HARP24: The 3 R's of Winning Long Races

Race Report: HARP24 Race for the Homeless

Well that was unexpected! ???

It’s been an intensely busy year launching our new Social Impact Game training programme & App, which helps people advance their career, company or cause by doing social impact projects.?

Launching a product is similar to launching a rocket: the majority of the energy is spent moving that first inch off the ground! And so, I have had my running on the back burner since last September.?Even on days when I’ve had the time, I just didn’t have the energy to face a run.?

The June HARP 24-Hour Race is my annual charity race. It’s the one time a year when I ask people to pull out their wallet and give for a wonderful homeless charity - you have already given over ￡900 towards this event (at time of writing)! (If you still want to, you can donate here: https://sigshort.com/HARP24). ?

This year, I was impeccably crewed by my very good friend, Michael Harper . Full story of my race experience and what I learned about life are below...

**

It’s June 17th 2023 and I’m definitely not feeling in good shape.?This will be the 17th(!!) time SINCE January 1st that I’ve put on my shoes and done any running at all! ??.

I see many wonderful faces. Dina Jobson from HARP, head of fundraising, gives me a massive hug. She sings my praises for my prior fundraising and running efforts for HARP to the CEO, Vanessa. ?

“Are you going to win?” Vanessa asks. I laugh heartily at the absurdity of the thought - “Very very unlikely, Vanessa, I’m really out of shape! ?????But it will be fun to at least participate this year!”

A few other runners recognise me from last year and come up and to get their SUPERHUGGS - the trademark large hug I'm known for among my friends and communities! Maybe they remember me because of the story of my own brush with homelessness. Or maybe they just remember that I’m the token “American” in this race in Essex, England.?But either way, all are so warm and welcoming!

My goal today is to see how far I can go. Can I match my inspiring friend Ellis Rust recent 65 miles in his 24 hour race? Or maybe Michael Harper . recent 85 miles in another race in about 24 hours? What about 100 miles? Who knows… let’s just see.?

And we're are off!

The first few laps go surprisingly well. I am keeping a better pace than I expected and I’m feeling pretty good.?

As the laps wear on, I begin to feel sleepy - but it’s still daylight?!?Something's wrong! Maybe my blood sugar is low. I’m eating my staple Parmesan cheese and mini cheddars but I guess it’s not enough.?I needed more sugar - and I forgot at home my usual race fuel: rice pudding…?

I yawn ?? through the last mile of my 7th Lap (35 miles/56km in), I leave a WhatsApp: “Michael, I need coke, the caffeinated salt tabs and M&Ms!?Oh and body glide - skin is starting to hurt!”?But I get welcomed with a surprise Ice Cream yum!! Michael reads aloud & played clips of the words of support that were puring in from my 87-strong virtual "Support Crew" (I had created a dedicated WhatsApp Group for my racing adventures). Their comments, audio clips and voices are a soothing salve for my tired soul!

30 minutes into the next lap, I feel a new lease on life! The foggy brain has lifted and I am moving at a slow but steady pace. I press on…for another 5 Laps.

I shuffle in to finish Lap 12 (60 miles/95km in)… it’s now 2:44am! The Race Director declares “the race is paused for 2 hours! (oh no!!) Lightning ?? is striking and we don’t want any of the runners to become BBQ!” ?? ???

I sit in Michael’s van as the rain pours down and settle into a Nap. Michael meanwhile is rushing about to keep the kit dry and monitor the announcements. He taps on the van window “the race is staring soon … they will start at 4:30am”.?

I stiffly hobble my way towards the start line looking like a surfboard trying to walk. Michael notices the spaced-out look on my face and offers words of encouragement:

“Gabe, you look rested. Guess what! You’re in 3rd place! That’s a great showing, keep it up!”

“Michael, really? How’s that even possible? People have been whizzing by me! Surely the two in front of me are bazillions of laps ahead…”. I’m quite sure he’s made some error in reading the race results, but whatever… we set off!

I finish the next lap and Michael says, “You’re on the same number of laps and the two leaders and they haven’t even left their tents yet! Keep going, GABE!!”?

Okay!?I am certain that they will wake soon and speed past me.

As I start this lap, I run into Ian Bannerman, a fellow runner that has been zooming along but incredibly friendly every lap offering encouragement and high fives. ?

“Hey Gabriel, I have an injury so will have to retire now…you’re still going strong!”

“Thanks Ian, but I’m so out of shape and slow. This is my 17th run of the year…”.?

“Your body is made for this, Gabe. Keep going! You’re running for me now, too!”

I finish the next lap…?

Michael exclaims: “Gabe! You’re in first position on 14 laps, second place is on 12! Keep going!”?

Could I really win this race??This would be the first win of an in-person race in entire my life!?I won this was virtual race during Covid, but people were doing their own thing... wasn't a face-to-face race.

What a story I could have to share - “From Homelessness to Winner of HARP24!” ... a working title, I think to myself.?I start to dare to imagine…

…Lap 15… “Gabe, Richard Moore is chasing you down! He’s on 13! You gotta keep going!”

…Lap 16… 80 Miles! I arrive to the crew point and Michael has folded up the chair(!!). There’s about 1h50m left before the 12:00 noon deadline. I’m stood there, shattered and ready to be done! What’s happening??!

“Gabe, I don’t know how to tell you this but Richard Moore powered through and he’s on your heels. He’s out on running! He’s been doing fast laps to catch you up and if he goes for the draw, he will win because of his faster lap times!”

You see, I didn’t even realise that my cumulative time was *even slower* than I had been running because my breaks were counted as part of my lap time. The other runners were smart enough to go through the exit chute on breaks and then go back to the start mat for next lap. But silly me: I ran across the start mat and then took the breaks! ????

I whine: “Michael, I’m sooo tired and slow, can I even do the last lap in the remaining time? If I don't get back by 12:00 it doesn't even count!?”

“Go on Gabe, I know 100% you can do it!! This isn’t how your story ends. Do the lap and the victory is yours!”

My eyes tear up. The thought of another lap is awful. I feel the massive blisters on my feet. The chaffing in unmentionable areas is almost unbearable. My legs are crying out Nooooooo!??

I turn around, borrowing all of Michael’s belief in me to stand-in for my own lack of confidence. I set out on another lap. I focus. I keep moving.

I keep glancing over my shoulder every few steps,?anxiously looking for the fabled speed angel “Richard Moore” to appear in a puff of smoke ?? at any second and fly past. ????

I climb up the big hill of the route once again, at the top is the halfway point of the lap 4km in. Richard Moore is surely going to catch me any second now!?I press on. Run across an arrow that I know marks 3km left.?

Go through the grassy fields… turn the bend… 2km to go… it’s sooooooo hot! The sun beams down searing my skin - I notice I’m sooo sunburnt! Shuffle shuffle shuffle at full speed …

1.6km to go - the final mile - I pull out my phone to WhatsApp Michael as I had done on every lap since Noon yesterday. I open it and it reads “Richard Moore has retired! Relax! Just get home by noon!”?

I reply: “Michael, final hot slow mile - on my way!”

I shuffle up the final hill and head into the Rugby Club car park and then… the finish line! 11:40am! I finish 17 Laps, 85 miles. I covered 10 miles more than the awesome Richard Moore.?

As I receive my Winner's Plaque and Richard Moore comes up and shakes my hand, “Great competing with you! See you next year!”?

Wow! How did that happen?

You see, it’s not that my “body was made for it”… but the thousands of miles of training and years of racing were paying dividends in this race. I was “out of shape” and slower than before. But I had developed the mental resilience, the ability to press on even when I want to stop.?

I learnt through years of racing how to strategise, and adjust to changing conditions. How to use energy wisely and avoid injury. ?

I ran farther than the faster runners because I could listen to my body and respond.?

I ran when others slept.?

I ran when others stopped.?

I just kept running.?

And I used my available resources - in this case my crew. Michael Harper . was critical to my success. Our “crew” help us to move forward even when we feel like we can’t. They see what we can really do! And my extended Crew of Supporters via my WhatsApp Group of friends & family - encouraging me and making me feel their love!

Slow and steady really *can* win the race.

**

I often notice that I compare myself with others: they run faster, their business is growing faster, they are progressing faster…?

I can sometimes even feel like I’m failing “mid-race”.?

But “race” of living an impactful life is very long indeed and filled with ups and downs.?And every step taken along the way prepares us in ways that pays dividends for years to come!

In the HARP24, I discovered the 3 Rs for winning the long “race”:?

REMAIN: take continuous steps & keep moving forward?

RESILIENCE: be patient, respond to changing circumstances, and learn from others but let go of the comparisons

RESOURCE: listen to the “crew” of your supporters, who see what you are really capable of - even when you feel doubt!

Thank you to each of my friends and network for your encouragement, friendship and love! SUPERHUGGS!!!