Completing a 26.2 mile marathon used to be the ultimate running challenge, especially in the tropical furnace of the Cayman Islands. Not anymore.
Ultra-distance running has been around for decades worldwide and until recently Cayman residents had to look overseas for that peculiar buzz.
Over the weekend, the Ironshore Ultra-Marathon was added to the growing opportunities for weekend warriors intent on pushing themselves to the limit.
Officially 53 miles of slogging from Barkers to Starfish Point, just past Kaibo, but actually the route was 54.5 miles. Eight intrepid soloists set off just after 4 a.m. on Saturday, along with several teams of four or eight members who started a couple of hours later.
Thankfully, when the sun eventually rose, overcast conditions limited its intensity. No merciful rain fell, but dehydration and heat stroke was never an issue thanks to all solo runners having a vehicle support crew helping with fluid, food, cheerleaders and even pacemakers.
All but one, Rul Baptista, finished the gruelling journey – and he lasted to around 23 miles.
Event organizer Dave Bennett ran for most of it at a even, moderate pace, within shouting distance of Scott Ruby, Justine Plenkiewicz and James Murray.
As the race reached its later stages, around the 40-mile mark, Ruby pulled away, followed by Plenkiewicz, Murray and Bennett, which was their finishing order.
Ruby won in 9 hours 28 minutes, Plenkiewicz finished in 9:36, Murray’s time was 9:39m, Bennett did it in 10:07, Shelley White finished in 11:55 and Gabe Rabess hauled himself to the finish in 12:25.
Only two years ago White had never done anything sporty. Yet she completed this one strongly and even claimed to have “enjoyed it”. Rabess only entered on a whim, with barely any training. He was weary but as jubilant as the other soloists.
Teams enjoyed being able to take turns throughout the event to swap around, rather than the usual format of merely running a set leg and distance.
First team home in 6 hours 40 minutes were the Caymentals of Shaun Green, Shane Delaney, Joanna Mansi and Jon Roney.
Mansi said: “It was exciting to do something completely different, especially swapping between other runners. We started off doing 5k sections and did two of those each, then shortened it to two miles each, and that way we found we kept fresher and ran faster. It did get a bit windy and blustery in some sections.
“Shaun got the first leg at Barkers in all the dark on rough ground and that must have been a bit hairy. He had a little light and did well navigating his way without getting lost.
“I’m not really used to running in the middle of the day because the heat can be a challenge but we were lucky with some cloud cover.
“We finished together and it was nice being part of a team, great camaraderie. We’re the Caymentals because we’re definitely mental to do it!
“As it is the first Ironshore, we are the record holders. I say to others, give it a go and come out next year.”
The Fit Freakz eight-member team were second and Two Oceans Transit were third. Then came Girls In Limbo and Flashy Nation Ultra. Others teams to complete it were Mixers, Whatchamacallits and WTF! Where’s The Finish?
An exhausted and ecstatic Ruby has the physique of an Adonis, amazingly transformed from a 312 pound, heavy smoking sloth of only a few years ago.
American Ruby’s devotion to living a clean, healthy life is now in total contrast to his former self.
“I feel really happy and accomplished,” Ruby, 46, said. He is a funeral director so knows all about the consequences of long-term unhealthy living.
He said: “It’s the longest I’ve ever raced. I just got in a good groove and tempo, ran happy and stayed in the now. I got the jump on Justine on the climb out of Morritt’s and kind of set the tone from there. Miles (his wife) told me it was time to go so I did.
“My crew was great and Justine was a great motivator. Every time I turned round I saw her coming so I just pressed on. When I got to Chisholm’s Cemetery in North Side I figured it was time to go.”
There is no such notion as “can’t” in Ruby’s lexicon. He likes to use the analogy of a bumble bee. “If you look at the components of a bumble bee, it shouldn’t be able to fly. But don’t tell a bumble bee that, so I think like them. And I train like a race horse. When Miles says go, I go.”
Not a bad improvement for a man who ran his first 5k only three years ago.
“I am really pleased and had a good day,” Plenkiewicz said. She has completed ironman and half-ironman events of swim, bike and run, but felt this was even tougher. “This is much harder because you don’t get to change sports. You just run until you get there so you’re using the same muscles all day.”
The 35-year-old Canadian lawyer took two hours off her previous best ultra-marathon time. “I think all the teams had a really good time. They appreciated the fact that they could set their own strategy. For the individual runners, it was great because we had our own support vehicle.
“We all had a great day and this is an event that can keep growing.”
Grinning at the end, she looked pain free and fresh. “I just try to keep smiling. When you get out of bed and run 53 miles, that’s a pretty good day.”
Bennett, like Ruby, had been unfit and overweight until a scary and painful bout with testicular cancer made him rethink his attitude to health and wellbeing.
“It was just brilliant,” said the 42-year-old Englishman, who is a systems manager with the Monetary Authority. “To find so many people to come out for an ad hoc event like this was superb. “Obviously, the distance was not ideal for everybody but there were a few people out there who were bonkers enough to want to try a new challenge.
“The key thing was to keep it safe and enjoyable. Running from Barker’s in the national park was a unique experience. To get 56 team members and seven solo runners is pleasing. Just to drive the distance can be tiring, so to get people to run parts of it is just amazing. You can see how happy and excited people have been.”
The fact that team members could jump in and jump out on the circuit proved a winner because immediately after the festive season not everyone was in their usual peak shape.
Promotion for this event was low key because Bennett did not want to be inundated. Well, the secret is out now.
“It was kind of set up for them but with the Mercuryman Triathlon coming and Off The Beaten Track, this gave a good opportunity for people training for that too.”
Bennett praised Ruby’s support team of Miles and their daughters Grace and Claire who contributed so much to its success. He also gave a shout out to sponsors Andy Bonner of www.caymanactive.com and CrossFit 7 Mile, who paid for the refreshments truck, as well as Mary Walton, his wife Lauretta, his dad Wiggy and step-mother Elaine who helped make the awards.
All repaired to Kaibo afterwards for grub and fully deserved beer. Fitness addicts have certainly got another annual fix to get hooked on.
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