The Medoc Marathon famously bills itself as the longest marathon in the world as runners stagger about sipping wine; it’s hard to cut the tangents when you’re unable to walk or run in a straight line.
But the truth is, I just hit the longest marathon time on record (or so I’m claiming). Four years, three hours, thirty-two minutes and 44 seconds. That’s how long it took for me to run the Outback Australian Marathon taking into account my aborted attempt in 2015.
But run it I have. And I have the photos and the t-shirt to prove it:
The breakfast spread at 5 AM
So many temptations…
So many worries over what it might do to my stomach on the course.
So many worries.
Christmas Melon? Is that a thing? All I know is that it’s delicious.
On the bus to the start.
The Field of Lights at daybreak
Better to be early than to arrive at 1:30 PM like I did 4 years ago.
Sunrise.
Some conductor that my high school band director loved told his musicians that early is on time and on time is late. I don’t think that’s what those words mean.
AOM. One more time…
…for the first time.
The starting festivities included Dwayne on his Didgeridoo.
A Re-Run-Union from Kathmandu and Madagascar.
Michael — our Emcee and partner of Mari Mar. Both of their mums were running today, along with their kids (their mums grandkids).gracious host.
Tina of TravellingFit. We’ve traded many an email over the years.
Waiting amongst the flags for the start.
I can see Uluru from the start.
The first AOM had 156 runners across all events. Today there are 250 doing the marathon and 650 across all races.
A fellow Virgin Australia runner back to run once more.
Met this guy on the fun run a few days ago. Expect him to crush it.
Re-Run-Union with Adam from Big Five.
Re-Run-Union with my “Mum.”
Look, ma! I made it this time!
The time is near.
Last minute well wishes from Mari Mar.
And we’re off!
The course is long and sandy.
Sometimes it was just me and my shadow.
The Outback
Occasionally we found ourselves on asphalt… but it was mainly just so we could get back into the bush.
There are 8 port-a-loos in the Northern Territories. TravellingFit got them all for race day. This is number 7.
Running down the trail.
The Red Centre.
Heidi’s Corner with Heidi and her hubby… and Mari Mar for good measure.
There was no shade. Ever.
Selfie!
This sand dune was pooh-pooh’d by Mari Mar as no big deal… but she’s run Marathon de Sables in the Sahara so take it with a grain of sand.
Follow the arrows.
The halfway point. I was feeling strong-ish. That wouldn’t last.
A much needed aid station.
Cheers!
Dusty red dirt.
More of the TravellingFit family serving as course marshalls…. Even with their expert guidance, I may have gotten lost once or twice.
Caption this image: The Outback.
Craig who lead the Fun Run the other day… and now was manning an aid station.
Heading back where I’d been before.
Twenty Six… but kilometers, not miles. Dammit.
Where the road way ends… and the off road begins.
Uluru in the distance.
You’ll get hop-ons.
Caption this image: Long ago I went from runabout to walkabout. But I tried to rally around here…
Why, because I can do it!
Mom caught me coming into the final loop to the finish.
G’Day from Me and Mom!
Good blueberry muffins at the end…
But I went for the sausage sizzle – I donated to raise money for a good cause and got a hot dog with tomato sauce (you may know it as ketchup).
This is Hugh who I met at the first dinner. He’s terrific. He hung around after finishing his half marathon to cheer me on. He didn’t want a photo but someone as great as that should get a shout-out. Thanks, Hugh!
This is Rachel. She killed it — and had it been 26.3 miles, she would’ve caught the 1st place female finisher. As it was, she closed the gap within a few paces. She’s awesome.
This woman has MS and had run a kilometer on a treadmill for the past 41 days. Today she was running her final kilometer to finish her marathon.
Mom captured her finish.
I get misty eyed just thinking about how amazing she is. And Mom said I wasn’t alone — there were a lot of people wiping their eyes and it wasn’t because of the red sand.
Me and my big giant head finally finishing what was started 4 years ago.
Lee cheered me in 4 years ago and like all the TravellingFit people, he made me and my mom feel like the most important people in the world. Sure, sure… I saw them treating others equally well and I felt a little cheated on but that kind of thing isn’t to be grumbled about, it’s to be celebrated.
I snagged a photo with Mari Mar and Lee at the finish. Seriously, if you’re looking to run the world and travel to a far flung event, you owe it to yourself to book through TravellingFit. They’re the best in the business.
