Stories Along the Way

Originally writen July 2024

It had been in my plans for years to do the 3M3D Grand Slam — three marathons in three days, 126.6 kilometres altogether — once I turned 53.

Except life got in the way.

I simply couldn’t find the time for the rigorous training required for an ultra-level event. I still have a life, you know . Besides, I was three years younger when I came up with this brilliant plan.

So I found what I thought was the perfect loophole:

I’ll volunteer as a sweep.

A sweep stays behind the last competitor, collecting signage and course markings along the way. I figured I wouldn’t need speed. I could take my time and simply bank on my endurance.

Clever, right?

No.

At the time, I already knew I wasn’t particularly fit. My training had been all over the place for the previous five weeks, I hadn’t slept properly for months, and I generally felt tired.

But I kept telling myself, I’m only sweeping. I can take it easy.

What I failed to factor in was the part where we had to collect all the signs and markings, carry them along the course, drop them at the next checkpoint and still keep up with the other sweepers and the last competitor.

By the end of Day One, I died.

Day Two, I nearly died.

Day Three, I died again.

Somehow, however, the newly resurrected me emerged with 126.6 kilometres completed and four medals to prove it.

Am I keen to do it again?

Absolutely not. 

I think I’ll leave ultramarathons to the real legends.