2009 MdS: Stage 3 (56 miles)
April 2, 2009 by Bryon Powell · 12 Comments
As noted earlier, this MdS is unique in that we have not been made aware of future stages in advance. In the evening after Stage 2 we were told that Stage 3 would not be the already longer than usual 80k, but instead 91k/56 miles. We were told it was not an April fools joke & it certainly was not.
While the weather was yet again cool, it was quite windy & we ran into it for most of the first 50k. In retrospect I went too hard early, but took turns blocking the wind with other. By 25k my hip flexors were shot from all flat running on soft footing. However, between 30-40k a runner drafted off me & would not lead. I got pissed & the anger overcame my fatigue.
I ran strong until dark when I realized my glasses had broken. I ran 4.5 hours on bad footing with minimal light & poor vision. I caught Ted at CP & ran much of the rest with him. No energy last 20k.
We were 19 (Ted) & (me) 20. Team 2d. Meg 2d in stage 3 overall. I’m now 19th overall. Marathon tomorrow.
Thanks for the messages!
Related articles:
- 2009 MdS Admin Day Delayed, First Stage Canceled While we have not been told the specifics as to why, yesterday’s rain has already affected this year’s Marathon des Sables. Today’s Admin Day at the bivouac has been canceled....
- MdS 2009: Stage 2 (36k) Stage 2 went well for me, the Dreamchasers, & Meghan. My effort was slightly reduced today – by necessity & design. I started without any major complaint & finished the...
- MdS 2009: Stage 4 and Overall Results Wish I could have posted results earlier, but I missed a small window to post in camp after the Stage 4 results were posted and have been tied up since...
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Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
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Wow this sounds so tough! Glad to hear you made it, 19th place is awesome! Keep it up!
Goat, you inspire me! Keep it up and stay tough.
freaking rocked it. awesome. Finish the thing out strong. heal when you get to the USA. crush it now.
You guys are awesome. Best team this year from US. Rock on!
You are doing great!!!!!!!!!!
Good job Goat! Not sure how much fun it would be to find out you have a 91km stage to do the next day – ouch!
pv
Oh no! Glasses breaking would be so tough. Glad you made it through, and hope you can fix them, you have a backup, or you can function okay without them.
Despite the challenges, you’re doing so great!
He has a knife. Goat can fix anything with that!
You are so definitly one of my heros (and you know the other one!)
Way to go both of you!!
Keith
Bryon – way to go! Keep up the great work and keep the blogs coming. I was in downpours this week in Kuwait and Dubai and was thinking about you….
Can’t believe you don’t know what you are doing until the day of the race.
Damn.
Phil,
I was actually pretty psyched that the longest then usual “long stage” had been lengthened even further. I was racing off of strength and ultra know-how, so the tougher and longer the race, the more to my advantage versus most competitors. Many others were not as excited… to say the least.
Sara,
The lack of glasses made things pretty difficult. Twilight was the worst, as I couldn’t pick out the glow stick markers in the distance. I was left following dimly lit shadows and breathing a sigh of relief every time I pass a marker. Once darkness set in, it was a bit better. However, many folks complained about the section I crossed glassless at night as being one of the rockiest and most difficult terrain sections of the entire course.
I did manage to fix my glasses after the stage…. but lost them the following day. Fortunately, I had my pair of prescription sunglasses and the rest of my running was during daylight. My only remaining difficulties are shopping in the bazaars and navigating in the airports.
Dane,
It’s been odd to not know the next stage until the night before or the morning of the stage. We found out the true distance of the long stage post sunset the night before it was to begin and while we knew the final stage would be at least 42k the night before Stage 4, it was only that morning that we learned it would be a true marathon. I think the uncertainty had an effect on both the top contenders and most of the folks aiming to simply finish the run. As for me, I was running strong, but conservatively, so it wasn’t a problem other than needing to shift around my intra-race food supplies between days at the last minute.
Everyone else,
Thanks for your kind and encouraging posts! I’m on the plane ride back to the states at the moment and am so happy to be returning to were so many great friends live!