Well that was different!

We have just got back from the Gold Coast where I took part in the second race of The Super Slam at the Nerang 100miler.  And wow!  What an experience!  For those who aren't familiar, this race was six lolly-pop loops of 25k with two five-ish k out and backs to make up the 161k.  I think a loop by loop recount might make things easier.....but be prepared, this could be a long one!Loop 1 - I went into this race excited mentally and physically ready to go!  After finishing Glasshouse 100 only three weeks ago, I was pretty happy with how  the body and mind was doing.  I started the race and settled into second position.  I felt like I was taking it easy most of the lap, getting to work and having a look over the course.  I was a bit shocked to realise I came in from loop one in a little over 2hr40min (each lap had just under 1000m of climbing so that was a decent clip!).....far too quick but it felt pretty good.  I didn't drink as much as I should have but wasn't too worried as it was early.  I was also pretty darn disappointed to come in and see very little food/drink at the ONLY manned aid station on the course.  No harm no foul.....a quick stop and off I was.Loop 2 - I did something I have never done in a race before and decided to listen to a couple of podcasts.  I do this in training and did enjoy it throughout this loop.  I started to do it a little tough on the second half of this loop, got hot, did my best to keep myself wet the rest of the day and battle through.  I caught the leader on an out and back but didn't push to stay with him.  I kept plugging but came into base a little dusty after finishing loop two and 50k.  I did however pick up a little human here to keep me company for the next two loops.Loop 3 - That little human was my good mate Luke.  We took it a little easy through the first half of this loop and I came a little better. We got some good running in, spoke a decent amount of rot and real life stuff and enjoyed each others company over a few k's.  We rolled into base strongly and I was feeling like things might have been turning around.  We did a little out and back at the end of this loop which went by without a hitch.  Half way (80k)....not glamorous but solid.  Still in second.Loop 4 - We grabbed our headlamps and took off.  The first half of the loop went ok although I had been noticing that my kidneys were a little sore through the afternoon.  I did my best to put that in the back of my mind however was aware that was a pretty decent sign of dehydration.  I had also been struggling to get enough food and drink in for sometime, but was trying to force it down.  This was probably going on longer than I give it credit for and in hindsight, a sign that things were starting to unravel!  The second half of this loop I did it a little tough as well, feeling a bit nervous to be meeting up with Jason who had to drag me through the back half of Glasshouse 100!  I had really enjoyable time with Luke and am so grateful that he gave up his time (and the AFL grand final) to come run a couple loops with me!  I was a little shocked to come into base at the same time as the leader but at the same time, did my best to ignore that and run my own race.  Again, I attempted to get some food and drink into me but it was a battle that is for sure.Loop 5 - Jason and I left this loop with the leader and within a short amount of time put some decent distance on him.  I was feeling ok but still not really able to eat or drink much.  It is hard to explain to a non-runner but I had basically got to a point where the thought of drinking ANY liquid or eating ANY food had ZERO allure.  The thought of it nearly made me vomit!  I managed to battle through the first half of the lap, still moving ok but my stomach and general well being declining.  After the half way point in this loop, things went bad, quickly.  I started feeling funny in the head (kind of dizzy and space).  I hadn't eaten or drunk really anything in about 4-5hours and really needed to sort my stomach.  I have heard that spewing can help reset your stomach and have never vomited in a race but I was getting desperate.  Again, in hindsight, this may work for someone not seriously dehydrated!  In an almost last ditch effort to restore my body, I spewed and the most vile, disgusting, black tar came slowly out of my body.  I was shocked at what I saw.  About half an hour later, another vomit ensued, this time with the little liquid I had drunk since the last spew and another decent amount of black tar.  I was later told this was most likely stomach lining.  Awesome.  From here, things disintegrated VERY quickly!  I was able to walk but VERY slowly, staggering from side to side and slurring my speech.  I laid down on the trail about three times and it took everything in me to stagger the one and a bit k's to the last water station.Once arriving, there was five k back to the base.  I considered trying to get back there, sleep, try and eat/drink and get back on the course to finish.  I had plenty of time.  However, the thought of walking that far, on technical trail in the condition I was in was un-fathomable.  I just couldn't get my head around it and my stomach/physical condition was BAD!  After some time, and much deliberation, I decided to call it in and withdraw from the race.  I want everyone to know, especially my kids, that this decision was not made lightly.  I don't believe in quitting things I start but with a wife and two young girls, I set a precedence some years ago that if I was ever in fear for my long term health that i would drop out of an ultra...and thats where I was.  I was SO disappointed and embarrassed to be dropping when in the lead and in that condition!At this point, I was also starting to get cold so I sat in the port-a-loo to try and get warm.  Jason ended up getting me an extremely attractive female active wear top which I looked really awesome in!  Now I am usually a happy, cruisey guy with the odd joke....but, I vividly remember sitting in the toilet, cracking jokes, thinking I was the best comedian on earth!  Jason later told me that I was talking to the mosquitos, telling random stories and generally speaking rot (not much different to normal right?!)  He told me that someone would be  out to pick me up in 30-40min and I put my head on the sink.  It seriously felt like about 5min and they were there!  Apparently Jason was checking on me and I was telling him stuff but I remember none of that!  I was on another planet and I was the president that is for sure!  After a short trip back to base, getting shivering cold and feeling super sick again, I was checked out as best I could be and it was decided that I should go to the hospital.Upon arriving, the guys at Robina A&E were amazing!  They got me straight in, did my bloods and started me on IV.  Now, the reading they use for kidney damage/rhabdomyolysis is CK, and a normal reading should be between 30-150....mine was just over 5300!  No that is not a typo!  So I clearly had rhabdo but the good news was that there was no long term kidney damage.  I was shifted to short stay, given five bags of IV and eventually, after some restless sleep and lovely help from hospital staff, I was sent home.  What a episode!A few after thoughts.....I think the reason this happened was multi-faceted.  I clearly didn't drink enough water or electrolytes.  By the time I started realising, my stomach had partly turned and I just couldn't catch up, no matter how hard I tried.  I just couldn't eat or drink enough (well, hardly anything at all to be precise!) and I suffered from it.  Secondly, I take responsibility in that I was slightly under prepared and should have had a better nutrition plan for the race.  In saying that, the food/drink set up for the event was clearly un-satisfactory as far as I am concerned.  If anyone has an issue with my saying that, shoot me an email!  Today (this has taken a couple days to write as it is a novel) I have been pretty sad, having to recount the story to customers at work when I just want to forget what happened.  I know I made the right decision but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow!!  Lastly, at this point , I will continue on with The Super Slam.  I feel terribly disappointed that I was unable to finish the Nerang 100 but at this point, look forward to some redemption in the 200mile Grind and Coast 2 Kosci in November and December.Last but not least, I just want to thank EVERYONE of you who reached out with kind words and love on social media after my ordeal.  I was honestly blown away!  Incredible.  From family to friends and acquaintances I haven't seen or heard from in ages, your kind words mean the world to me!  Onward and upward friends....that is the only way!  If you have made it this far in the blog, thank you for sticking with me!  If you have any other questions about what happened email me at grills_1@hotmail.com or checkout this decent WebMD article.  Until next time friends, I am off to rest, recover and eat some quality plant food!  Much love.....Black Tar!