One of the brightest and most unusual sports events in Russia, the EltonUltraTrail ultramarathon, took place quite recently. I decided to share my impressions.
Arrival to Elton
On May 24, my husband, Ekaterina Ushakova and Ivan Anosov arrived at Elton. Upon arrival, we first had a bite to eat, and then immediately set to work. The men began to fulfill their tasks, the girls theirs.
Complete set of starter bags
Katya and I set about disassembling the boxes and completing the starting bags. Honestly, when I saw this pile of boxes, only one thought flashed in my head: "How can I manage to decompose everything and not get confused." But, as they say, fear has big eyes. First, we started to stock up bags for 100 miles. A little later, more girls joined us, and we continued with a friendly team.
At about eleven at night we finished and decided to leave until morning. The girls went to bed as they lived in the private sector. I spent the night in a tent, so I could do this until morning. At that moment of sleep, I had no eyes in my eyes. Excitement interrupted the whole dream, worried about each bag, as if not to forget something. As a result, I began to further engage in a complete set. Disassembled until Katya just took her to sleep. I went to bed in the tent, but I still can't sleep. She lay there until 3 at night. Then the people came and began to pitch their tents next to us. After lying down for another hour, I decided it was time to get up. She went to wash her hair, put herself in order and set to work again.
At about 5 in the morning, I began to further sort the bags. A little later, more girls pulled themselves up and started to work. Finished with 100 miles and moved on to completing 38 km bags. By half past one, we had all our bags ready. And now we had to wait for registration.
Registration opening
Registration opened at 15.00. Alexey Morokhovets was the first to come. I was given the opportunity to be the first to accept this lucky one. At first, I was a little confused, excitement, there was a slight tremor in my voice. But, thank God, everything went well. The girls helped, and together we did it.
Registration was already in full swing on May 26-27. More and more athletes began to come. When registering, we tried to give each participant all the necessary information and answered their questions. We worked so that there was no queue and at the same time give all the necessary information to the participants. I myself, as an athlete, know what it means to flock in line, especially when I just arrived or is about to start.
We have withstood small and large waves. I almost always sat at the registration site, as I was very worried about this moment. There is chaos in my head, whether everyone said, whether they noted correctly, whether they gave the right bag. I don't want to eat or sleep. And the most pleasant thing was when the athletes offered us something to feed us or bring us coffee.
Start at Ultimate (162 kilometers)
On the evening of May 27 at 18.30, all athletes were sent to a briefing, and then, at 20.00, a start was given to Ultimate (162 kilometers). Unfortunately, I couldn't see the start. Everyone left, and I was afraid to leave the hall unattended. But, even without seeing the start, I heard words of admonition to the athletes. And what was most epic was when the countdown began and goose bumps ran through my body. When the countdown numbers were pronounced with a powerful timbre in their voice. This is the first time I hear it, very original and cool.
After a 100 mile stratum, we continued to register. Athletes who will run 38 km will start only in the morning at 6.00. Therefore, people still came and registered on the sly.
Meeting of the 100-mile half-distance
Athletes had to complete two laps for 100 miles. We waited for the first athlete after about 2 am. Me, Karina Kharlamova, Andrey Kumeiko and photographer Nikita Kuznetsov (who edited the photographs almost until morning) - we all did not sleep all night. There were also girls, but they decided to rest a little. But, as soon as the information reached us that the leader would be with us very soon, everyone who was asleep woke up by that moment and together we ran to meet our leader. The excitement began to roll over, but is everything ready for us? Andrey Kumeiko was running around so as not to forget anything. We watched the tables to make sure everything was ready to be sliced and poured. Several girls went out on the track to meet the leader. All the rest were waiting for him in the starting town at the place of rest and nutrition for athletes.
Finally, we've got a leader. It was Maxim Voronkov. We met him with thunderous applause, gave him everything he needed, offered him food, drink water, provided the necessary assistance. And then they sent him back on a difficult long journey.
We met every athlete. Everyone was helped and given everything they needed. I would like to note that these guys are heroes and strong in spirit. It would seem that you have come to the place. But no, they get up and run, even when it seems that they are not running. They get up and walk towards their goal. I saw off some of the guys, ran with them for about 1-2 kilometers after the first lap. She supported and helped as best she could. And I saw how some of the participants found it difficult to run after the rest. But they are real fighters, overcame themselves, took the will into a fist and fled.
Start at 38 km
In the morning at 6.00 a start was given for a distance of 38 km. I managed to see him out of the corner of my eye. Just at that moment I was going to run with the guys who were leaving for the second round.
Meeting of the finishing participants for 100 miles and 38 km.
We met, danced, shouted, hugged and hung them with their well-deserved medals, all the finishing participants of the 100-mile race and those who ran 38 km. Sometimes tears would come and a shiver would appear in my soul when you see the guys who finish 100 miles. This is beyond words, it must be seen. Honestly, these people charged me so much that I caught fire myself to run 100 miles, but I understand that it's too early for me.
Separately, I would like to note the last who finished at a distance of 100 miles, Vladimir Ganenko. About an hour later, my husband called me from the track (he was the eldest, on this half of the lake) and said that it was necessary to organize the people and meet our last fighter. Without thinking twice, I began to gather people. I asked the girls to say to the megaphone that I needed to meet the last 100-mile. He ran for about 25 hours, and, it would seem, did not meet the 24 hour limit, he continued to run anyway. What willpower.
And God, what a happiness it was when he finished. I turn around, and a crowd of people meets him, everyone shouts and claps. It was a joy in my heart to see that the people had gathered. I want to note that at the time when I was told what to meet, there were five people at the finish line. And fortunately, together with the girls, we managed to gather and meet, meet as a Winner. And when at the finish line he was given a bottle of cold beer, and he dropped it and broke it, you had to see those eyes, they were like those of a child when you took away his favorite toy. All in all, it was epic. He, of course, was quickly brought another bottle.
Outcome
A lot of work was done, there was a lack of sleep, since I slept less than 10 hours in four days. At the end, my voice sat down, my lips were dry and began to crack a little, my legs were slightly swollen, and I had to take off my sneakers for a while. And all this I would not even attribute to the minuses. Because this event gave me and, I think, many others, a lot of emotions and taught us a lot. All these difficulties were simply smoothed out. I set myself the task of working to the maximum, and I think that I did it.
It should be noted that the work of a volunteer is a difficult and responsible business. These are people who are such a part of the holiday, without whom the event simply cannot take place.
P.S - Many thanks to Vyacheslav Glukhov for making it possible to become a part of his team! This grand event taught me a lot, opened up new talents in me, and made new wonderful friends. I would like to say special thanks to the girls with whom we worked together. You are the best, you are a super team!
