FALL DOESN’T STOP TIMMS FROM MULTI-DAY

Contributed by Marie Boyd, AURA member

Adelaide 6 Day race, SA
September 29-October 5, 2019

I arrived at the track confident that I could run a 100km per day.

The first day I had a hip problem but that got sorted by an expert at the race.

Then I started to move well on day two, which was a hot day, but I figured a little walking would do the trick. I felt tired from a lack of sleep; I tried to sleep, but it was too hot so I went back to walking and figured I could keep going until I got 2nd.

Two-hundred seemed easy at the start but suddenly I was fatigued and struggling to stay awake.

I only needed 8km to clock 200 for 48hrs. Sleep came unexpectedly by blindly stumbling on a raised tile and I went to sleep as I hit my head on the tiles. I was carted off to hospital with a result of two facial fractures and 30 stitches. I was told firmly no more running, but I went back to the track for some more sleep and for two days just watched runners accumulating great kilometres.

I got to thinking about things, in particular ‘this is how I am’, so I got my tag back on and started walking only after several hours; I felt okay so started running and got a total of 120km for day five.

I felt I had proved to myself that my race plan was okay but I didn’t heed the warning signs of sleep and fatigue – we never stop learning, do we?

On the last day I had rest and enjoyed the finished as I got headaches from my ‘head plant’ and perhaps some shock to the body, maybe even a concussion.

I’ll be back next year again though. Face planting on cement is painful, but I must say, the care taken with me by the race organisers was first class and could not fault the comradery of all runners and volunteers involved. They all raised my spirits even after a disappointing finish that had taken all year to get ready for.

For me it’s all about doing my best, even when things fall apart.

Thanks Ben and for all involved in making this event a race to test your resolve to finish; that is why I love six day ultras, and this one I am to tame next year with 600km.

Determination is at the heart of my running.

Pictured: John Timms at the Adelaide 6 Day this year. Photograph – Ultra Runners SA.