Today I attempted Bataan Death March. Cyn, Joy, Amanda and I met at the start line. Joy and Cyn were doing military heavy, ready with their 35lbs ruck sacks. I was doing military light, there to be the snack mule and provide morale support, my snack pack only weighed just over 30lbs. Amanda was just there to participate.
2 miles in, we waited almost a half hour in the bathroom line that put us in the back of the pack, being passed by Bataan survivors. At mile 5 I performed trail side treatment on Joy's blisters. At mile 7 she stopped at the aide station to have then better taped, which took over 45 minutes. Once we started up again we were making slower time because Amanda was nauseous. When we realized she wasn't sweating and had goose bumps, we knew she was experiencing a heat injury and she admitted she hadn't drank any water since mile 3 so that she wouldn't have to stop to pee. We knew she was in trouble and made her be assessed at the aide station at mile 10. They gave her some fluids and we very slowly marched on. At mile 12, we stopped at the aide station where she was treated for over an hour, time slipping by quickly, we knew we would have to hurry to make up for lost time, the course was only to stay open until 2000 and it was already 1400.
We were the very last competitors and we were told there would be little trail support, aide stations were beginning to close down. Amanda was released and we marched on. We crossed mile 13 a half hour later. Cyn and I did the math, we had to gain a half hour and not take any breaks to even make it to the finish before time was called. Both Joy and Amanda were almost a half mile behind. When they caught up it was almost 1445, there was no way we would make it. The cop in the trail car notified us that if we didn't make it to the next checkpoint at mile 15 by 1500, they would give us a ride back, that gave us 15 minutes to ruck 2 miles. After much deliberation, we accepted the DQ (disqualified) ride of shame back to the start point.
I have come in dead last, but I have never not finished. Failing is probably a worse feeling that doing 26.2 miles and ending up with hamburger feet and an aching knee, and chaffed thighs and raw hips and completely exhausted and sunburned.
I have decided I will train and conquer Bataan Death March 2014. The marathon distance is more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. It is one that had taken me 8 times to fully respect it. I no longer fear the distance. I know I am capable.
