this is where i love to run. it is a piece of heaven to me. the flowers are beautiful this year. it has been a few years since it has been like this. next week at this time i will be getting ready to start my race in the most arid place on earth. the Sahara desert. i will leave the flowers of springtime for another type of beautiful, so i am told. i watched a DVD the other night with my husband and thought "wow, am i really going to do that?" i will be competing in a race where one man died last year just after the long stage. the hills look more like mountains to climb complete with ropes. the winds can get up to 80 mph. we will be traveling up and over sand dunes. this race has brought the toughest of men to tears. at this point all i can do is scratch my head and say" what was i thinking". but i know that i will make some wonderful friendships and meet incredible people from all over the world. my only goal is to finish.
here i am out on a test run with all my food, compulsory gear and clothes for the race. my pack is weighing just about 20 pounds and that is without water. i will be given 9 liters per day, everything else i must carry myself. such necessities are a snake bit kit, a flare in case i get into trouble, compass, foot care needs because blisters are to be expected.
this is my sleeping bag. it weighs 1 pound. i will also have a sleeping mat because the ground gets cold in the desert. you can see the sleeping bag and mat on the outside of my pack where it will be when i start. after a few days i will have room inside my pack.
this is what a days worth of food looks like. we are required to carry a minimum of 2000 calories per day. i have more.
all my days worth of food are bagged and look like this. i have the calories listed on each item and everything is put into my bag for the day. i will eat my breakfast and store my dinner in my pack. everything else will be at the ready for me to eat along the way.
this is my Dora the Explorer toothbrush. it is small and lite but i am sure that someone will get there hands on it and cut the handle off. i will have a few days before the race start to try to down size the contents of my pack and make it as light and efficient as possible.
good-bye from the place that i love to run. my friend Brad will be blogging for me while i am gone. i will be in contact with him via email as much as i can throughout the race. they will have that set up along the way. strange to be out in the middle of nowhere and be able to email. although it will be limited. i can also receive emails each night at my tent so check back and we will have that set up if you would like to send me any well wishes. i will have my race number and Georges posted and i know that we would very much appreciate hearing from our friends.i will miss you my friends, my husband and family while i am gone. stay tuned for more details.
XOXO LC
4 comments:
YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
Have a safe trip out there, and an incredible journey. I will be watching you and George, and Kira, from the comfort of my home! lol. I am so excited for all of you and looking forward to the reports back.
you inspire me, you are amazing. Have a great time, enjoy everyminute of it and when things get hard enough to make you cry, just try and think to yourself, that one day you will look back on that moment and remember it with good feelings in your heart and soul.
YOu amaze me, best wishes.
I am so excited for you!! I can't wait to hear every detail about your adventure. Be careful out there and know that many people have you in their thoughts and prayers. I am so envious that you are doing this. I will be thinking of you every step of the way, living vicariously through you!! Be strong!! You will do awesome! Is George running this too?
Yes, George is going too along with about 10 others that i know. I am going with Lisa's Dreamchaser group and she has a lot going. can't wait!
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