The Jungle Book: Stories from the Jungle Ultra (Part 2 - The Race)

For many, this was not a race, it was an adventure. But for all of us, whether at the front of the pack or challenging ourselves to complete one of the hardest races on the planet, there was one end goal: the finish line.

There were some exceptional athletes competing in The Jungle Ultra, one being Stephane, a gentle, kind-hearted man from Switzerland. Stephane dresses better in a remote jungle camp with no access to luggage than I was dressed last time I attended a wedding. He's also a watch maker. Let that sink in for a moment. Yes, a Swiss watchmaker. Appearance and character aside, this man can run a sub 2:50 road marathon time so he's no slouch and I spent many hours marvelling at his graceful, effortless running style. Stephane's metronomic technique is a likely simile for his vocation: like a Rolex, Stephane is always on time. 

Another contender for a podium spot was an athlete who was also being trained by my coach, Jon Shield (previous event winner and course record holder). Mark “Mavis” Reilly was doing this event in support of his daughter: a victim to a rare genetic neurological disorder called a Rett Syndrome. He also happens to be the loveliest guy you could ask to meet with an incredibly interesting life, starting out as a professional football player: a Kilmarnock Hall of Famer and Scottish Cup Winner. Mark is as tough as they come but I had a head-start on him in the jungle after he fell foul to stomach issues on day one, slowing his time and placing in the race. 

Taking a risky sample of pure, unfiltered Amazon river water aside, my race in The Jungle Ultra wasn't without it's challenges. Over the course of 5 days, I had to fight off rabid dogs (I have a newly acquired skill here) and I got into the dreaded "pain cave" on numerous occasions with the jungle serving up a variety of challenges that demanded mental focus, physical strength and endurance to get through smoothly. I saw the back of Stephane's heels for a couple of days whilst we were on the track and road, which was both mentally and physically taxing, feeling like I was slipping behind with each passing hour. However, fortunately for me I was better suited to the jungle conditions, which were slower and harder going. As Kris, our Race Director, put it, the Jungle Ultra involves "an undulating" course. There is continued debate on the use of this word with a strong sentiment from the runners that there are more appropriate terms with "f*cking vertical hell" being the common consensus.

A moment that captures the event nicely was on day 4 with one of our "undulating" sections and an enormous hill that kept on giving. I got to the top, out of water, short on electrolytes and generally feeling awful. I was also optimistic as I knew from the race briefing that there was a carefully placed water station at the summit so it was with great relief that I spotted said water station. However, on approach I saw a swarm of bees that had made the water station their home and were keen to defend it. Akin to a scene from "The Hunger Games", I had to abandon my water mission and was chased off by the angry swarm - something I was sure our Race Director had planned to add to our jungle experience.

Our finish: The hardest part is over!

Come day 5 and I had managed to claw back my time over Stephane and establish a dominant lead of around two hours, due to my progress in the jungle. My goal at this stage was simple: stay injury free, be consistent and truly enjoy the moment. How often does anyone get the opportunity to be in such an awe-inspiring place? 

Stephane took off at a rapid pace when we set off at 4.30am that morning, a mass of glowing head torches in dark of the Peruvian streets. I settled into an easy rhythm, allowing other runners to pass and enjoying the experience alongside Mark. We spent the best part of 10km wading through a river, which was my idea of fun and I can honestly say that this was one of the best days of my life, enjoying the trails and rivers of the Amazon and taking in the breathtaking views we were witness to. 

With a few kilometres to go, we caught up with Stephane and it felt pre-ordained that we were meant to finish this race together. After 230 kilometres of racing and competing in the Amazon jungle we ran over the finish line together. After being rivals all week, pushing our bodies to their limits, we finished as podium winners but more importantly we finished with mutual respect, friendship and a shared experience that will never be forgotten.

For me personally, all of the training had paid off. I took first place and achieved my goal of being the third person to complete the Global Race Series running in the Namib Desert, the Arctic Circle, the Tian Shan Mountains and, finally, the Amazon Jungle. Each environment tested me to my limits and these accomplishments have given me immense pride and memories for life.

The finish line

For the next 8 hours, we waved people in and witnessed the most beautiful sight in ultra marathon running: the pure emotion of finishing and knowing that the journey is over.

The finish line of an event like this is a special place to witness the full gamut of emotions we feel in life. Tears, laughter, joy. Doing something really hard removes the ego and strips us back, before building us back up again: stronger, more resilient and positive. Witnessing the raw emotion of my fellow athletes and connecting with them in that moment was both awe inspiring and an absolute privilege. My only regret is showering, putting on fresh clothes and then embracing these ultra marathon legends at the finish. A week of jungle sweat and tears is nothing short of repugnant and my newly acquired alpaca wool clothing was the perfect sponge to soak up the hard-earned aroma. 

Eau de Jungle aside, in sharing these rare glimpses of raw emotion we were connected by the mutual understanding of what it takes to finish a race like this. It takes sustained mental fortitude and resilience to get to the finish and in that moment, we feel each others pain and sacrifice with mutual respect and empathy. This is the spirit of ultramarathon running and this is why I love this sport.

Of course, each of the wonderful runners brave enough to take on the Jungle Ultra challenge have a story and a why. The final part of the Jungle Book and my next blog is dedicated to these lovely people.