5:03, August 2nd
Thanks to my biological clock, which makes me wake up earlier and earlier I’ve woken up with ease. It’s probably because I’ve started going to bed earlier, but the main plan of this morning was to get up as early as possible, so that I can get good rest the night before the competition. I spend the morning chilling, getting a good breakfast and worrying just a little about the planned Cēsis Eco Trail. It’ll be my second ultramarathon, but what worries me the most is the 14hour control time. If I were running on flat asphalt, it’d be easy, but the promised 1600+ meters of up and down scare me. If rogainings don’t count, then I’ve never experiences relief like this on a long distance.
14:45, August 2nd
I’ve decided to pack the bare minimum, to Cēsis I’m bringing a bag of clothes and some food. The relief leads me to bring sneakers meant for orienteering in the woods, not ones for long distances on asphalt. I’d rather get a blister, than roll down Ozolkalns or slip and fall into the water at Raunis. :D But in general, I already knew what to expect from the distance. I’d heard the feedback from last year’s competitors already, both about the checkpoints and the river.
19:05, August 2nd
I get to the Rose Boulevard in Cēsis, and I bring Edijs’ watch, which holds battery with the GPS turned much longer than mine does. It also has a feature that I can put my route onto it and follow it almost exactly. At registration I’m told that support at the checkpoints is against the rules, but I can get stuff delivered to the finish line 50km away. At least I’ll be able to change clothes, but I do immediately contact my family to tell them the news. They’ll have to come pick me up, but the traditional drive-by support won’t be happening.
21:54, August 2nd
In my room I go through my things and get to know the other runners. I separate everything into bags, have dinner and go to bed. The alarm is set to a little before three in the morning, so that I can manage to have breakfast. I’m a little worried, that I’ll have a hard time waking up.
3:18, August 3rd
I do wake up. Get dressed – eat breakfast – brush my teeth – pack my bags. We head to the bus, that’ll take us to the starting line. It’s cold outside, I barely get by with a sweater and at the last moment I decide to take some gloves with me.
The bus is filled with runners and I use the last few minutes before start to catch a nap. Getting out of the bed I’m overcome with the cold and so I sit wrapped up as much as I can be until the very last moment. Many of the runners are still half asleep and I’m more worried than ready. I distract myself by talking with others and texting my mom. If only I could be in bed right now…
I leave my bags, only to see them again at the finish line/50km line. The last cheers and we’re awaiting the starting fire.
-small addition-
"I always pack two bags for running, one for the long runs, where the distance between checkpoints is greater than 25km and one for shorter runs like this one. I took my small green bag this time, filled with only the very necessities, the official required equipment list for the CET included a small cup. I took one at the last moment and had no space for it in my bag, so I tied it to my belt. And so, my fellow contestants started calling me “cuppy”. Thanks, it could’ve been worse."
5:00, August 3rd
Start! The watch is working perfectly, I start running slowly. Just like when doing Riga-Valmiera, everybody is rushing past me even in the first climb. I’ve always promised myself, that I’m allowed not to run uphill, and I didn’t want to push it too much in the very beginning. I let everyone pass, and trot on the side. At one point, I was surprised by a young guy who was running past me going downhill, he looked at me and cheered “Elīna? Good luck!”. I had no idea as to who it was, but his cheer did invigorate my spirits. While I was deep into thought as to how and why I was recognized I reached the 2km mark, where the first supporters were waiting. It was nice to know that I was supported not only by my family.
Running downhill I was left alone, it didn’t bother me at all, I could go at my speed and enjoy the cold air. The rattling of the cup tied to my bag started to annoy me, so I decided to take it in hand. It was light enough, to not bother me at all. The watch tells me that I’ve already done 5k – its 1/16 of the track. I experience a wonderful sunrise, running through the country and I greet every policeman on guard, for when we have to cross streets. On one hand they’re lucky they don’t have to do 70 more kilometers, but on the other hand, they have gotten up super early in the morning to look at all the crazy ultramarathon runners.
I get to the first crossing of the river. I abide by the warning of the ground being slippery and go slow through the tunnel. At the other side I hear someone calling on me. For a second there I thought I was having a nightmare but turns out it was the same group of people as at the 2km mark. They cheer me on for the next part along the river and over some hills. I still don’t really understand what’s going on around me, but I fear that the river might be a little too cold and slipping wouldn’t be a good idea.
At Rauņa I’m greeted by a cameraman and the same photographer, Santa, as at Riga-Valmiera. I run for a bit while the cameraman is behind me, but when he falls behind, I switch to walking as the river sometimes climbs up to my waist and the rocks are slippery. The next 5km I can only describe as tiring. It gets very cold, slushing through the river, my pants and shoes do dry at parts where I don’t have to go through the water, but they get wet again quick. At the first steep climb, I get meet a man going for a walk, he laughs about the fact that I’ve signed up for a distance of 80km and passes me as he is much more knowledgeable of the terrain here. It doesn’t affect me though; I fight the wet and the cold and end up at the road. I am glad that I won’t have to see the river again for a while, it has made me fall an hour behind schedule. I wasn’t expecting it be more than 5km, but it was. I update my family and find a lost phone on the track. I’m hungry and a little tired, but I tell myself to wait for the checkpoint.
8:37 August 3rd
The Vaive mill, otherwise known as the disappointment of the century. At the checkpoint I’m greeted by the volunteers and an empty table. They offer me 2 pickles, one olive, some coke, tomatoes, cookies, bread, and some salt. I’m disappointed, really disappointed. I throw out my long socks and exchange them for some newer, drier ones. I eat all that I can, have some tea and am back on the track. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the next few kilometers to the second checkpoint was a nightmare. My legs were going automatically, and my eyes were having a hard time staying open, my stomach was empty. I was slowly devouring everything that I could find in my bag, where I find place for my cup as well. It’s early morning, the road is lonely and boring, I hate morning and this the most. The first thought of quitting start rolling in, this only promotes my tiredness. I look for opportunities to cut corners, I don’t find any. I cross paths with Aija once again just like at our last competition. She worries about a bit but cheers me up a briskly walks past. It didn’t help me at all, this has turned into a survival competition I feel.
9:52, August 3rd
I get excited when I notice a tent by the Lake Niniers. I was close to tears when I realized that I won’t get anything to eat here either. I get to drink some more soda, some bread with salt, cookies, and some tomatoes. I force myself to get it together, I pull my phone out of my bag and put some music on when leaving the tent. Thank God, I started feeling better.
Every once I a while I run a little and the weather
is warming up as well, the swamps ahead and the hills aren’t disturbances. I’ve
entered a monotone speed with a dose of apathy.
Finally, the other CET 50km Nordic walkers catch up to me – Kristīne and Dzintars. I didn’t know them, but Kristīne did ask me if I was the girl laying on the asphalt at the 100km mark at Riga – Valmiera. The rest of the way to CP3 we spend talking about ultrarunning and Nordic walking and all kinds of other subjects. I was happy to have some company, even if for just a little while, because I knew that the 80km and 50km were soon going to separate.
12:09, August 3rd
We head into the cliffs. It was nice to meet active and delightful non-runners. I was hoping for soda, but was treated with nonalcoholic mojito, which wasn’t too bad. I ate and I ate, and I ate and then the leader of the 26km distance breezed past us. I replenish my water supply and get myself together once again. After spending quite a while at the CP, I head out. I walk the path set up by the river Gauja. I feel ashamed at one point about my attitude. This competition is full of serious and speedy athletes meanwhile I’m hanging out with some music and 40 km left to go. Many tourists stop to ask if I’m okay (because I was mostly walking). I cheer for the people passing me and most of them invite me to join them. I respond to that with a lazy “I still have enough distance left, to not rush!”. One of the passers-by says that I’m his biggest motivation of the day.
13:02, August 3rd
Some more kilometers have passed and it’s interesting to regard the people who are still running, full of energy. I’m climbing up a weird little hill when I notice a girl who’s just about my age, who too was walking. We start talking about orienteering, she has always wanted to try, I promise to give her a lesson sometime and we get friendly. I don’t even notice that the 50km has neared exponentially. Separating from all the short distance runners, I tell the volunteers, that I’m the last runner of the long distance and that I’m not planning on quitting, I ask them to inform the others. Not a long way on there’s a surprise waiting for me – my mom and brothers. They tell me that at Žagarkalns I’ll get some salad and sandwiches and soda, and chips (it sounds like the unhealthiest meal EVER, but I’m so excited).
14:15, August 3rd
15:48, August 3rd
I end up feeling hungry again at the 55km mark. I had no will to move fast or to leap over trenches and springs, I enjoyed this walk by the Gauja like a vile torture method. Right at the 60km mark I took a break. My speed was 5km/h, I remember mom telling me “Elīna, just keep moving, it’s possible to even go just 7km/h”. I found it funny that I literally couldn’t physically go any faster. I’ve never really understood the psychology of supporters, they have no idea how the runner is feeling or what’s going on in their head!
17:05, August 3rd
I noticed that the kilometer marks on the map didn’t match up with what my watch was telling me, maybe it was because I was wandering about and not moving how I was actually supposed to. I fought my way through the paths of Gauja and at one point I was getting the strangest feeling of déjà vu. Everything started to look the same. I’ve been to countless orienteering competitions in this region, I realize that I’ve been here before, 2 years ago. My last brain cells come together to find a way to the road. I sit down. The sun is burning my face and two pairs of tourists are passing by. I join them and the next 2km we spend together. I run for a bit we talk actively. This woke up for real. We split up, because I must go back into the woods, I feel a car coming towards me. It was my brother trying to take my mom to the next checkpoint. I tell them where to go and receive 2 slices of pizza. My stomach fills and I clamor to the 66km mark.
17:47, August 3rd
Just before meeting up again I receive a text from Edijs asking if I’ve already met my surprise. For a moment I had no idea what he was talking about, my family maybe? My brother had told me that Edijs had called several times in the morning to convince everyone to go to Cēsis. I ask if that is what he meant – “No”. And then I remember the friends, who didn’t end up meeting me at the last checkpoint of Riga-Valmiera. I remember them promising to support me at CET – is it them? 500 meters later and it really is them! I gain new energy, new motivation to continue. Ieva had already finished the same distance as I 6hours ago and was now joining me on the same path. It was a lovely surprise that these Legends of Latvian running had come to support ME!! After the nightmare that was Gauja, I couldn’t believe that at all.
18:30, August 3rd
Feeling fantastic as we arrive at the arranged checkpoint, meeting my family once again. I lay down, the air has cooled down and I think of quitting again. When Ieva tells me that what’s left is 14km, Pēteris says: “Elīna, if you’re doing it purely for the result, then there’s no point anymore, but if not, then there is no other choice than to continue. Why are you even doing long distances?” Almost a year has passed since my first 100km, but I still haven’t decided on an answer to thins question. Maybe it’s because I want to prove myself, that I know how not to quit in environments like this. The results have never worried me, finishing is most important. Well, here we are that is the answer for my breakdown moment. I thank everyone and go on towards the unknown. Running at first was easy, but I get bored quickly and return to walking, I start thinking of extremely stupid ways to quit so that it wouldn’t be my fault (as if I was able to finish, but, oh no, something happened…), for example, what if I fell into the nettles or a trench and dislocated my ankle or lost consciousness? I warm my hands, wrapping them up in the fabric of my shorts until I get distracted by the locals coming toward me. Wait, those aren’t locals, I recognize them! Believe it or not they’re my friends, Ieva holds a beer and they both prance in my direction as if this really was just a brisk Friday walk. I am surprised and I laugh it off, then I understand their strategy – they get in the car drive onward and then come toward me, joining me until they reach the car again, then they get back in drive again. It’s genius! I can never refuse company! It wasn’t easy but they did keep me going.
19:36, August 3rd
I get a map of the track from Pēteris and I begin planning the corners I can cut to finish as early as possible. I’m still moving slow and the stories of the climb that’s to come scare me. And once again my plans of quitting are foiled by the Grīviņi, who are waiting for me and don’t allow any switch ups. We split again and I climb. The watch beeps to tell me that I’ve reached the 73km mark, bet the climbs to come are not comparable to the distance left. I overcome the first hill and they’re there AGAIN. I want to yell and cry, but I can’t manage, I can’t embarrass myself like this in front of my idols! We go downhill, then up again, but this time it’s Ozolkalns, we descend again and the blisters on my feet remind me to be extra careful. The pain is such that I really can not quit now. The route continues to take me over hills, and I don’t even look at the watch anymore as it just ruins my mood now.
20:53, August 3rd
I’m alone again. I climb the last hill and now I’m on the streets of Cēsis. Running is possible again as I finally see the first signs pointing me toward the finish line. A volunteer comes to greet me and asks if I’m lost, I say that I am heading to the end, he huffs and tells me that it’s still a long way away. I keep going, coming up to an odd little hill, at the top of which I see my friends again. I’m so proud of myself, I start moving faster than before. The next few minutes pass discussing the route and we finally arrive at the castle. Just a little bit more to go…
21:40, August 3rd
We’re running now. The track leads us through the theater, where there’s something going on. I run up display my number and tell them to let me in. The ticket master demands why, she asks if I plan to run through the opera. I tell her “no!” and decide to run around the opera. I recognize the registration area, where I last was almost 24 hours ago. My supporters cheer me on as I finally run up to the boulevard. I stop my watch and sit down. That’s it, that’s my finish, everybody has already left, it feels as if nothing has ever happened here, no banners, no pedestals, nothing. I weep a little and mom hands me a medal and a box of chocolates.
