I was elated that it was over, but confused about the final distance. Who was wrong, me or the course organisers? I spoke to a few other runners later; some had distances similar to me, some were closer to the advertised 74.5 km. We concluded that the combination of the dense jungle and the constant switchbacks made it difficult for my GPS to know exactly where I was all of the time, and presumed I was walking in a straight line rather than zigzagging my way up and down the mountains. It was not something I had experienced before, but it was good to be aware of this for next time. 

Positives to take away from the race:

1. Nutrition and hydration worked out well for me in the end, even though I hadn't put a lot of thought into it. I presumed I would be out there a long time so I filled up my drop bag with half a dozen different foods that I might want at the halfway point. In the end all I grabbed were a couple of jam sandwiches, which went down a treat. The only other foods I ate the entire race were gels (for the first three hours), dried fruits (most of the day), a small packet of sticky rice and two Runivore bars (amazing energy bars full of chia seeds, oats, dried fruits, nuts and other seeds that are perfect race snacks). I carried water in my hydration pack (no electrolyte drink) and incredibly I only filled it up once (though I did run out of water about 2 km before the end, which was a stupid mistake). For the first time ever I tried cola at an aid station. I don't drink any type of cola beverages in my everyday life and I don't know why I thought now would be a good time to test out new drinks, but I did and it was surprisingly good. It settled well in my stomach, and the burst of sugar and caffeine were great towards the end. Overall I had no stomach problems, no stitches and no nausea. These are always a chance of appearing on race day and ruining the experience, so I am extremely glad when they don't show their face.

2. This was the strongest I had ever felt mentally in a race. Maybe it was taking time off, which gave me some perspective on running and racing. Maybe it was because I was just happy to be running again (it was a long, depressing few months of not being able to run as I did previous to the injury). It definitely wasn't due to a good night's sleep, being in peak physical condition or having a smooth run (I still can't believe the number of times I tripped over). It also wasn't the camaraderie of running with like-minded people - I spent most of the night alone. For a 35 km stretch in the middle I briefly saw two other runners and the Thai-speaking volunteers at the checkpoints, and that was it. It could get pretty lonely at times. There were various strategies I used to keep my mindset positive, including:

   • Mantras (positive statements I repeat to myself). I have a list I go through, using whatever is appropriate for the situation. Sometimes I make up new ones on the spot if they fit. Repeating these over and over helps to lift my spirits.

   • Flipping negatives into positives. If a negative thought came into my head, I would try to catch it as soon as possible and turn it into a positive. For example, when I thought, "My legs are burning, I don't know how I'll get up this hill", I instead told myself something like, "Each step is another one closer to the top and then the finish; you are building strength in your legs, which will be great for future races; think of the calories you are burning and therefore all the food you can eat at the end". 

   • Singing. Usually I sing in my head, but with no one else around I took the opportunity to sing out loud. This helped to break up the nighttime silence, which could be a little creepy at times. I don't have any particular songs I rely on, just whatever pops into my head. 

   • Thinking of how far I had come in this race. If I think of how far I have to go I can get overwhelmed, so I find it best to congratulate myself on how much I have achieved since the start line. 

   • Remembering what it was like when I wasn't able to run (which sucked), and appreciating how good it felt to be getting back out there again, particularly on a trail (which I hadn't seen in months).

   • Rewards! Thinking of everything I could do when I finished is a big motivator for me. I could eat anything and everything guilt free, drink cocktails on the beach, and not worry fitting in exercise for a couple of days as I recovered. Plus the sense of accomplishment I knew I would feel for finishing a race like this, my toughest to date, also helped me to continue towards the finish line. 

   • Not that this was intentional or could be used for most races, but seeing the sunrise definitely improved my mood. I happened to be on a path that looked out over a mountain range, and the sky was bright red behind it (I almost stopped to take photos). I'm not sure why, but seeing the start of a new day gave me a surge of energy to help propel me forward.

3. I did well at reminding myself to check my form and take walk breaks when necessary so that I could last the distance. Often at the end of the race I am hunched over and bent at the hips, which can lead to all sorts of injuries. Throughout this race I reminded myself to stay upright with my shoulders back, and keep my footsteps short to prevent me from overstriding. Walking for short distances helped me to gather my composure, rest my weary muscles and find the strength to continue. I believe doing these things helped me to reach the finish line injury-free. I'm not sure yet how I am going to remember these strategies in future races but being able to do it in this race was a good start.

There was one major negative:

1. I was wearing a pair of trail shoes that I had worn on a few training runs, but never on a trail. It didn't take long for me to notice that these shoes were too wide for me, and my feet were slipping left and right on every uneven surface. I'm pretty sure this was what led to several ankle twistings and the numerous blisters all over my toes. I didn't know what to do about the problem, as I wasn't running barefoot and I didn't want to walk the rest of the way. It wasn't until I was 25 km in that I stopped to tighten the shoelaces. It didn't alleviate the issue but definitely improved it (sometimes it's easy to miss the simple solutions). If I had better fitting shoes I think I could have sped up a lot more on the downhills without worrying about losing my balance or developing an injury.