus only took a few minutes to get us to the start line and it was already quite busy. The commenatator stood in front of the start area and said over the microphone that it was "a positively chilly 78 degrees" at 4.26am. He quickly followed it with, "Gahhhd, I wish I'd brought a coat". We had been on the island for 7 days, so we were getting accustomed to the temperature quite well, but I was still very warm and certainly didn't need a coat. As we waited for the off, an American bloke commented on us being vegan and said he'd been vegan for almost a year. He said he found eating on the island very difficult, which caused Graeme and I to look at each other quizzically. We had found this place to be brilliant for our diet. People here don't look at you like you have just told them you are a species from Star Trek when you say you're vegan, and instead get stuck in telling you what they can cook for you... pointing out stuff like, "Oooh, you can't have that because it's got egg in it and I'd avoid that dressing because it contains honey". Two of the restaurants we had liked enough to return to had welcomed us back and both had asked would we like the same meals we had ordered last time or would we like to try something different? I often find, all you have to do is just ask if you are in doubt about food. People are very helpful if you give them the opportunity.

And then it was time to go. I wished Graeme good luck for his sub 4, telling him I had a feeling he'd do about 3:48, and he wished me good luck and hoped my foot would be ok. Lots of people were walking from the start and we slowly jogged along the pitch black streets in silence... only the tapping of footsteps on the pavement could be heard. It was only about a mile in when we got to the most fabulous display of Christmas lights outside 2 adjoining houses. It was absolutley spectacular and lots of runners stopped to photograph it. I considered stopping to do the same and maybe would have if we had been further into it. I just carried on with my 8:4 run/walk.

The tops of my legs were really aching early on. I ignored it and thought that it was probably just the fact I hadn't ran much for a few days and it was all the consequence of the taper. We had been told at the start that there were around 15 water stations on the course and each water station would have water in cups, water in bottles and lime and lemon Gatorade. Thinking back to Bangalore last year, I had ignored the lemon/lime Enerzal drink until very late because I didn't want to do anything different on race day. This had been a mistake... one which I wouldn't make again. I had a cup of Gatorade quite early on to see what it was like. I liked it and promised myself I would have a few cups of it throughout the race. I thought that I may even start using it when I get home if it didn't make me feel sick.

After only around 3 miles I felt something gritty in my shoe. I rolled my eyes and decided I was being paranoid. This was probably my only mistake of the race.

The water stations were amazing. The staff on each one tried to outdo all of the other water stations, all in competition to be voted the best. They were jovial, helpful and very encouraging. It was still dark as I came across the India water station. They gave me a bottle of water that was absolutley freezing and told me it was all the way from India and was the coldest water I'd get today. It was fab, I drank a bit and poured some over my hat. The temperature wasn't too bad and there was a great cooling breeze, but again, following on from a mistake made in Bangalore where I hadn't felt I needed to cool myself down until it was too late, I heeded my own advice and made sure I used all of cooling methods available. I also took my gels every 45 minutes. I'd taken GU and Torq gels (3 of each) so I didn't get sick of the same thing (another thing learnt from Bangalore).

I ran past a place where everyone had stuck flip flops to a tree. There were a load of people stood here cheering everyone on. I heard a woman say "Oh my Gahhhd... a vegan runner!!!". I didn't know whether it was a compliment or detrimental, but I wasn't bothered either way.

I was wondering where Graeme was, as I thought he should be coming past me very soon on his way back to the startline. I thought I'd seen him and shouted across the road, only to find it wasn't him but was a runner in a blue running vest. I felt a bit stupid and carried on. At around 5.2 miles I saw him (but only because he saw me and shouted as he walked past whilst having a drink). He looked good and comfortable. I felt pleased I wasn't about 3 miles behind him already!

The water stations continued to be very entertaining and before long I was at a turnaround point (around 6.5 miles). People danced, sang, shouted, laughed and it was a great atmosphere. I was looking forward to it getting lighter so I could see my Garmin. I had no idea on pace or anything, although it wasn't really too important for me for this race.

It seemed no time at all and I was back up at the Flip flop tree again and the sun was coming up. At 8.8 miles I ran past a bloke passed out at the side of the road who was being given assistance by some marshalls. I hoped he would be OK, but he was motionless. An ambulance followed shortly after to pick him up.

Back at the India water station again and I'm given "The coldest water on the course, all the way from India..." It tasted amazing, but I was now at the point where I tried to only take cups instead of bottles as I felt a whole bottle seemed such a waste. I squashed the top of the cup Hal Higdon stylee and found it was a good way to stop spillage. I continued taking a few sips only and pouring the rest over myself. I was enjoying the coldness a bit too much and almost missed the turn off on the course and had to be ushered back onto it by a policeman. The road led into George Town and the sun shone, although not unbearably hot as I had imagined it would be. It was only around 7am however, so that could all change. My toes were killing me. I felt like I had blisters all over and the toes that felt the worst were the ones I had put gel toecaps on. I couldn't understand why that would be. I also started to get a pain in my left hip (a sort of piriformis/gluteus medius pain) which bewildered me. I thought back to Amsterdam Marathon where this had happened then for the very first time. It had perplexed me then as much as it did now. I hadn't had the pain before and I hadn't had it since. I wondered what was causing it.

Through George Town lots of people commented on me being vegan, telling me it was, "Wow... like.... souuuper arwwwsahhhmm maaan". Runners chatted about my diet and said it was cool, people by the roadside called, "Heyyyyy, waaaaydago Vegan" I don't think I'd ever received such support before. The mileage markers could clearly be seen now due to the daylight and I started reading all of the comments on them.... "Your feet are killing you because you're kicking so much butt", "Not long now until you can have a nice cold beer, ahhhhhh!", "Toe nails are for sissies" and so on. As I ran towards the halfway point I saw one that said, "Hurry up, the beach is waiting for you". Next time I see that, I'll be looking forward to getting to the beach, I thought. I almost ran through the wrong part of the halfway point and had to be redirected by a marshall. As I came up I heard, "RUNNER COMING", followed by, "Heyyyy everyone, Number 35, give this girl a cheer... Vegan runner Claire Abbey from Hartlepool" The place erupted and I got the loudest cheer ever. I put my arms in the air and my whole body got goosebumps at the excitement of it all"

My hip was really hurting so I decided to ditch the 8:4 run/walk and run as much as I could before the pain kicked in and I had to walk. Sometimes I'd run a fair bit and sometimes it wasn't far at all. I felt like I was running more than walking though, so that was a positive. My gels were like liquid now but they didn't make me feel sick. In fact, I felt pretty good. My breathing was great, I didn't feel too hot, my legs felt fine and there wasn't a snifter of cramp in my calves and hamstrings (a first for me!). The only annoyances were my bloody hip and the ongoing feeling of blisters which now felt like they were all over every toe. I'm pretty good at ignoring blisters though, they just felt like a mild irritation. I saw a pair of sunglasses on the ground and thought they looked very expensive. I considered picking them up and handing them in at the finish but couldn't think where I could put them for the next 13 miles so left them. I later found out a runner at our hotel who came second in the race had lost them within the first mile and was devastated as they had cost him a fortune. In hindsight, I wish I had got them and handed them in.

I was running down the road, trying to keep walk breaks to a minimum in shaded areas and running the hotter sunny sections. An Asian lady would run past me then I'd run past her. She said she thought we would do this for the rest of the way but I assured her that once I get to this stage I just get slower and slower and she would no doubt run off ahead of me. No sooner had I said it and I got a bit of a running spurt going and temporarily lost her. My favourite water station came up again and I was given the coldest water all of the way from India :-)

I go past the flip flop tree again and as I ran past some houses a blonde haired lady said, "Oh my Gahhd.... you're a vegan? That's soooo cool. Yahhhhl godda running club for vegans?" I told her we certainly do, it's called Veagn Runners UK. She tells me how 'souuuppper awwwesahhhhhm' it is and two of the three children with her point to the third child, a blonde haired surfer type dude who looked about 4 years old. "He's vegan", the kids point, and the little boy sat on the kerb put his hand up, palm to the sky and shyly says, "Yuuup, I'm vegan too". I tell him he's totally cool and run off.

I'm at the point where I think I'll not see Graeme again as he's probably been too fast and is already off into George Town. No sooner had I thought it and I see him. He's on about 22 miles and I'm at about 17. He looks tired but still comfortable and he laughs and points ahead of him. I look back to see somebody running in a gorilla suit. "Bloody hell", I laughed.

I get to another runner who's running very slowly and I can practically walk at the same pace. We talk for a while, another person who thinks it's fab that I'm vegan. It's his first marathon and he says he's just trying to keep doing what he's been doing all the way... putting one foot in front of the other. I tell him that's all it takes and wish him good luck. I come across a very loud water station blaring out music. I can't remember for the life of me what they were playing but I sang along and did all of the actions. This caused quite a stir and people got their cameras out and shouted, "Go vegan runner!" I get goosebumps again.

Running around the turnaround point again, I start to see all of the runners I've passed along the way. About a mile on and I see the bloke on his first marathon and tell him he's looking good, I see lots of relay run/walkers that look very hot and tired and I see a couple of half marathoners who are still on their first lap. I'm feeling warm now, but the constant pouring of water over my head and the free sunblock help. About another mile or 2 on and I see the Asian lady coming towards me. She looks very uncomfortable.

The next few miles were the most boring. Long stretches of straight road in baking sun with no shade. I pass the flip flop tree for the last time and wish the India water station was closer. My hip is very painful with ibuprofen making no difference, and my feet feel hot and blistered. I find my bad foot to be very tired by now and choose to run on grass verges wherever possible to try and make it more comfortable. I get to a water station on the left side of the road who are blaring out "Gangnam Style". I stop the forwards motion long enough to dance with the water station staff, which I think amused them immensely.

Another mile or so and I hit the India water station and get the same jovial response that I got on the first loop. I take some water and after what seems like an age I finally make the turn on the way back to George Town. A woman at the next water station gives a bit too much encouragement, whoop whooping me along. It's maybe a bit much for the 23 mile point, but I smile and have a laugh with her. They offer me snacks and I see they have absolutely all sorts... peanuts, crisps, cliff bars, gels, big cookies, Oreos and a whole load of other things. I decline and go on my way.

When I get to the 24th mile water station one of the staff there gets all excited and gets her camera out because she wants a photo of "The vegan runner". I stop and pose for her and then get off again. My mileage splits are all about 12.30mm pace now. It doesn't concern me, but I haven't seen another runner for a very long time. I'm glad I only have a short way to go and as I run through a road of houses, a man out gardening shouts me over and asks would I like a shower from his gardening hose. I smiled very widely and ran through a blast of lovely cool water.

At the 25 mile station I see a blonde haired lady who had said she would look out for me and if I'm walking at 25 miles she would seriously kick my butt. Luckily I was running and she shouted out how fab I was doing. Any running done at this point was greeted with amazement by people who shouted, "Oh my Gahhhd, you're still running.... waydago!!!" The road was very long and straight again and suddenly there was a very big downpour of rain. Typical, I thought... why could it not have rained like this during my tough time from around 21-24 miles?

I see the sign telling me there's a nice cold beer waiting for me, and suddenly I see another runner ahead... and another... and yet another. 3 runners? Where had they come from. I decided it couldn't have been that I was speeding up, as I had just got slower. I laughed to myself thinking they must have sat down together and had a margarita and waited for me. Before long I overtook all three and saw the sign again saying that the beach was waiting.

The rain stopped and I ran through another hose provided by one of the marshalls, I ran as much as I was able and as I came across the cones marking the way to the finish I heard, "RUNNER COMING", "And here is number 35, Claire Abbey, a Vegan runner from Hartlepool", everyone cheering, I ran through the finish and Graeme shouted to me and waved. I got my medal (which is the best medal I have now) and Graeme ushered me to the beer tent where all the beer was free and unlimited. He'd already had 2 cans and was on his third.

So, I did a time of 5 hours and 9 minutes and was absolutley thrilled to get through it after my terrible year of injury. Plus, this is my first race where I got no cramp in my hamstrings and calves, so the hydration strategy must have worked. Unfortunately I got about 7 blisters on each foot and looking back realise it was that "gritty" feeling I'd experienced in the first couple of miles. When I took my trainers off they were full of sand. So... gaiters for a road race from now on if it's near sand, I think! Graeme did an amazing 3:41 and although we didn't know it at the time, he had won second place in his age category. We didn't find out until we got back home, so the organisers are sending him his certificate for him.

It was an awesome race, I absolutely loved it, and anyone thinking of travelling there to do it, I can only give it the best of recommendations!