Tazzarine, Here We Come!

We woke up to the charge of excitement. It was in the air. Today we would travel only 13 miles to the city of Tazzarine and then we would be done. Mixed with our excitement was a bit of sadness. For most, we would never see each other again. We have lived together as friends and as family of a sort for a week now. We have shared a common goal and that was to make it to the bivouac each night. For tent #71 each of us did. We all finished.

My South African tent mates

Jeff, are you filming yourself????

The tents were allowed to stay up on this beautiful morning and as a farewell gift, the volunteers circled the tents from the inside waving and wishing us well and saying their goodbyes. I have to say that as a race organization and volunteers that MDS has ranked at the top of my list. What a suburb job they have done. This was an emotional moment for me; these people have taken wonderful care of us all.

As we moved to the starting line for our pre-race instructions, we all became one in purpose. We all seemed the same. All were dirty. All carried much the same equipment. Sure we spoke many languages, and some were doctors some were military some worked security in the Congo some were investment traders or hospital administration or members of an accordion band but on this morning we were all the same. One in purpose, to get to Tazzarine where we would have a medal waiting for us, a sack lunch and a bus ticket back to Ouarzazate. Some of us would make our way to the finish anyway that we could. We would hopple, use trekking poles and do what ever it took. Many of us would walk and talk with others and share our week’s experiences. Some would continue the race and aim to place high. For me, I chose to share my experience with others along the way. One man I learned also cried many times along the way just like me. He was here by himself from Great Britain. This was a trip two years in the planning and while his friends bailed on him, he came anyway and continued the journey himself. I learned that in the process of planning this trip, he had lost his father. I learned that he missed his children and I also learned that he got a 5 hour penalty for climbing up the rocks the wrong way during the long stage… all reasons for him to cry.

Coming into CP1 which was the only check point of the day, I realized that I was a finisher. This could have been the finish line for me by the way I felt. I had so much gratitude in my heart for the volunteers. Those that checked me through each day and those that handed me my water. And the doctors that were always waiting to help those in need. This would be the last time that I saw them in action and I was grateful and sad to say goodbye at the same time.

From this point on, we only had six miles and a long six miles it was. The closer we got to the city, the more we would see people. At first I thought that they were coming out to great us but then I realized that what they wanted was our stuff. And they all seemed to bring the same words of good tiding “you only have 3 klicks to go “and this went on and on. How long could “almost there” last? Finally we made our way into the city. There were guards posted all along the route. My first thought was that this city was not finished. Or was it bombed. They have a strange way of not finishing their buildings. The reason for this is once the building is finished then they have to pay taxes. Many of the buildings are occupied unfinished. Makes for an eerie feeling.

Entering Tazzarine

I have nothing to give them.

no, i don't see the finish line yet.

Getting closer...

Things are looking more like a town.

Bulldog just ahead of us.

Finally we could see the finish line. There were no big crowds waiting to cheer us in. Just the finish line and Patrick the race director who personally places the medal around each finisher’s neck. Our bagged lunch was waiting along with our bus. And that was it. We were done. This was one race where the journey meant everything and not the finish alone. We were hot and tired and oh so glad to be done. Tonight we would be clean and we would have real food and a real bed. I couldn’t wait.

YAY!!! The finish line. I wish my family was here!

Look at my medal Brad!

To sum it up I would like to quote Wayne Gretzky… You miss 100% of the shots you never take!

George finishes.

getting ready to eat my sack lunch.

George getting on the bus.

And I would like to thank Dana for being willing to survive without me while I was gone. It was a huge sacrifice for him. Thank you Lisa and Jay for doing such a great job and for George, you are the greatest bodyguard. Thank you for keeping me safe!

I had such a great experience and even now, I would love to go and do it again.

Go ahead...Dream Big… Leigh