I recently participated in a race that is unique in format compared to any race that I have done before – there is no finish line. Participants start their race at 07:00am and have 1 hour to complete a 6.7km loop. At 08:00am, participants begin lap two. The race continues with each lap beginning on the hour. Athletes are eliminated from the race in one of two ways: if they do not finish their lap within the 1-hour time period, or if they decide to drop out of the race by not starting the next lap.

The winner is the final runner left competing after all other participants have withdrawn from the race.

Hopes and Dreams

I entered the race with an open mindset to what I was hoping to achieve, with the “minimum goal” to get to 100km, but in an ideal situation I would run through the night for a total of 24 hours. In the end I completed 16 laps, with a distance of 108km.

Reflecting on the Result

Although I had a distance that I had aimed for, my main goal for this race was to test my current levels of fitness in a race environment and to see where I need to adapt my training to become a better ultra-runner. I was quite pleased with the fact that the strength and fitness in the body was capable of continuing on beyond 16 laps. This was very encouraging for me to know that my training leading up to the race was good. There are a few adjustments I will make to the program in future, and that is the benefit of reflecting on your race performances. The big area of concern for me in this race was my nutrition and hydration, because it was this area of my performance that ultimately limited my ability to keep going.

Nutrition and Hydration Issues

What went wrong? A nutritional strategy for ultra-endurance racing beyond 10 hours should include approximately 15g-20g of protein at 4 hours, with an additional 25g-30g of protein at the 8-hour mark. I did not get enough protein in my diet and, as a result, from 12 hours onwards I struggled to eat or drink anything as nausea consumed me. Naturally, I then headed head-first into the dreaded wall and struggled to make it through my 16th lap.

Of all the unknowns about the race, I thought I had this aspect under control. I had tested what types of foods work for me. I knew how much water/electrolytes/calories I needed to drink. Well, at least I thought I knew. Upon reflection, and through more research, I now realize that the type of food I was consuming was ideal for shorter duration races (2-10 hours).

Note that the type of protein is important – you want the protein source to be a low-fat option, so nut butters and dairy products are not advised.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the race. It was so great being on a start line with fellow athletes looking to test their physical and mental limits. Shoutout to Wannado Events for bringing this exciting race format to South Africa. With 5 races taking place throughout the country, there is no excuse not to get involved. Set yourself a goal, whether it’s 4 laps or 40 laps. Test your limits and remember – JUST ONE MORE LAP!