The first photo captures a principle I take to heart in life and in business. And oh, in running too. And it has served me well.
Overall to go through the 350km at Delirious, I slept for about 4.5 hours. I timed most of the naps at midnight. I looked forward to these naps (naturally) but dreaded them at the same time. After 15’ of staying put, the body would have cooled down and the legs starting to seize up. These naps would be in exposed areas and it would be freezing wherever you decided to rest. So mentally it was a challenge to sleep and then to get going again after such short naps.
Nevertheless, this routine which went on for 3 nights served me well. It was enough to keep the hallucinations (or should I say, the delirium) away. On the second last day (Saturday), I just completed a challenging section from Denmark to Lowlands. The thorn bush trails had gone on forever in the scorching sun. There had been so many snakes that I got bored counting them. To get through this section, I had needed to use all the focus that I had learnt through meditation practice. When I got to Lowlands, I remembered that beautiful spot that Andy and I had enjoyed so much 3 years ago. I quickly calculated the remaining distance and decided to change tactics. I would sleep here on a stretcher for an hour and then move continuously to the finish line.
Doing this would give me 3 advantages:
- I would spend 1 less hour in the hot sun
- I would have enough energy to see it through to the finish without another nap
- I would avoid the dreadful midnight nap
Being surrounded by wonderful aid station people (yes, you guys were amazing) made this decision a given. It was a most scenic spot one could have a nap at (second & third photos). So that’s what happened. And I managed to finish Delirious the next morning without another nap. The cunning plan almost panned out exactly the way I had schemed. But a hiccup lay await for me on that treacherous beach section to Muttonbirds that almost tore the cunning plan apart. I will tell that story another time.
On reflection, what had transpired at Lowlands was myself practising and living the above principle. Complaining and wishful thinking both waste energy. Our energy is better off spent in looking for solutions, in trying to adapt to the situation at hand. Lessons in running. Lessons in life. That’s how we adapt. That’s how we grow.