A few lessons I learnt:

1. Mental energy is as important as the physical energy. The kind of 'self-motivation' you have to do to yourself is too much. Same reason I think those loops should be done away with. They totally kill the mental strength.

2. On physical energy, it may be too much to run for 42kms purely on water. One needs some energy boosters along the way. I realized Urban Swaras had placed guys strategically along the way to serve their members with energy drinks. That must have made their journey much easier.

@Washiku, you should join Urban Swaras - then you won't have to run to Githurai and back alone 😃😀

3. Train hard, win easy. One must have trained thoroughly well to have it easy for this thing. I was able to run for about 30kms non-stop(didnt stop even at water points, took water as I continued). That means had I been on the 21kms, I would have done the whole journey non-stop. But the moment you start stopping, the body starts shouting to you on the pain you are feeling and the rest of the journey is nothing but torture.

4. The best strategy would be identifying a speed you are comfortable at and maintain it for very long, instead of running too fast at the beginning only to run out of energy too soon.

5. A pace setter can help you go places. If you identify a guy who can help you overcome the temptation to slow down, one who can help you push yourself just a little bit to maintain the speed identified above, one can win easier. I realised once you stop even for 2mins the guys you were with leaves you very far back and its almost impossible to catch up again.

Oh yes....i did it in 2hrs 20 mins. I could have done much better considering I did my last 2kms in 10:44mins per km and 8:40 mins per km respectively. I think my 13km run on monday last week malizad me... I could have done better but isorite... happy I run the race.