Nijmegen 4 Days 50k per Day

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:06 pm

Oh, and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your kind comments and encouragements. Has definitely made a difference. Will be doing my absolute best to complete this tomorrow, as I would not want to let you all down.

Gregor Andrews · Post by **Gregor Andrews** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:18 pm

Good luck for day 4 Mike!

johnglynn · Post by **johnglynn** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:47 am

Total Respect Mike, incredible job,

Best of luck today, hopefully it will be a cold one, and less painful one

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:02 am

Day 4 looms

Is cooler this morning at 27 degrees, so am going to make an attempt to finish this before it gets too hot. Plus it gives me more leeway in case this takes all day.

Am still in a fair amount of discomfort this morning. My rest pulse wouldn't go below 55, and I'm feeling pretty wiped out. Didn't realise how weak my legs were until I tried to pick something up off the floor and they nearly buckled on me. If anyone ever wanted an illustration of how overtraining wrecks you, this is quite a good example! If this was a 5 day challenge, I'd probably be giving up today as this is definitely starting to do quite a lot of damage to me, but as it's the last day of 4, I'm going to see if I can limp through to the end.

The blisters were not looking pretty this morning. Looked like I'd been sandpapering parts of me. Now have a new set of plasters in place (quite tricky trying to put them on - not looking forward to taking them off again).

Setting off shortly. Probably lots of stops today. Will just be glad to finish...

JanetS · Post by **JanetS** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:13 am

Good luck.....

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:20 am

15k done so far. Going ok, still feeling ok...

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:07 am

25k down. Still feeling ok. Next 10k will be the decider...

gunslinger_ · Post by **gunslinger_** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:50 am

Go! Go! Go! Go!

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:54 am

35k down. Starting to suffer now. Not long to go...

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:40 pm

45k done. world of pain. gotta keep going...

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:07 pm

Done! Even sprinted last 1k...

johnglynn · Post by **johnglynn** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:25 pm

Excellent job Mike, Congrats

JanetS · Post by **JanetS** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:37 pm

Fantastic!
Well done!!

Hope you've found a comfortable position to rest in.......

webberg · Post by **webberg** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:14 pm

We are not owrthy of standing on your shadow.

Fantastic effort.

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:45 pm

Day 4 - 21st July

Really wasn't looking forward to today after yesterdays nightmare.

Plan was to get going early before it got too hot, (and also to sneakily clock up 100k for the 24 hour challenge!)

Didn't think today would go well, so elected to break it into 10k chunks, plus have longer breaks (avoiding the problem from yesterday).

New secret weapon for today - redesigned seat padding with multiple layers and different sizes of bubble wrap, plus some very tricky to apply plasters on the infamous friction burns from yesterday...

5k warmup - 22:16.2 - Av 2:13.6
Nice steady warmup without troubling the heart rate. Getting some twinges from old injury in lower back which caused some concern. Strategic plasters seem to be working well.

10k Interval 1 - 42:56.6 - Av 2:08.8
Planned a gracefully decreasing set of paces for the 4 x 10k to allow for decline in performance as happened yesterday (2:10, 2:12, 2:15, 2:20). Was feeling ok half way through this, so started pulling the split down, but tried not to overdo it with a long way to go. Temp 28 degrees.

10k Interval 2 - 42:40.1 - Av 2:08.0
4 minute rests are much better as there is enough time to drink and re-arrange the seat without rushing. Felt strong during this interval so started pulling the split down again, finishing on 2:08.0, and Av HR was actually lower than the previous interval (130 vs 132) for some reason. Looking good if I can keep this up. Lower temperature definitely helping. Stomach still working so far, and seat almost comfy. Almost.

10k Interval 3 - 42:34.6 - Av 2:07.7
Still feeling strong. The more conservative pace and bigger breaks strategy is really helping me to get through this with relatively little pain. Seat still going well. Note: Using big bubblewrap has an amusing side effect - when they pop they sound like gunshots and can make you jump! Again, slow start, but then chased the split down. Only 15k to go...

10k interval 4 - 42:23.7 - Av 2:07.2
Not quite certain how I'm doing this, but pulled the split even lower. I think the psychology of knowing the end is near is helping. Only 5k cooldown to finish off now. Temperature up to 29, but still cool compared to yesterday.

5k Cooldown (!) - 20:52.5 - Av 2:05.2
Realised the marathon would come up 2195m into this, so went for it a bit. Had a coast through to 1k out, then, in time honoured fashion, went for a sprint finish. Pulled the last k in under 2:00 split, and was hitting 1:45 by the end. It's over!!!

And having done a sprint finish, I then had to get back on to cooldown properly and clear out all that nice lactate. Hence an extra 2500m. Then got off and lay down for a bit.

Can't believe I've finished this. So glad today went well - couldn't have handled another day like yesterday. Now I only have to worry about the removal of the plasters....

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:53 pm

Statistics
200k - total time (4 x 50k) - 15 hours 3 minutes 28.8 seconds
Total planned rest time within that - 41 minutes, although some more spent drinking and re-arranging seat, etc.

Av split 2:15.5 (for total time)
Av split 2:09.4 (rowing time, but still includes unplanned stops, etc.)

12,290 calories

Number of pints of fluid consumed: 45 and counting...

JanetS · Post by **JanetS** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:04 pm

Your av split for total time for 200k is lower than I can manage for 10k

Gobsmacked. Awestruck. Stunned

Definitely 'not worthy'...... (need a clapping emoticon.)

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:11 pm

That is just a stunning achievement. Well done. I cannot believe the pace! Extraordinary.

Gregor Andrews · Post by **Gregor Andrews** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:56 pm

Well done Mike. Quite an achievement.

I heard that they cancelled the Nijmegen competition after 2 of the competitors died due to the heat. Terrible news.

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:44 pm

Congratulations Mike - an astonishing achievement. I guess you are having a well earned rest tomorrow.
Hope those blisters heal quickly.

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:19 pm

And then he did 50km today too!

Mike Channin · Post by **Mike Channin** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:02 am

Day 5 - 22nd July

Day 5 ?????

Wan't really planned to be a big distance day, but then got tempted into clocking up some more metres.

Did a 2.5k warmup, before tackling the (quite horrible) 10k at 16SPM. Word of warning here, make sure you're confident about your technique before trying this, as it puts a lot of strain on the body and especially the back. Managed to get through but was suffering by the end.

Then did a 4k cooldown, before getting back on for a half marathon to put some more distance on that metre board. Had to stop 10k for a stretch and to take on more fluid.

Then realised I could complete a marathon with another 4598m.
Then realised I could complete 50k with another 7805m, so back on again and kept rolling.

3:25 for the marathon and 4:06 for 50k aren't exactly quick, but to be honest, I was surprised the body held up for another 50k. And I'm not doing this again in a hurry, so why not?

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:55 pm

ok guys - you keep him talking while I get the men in white coats!

Cracking achievement Mike - makes you untouchable on the 7 wonders I should think.
Incidentally Mike are you the same Mike Channin that rows for Thames ergers on the CTC - I dont have an issue with this, its just that I am a nosey git

johnglynn · Post by **johnglynn** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:28 am

Mike 5 days

Normally I do the 10K 16SPM on Fridays after 4 days of only about 35km total, and I'm glad of the 2 days rest of the weekend, I certainly wouldn't be able to do another 40K

Your a machine, Major Major Respect

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 6:50 pm

Just checked the meter board - now 350k+

Mike how long you going to keep this up - until you overtake Nigel?