Colac 2005 Options

[RMC]

What can you say about a man that has so many world records. Kouros is a living legend. 1036k over 6 days and to win by 214k. To beat the world 6 day record by 2k, he timed it to perfection.

Congrats to Garry Wise (CR's oldyella) a stunning performance of 600.4k. I must admit I had my doubts as did others when he produced 100miles on day 1. Good stuff.

Also well done to David Billet on such a well paced 6 days producing 602k. Met David for the first time at Adelaide 24hr last month (nice bloke).

Lastly congratulations to Peter Gray on achieving 10,000k's at the Colac track over the last 15 or so years.

Thanks for all of the updates UltraPhil/Colac2005 was interesting following it on the web.

[Colac]

Cliffy would have had a tear in his eye if he was watching from above. So would Bryan Smith.

This race is now the flag ship for ultra running all around the world.

Now we need a sponsor to take it to a higher level with more prize money for the minor places.

[Grey beard]

Great stuff! Congratulations OldYella and any other CRs who ran. I see Ken Matchett did 422.8 kms.

I wonder whether it will make tonight's TV news?

[Spud]

Kouros- sensational athlete, hats off.
To all who competed at Colac, well done, very inspiring indeed. Garry Wise (Old Yella) who I met at GC100 this year, fantastic achievement on debut. Thanks for the updates Phil, it's been awesome following this years race.

[Whippet Man]

Unbelievable stuff.

Thanks Phil for keeping us up to date. A great effort by all the runners, crew and organisers.

On another thread I copped a bagging for claiming Kouros as the greatest runner of all times. Can there be any doubt?

[JoggerK]

The figures are excellent - well done.

Race	Date	Runners more than 200km	Top 10 average (km)
Colac, Aus	Nov-05	29	726.0
Colac, Aus	Nov-04	21	621.8
South Africa	Aug-04	11	463.4
Erkrath, Germany	Aug-04	26	725.1
USA	Apr-04	29	596.9
Mexico	Mar-04	18	559.9
Denmark	Aug-03	9	536.6

Lots of good annoucements from Phil (sometimes I think an exageration), but I think the numbers show that this is the best six day race in the world.

ps I was one of the ones that said bullshit to a world record - that was before Kouros had entered so feel justified in sticking to my guns. Regardless, some excellent runs.

[Reefy]

Just got back from the race finish. Was great to see Yannis topple the old WR, and equally (for me) to see Garry get over the 600k mark (he got down and kissed the ground). Everyone there was very emotional and it was an amazing atmosphere. VERY glad I could manage to get over there in time (even if we got a $380 speeding fine on the way over!). Good to meet Phil as well.

Congrats to everyone associated with the race, humbling stuff.

[KevinCassidy]

This thread has been enthralling from the start. Phil has put in a mighty effort keeping all informed. As for the depth and quality of the field......well, what can I say. This race was almost dead in the water in the early to mid 90's. Now look at it!!

Just like "boonarga" my one big regret was that I never had time to get down there.

"Reefy", 380 dollars is a very hefty speeding fine....just how fast were you travelling??

[fat pat]

thanks phil for all your reports over the past week and for all your pre race promotion of what is truly a great and world class event

[Reefy]

Well, er, I wasn't driving. My lovely wife Nicole was. She wasn't too much over either... But then she realised her licence had expired because she was waiting for a 'good hair day' to get the new photo. So it was officially not $380 for speeding. Just (just?!) $130. The rest we can blame on her hair...

Hey also the Greek supporters that came down to cheers Yiannis on were great. At the presentation they quietly started singing a Greek song (national anthem?) and Yannis joined in to a loud finish. Pretty special moment.

[Long Arms]

congratulations Yianos- you are the gretest ultra runner of them all


Arms

[JoggerK]

I have been contacted by Markus Mueller who is a German that has been following the Colac race with details from the Erkrath 2005 race :

Race	Date	Runners more than 200km	Top 10 average (km)
Colac, Aus	Nov-05	29	726.0
Erkrath, Germany	Aug-05	33	749.5
Colac, Aus	Nov-04	21	621.8
South Africa	Aug-04	11	463.4
Erkrath, Germany	Aug-04	26	725.1
USA	Apr-04	29	596.9
Mexico	Mar-04	18	559.9
Denmark	Aug-03	9	536.6

[Bob F]

Congratulation to all runners and crews fantastic effort and what a great event would have love to been there. To you Phil another great job well done from Jesper Olsen world run to the world class Colac six day race.

[Boonarga]

Only thing that I'm sad about is that I couldn't get there to see it.

Hanging out to read the race reports.

[Rudolf]

Hello everybody.
It was great experience. to learn how to do and how not to do.
Lots of things going wrong for many runners and for Kouros too. It is more effective to learn from others errors. At this stage I will just briefly post few facts, infos and ideas before going into any analyzis later on.

The track = dissaster. It is really trail running, it is not a track in a athletic sence.

It is grass for the first 6 hours or so, the next morning it is dirt, turning into dust.
Getting into shoes, socks, and into lungs, food,
getting into stomach as the dust from mounth and throath is washed down with drinks. Serious bronciatic condition (Vlastik Skvaril hit hard - running with the face mask drops of eucalyptus oil, and later with the inhalator (eucalyptus oil+boiling water), lots of diggestive problems.

Dust in socks = blisters

Track has small hils and holes (whatever is left from the grass) causing constantly twisting movements in ankles, pulling various tendons and muscles of the foot. Every step the foot lands in different position. Claude Hardel hardest hit with ankle injury.

Kouros estimated, after 48H/or 500k mark, that with the effort he was doing he would have about 50k more that time split. The first 2+ days he was running hardest he ever was, and was close to
getting 48H WR, which he did on 48H only race on the real track. And at Colac it was only 2 day split.

My guess is that every Colac finisher would have 50-100km more if the track was anything but this.

It just shows how good shape he realy is at the moment.

The 48H - 500km exhaustion took its toll, and the
500-700k very very hard, painfull, and lots of people very involved actively to try to restore Kourous energy back, despite him not fully cooperating.

Kouros is more 48H or so runner, his eating drinking and not sleeping strategy makes him really excellent, but after that it is real strugle. The first 2-3 days food is based on sports drinks, suggary drinks, and small pieces of fresh and dried fruit, and frequent suggary bites, which could be put under the table
"greek sweets".
Regular minerls and vitamin tablets, omega3 - fish oil tablets, but the amount of them is very low, basicaly the same any nonactive person takes every day.
Kouros refuses "normal food" till he basicaly colaps and than is only wiiling to accept any suggestions or give in to any pressure, and take
some solid foods, like scrambed eggs, mashed potato, rice, pasta salads, chicken or so, but only small portions, basicaly eating less than
small kid running away from the dinner table.

The fact of not eating for the first 2 days, is one reason, he does so weel at the beggining, since the blood is not needed in the stomach and no energy is spend for digestions, and sugary bits are taken in ful speed - no time lost for eating no speed lost by digesting.
The day 3-4-5 are pay back days, and I realy believ, with different eating strategy from the start, the total could have been 50k more.
Add the 50k for track quality, 50k more for blister treatments (dust and socks choices)
and 50k for the shoes issues (I do not want to go there).

1200 is very realistic, but needs real planning, logistic, and track.

The other track issue is, it is not purely the grass to begin with, There are 2 bike footpath crossing, which are for the race covered by dirt sand and carpets, but the result is extremely
hilly 10 metres sections.
The part close to finish line is on the concrete
or marble stones blocks around the water fountain, again covered with carpets.
It has the elevations bumps but also is wobling sideways, slope changing from left to right few times, giving the tobogan ride feel.

I am propably sounding too critical about the track, but it was not only Kouros complaining,
I made lots of friends there during 6 days and
had long talks with lots of runners and crew members

Kouros sleeping (lack of).
Yes it was 30 min a day.
I did not have writen records of it, so perhaps
some day it was 2x times, perhaps there was a day with no sleep at all.
30 min sleep means 40-60 min of the track, I think 2x it was 90-120 min of the track.
Kouros was 2-3 times in the motel.
He had motel room about 150m from the oposite corner of the track. One of his greek crew member would pack the car in the hour before,
we would buy 1-2 bags of ice, car would go to the motel. Kouros would run of the track across the road, forcing the trafic to stop, and run straight to the room, taking of the shoes and clothes, hit the shower, dress fully up for the next run, put extra clothes on, stick the feet into bucket of ice-cold water, we would hold ice cubes on his knees and shin bones. During that time he would eat mixture of food (avocado, yoghurt, cheese, salty chips, sweets - basicaly like a wild kids party), there is also some stretching going on. He would also eat lying down with the feet up on the wall, making the eating and swallowing really interesting experience.
Than it is sleep time - the crew would start the time watch and leave the room (or caravan)
exactly 30:00 crew would wake him up.
Some stretching food, putting the shoes and start walking.
From the motel he had lift back in the car to the same corner and the spot he left the track.
The other night in the motel I was not there, I had my beauty sleep.

There is no way, for people to really understand
what the 6 day race means, if You are not there.
Being involved in any way, as a crew, or other position is the best insider lecture.

6 days race is not about running.
It is about nutrition, drinking, suplementation,
shoes, socks, foot care, planning, following the plan, flexibility to change the plan, it is about crew and support, and helping each other.

We are all exited about CR Old Yella - Gary
performance, and it took few people involvement
on the morning of the last day, to get him running again, when the 600k looked like hopelesly lost dream, what he produced in the last 3 hours is unbelievable.

Gary could easily do 700k, What is not known,
Gary had serious problems with the skin on his ankle and lower part of the shin-calve of one leg. Gary was in hospital on day 2 and got antibiotic injections, the skin and tissue terribly swollen, and every step extremelly painfull. Only with about 4-5 hours to go, he told me and showed me, and we tried some Reiki
to this leg, and then with running doctor Andy
gave him some mineral and natural suplement tablets, to get his musclees running again.
Garys C2K is in question this year, but he certainly is 700+ 6 day runner, add to it track
factor and experience factor.
If the organisers wiil finaly come good with their track issue promisse, than for Gary 800 is very real in future.

The runner of the race is Vlastik Skvaril.
48H WR in age category (65+) and that was only as a split to 6 days race, than ilness (dust - bronchi, bronchi medicine, breathing difficulty,
running with face mask in the hot afternoons, than running with inhalator, he could not sleep, because of caughing,... the last 2 days he knew, he could not do 6 days WR in age category (the lost km in days 3-4), so he commited himself fully to Kouros records, and was running with him at the pace Kouros was capable of at any stage, going to sleep last night only when Kouros hit the caravan and strictly requesting, that the referees would wake him up, as soon as Kourous is back on the track (trail haha).
Vlastik would often run with bottles for Kouros,
holding food, stopping to talk to me, to slowly explain what Kouros want or need, or to do with me the pace calculations etc, listening to my calculations and instructions for Kouros, than sprinting, catching up with Kouros and explaining during the lap...(the area for crew - runner contact is restricted).
It was realy similar to TdF situation, when the leader of the team has riders heplers.

So the runner of the race is Vlastik Skvaril.

You had to be there to see it to fully get what was going on

The fact that the runners did PBs, age WR, national records, asian 6day record,....
is unbelievable considering the track and the weather last 2 days.
Friday afternoon was bloody hot, The storm was hanging, but cool change not comming.For 6-8 hours, exhausted Kouros was limping around desperately trying to replace the fluids and cool the body. Swallen legs could not take the pounding any more. Vlastik gave for few hours his own shoes to Kouros and was running ih his trainig spares, Vlastik gave Kouros the neck sponge, which was soaked all the time in ice water, Vlastik gave Kouros his expensive coolvest
which was his wifes Christmass present and he never had a chance to try it. I did take out from the original packaging,...
The storm finaly hit around 8 pm. We had the warnings, Claude Hardel just came back from short trip to GOR, telling me the storm was very
violent, and is comming quickly.
The second it hit, our tent was on the tree, only the back wall remaing on the ground, everything was in mess.
Everybody running to our rescue, while we were trying quickly to dress Kouros into some rain proof clothes in the caravan. He was out running in the storm within 5 minutes. The cool change and rain save his pace , since all afternoon he was doing something like 4km per hour.
Vlastik came to ask if Kouros is hiding in the caravan, when I told him is out back running, he sprinted after him to help his pace.

So, as much as it was Kouros and his records, it was Vlatik and his true sportmanship.
And I feel so much gratefull to have the chance to be so close to it all.

More details later.

Ps, lots of participants (runners and walkers)
and crew members and wolunteers did promissed each other, that we would all meet at 24H Cobourg
mostly for walk race as a competitors.

Despite the track criticism, lots of us would like to do 6 day race in the future.

There is one new multiday ultra run (point to point) cooking on, hopefully as soon as 2006.
I have insider information, but did not ask about permition reveal the plans, as soon as anything is available I make sure the infos will get to CR website. Just a hint - I will have not to travel far to the start, living in Melbourne,
and will visit some friends in Adelaide after finish.

[MaDPeter]

Great info Rudolf, thankyou soooo much for sharing your experiences with us, it is soo much better than just race-updates, distances and splits.

Am waiting for your full account

Well done to all, espec ALL the runners, crews Phil and CR posters

ta

[Ultraphil]

Thanks Guys. I will report a comprehensive report in the next few days! quick thanks to run 422 who came on board as web person, whilst I was whipping up the crowds in the last hour!

[IDW]

Rudolf
That was a fascinating read.....I was out running with a friend today and I was saying how interesting it would be to know how Kouros does these events. Most of what we usually hear makes it sound too easy & doesn't mention that he has all sorts of difficulties just like the other ultra-runners.

IDW

[fat bloke]

i have followed the progress with interest over the last week , and would like to echo others comments in saying that it gave a great insight into the goings on in and around the track over the six days.
well done to all who took part as either competitors or crews i am sure you will serve as an insperation to many.

look forward to your next instalment rudolf

cheers

fats

[Ultraphil]

Rudolph and I chatted quite a bit during the week and I must say that Rudolph was the Man with stats, timings etc. He very much helped Yiannis get there in the end.

I guess the race had everything. We had a fire on the track (gas bottle), we had a storm with a tree come down on the track, we had the open world records and age records go, we had national records and pb's go left right and centre. We had some angst out there with diferrent issues. It's going to be an incredible story to put down on paper...It will happen in a few days

Phil

[Ultraphil]

Some photos from the race. I believe they can be purchased.

http://tallarookimages.com/coppermine/thum...?album=2&page=1

[Rudolf]

Thanks MaDPeter and IDW.
I just found myself sleeping on the floor in the living room.
Am going to crawl to bed and turning off the PC.
I hope I would be able to post my view on the future of the race, on the overal performances, on the comparisons with german 6 day race (actually this could be short - could You compare 6 foot track times with the road marathon ?) and on Kouros potential and his mind programming tomorow.
Yesterday, I was persuaded by Kouros to stay for the dinner at his place, and than got home past midnight.
Good night - finaly

[JoggerK]

Great link Phil thanks.
Anyone see this photo of Kouros and wondered about his jacket ? Is it an ice jacket ? Is it rocket propelled ?

[Rudolf]

Kevin, the vest as well as the green neck sponge on Yannis belongs to Vlastik Skvaril. This is the story :
Vlastik did the desert run few years back and was using the neck sponge soaked in ice water succesfully there. Last Christmass Vlastiks wife could not think of the present for Vlastik and after the desert experience decided to buy the cooling vest. Vlastik did not have the chance to use it before the Colac. Vlastik wife showed me the vest during the week, still in original packaging. The vest is from heat reflective material and does have some small balls inside
which will freeze and hold the cold for certain
time period. Vest needs to go to the freezer for half an hour.

Photo was taken friday afternoon in the f### heat
Yannis was already wearing the green sponge around the neck, forced on him by Vlastik.
I brought up the vest options, Vlastik quickly offered, I was worried about the additional weight on Yannis body, since he could barely stand up and slowly walk. Yannis agreed to try anything. There was no time for the freezer, and there was no real freezer anyway. Vlastik had the camping cooler filled with ice, which was melting. I unpacked the vest, and soak it in the ice water for few minutes. It was dripping water.
We put additional T-shirt on Yannis (the brown one) and the vest on, I was not sure about dirrect contact on the skin. It worked, Yannis was wearing it for hours all bloody hot afternnon. Of course we had to refreze the vest occasionaly in the ice water.Vlastik was walking with him and did not have neither his neck sponge neither his vest.
Vlastiks wife told me, the vest was around 400 $
mark if I remember correctly, but said that was the Tassie price and should be cheaper....

[RUN 422]

Rudolph, it was good to meet you. Mate, if that was a 'brief' report I might have to take a day off work to read your comprehensive one. You did an excellent job with Yiannis along with the rest of his crew. It really does give you a different perspective when you are crew and not the runner. It is so easy to say 'just keep running'!!

KT I have a short clip (mpeg) of Yiannis breaking WR which I took on my digi cam. Is it possible to put this up for others to see?
:D

ok the videos are loaded to http://www.colac.ultraoz.com

:D :D :D

[Rudolf]

This is me and Gary (Old Yela):

http://tallarookimages.com/coppermine/disp...?album=2&pos=58

Gary had inflamed skin on one leg, antibiotics did not helped for days. It is saturday morning,
Gary was slowly limping in the pain, no chance to get 600 km. In between Kouros madness, I talk to Gary and offer Reiki treatment. There is nothing to loose, so we hide in Gary's tent, and I do quick Reiki, perhaps 15 min.
My hands move very quickly - so they are blured on the photo.
The heat energy comming from the inflamed swollen skin is unbelievable. I had to ground mine hands to the wet cold grass every 20 sec or so. After few minutes Gary is saying the pain is going away. Somebody comes with camera and ask for permission to take photos.
After about 10 min I have the feeling, that the heat is gone and energy field has changed.
I asked Gary what he feels, he replays - no pain.
I ground mine hands for few seconds, and take the enrgy field from the healthy leg, than compare to the inflamed - nearly the same.
Just 2 more minutes to finish the job and Gary is done. I suggest he takes his long pants off, so they would not rub against the skin, is getting warm anyway. Gary quickly changes and is on his feet, walking normaly no limping.
I run back to Kouros camp.

Later I consult with Andy Kouros condition, and Andy decides on Cranberry tablet, after that I check on Gary, he is now walking OK, but still no running, he will not make 600, unless he start running and fast. Gary basicaly explains,
the legs are getting tired and stiff. Again consultation with Andy, he gives order to his helpers to give Cranberry and potassium tablet for Gary. Gary is easy, just thanks, smilles and takes what ever is offered ( If only Yannis has Gary's attitude - I think it would be easier in few years time to get Gary running running 900+)
Gary agrees to eat somethink as well.
It works, I am not sure how much time had past, but noticed Gary is running again and quite fast. Last hour, I manage to squeeze few moments each lap to ask Emma (the day and records referee on Gary's distance totals. He is progressing well, the number is getting closer to 600, but the clock is getting closer to the 12 o clock.
I am urging Gary to keep the pace and pass the info of the kms. Gary's head is clear, he confidently smilles back every lap.
4 min to go, Gary has 600 !
Gary stops, goes on his knees and kiss the finish line. He gets up and keeps running, to completes the additional safety counting lap, in case of counting error.

Gary looks very fresh. If not that injury ( I did
not know earlier), he was in the in 650-700 shape. I am sure, with additional experiences
and training, Gary can do 800, and if track improvement promisses comes good, that who knows?

[Rudolf]

Run 422 - Thanks mate !
I told You few times, I would like to have Your job, Claude seemed to be easy. Thinking back, no way ! It was unbelievable experience, exhausting
and demanding. But is over, I will recover, and the experience stays.
I have something special from the race :
When the race stopped and Greek celebration with photos was over, Kouros came to the tent to wash the feet and change for official ceremony. While he was washing his feet, I was pretending to help him to get the numbers off, pulled the ruber band up from his waist throught the arms and head, took the safety pins off, and stick the numbers to my pocket, nobody had any idea.
Both numbers 24 are in my home.

[Cato]

Well done Rudolph!
You have put in a great effort in both your reporting of the race and your help at the event.
Great to see people who get off their bum and contribute.
And OLD YELLA (Gary), what can I say.
Another Ballarat Champion (must be something in the water).
Keep up the great work mate. You are unbelievable!!
I have so much admiration for you Ultra Guys and I don't know how you do it.
I am a basket case after a Marathon, but you guys do it easy, and then keep on doing it.
Hope everyone recovers OK

CATO

[Rudolf]

FIRE ! The RACE STOPPED FOR 7 min.

the dry facts are that Garys helpers comming down
stooped thursday morning in Ballarat to refill the gas bottle for cooking, and the petrol station assistant did not fixed up the valve properly. The bottle caught the fire, was kicked out of the tent (propably saving the whole tent city from burning down). Unfortunately, the bottle stoped rooling just on the side of the track, could expode any moment and runners would be passing just 1 metre from it. Race is stoped,
it takes 7 min for the fire brigade to get there,
spray the bottle and pulle it away. Race is restarted, but of course it was more drama than that, and again Kouros.

When I heard screaming accident accident, Race stopped,, I could see people running away, when I got the info understant the situation, I did grab the wet towel, drinking bottle and run around the tents from inside the loop, thinking -
ok, so how to use the time effectively - to get Yannis to the shade, cool him with the wet towel,
let him drink, stretching, massage,...
I get there - runners are waiting, but no Kouros,
runners are screaming at the ref and pointing to the road. Kouros and about 3-4 others run the detour, on the street, behind the parked cars and back on track betwwen the tent, they run on the loop, the whole bunch together (safety in numbers?) or they sticked to Kouros thinking, if his lap would get counted, then theirs should too
believing in equality (this is sport not parliamnet). They cross lap counting arrea, we could all hear their numbers read by lap counting ref. Waiting runners and refs are in heated discussion. Soon the race continues,
Emma (day ref) and Bill (RD) are telling me, they have to disscuss, check the rules etc.
It takes long time, finaly they come out explaining the danger, the need to stop the race,
and the desicion to penalize Kouros and the small group by not counting the lap. It is very logical, they afraid on Kouros reaction. He is too tired to get angry, inside he feels he made the wrong desicion.
Bill and Emma are saying, about the option to add 7 min to end of race, they are trying to get official rulling on that from overseas. There is real danger that no records would get recognized
since it would no longer be 6 day race, but 6day+7min race.
Late evening they receive the rulling, that 7 min
extra would be OK, records would get recognized, it was and exceptional accident. I suddenly do not like it, and ask them to get the distance measurement at 12:00 as well at 12:07 just in case to cover all the bases. They like the idea
it seems to take the responsibility decision away. Kouros likes the extra 7 min.
Next morning the email arrives with the decission reversed - no 7 min extra.
It is clear and simple. Emma is afraid of Kouros reaction, we are discussing the best time to tell
him, Emma says, the email is just being printed and copyed, and soon everybody will get it, so is better to tell him. The volunteer who someteimes was getting too involved with Kouros jumps in, and starts screaming - You cant tell
him, You cant tell him. You will upset him and he will quit the race !. It sounds ridicoulous, but he keeps screaming. I said back, look I am going to thing for few minutes, but I will make my own decision!
The greek crew loks scared they have no idea, what is going on. I take the guy who speaks some english aside, and slowly and clearly explaining the situation. He is very relieved, that the issue is only this, and agrees we should tell Yannis. I run to the area where contact with runners is allowed. The helpers who is against telling, is running with Yannis the whole lenght
of the area, staring at me, and talking loundly to Yannis something irrelevant.
have to find the way. I explain the situation to the greek guy, he just smilles and runs to meet Yannis next lap, he is going to talk in greek.
I am running to the Vlastik tent area and stopp Vlastik for 1 lap to talk to him, he drinks eats, and listens, we talk in czech, I asked him to tell Yannis the whole situation, he assures me,, they were talking about itr whole night while running together, and come to the conclussion, the 7 min extra is no good, too dangerous for the records recognition, so Yannis
kind of knows about it and is happy with the decision. Vlastik joins Yannis the next lap.
The greek guy is smailing, and says :
no 7 minutes - Yannis OK !
Next lap Yannis looks at me smiles, nodes and winks. He propably finds it quite entertaining,
how we used the greek and check language to get
around with message.
I tell Emma and Bill, that message delivered,
all the posties still alive.
They looked like they just won the tatslotto.
Within 24 hours, thay had to stop the race, penalize Yannis by not counting his lap, and reverse the decision on extra 7 min.
The world did not end, Yannis is running and in good mood.
What more the ref and RD could want ?

[Ultraphil]

Thanks Rudolph. I will use your recall in the Article about the "Race of the Century". Yes was a bit of chaos on a couple of occassions! Tony RAfferty was telling me about years ago when he cut his foot and the headlines read "Blood on the track"...Well we beat that Tony. "Fire and Tempest" on the track - just to start with!

Run422 - Please can you email me a mpeg of the finish as well!

Thanks

Phil

[Ultraphil]

http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2005/1...3026373444.html

[RUN 422]

Phil, the file is 8.8mb, a bit too big to email. It would be good if I could upload it to a site somehow.
???????????

[JoggerK]

run422,
go here: http://www.streamload.com
look for "Upload files to any Streamload user here"
enter my username of "coolrunningkev"
upload your file.
email me.
I will then load to coolrunning

It will be great I am sure.

[Rudolf]

LAST 16 HOURS

this is the situation : it is just after the storm hit, it is significantly cooler, Kouros is running again. He was struggling all afternoon in the heat. Early morning I asked Phill for the WR for 1000 km distance relevant to Kouros.
Phill comes later with 3 numbers :

-australian age category (45+) record is only
7-8 minutes short of 6 days, and belongs to Brian Smith and was created on the race when Brian did 1002 km. It makes You wonder, how on earth did he managed to put 2 km in 7-8 minutes.
we are not interested in this.

-WR age is due 6:39 am saturday morning
-WR overal is due 4:17 am saturday.

This is interesting. My idea is to set Kouros mind on breaking the record for 1000 km, so we will have 1000 km covered, with enough time left for doing whatever extra. The plan is to tell Kouros the target for 1000km 4am. That would give us extra 8 hours.
Even if he cant do 4 am, than 6 am and age category WR still is great, and gives us 6 hours.
Sounds simple.
The day is getting hotter and hotter, storm is not coming and not coming. For about 8 hours,
Yannis is adding very slowly few kms each hour in total exhaustion, using support of Vlastik and Vlastiks cooling gear.

8pm, storms hits, cool change.
After rain clothes come on, they quickly come off
We have no light in the tent, and no light in the caravan. I am getting Phill permission to use his office for calculations. 8pm printouts do not exist (storm).
9pm - it is 7 hours left till 4 am.
Calculations not very promissing, Kouros would have to run all night, no rest, no sleep, to even have a chance, and run fast. I do not really expect him to do it by 4 am, but am talking to him, to change his mind from overal result focus, to early 1000 km completion. I want to use cool night to add maximum distance.
Pace is good, Vlastik and Yannis running together. The hot day is taking the toll. They both now look tired.
10pm results and quick calculations. They would have to keep exactly the same pace for the remaining 6 hours, no stopping. I am talking to Vlastik in czech first, to get his feedback, since there is no way Yannis could do it on his own. Vlastik hears the verdict - 6 hours of continuos run, no breaks, certainly no sleeps.
I look at his face. That is exactly, how Michelle Corby looked when hearing 20y jail sentence. I just tell Yannis, than to cover as much as he can during the night would be great.
The air is clean, no wind, no rain, just occasional very light drizzle, not many runners
walkers on the track, not many crew members. Have to use the conditions. Yannis understands, but says he is very tired.
They keep running. Laps are getting just a bit slower. I try to read their faces every lap, Eyes
are closing, they know the track so well by now, they are trying to run sleeping or what?
This is getting ridiculous and dangerous. They both make a decision - they keep till 11pm results and will go to sleep for 30 min.
OK, so the WR 4:17 is out of question. If they get the rest and can resume the pace, 6am still
looks possible, that would be great, 1000km and 6 hours left. Now this becomes the plan.
I am waiting for 11pm results.
Only Vlastik comes from the dark holding bunch of worm clothes for the sleep, saying Yannis is already in caravan and he is going too, he just needed to tell officialy to the night ref.
The result are just coming out, I grab 1 copy and grab Vlastiks clothes and tell him - go around, complete the loop, I will wait for You in Your caravan (Vlastik was going to sleep in the caravan, which was now sadly empty, still with name Elvira Janosi). Vlastik looks teryfied to walk the longer way around, I just explain - You already have more than 100 m of the lopp, if You walk it back, this 200m would not be counted.
Vlastik freezes on the spot and is not moving neither direction trying to argue. This is ridiculous, time is running, he is not sleeping yet, So I push him the shorter way, but he turns the longer way and says it make sense. I run with his clothes, and stop in Yannis caravan,
he is on the bed with feet up in elevated position, shoes on, swalowing some food and falling asleep. The crew is getting out, I push everybody out, making sure I am the last one, than turn too already asleep Yannis and use the
hypnotic suggestion ( hey thanks Colac for that discussion): I loudly say : 1000 km before 6 am !
The crew is setting the stop watch, exactly 30 min. I run to Vlastik caravan, he is not there,
few minutes till he comes, propably talking to his wife. He starts begging the night ref, who is there now as well to wake him in 30 min.
I said, no! wake him only when You see Yannis already on the track, Vlastik is protesting, but I say - look he can take 10-20 to get off the bed
change the shoes, do stretching and slowly get moving, he is a big boy can be on track alone for a while.
I am trying to get Vlastik some extra sleep, so he is rested more and can run with Yannis till morning, Vlastik wanna have discussion about that
Yannis is already 10 min sleeping, I push him into caravan, throw the clothes in and close the door.Quickly talk to the greek crew about feeding Yannis properly during the night, and they promise ( but they do not deliver, they are afraid to force the food into Yannis, when he says no).
I go to sleep, I am not sure if I am asleep or not. It is strange. Perhaps I was sleeping for a while. Night is extremely quiet, I can clearly hear the lap counting ref through the loud speakers. Mu mind is filtering all the other numbers out, I sleep and hear : 15-24....15-24...
so they are out there and running. I am not able to wake up and check the time or time the laps, but it sounds pretty regular and often enough,
somehow I know the pace is good. I realize in sleep, that 15 is always read first. Vlastik is propably half a meter in front of Yannis all the time, forcing him to hold the pace. Night is long
15-24...15-24...15-24....15-24
suddenly I wake up and look the watch :5 am.
I try to listen : 15-24, OK so they are still runing, I am sure I did not missed the 1000km yet
but it takes me half an hour to get out of caravan, tracksuit over the pyjama, stop for quick wash up and go to the ref area. Emma is standing outside ready with papers and is all exited (is it not funny, how girls get exited by watching the man running loop after loop).
She shouts : 4 laps to go !. That was close. She takes the time for laps -2,-1,1000km,+1,+2.
This is done as a safety, in case there is counting lap error, later discovered and corected, so the times are recorded.
1000KM ! It is 5:52 am.
Know I realize my hypnotic suggestion:1000k before 6am!.
This looks great. They both do the lap +1 and +2
I go the tent with the great news for the crew.
I found Yannis sitting on the chair half dead.
Completely depleted.
He was not eating enough through the night.
Panic, Canteen produces quick toast with butter,
I could not find the bloody honey, so I grab the
marmelade instead put some on toast, fold in half and stick into Yannis hand. He knows this is no joke and he eats. He drinks sport drink.
Coffe is ordered from Canteen and I tell the crew
quickly mix the protein drink.
We have 6 hours left, so there is no time pressure at this stage.
Andy, running doc stops, looks at Yannis, and says - back to the routine: bread and honey,
and bread, honey and peanut butter.
Finally I find the honey, put lots of peanut butter as well. Yannis eats it all. Good. Protein drink is ready, half the bottle is pured down the throat. We have to wait, till the food kicks in.
I realize Vlastik is hanging around - I send him to his tent, to eat as well, so he will be ready
Yannis is using time to change the shoes, some stretching. The 6 am results are here - 1000.800
Yannis is trying to get up and walk.
Ever seen nursing homes residents trying to get across the corridor without the nurse support?
7am - 1002 km. Suddenly the whole strategy is not that foolproof.
Canteen opens for breakfast, the first serve of scrambled eggs and baked beans goes to Yannis.
His hand grabs the plate and fork and he eats this time no arguing.Refuses toast - too much food. Ok this should be enough for the time being
Walking again. This nursing homes resident looks bit younger.Half an hour later I succed with one more slice of bread and honey, but that is pushing it, Yannis eats but says no more!
Yannis walking is improving, now the speed is about 6km/hour, but he keeps stopping for stretching and frequent toilet stops. Each hour
adds only 4 km. No good. i try to get feedback, what else can be done. His energy is back, but he says, one of the hams is so stiff, that if he try to run, it will tear the first step. I am trying to think minerals and cramps, but my mind can only come up with slovak names for minerals,
I am not able to think english, Yannis minerals have greek descriptions anyway.
What now? I run to Andy, explain and ask what we can give Yannis to loosen up the muscle - Andy replays - nothink legal!. Than he gots the idea :
Cranberry! I turn to run to shop to buy the juice,
Andy screams - no juice, the tablets! I try to run again, but Andy screams again - I've got hem.
He runs to his supply tent and tells Sandra -"The
6 day Coalc chief blister surgeon" to give me the tablet - he says - this is more than 4 galons of the juice. It is good for 1 day.
I grab the tablet, get the drink and run after Yannis, quickly explaining what it is and what for, he just ask : You think it helps? and takes
the tablet, his fingers are stiff, tablet on the ground. I give him the drink and says, next lap, I get the new one. Sprint back, explain to Sandra
and get new tablet, I manage to get him in same lap, this time we lucky, he swalows the tablet and wash it down with drink. I just said: take it slowly till it kicks in.
I am doing the calculations, the WR 1023 looks
achievable even with this pace, the 1034 out of chance. The difference is only 11km, but it means
2 hours !
We are talking, Yannis is saying, the WR is 1023 and taht is all he cares, the 1034 is indoor track, different category, not fair, on the indoor track he would have at least 50 km more.
I understand the logic, than somehow I produce another hypnotic suggestion :
The biggest number in KMs for 6 days would have Your name, regardless of tracks, and categories, it would look good. And turn around and run back, so his mind can process in subconsiouss.
Colac committe would like to have the biggest number of Kms with Colac residential address for a race.
We are disscussing the proggress, but it looks hopeless. The Greek comunity arriving from Melbourne, and also locals. Yannis is in good mood, communicating with them. 1023 is very close
it is certainity, his suuporters only know the 1023 number, they have no idea about 1034 existence. The Greek flags are getting ready, cameras setting up, the count is showing 1021.
Yannis is suddenly shouting orders in greek, the crew is running between caravan and tent, after storm, nothing can be found. I have no idea what is going on. Finally big mirror is produced,
Yannis walks slowly, looking into mirror, more orders in greek and panic activity. One of the crew holds the mirror and big towel and runs
away to the oposite site of tent city, the other
runs with shaving cream and razor.
He is going to shave !, He could not care less about bigger WR, he is going to shave to look good on the photos!
I gave up, and tell Emma to forget the 1034, he is shaving. It takes long minutes, finaly he comes around the next lap, in the tent the best T-shirt left after 6 days and storm is changed and he takes of the extra warm pants. Ready for pictures. Resume fast walk, Vlastik with him.
1023 comes quickly, few laps with flags, quick chat with greek supporters, waving flags and photos, WR is done!
Suddenly he drops flags and starts jogging, shouts the orders, comes around and shouts in english - make sure, they are giving me sports drink only every lap, and greek sweets every 10 minutes. And count the speed, if it is fast enough!
Now they are flying, Vlastik keeps the pace.
We have 90min to go. They are 400m repetitions or what? The pace is wild, too fast, they settle little bit, Speed is varying between 9-12 km/h
Calculations shows they need exactly 9km/h to hold, they are running faster. Yannis wants every lap calculations. Emma is exited again, could not believe the change!
11am. They only need 7 km for 60 min, and they are running faster. I notice other runners running fast, Gary too and smilling.
This is not 6day race, this is 1 hour time trial!
I decide on showing the total Kms, I could not think in laps.Laps counts are printed out every minutes, I get the last totals add 400m to it and with fat red texter write the big numbers :
1028.0 - that would be the distance when they complete the lap. I think how smart of me. Yannis stares at it, and shouts - no, no, that is mine WR from road in NY! I had no idea!
He can't undrestand, I am showinh him actuall total Kms, Next lap 1028.4, he is not geting it,
neither is Vlastik, there is too much shouting everyvhere, we can't communicate. Yannis is checking his laps splits on the big clock and lap counts from Emma.
I keep with mine strategy, few laps later he finally understands. Every new printouts Emma shouts at me, I show her next lap total, she adds 400m to her printout and nods in agreemment.
This is going on every lap. Here and there I get her to tell me Gary's total and I shout at him How much he needs. I somehow estimate, Yannis will do 1037 at this pace.
The 1034 WR goes with about 20 minutes spared.
I keep showing the totals, but is not important any more, They are smilling and keeping the pace.
Last few laps are slower, I realize later, Yannis was exactly pacing himself on the last 2 laps to finish in front of the Greek supporters.
Phill counts the seconds down, gun and stop.
For a while I am sad, the figure is not 1037, do not know why. Look around, lots of people crying.

For Yannis the pain is not over yet !
He si celebrating with greek friends, photos, hugging,.. There is one greek lady from Colac, who was comming every day. She was waiting in tent, now she has to sprint about 30 metres, she jumps on Yannis, to give him the hug and kiss.
Yannis is too week to hold her. She weights 4x the weight of the Japanese team headcoach. She slips from Yannis arms and drops full weight on Yannis feet, straight on the inflamed black toenails and blisters. So that is how they get Tarzan screams in Hollywood!

[JoggerK]

ok the videos are loaded to http://www.colac.ultraoz.com

[Hamburglar]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rudolf:
:I look at his face. That is exactly, how Michelle Corby looked when hearing 20y jail sentence.

:is it not funny, how girls get exited by watching the man running loop after loop

:Ever seen nursing homes residents trying to get across the corridor without the nurse support?

:He could not care less about bigger WR, he is going to shave to look good on the photos!
I gave up, and tell Emma to forget the 1034, he is shaving.

:make sure, they are giving me sports drink only every lap, and greek sweets every 10 minutes.

:For Yannis the pain is not over yet,she jumps on Yannis, to give him the hug and kiss.Yannis is too week to hold her. She weights 4x the weight of the Japanese team headcoach. She slips from Yannis arms and drops full weight on Yannis feet, straight on the inflamed black toenails and blisters. So that is how they get Tarzan screams in Hollywood!

---

Great quotes Rudolf and a great report. Well done to Kouros!

[Colin]

Well done all and Phil for putting it on.
It was great to read about these awesome feats of mental and physical endurance.

I cannot even go without sleep for two days. :rolleyes:

Rudolf, your reports are amazing, a great first hand view into what was going on in the minds of some athletes. :)

I think the broken English (not your first language), gives it an even greater feeling of authenticity, and with your quotes makes for compelling reading.

I read every bit of it, and come the poll on threads of the year, its got my vote. :D

[Rudolf]

thanks Chranita and Colin.

------------------------------------------------
following infos are from Markus in Germany,
who emailed me, after reading reports on CR website :

6 DAY RACE, NETHERLANDS, 30 JULY - 5 AUGUST 2006

www.cosibullig.de

there will be a 6 day race next year in Velthoven (close to Eindhoven) in the Netherlands.
Date probably: 30th July to 5th August 2006.

Unfortunately the website does not seems to have english version.

I asked about the conditions in Germany 6 days :

The track in Erkrath was o.k. but the runners fought with dust from the track and this year with a lot of water on the track during heavy rains.
-------------------------------------------------
All this makes You wonder, who is going to be the first organizer, who can put money - sponsors
together for prize money and fully technology supported organizations (chips, computer systems,
laser measueremment of position, actual speed, display screen in real time etc) and could find the track, which is realy fast, not too hard, would stay clean and dry all race, is idealy flat and smooth, no side slopes, no holes and bumps etc.
If this is put together, I can see Kouros attacking 1200, about 5 runners going 1000+
and huge group 900+

[Ultraphil]

Ive just watched the movie that Run422 made of the Finish. Thought that was good placement with the CR cap!

Phil

[HillsAths]

Just reading about the amazing feats of Kouros in Colac and was a bit taken aback by the report from the website(*quoting Warnambool local Newspaper) That Kouros had broken the world indoor record while racing in Colac!!!!!!!!!!

[Ultraphil]

Umm. Thats newspapers for you! The previous overall record was set on an indoor track! Journalists!!!!!!

[Rudolf]

just to clear the issue for everybody:
there were 3 WR :

1023 outdoor track - Kouros
1028 road circuit - Kouros
1034 indoor track - Boussiqett (Sorry for name spelling)

Kourous did 1036.85 in Colac last week.

Obviously did break his own outdoor track WR 1023
but also did run the overal biggest distance regardless of tracks, this is not official WR category, but is a fact.
So Boussiquett keeps his indoor track WR.

If Kourous was running last week on the fast indoor track (no dust, no holes, no sun, no wind,
no heat, no morning cold etc - all this was forcing changing the shoes, socks, blisters, warm clothes, rain clothes etc, cooling west, execisive fluid intake etc), he would easily go over 1100+ kms.

That goes for everybody, indoor every runner would have 50-100 kms more.

So it just shows the performance comparison with 1034 indoor track WR, and everybody was working hard in Colac to get Kouros over 1034, to have the absolute biggest distance for 6 days

[Ultraphil]

Rudi,
Please can you email me about a couple of things on pessam@bigpond.net.au....Thanks Mate.

[HillsAths]

Rudolf so Kouros also gets to keep his 1028 WR for greatest road distance.

I guess the reason that there are different records is that there is a difference in conditions. Yes an indoor track should give superior results due to climate control etc, however it may also have drawbacks, Surface may be harder, lack of fresh air, etc. Similarly the road course may have a favourable topography or could be concrete vs asphalt. The different records are there for a reason.

Kouros's result is an almighty achievement but lets not give him the records that are not earned. It may be likened to awarding the shot put title to someone who threw the discus(assuming that the discus should go further)

[Rudolf]

I agree, there are different categories, so the records are kept separate.
The only thing which changed is the fact, that now Kouros has to his name the biggest distance for 6 days regardles of catecories.

As for road 1028 result, I do not have the details, perhaps Phill or somebody can dig it out from web, all I know it was in New York, propably Madison Square gardens, and could have been very short loop, not point to point race, in a way outdor track with the road surface.

[Colin]

HillsAths, I think you are misinterpreting the quote in the newspaper, which is:

quote:

---

Yiannis Kouros .... smashing both the world six-day track record and six-day indoor record with a distance of 1036.85 kilometres.

---

i.e. he went further than the indoor record.

I don't think they, or anyone else, claimed that he now held the new indoor record. :)

And yes, he gets to keep his road record whatever happenned, because no-one in this race ran on the road at all.

At the end of the day what is of interest to almost all is that he has the new 'overall' record.

[Ultraphil]

These two links have some information about the NY run by Yiannis.

http://www.lehigh.edu/dmd1/public/www-data/yiannis.html

http://www.lehigh.edu/dmd1/public/www-data/ultrasem.html

[Rudolf]

Phill, Thanks for that link, it is amazing reading and I needed infos from it to complete
some issues.
It is very interesting, that there are many references to Near Death experiences, what was exactly the expression in my mind from day 3 on.

I could not believe one of the paragraphs, Yannis
hinting about reincarnation concept and going from life to life. The reason I am so surprised is, it is not only my favorit topic, but in Colac I received the message from above, about Yannis one previous reincarnation, which really explains lot about Yannis in this life.

But to be honest, this previous life reincarnation identity sounds too unbelievable and as at this stage I really do not have the guts to write it publicly, and would not answer any wild guesses.

As to the pain - Yannis had tremendous pain and was suffering much more than anybody else, maybe not showing it to public.

[Ultraphil]

Ive done some straightening out of the results page and the commentary page on the Colac web site. It's starting to look a bit more orderly! Lot more to follow though.

[Colac]

Rudolf, you said:

"we are talking, Yiannis is saying, the WR is 1023, and that is all he cared".

I guess his sodium:potassium ratio was out of balance, so he was mentally too tired to think of several records at once.

And when he put that 1023 record away, his mind was free (and freshly energised) to look at bonus kms, as you were suggesting.

I have a quotation from a small handbook on the Law of Success (in sport) written by Paramahansa Yoganando in 1987, which is hinting at reincarnation of several lives:-

"It is better to die struggling than to abandon your efforts while there is possibility of acomplishing something more; for even when death comes, your struggles must soon be renewed in another life. Success or failure is the just result of what you have done in the past, plus what you do now. So you should stimulate all the success thoughts of the past lives until they are revitalised and able to over-rule the influence of all failure tendencies in the present life".

Rudolf, when you were doing Reike during the race, where were you "directing the heat" to go to when it was leaving the (swollen?) muscles?

Out of the body or back into other parts of the body? I had it done on me once, and it didn't work, so I just soldiered on with my mind diverted to other parts of my body.

I guess the world records broken by Yiannis, demonstrates the principle of manifestation. He stated he was going to break his WR, and extra people and resources appeared to ensure it happened, even better than he had thought was possible on the start line.

You had success with your hypnotic suggestions, which was great to hear about.

I have a lot of thoughts on how to regain energy when an "ultra race is turning to custard", but this thread is a stage primarily for you and Ultraphil to get the race details down while they are fresh in your mind, so I will keep my thoughts for another time.

You and Phil did great work at Colac 2005.

Just think, Yiannis ran further than any man has run since mankind began life on earth 6,000 years ago, and it was on dirt, not a mondo track.

Even George Littlewood was not such a prolific record breaker,