Guest Post: Limits ...by Pat Walsh

* Limits *

I was in the Kingdom last weekend in a support / assistance / water-boy role at the Kerry Way Ultra weekend.

Distances of 200K, 100K and 59K were on offer to the participants. I suppose for someone like myself who has run maximum 42k in a marathon and no further then it is comical that 59K can be classified as the Lite option….!

I was impressed at the resilience, commitment, never say die attitude of those who took part. Completely different to anything I have ever seen or taken part in. Hats off to everyone whatever time they finished in. It is a test of endurance and where your own limits are.

What is in it for us the ordinary runner? I’m not suggesting we all go off for a 200K next weekend but there is some take away points to be noted. Take these into your weekly routine and race planning.

Mental Strength: Far more important than the actual fitness, though that is needed too quite obviously. Get up and go, time and time again. Don't let the demons inside beat you.

Time: No one was actually too bothered about that from what I saw. Challenge set out and accepted. Make it over the finish line was the goal.

Preparation: All participants had the correct gear, the refueling strategies, the maps, the backpacks and whatever they felt was needed.

A Plan: No point taking off like a scalded cat at the start line when you were going to be out there for a very long time. Controlled pace, walk when needed, try to maintain forward motion, take on your fuel and keep the head in the correct place.

No Moaning: You had a trail that was marked and up to you to follow it. No point moaning at lack of stewards at crossroads. Up to yourself to navigate your way home.

So what do we take from it.

Do you know where your limits lie?
Does your head rule your body and prevent you from going further?
Do you let your finishing time be the decider of a good day or not?
Do you prepare properly for your events?
Have you a plan when you race or are you the scalded cat?
Is your life full of smiles and laughs or do you just like to moan?
Wouldn’t it be nice to know where our limits are.

Don’t go mad but life is for trying.
Failure is never trying to do anything just in case of ….!
Engrave it on my headstone. ‘Feck I had a go’

#pwr