Monthly Archives: October 2018

I DID IT!

I started walking for exercise January 2013. I walked seven half marathons and five full marathons in the first 22 months. Walking and a change in diet transformed my life. November 2014 I walked 56 miles in a very successful twelve hour race.  After that race I set a goal to become a United States Centurion. A Goal to Walk 100 miles within the 24 hour time limit.  I started this blog in February 2015 as a personal journal of my training.

I reached my Goal, became United States Centurion C78 at the U.S. Centurion Qualifier in Minneapolis June 2015.  The international Centurions I met at that race inspired me to attempt an international Centurion race. April 2016 traveled to Coburg, Victoria. Became Australian Centurion C68 but not without struggling. Corrected my travel mistakes and entered the Granddad of all Centurion races. The 105th British Qualifier. The 2016 race was in Redcar, England. Walked an inspired race to become British Centurion C1169. If you walked two Centurions in one year why wouldn’t you think you could race a third time. Made the trip down for the inaugural African Centurion on Robben Island, South Africa. Became African Centurion C11. Three international one hundred mile races within six months about did me in. January 2017 I got back into form. Traveled to Weert, Netherlands in June. Became Continental Centurion C454. October 2017 traveled to Auckland, New Zealand. I raced sick and pulled the plug at 82 miles. After New Zealand I had to do some soul searching. For seven months I struggled to train and race. In June I turned my year around with a successful 100 Mile walk at the 2018 United States Qualifier. My second U.S. Centurion walk. Mentally refreshed and physically in the best condition of my life. I returned to Auckland, New Zealand October 2018. Became New Zealand Centurion C25.  Only the fifth person to achieve membership in Six World Centurion Clubs. The only person in the Western Hemisphere.

With all my Goals met this concludes my Blog. What a journey. I set Goals so Big I had to become someone else to achieve them. This is where I tell you how easy it was. That would be a lie. It was hard. It got even harder as I added more Centurion badges to my collection. The pressure I put on myself took away the joy I felt when I first started walking in 2013.  I am not going to tell you the way I trained is the only way to achieve a Centurion title. It is the way that worked for me. Was it worth it? 69 months of training. 9 half marathons. 18 marathons. Three 50K races. Three races with totals between 56 and 82 miles. Eight races of 100 miles or more. Well over 13,000 Miles walked. Traveling around the world. Walking side by side with some of the Worlds greatest long distance walkers. Was it worth it?  YES! it was worth it.

I will keep this blog available. Maybe you found this blog because you want to attempt a Centurion Walk. It is a worthy goal. I hope you can find something here that will be of help. Walking can change Your life. Keep it Fun! Healthy Fun. Walk Well!

If you need to contact me for any reason. Talk about Training, Centurion races in the United States, overseas Centurion races, talk about anything. Click HERE. Information about United States Centurion Races can be found HERE.

The 2018 New Zealand Centurion Qualifier

2018 New Zealand Centurion Qualifier. The 21st Sri Chinmoy 24 hour race in New Zealand. October 6th -7th.  AUT MILLENNIUM STADIUM: MAIRANGI BAY, AUCKLAND.

I am one of those people that anything new gets me out of my comfort zone. Good news for me this is my second trip to race in Auckland. Last year I was sick. Being sick cost me my race. Failure sent me into a mental funk that lasted till June of this year. This year I returned Healthy, Familiar, Fit and Ready to Race.

The one wildcard with the early spring race in Auckland is the weather. Always cooler than OKlahoma. Rain almost every day. For the 2018 NZ Race not one drop of rain fell. Perfect race conditions. It was good to see New Zealand’s Centurion judge Phillip Sharp again. My Mentor and Brother multi Centurion Australian John Kilmartin. Kiwi Centurion Cliff Harrison. My facebook friend Belgian multi Centurion Kim Janssens. Belgian multi Centurion Luc Soetewey. Also walking was  Joanne Aitken. Her first ever walking race. The New Zealand Centurion race, the runners and the people in charge and support are first class in every way. A very upbeat positive race. Every ultra race I have been to around the world is like a big family reunion. New Zealand is no different.

My race goal this time was a lap around the 400 meter track every 3 minutes 20 seconds. 18 laps per hour. Around a 22:30 finish. A nice comfortable Centurion pace for me. Some cushion for unexpected problems. This plan turned out to be the correct choice. At twelve hours I was right on pace with a nice cushion. I would need that cushion. I started to feel sick. A couple of stops at the loo did not solve the problem. I was walking and dry heaving. I left my mark around the infield of the AUT track. Sorry New Zealand. I threw up everything I had many times. Knowing I could not finish without liquids and food I would replace everything. Only to get sick again later. A vicious cycle. I literally expected my body to shut down at any time. My only comfort was figuring the split times I still needed to finish. As long as I finished every lap under four minutes I was good. Easy right. Try and walk four minute laps on the track eating, drinking and throwing up for over six hours. It was not easy. Plus I was watching my cushion slip away. I was watching my race slip away. Slip away again.

John suffered with blisters and did not hit the halfway mark early enough to finish his Centurion. Seeing I was in trouble John came back out and paced me to the finish. Now that is a true Friend and Centurion Brother. John is a lot longer legged than I am. Even with bad blisters John had me humped up to keep up. I just kept telling myself I did not want to be the guy that had to go to New Zealand every year to race. Much better to except the suffering, reach down deep and finish. It worked perfect I did however suffer. Thanks again John.

I finished with a 23:23:46. Not bad for the way I felt. Kim and Luc did not have the walks they dreamed of. I have been in their shoes. Makes for a long flight home. Just know, not every race will go to plan. That does not mean that redemption is impossible.  As to Joanne. What a pleasant surprise. A very strong and able walker. She finished right behind me. Became only the second Kiwi lady Centurion. Well walked Joanne. Congratulations.

This concludes my World Centurion Quest. Earned all six badges. I don’t know what my plans are right now except I will be taking some time off to recover and reflect.

Early in the race behind New Zealand Centurion Cliff Harrison.

Me with just a few laps to go.

At the 100 Mile mark with my Centurion Brother John Kilmartin.

New Zealand Centurion Judge and record keeper Phillip Sharp. New KIWi Centurion Joanne Aitken at the bottom left.

 

Week 16 of 16 week Centurion training (Gradual Taper)

Walked 5 Hours 16 Minutes. 26.9 Miles. Average pace 11:45 My weight 172.0

Saturday – One hour five minutes 5.6 Miles.  4 sets of 60 Push-ups.

Sunday – Two Hours  Lane 1 on the 400 meter track 41 Laps. 10.1 Miles.

Monday – One hour six minutes 5.6 Miles.

Tuesday – One hour five minutes 5.6 Miles.  Before leaving for the Airport

Wednesday – This day disappeared when we crossed the date line.

Thursday – Arrived early Morning in Auckland, New Zealand

Friday – A full Day tour of the West side of the North Island.

I caught a cold the end of last week. Luck for me I recovered before arriving in Auckland. Perfect hot summer training cycle. Perfect race forecast. Cool with a small chance of rain. Well rested. Nothing injured. The only thing left now is to get out there and walk 100 miles within 24 hours. Going to be Fun! Excited.