Article: Run in Merino in Rwanda
Run in Merino in Rwanda
RWANDA ULTRA MARATHON
by Cath Wallis, Plus Size Adventurer & Ultra Marathon Runner
Race Report @ultraxco Rwanda 50km Part 1
This was one amazing start line. We had camped overnight under the shadow of volcanoes, next to this HUGE gorilla sculpture that marks the “Gorilla Naming Place”, where the community comes together to name the gorilla babies.
As we set off down the road and onto our first single track, the field spread out quickly and I settled into the back. I jogged along at my usual super slow pace, enjoying the slight overall downhill and the cheers from people as we passed.
At around 2km my friend tripped on a tree root and heard a loud pop in her ankle. She urged me to continue while she got medical to look at it, and while I remained optimistic she might be able to continue, very sadly her event was over.
Not long after a local teenager started running with me, telling me about his studies and his plan to become a doctor one day. He ran with me for about 45mins, until we reached a village boundary and he headed home.
The route wound between villages and farmland, with the volcanoes often in the background. Children lined the path, calling out “hello”, “good morning” and sometimes “bonjour”. Discussions between them often followed, with bold requests for “you give me money?” Or “you give me biscuit?”
The adults meanwhile were clearly bemused by a strange white fat middle aged woman slowly shuffling through their village. Some stared. Some laughed. Some cheered.
I was making good time (for me) reaching 25km in 5hrs. The morning had been fantastic. I had successfully built up 7hrs 30mins to reach the finish.
But then I started to feel nauseous . I did not vomit but felt I could at any time. I sat and tried to compose myself. Could I make it to the end like this?
Continued tomorrow.
Race Report: @ultraxco Rwanda 50km - Part 2
So after a great first half I had 7.5hrs to complete the event. But then I started to feel nauseous . I had not really been able to eat, so I stopped and drank more water, topped up electrolytes and ate a small mouthful of food. The next 4kms to the checkpoint was mostly along a narrow track along the side of a hill, and it was slow going, especially when a person carrying a massive pile of branches on their head was coming the other way! Wow the people here have amazing strength and balance!
My pace had slowed to only 4km/hr and I was soon overtaken by everyone behind me, coming in last to checkpoint 3. And a storm was rolling in.
The medics offered me something for nausea but I was pretty sure it was just the altitude plus exertion so I declined. I wanted to keep moving as quickly as possible as I knew the biggest climb of the event was before checkpoint 4. I was starting to worry that I would be cutoff at checkpoint 4 if I couldn’t speed up.
So I did what I needed to do. Head down, poles out. Digging deep. Along the trail and up the hill. When I needed a break I would pick a point 100m further and stop there. I timed 3mins rest and then kept going.
From 35km I was joined by the sweeps. These amazing humans have the job of getting the back to the finish, and they did it superbly! Laughing, joking, giving me facts to focus on as a distraction. Fending off over enthusiastic people from coming too close. Absolute champions!
I’m pretty sure I was told at 40km that the climbs were behind me. I am absolutely sure they were not! Climb after climb, it was a very long 10km. The sun set quickly and head torches were on. I was still nauseous but didn’t want to stop.
I could hear the finish line before I could see it. Cheers to welcome those ahead of me. @kitocal_media came to join me, telling me there was a crowd. But it just seemed so unlikely.
And then there they were, and I was through the finish. So much singing and cheering. I was overwhelmed. Grateful. Embarrassed. Elated. Exhausted.
My 11th ultramarathon. Each so different. This one so scenic, so tough, so emotional. So grateful xxx
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