27.7km Hit the Wall

After successfully completing 20km last week (you can read about it in “My First 20km”), I’m preparing for my first marathon with just two weeks of training. According to my training plan, today I need to hit 30km.

I approached today with 100% confidence. If I could handle 20km, then 30km shouldn’t be a problem. My body felt ready—every muscle had been rested for 48 hours, and I wasn’t feeling fatigued like I did after the 20km run.

Buying Gels

Just like for the 20km run, I bought some energy gels to boost my energy during the run and to prevent hitting the wall unexpectedly. I got two packs, which are quite expensive at 75 baht each. My plan was to consume one at 10km and the other at 20km, which should give me enough energy to comfortably finish the 30km.

Getting Ready to Run

As usual, I ran after work. I finished work at 5:30 PM and went straight to the run. I had everything ready—my running gear, water bottles (I brought two this time, thinking it would be enough since I only needed one for the 20km run).

The First 10km

The first 10km went as planned. I focused on breathing through my nose using a 3:2 rhythm and kept my pace steady. The track at Chiang Mai’s 700th Anniversary Stadium was quite crowded due to a sports event, but I stuck to my usual pacing strategy, not going too fast or too slow. With controlled breathing and a steady pace, my heart rate remained normal, and I didn’t feel too tired. The downside was that I had to constantly check my watch to maintain my pace. After finishing the first 10km, I quickly consumed the first gel, hoping it would give me enough energy for the next 10km.

20km

I reached 20km without stopping, only pausing to take the gel. From 10km to 20km, I followed the same strategy since I still had energy left, likely due to the gel. My pace remained steady, and I managed to run more naturally, relying on my instincts rather than constantly checking the time and distance. The result was good—I completed 20km in less than 2 hours, which was better than my initial goal.

The worst part was that someone took my water bottle. Before the run, I had placed it at the base of a tree, but when I returned, it was gone. Whoever took it, I hope they get a stomach ache. It was frustrating because I was almost out of water, and I needed it to wash down the gel, which can be harsh on the throat. Thankfully, there was a man handing out free water, and he became my hero for the day.

Beyond 20km

At this point, things took a turn for the worse. I started feeling pain in my knees around 21km. Every time my foot hit the ground, I felt a sharp pain shoot up. At one point, I had to stop because the pain was too intense. But I pushed through, thinking that I had come too far to give up now.

The second wave of hell came from my socks. In the past, I didn’t care much about what socks I wore—anything would do for a 10km run. But now, I started feeling the friction against my feet, and I could imagine what my feet would look like if I took off my socks. I had to keep going despite the discomfort.

At this point, I started incorporating walking into my run. I would run until my legs felt fatigued, then walk until my pace dropped to 7:00, at which point I’d start running again. The idea was to keep moving but not let my pace drop too much. I managed to maintain a pace of around 6 to 7 minutes per kilometer, which meant I could finish the 30km in 3 hours.

27km: Hitting the Wall

When I reached 27km, I began to feel intense pain in both legs. My knees felt like they were no longer functioning. I knew then that I had no energy left. I had to walk more, which meant my pace would drop below 6 minutes per kilometer. I started questioning whether the gels I took really helped—they seemed to only sustain me for about 4-5km, and now their effects had worn off. I was getting extremely hungry, and it felt like my body was desperately searching for food to convert into energy. I kept telling myself to push through, reminding myself that I was so close to the finish.

But when I realized that I couldn’t go any further—my legs wouldn’t lift, and I decided to stop and walk slowly. As I walked, the pain in my legs became unbearable, and I had to sit down. I couldn’t get back up. This was not good. I checked my heart rate—it was normal, and I didn’t feel dizzy, but I knew I couldn’t continue.

At this point, the only thing I could do was call a friend to pick me up because I simply couldn’t walk any further.

What I Learned from Today’s Run

• Energy gels don’t provide as much help as I hoped.
• I need new socks—I can’t afford to overlook this.
• I’ll never run with underwear again—it was painful when I showered afterward.
• I need to ensure I have enough water and electrolytes.
• Despite not reaching 30km, I feel ready for the 42km marathon.
• I need to eat during long runs.
• I’ve learned techniques that work for me, and I’m running consistently.

I’m ready for the CMU Marathon!!