WILLIAM REMAINS OPTIMISTIC DESPITE SET-BACK IN WORLD 24 hr CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sanday runner William Sichel is still optimistic of future world class performances despite having to stop after 17 hours in the World 24 Hour Championships, on Saturday/Sunday July 16 th/17 th.
The World 24 hour run is the longest annual world title event endorsed by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) and recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). William covered a total of 91 miles before becoming affected by repeated vomiting during the race.
"I was absolutely gutted at having to stop as things had been going so well. I was covering a steady 6.2 mph for the first 12 hours which was dead on my planned pace and all felt fine. I was coping well with temperatures over 26 deg C and despite some torrential thunder storms Alan Young, my handler, was giving me the thumbs up."
William had worked his way up steadily from 25 th to 4th position in the 'open' race when things started to go wrong after the 12 hour mark. Analysis of data recorded by William's handler indicates that the problem is likely to have been caused by dehydration.
"I have plans for pace, feeding and drinking and it seems I was a wee bit low on my fluid intake. I'm competing at the highest world level and there are huge number of variables in each race including the lap sizes, weather conditions, competitive situation, start times, course elevation etc. Temperatures were extreme in Austria and I have very little data from previous extreme races to guide me on my personal requirements."
William always takes as many positives as possible from every race and there are many to take from this one including successful travel arrangements, good heat acclimatisation, excellent fitness level and a great pacing plan.
"The link between diet and performance is so great in ultra distance running that I plan to work much more closely with my Sports Dietitian, Orkney's Lorraine Cullen. This should help to optimise my in-race nutritional plans and minimise the chance of future nutritional errors. It's not long since I won the "Across the Years” 24 hour race in Phoenix, on my debut in the USA, with 136.4 miles so I know it's all there."
William currently lies 5 th on the "All time" list of British road performances with his run of 153.3 miles in 2000 and remains this year's Great Britain No1 with his Phoenix result.
William was voted Orkney's 'Veteran Sportsman of the Year' in November and has represented Great Britain 11 times at ultra distance running since 1996.
William set new Guinness World Records for both 100 miles and 24hrs on the treadmill in December 2002. With his wife, Elizabeth, he runs the Orkney Angora mail order knitwear and yarn business in Sanday, Orkney.
William is grateful to sponsors The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian , Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream), dion_networks and Loganair .
William's result will be posted on his web site as soon as practicable after the race and can be found at www.williamsichel.co.uk
Picture: William competing in Worschach , Austria during the World 24hr Championships.
Making contact:
William Sichel, Upper Breckan , Sanday , Orkney KW17 2AZ. Tel/Fax: 01857 600421. Mobile (whilst travelling only) 0794 128 3506. william@williamsichel.co.uk Running web site: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/
Photographs:
Newsline Scotland (Press Agency). Tel 01224 594000. photos@newsline-scotland.co.uk
Ken Amer , Orkney Photographic. Tel 01856 873574, Mobile 07808 961780 info@orkneyphotographic.co.uk
William Sichel, ‘Free to use' photographs can be down loaded from my on-line photo album. Go to: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/ and click on ‘Photos'.
23/07/05