|
October 4, 2005 - FINAL ENTRY
I'm actually filing this final journal entry for the last day of the race from home in Singapore, as I didn't a chance after the Sahara Race. Since I think it was being widely followed, I thought it would be good to post this.
The feeling of successfully completing the Sahara Race and crossing the finish line at the 250km, right in front of the pyramids in Cairo, was hard to describe. I felt exhilarated to be done with the race, as well as relieved that my feet had "held out" and that a decent meal was only minutes away. I also felt immensely satisfied having achieved another huge goal.
The 24 hours leading up to the finish had been tough. Day 6 had been a lazy day lying around camp with everyone unable to move to due to the intense heat. In the evening, we enjoyed hearing an Egyptian speaker talk on the construction of the pyramids and then witnessed a music/dance performance by locals. Competitors grabbed what little sleep they could, before having to be packed up and outside their tents at 11pm to be moved by four wheel drives to buses waiting several kilometres away. It was 3am before the ferrying concluded and the buses departed for Cairo, with competitors again snatching more sleep on enroute. We made it to Cairo and the start line of the final day, around 8am.
In a dirty lane, about 10km from the pyramids, competitors assembled for the final stage, which got underway just after 8am. The top 10 male competitors (by cumulative times) and top 3 female competitors started in a separate group just after 9am. I was part of this later group and spent the hour between 8am and 9am, taping my feet and pacing around nervously hoping that my blisters wouldn't force me out the race.
Setting off from the start at 9am, Gary, Kevin, Joe and Ray set a quick pace and the rest of us tried to clutch on to their heels. The first 5km was along a dusty road with heavy traffic. I heard Terri yell "Get me back to the desert". I agreed. After 5km, we turned off a side road, for the final 5km through a small village, along a sand flat, up a sand hill, before a clear view of the pyramids emerged. The final 3km was absolutely awe-inspiring, with the pyramids directly in front. Running along, I snapped pictures. The final 200m to the finish line was downhill, past the Sphinx, and in the euphoria to cross the line, I could barely feel my tired legs.
After crossing the line, competitors received their finishing medals, were weighed and then proceeded to a nearby restaurant for a buffet lunch meal. My plate was heaped high with pizzas, meat (and I'm vegetarian), loads of bread, rice and everything else I could find. Around me, it was virtual silence, as fellow competitors tucked away at mountains of food.
The Sahara Race taught me a lot about my capabilities. Yet again, I realized that stamina actually improves in desert races as each day progresses (e.g you feel better on day 4 or 5 than day 1 or 2). I also learned the importance of constant hydration and adequate food consumption, in keeping energy and endurance levels high. In the future, if such hot conditions were expected, I'd be inclined to take more salty foods and less sweet foods. I'd take more electrolyte supplements in tablet rather than powder form (less bulky). Email me at Matthew.chapman@hudson.com if you need more advice.
The question now beckons: will I do Antarctica? It's an ambitious target, both financially and physically, to sign up for this event in just three months time. I'll make a decision in the next week. It would be an unbelievable experience to do the first race in 2006 and be part of the pioneering group, however I need to look at some practicalities first. Stay tuned!
All the best
Matt |
|
Final Camp, 7am,
Friday September 30
Final competitors are arriving into camp now after 26 hours out on the course. Currently, the camp is a war zone of tired competitors. Our camp is perched several hundred metres above the desert floor on a giant sand hill and we have a commanding view of competitors coming on the last few kilometers of the course.
Everyone is hungry, dehydrated but relieved to be at the finish and to have this killer stage behind us. Amazingly, there were few drop outs, despite the high heat, and relative to other 4 Desert Events, the field moved through the course much quicker, taking an average of 16 hours. Although there were murmurings that yesterday's start would be at midnight, organizers end up starting the field in two groups - one at 5am (for the slower competitors) and the other at 7am (approximately the fastest 40 competitors).
Despite fears that my feet may not stand up to the stage, due to the bad blisters, I made it through the 80km course to the finish. I was eighth into camp behind winner Ray (Canada), a Korean, Kevin (Taiwan), Joe (Canada), Terri (USA), Will (USA) and Chuck (USA). I reached camp just on dark, which was a huge relief not having to spend hours out on the course trying to navigate in the dark.
From the start, the course would weave through sandy hills for 15km, before following a sandy ridge line for another 20km and then dropping several hundred metres down on to the desert floor for a 5km push into a village. At this 40km, half way mark, race organizers had told us that there would be a mandatory 45 minute stop for the field in a rustic desert village (the only signs of civilization we have so far seen in the desert). From there, we would run 3.5km, before another 45 minute stop at a farmer's house with an irrigation pump spewing water. Resuming the course, competitors would then run 36km across undulating sand and dirt hills to the finish, with a steep 300m elevation rise up a giant sand hill into camp.
Leaving camp at 7am, my feet immediately felt sore and I started to fear that I might not make the first 10km, let alone 80km. By 9am, I was starting to get into a rhythm and adjust to the foot pain (the first pain killer started to kick in!). I ran strongly until 11am but slowed to a fast walk once the temperature intensified. Reaching the half way point just after 12 noon, I had plenty of new blisters and spent most of the 45 minute stop having my feet re-taped by Dr Rob, the foot doctor. Locals served us hot, sugary tea under the shade of a giant tree. I swigged three cups of tea in quick succession, welcoming the new taste as a break from drinking plain water.
The second compulsory 45 minute stop at the farmer's house was a surreal sight. A large pipe pumped water into a long trough, large enough for 20 people to sit in it. Competitors without too much foot damage or bandages on their feet, had the luxury of submerging themselves in the trough. Those like me, with their feet resembling a dirty patchwork quilt, had to be content with splashing water on the faces. Leaving the second mandatory stop, I felt refreshed, but was nervous about 4 hours of 40C plus heat ahead.
The next four hours were mentally tough with monotonous scenery. My blisters were "on fire" and every few minutes I'd feel an explosion of pain somewhere on my foot. I forced myself to keep moving as quick possible and stopped in the next three checkpoints for only a matter of minutes, to collect my water, before pressing on. I was eager to get the nightmare over as quick as possible. Hitting the 71km checkpoint 23 at 6.30pm, I looked ahead and could vaguely make out camp 9km in front high on a hill. Over the next hour, camp never seemed to move closer. The final kilometers were the toughest. I was elated to reach the finish line. For the next three hours, I lay at the finish in the sand, surrounded by tired bodies also too fatigued to move.
Today, we all sit in camp, waiting for time to tick down so that we can start the final stage into Cairo, which will finish at the Great Pyramid. We are actually four hours drive from Cairo, so in the early hours of tomorrow morning, we will be trucked out of the desert and dropped 10km from the pyramids.
Everyone is low on food today, so we are trying to block out thoughts of the gourmet food that awaits us at the finish line tomorrow. Amongst the food items I've craving are toasted sandwiches, pizza and mango smoothies. I've had plenty of time to dream up a huge list, but these are the top three. In camp this morning, we are all swapping left over food for more exciting options. I swapped a bag of sweets (which I still haven't touched) for a bag of ramen noodles just to have the energy to write this journal entry! Speaking of which, I want to finish those noodles now so I'll sign off.
More tomorrow after I've reached Cairo, had my first shower in seven days, got out of filthy running gear and had a few thousand calories.
Matt |
|
September 28, 2005
Camp 5 - Black Desert 1pm
About 40 of the field have now completed today's near marathon stage and people are now recuperating at camp. This will be a short update, as organizers look set to bring the start of tomorrow's killer 80km stage to 12 midnight (rather than 8am) due to the continuing record heat, so I need to chill.. From now we have approximately 11 hours to patch our feet, recover from today's race, eat as many calories as we can stomach and, if we are lucky, grab a few hours of sleep tonight when it cools down.
This morning's 5.30am start made a huge difference to the comfort levels of competitors. The camp was busy from 4am with everyone making preparations before a 5.15am race briefing. It was a surreal sight to look back, shortly after the start, on a field of a head torches glowing in the dark.
Around a quarter of the field reached the first checkpoint before sunrise. It was a special moment to be running in the middle of nowhere in the Sahara as the sun rose this morning and to see the field outstretched in front and behind. The surface through the first two sections consisted of a mixture of soft sand and hard packed sand, with the odd sand dune. From checkpoint two through to checkpoint three and then on the finish, the course wound through hills with a continued mix of soft and hard sand.
I felt good through today's stage, probably as a result of the earlier start. Once the heat kicked in at 10am, I found it a lot tougher. My legs are getting sore now and will really take a punishing tomorrow. My blisters have continued to worsen, so I'll be having another session with the foot doctor this afternoon, for more foot taping. Tomorrow is going to be real tough with the blisters, but hopefully painkillers and gritting my teeth will get me through. I'm not the only one with foot problems, so plenty of others are in the same boat. Miraculously, some competitors do not have a single blister or hotspot - I'm very jealous.
A tent update on my fellow tent mates. Stephan Zimmerman, part of Team Last Minute, dropped out of the race on Day 2. Philipp Mosimann and Andrew Barnard have remained in the race and are now running as solo competitors. Adam, from the UK, is doing well and probably now in the top 10. Paul Soo, from Singapore, had his best finish today and is getting stronger. Jacob Neilsson, from Denmark, is feeling comfortable although was suffering from nausea last night and this morning. Julia Leder, from USA, is feeling good and is not suffering from any injuries. The Egyptian couple continue to walk 20km each day but officially withdrew from the race on Day 1.
So, now all that remains between us and the finish line buffet in Cairo is the 80km torture test and the final 10km stage. Ian Adamson is tipping first competitors to complete the course in 13 hours with the slowest competitors taking 48 hours. I'm hoping for 20 hours but it will depend on my feet. Final details haven't been released yet of the stage, although a mandatory one hour rest stop in the heat of day is likely to part of the schedule.
Owing to the long day possibly taking two days, I'll file my next update on Friday.
Cross your fingers on the blisters. There's nice places I'd rather be right now!
Matt |
|
September 27, 2005
Day 4 - Camp Ice Cream Cone - 7pm
I wish this camp involved ice cream but unfortunately, as I write this, we are all baking in the oven that is Sahara. Today, the temperature reached an unbelievable 51C just after lunch. Its now cooled to a rather more comfortable 32C as night sets in, but just about everyone is feeling the effects of dehydration and most people have exhausted their 10 bottles (5 litres) of post race water.
Not wanting to sound melodramatic, but we are all finding the unseasonably hot weather conditions and the constant sand terrain very, very challenging. This morning, race organizers moved the race start forward even further to 6.30am, just before sun rise. It was a sleepless night for most, as hot gale force winds gusted into camp around 8pm and intensified as the night drew on. At 1am, virtually all the camp was up holding on to the tents. Two tents blew away and number of competitors lost race shirts and other lightweight possessions.
This morning as tired competitors strode out of camp for the 32km stage the strong winds continued to blow and whipped up a lot of dust on the way to checkpoint 1. I found it difficult to get into a rhythm on this section, in the deep sand and dust, and made it to checkpoint one in just under an hour. |
| |
 | From checkpoint one, the course ploughed through sand dunes for the first half of the section and then about 4km on an uneven slate surface. My legs started to tire through this section but I pushed on, wanting to make as much distance before the heat set in. Checkpoint two was set a small oasis with a huge tree and a bubbling spring. Many competitors took the opportunity to splash water over themselves and some even stripped off their runners and jumped in.
I ran well from checkpoint two to three, with the course going through more sand dunes and uneven soft surfaces. From checkpoint three, we hit more sand dunes and then 5km of sand/slate surface through an absolutely serene plain all the way to finish, which for me was at 11am. Last competitors arrived in at 5pm, after ten hours on the course. I felt stronger today and ran with more reserves in my tank. My feet are worsening though and all toes on both feet, both heels and the two inner sides of both feet are all covered in bandage and tape. I've obviously done something bad to upset the blister gods like this! |
|
| |
Everyone unanimously agreed that the earlier start today made the run more bearable. Competitors arriving in late found the heat incredible and this was also the feeling of everyone in at camp as well. People, this afternoon, have been lying around in their tents, motionless, dreaming of cold beer or cold anything, actually. There's also been a lot of tent talk on why we are all punishing our bodies like this - none of us could come up with a rational explanation that I could print here. |
| |
My appetite is returning, although I am craving salty foods, so enjoying my noodles, freeze dried meals, wasabi peas and chips. I have left my sweet foods virtually untouched, so at this rate I'll only have sweet things left on the final days. A few other competitors have mentioned the same craving for salt and all we can put this down to is the intense salt loss from our bodies in the heat. |
| |
Tomorrow, Stage Four, named Rally of the Pharoahs, takes us on a near marathon course of 42km (again!). Significantly, we will leave the White Desert and move into the Black Desert. With scorching conditions expected to continue tomorrow, race organizers have responded by moving the official start to 5.30am. The heat seems to really kick in at 10am, so this will give us four and half hours to get as many kilometers in before it gets ugly. |
| |
Just a final note, on behalf of everyone in camp that all the emails, which are being very efficiently handed out this time, are proving the highlight of our day, so thanks again. Its difficult to reply until this race is over but we are definitely getting all the notes. |
| |
All the best
Matt |
|
September
26, 2005
Day 2 – Camp Table Top, 6pm
|
 |
Wasabi peas – generally
not something I get excited about. In the hot Sahara, restricted
to 3.7kg of food weight, these simple appetizers are simply
the food of the gods! As I sit again in the boiling media
tent, filing this update, I’m munching on Wasabi peas
getting my energy back. Just a moment ago, I emptied my last
water bottle from my pack into a cup to make soup. The water
was so hot that the soup cooked in minutes.
|
Today, there are
plenty of walking wounded at camp. It was a very tough day
today for virtually everyone. Expected high temperatures caused
race organizers to bring forward the race start to 7am. It
was a wise decision. Like yesterday, the mercury hit 43C maximum
and was already 35C at 10am. My Egyptian tent mates say that
this weather is unseasonable and that temperatures are about
10C above average. De ja vu from Gobi?
Ian Adamson, course director, briefed the
field at 6.45am this morning. I missed the briefing, as I
was busy in the medical tent being fitted with the research
vest and having the GPS and PDA devices synched. Our entire
tent slept in until 5.45am, so the hour before race briefing
saw us all busy preparing our feet with preventative tape,
popping blisters and packing up. I didn’t have time
to grab my breakfast of two porridge sachets and started the
first stage feeling hungry. I slept well last night, although
woke this morning with a headache and feeling dehydrated.
Many other competitors complained of the same ailments.
Most competitors leapt out of the start this
morning eager to put as many kilometers under their belts
before the heat became intense. Once bitten, twice shy –
everyone got quite a shock with the scorching heat yesterday.
The run to first checkpoint (12km) was straight forward across
mostly soft sand. I hit the first checkpoint in exactly an
hour, consuming three water bottles along the way and feeling
my first new blisters of the day. From checkpoint one to two,
the course continued through … you guessed it …
more soft sand. I left checkpoint two just on 9.30am and really
started to feel the heat building at this stage.
From checkpoint two, the course continued
through tall sand dunes. I quickly started to feel fatigued
in this section and in the incredible heat, reduced my pace
to a walk, as did other competitors around me. This was a
particularly tough section and organizers put a four wheel
drive, 3km before the third checkpoint to provide competitors
with more water. I consumed five bottles (2.5L) in this section.
Reaching the third checkpoint, after a spectacular drop down
from the sand dunes, I stopped for 15 minutes to have my worsening
blisters patched by medical staff. I really didn’t want
to leave this checkpoint as it was the only shady spot on
the course.
From checkpoint three to the finish, a distance
of 10.9km, competitors followed a sandy road through a valley.
This section took most people – including me –
at least two hours and had no shade, so everyone was pretty
fried upon reaching the finish line. As much as many of us
wanted to stop and rest, there was no point with no shade.
I came in at 1.30pm, after 6.5 hours on the course. With blisters
and the heat, I felt pretty much at my limits and had no reserves
in the tank.
In the past two days, I’ve been consuming
double the amount of food and electrolytes during the race,
than my previous two races. In such hot conditions, hydration
is the key and I’ve been carefully sticking to my rule
of thumb of one bottle of water (500ml) each half hour. The
sandy surfaces are creating headaches with blisters. A larger
number of competitors than normal are sporting blisters and
are keeping the medical tent busy with repairs. My feet are
progressively getting messier and comparative to what they
were like in Gobi and Atacama, are worse. I’ll be watching
them carefully over the next few days.
On the positive side, the desert scenery
has been absolutely stunning and I have never tired of watching
the changing landscape around me or enjoying just how serene
the desert is. Although I wouldn’t say this when I was
in the middle of them in the heat today, the sand dunes were
absolutely spectacular. I’m being told that we will
encounter more dunes tomorrow on Day 3 and definitely on Day
5.
Racing the Planet is doing a great job with
logistics. So far the event has been running smoothly and
the volunteer team has been simply exceptional. All emails,
sent via Racing the Planet site, are reaching competitors
and reading them is definitely the highlight of the day for
everyone. The emails (and this update) are being received/sent
via a sophisticated portable satellite. In case you’re
wondering, I’m writing on Cathy Cole’s computer
so, no, I don’t have a weight penalty of carrying a
computer on this race!
Tomorrow’s stage is just over 30km
and, with the high temperatures expected to continue, is again
going to be torture. Its tipped that organizers will again
bring the start forward to 7am. We’d be even happier
with 6am!
More tomorrow
Matt
|
|
September 25,
2005
Day One – 3pm
The first day of Sahara is over for approximately
a quarter of the field. I’m lying in my boiling tent
writing this and the temperature is 41C. Competitors now into
camp are all describing today’s course as very tough
and I have to agree. A combination of soft, beach-like sand
all the way, coupled with temperatures which started at 30C
at our 9am start and hit 40C at 10.40am (by my watch). I measured
43C at 12 noon.
With absolutely no shade, the heat radiated
off the sand to create very uncomfortable conditions. For
me, this day was substantially tougher than the first day
in Atacama and Gobi and a rude reminder that high temperatures
and challenging terrain make these events tough. For ex-Gobi
March 2005 competitors, many described it as being like Day
4 in China – a particularly ugly day. Anyone without
gators today was in big trouble, as the soft sand would easily
enter shoes. Everyone is dehydrated and trying to get fluid
back into their bodies.
Leaving the start at 9am, I found the run
to the first checkpoint (12km) reasonably straight forward
and got into a comfortable running rhythm. I reached the checkpoint
out of water and collected three bottles (the mandatory allocation)
for the trip to checkpoint two. Beyond checkpoint one, the
heat started to catch-up with me and I slipped from a run
into a fast walk 2km before checkpoint two (21km).
Reaching checkpoint two, just after 11.30am,
I felt surprisingly fatigued and wasn’t looking forward
to the prospect of pushing on 11km to the finish (32km). Mentally,
I started having problems getting into the stage at this point.
With the temperature over 40C, I had no choice but to fast
walk the final section. I felt my pace was actually quicker
in a fast walk than an uncoordinated jog in the deep sand.
I noticed virtually everyone behind and in front doing the
same thing. I reached home at 1.30pm.
Canadian, Ray, was first in with Kevin from
Taiwan in second place. I’m not sure of other placings
yet. My tent-mates, Philipp Mosimann (Movenpick Restarants),
Andrew Barnard, Stephan Zimmerman and Jacob Nielsen all came
in over the next hour. As I write this, the two Egyptians
have wandered into the tent although they’ve just explained
that they took a “taxi” (one of the volunteer)
from checkpoint two. Smart people – I may try this tomorrow.
The sandy terrain minced my feet up a little
more than I would have liked and I’m sporting a few
blisters (not what I want on Day 1). The high temperatures
have melted some of my zip lock bags carrying my food, so
my pack was a mess when I opened it. The hi-tech vest with
all the sensors, which I wore under my race shirt, made things
hot although wasn’t as uncomfortable as I imagined.
It was plugged into a PDA which I wore in a bum-bag strapped
to my waist.
Tonight’s camp is set amongst spectacular
white boulders. We are surrounded by fine white sand in all
directions. Over the next few hours, competitors will start
to treat their feet and cook their evening meals. It gets
dark at 6.45pm, so hopefully it will cool down. While writing
this, someone from another tent has just discovered a dinner
plate sized camel spider in their tent! Might be best when
its dark and we can’t see what is crawling around us.
Tomorrow, we set off at 8am for a marathon
stage (42km) over terrain which will be very similar to that
of today, except for 6.5km of soft sand dunes. We are nervous
at the high temperatures, the prospect of more sand (apparently
this whole race will be run in sand) and the fear of dehydration
with the temperatures.
I find these events very humbling. It doesn’t
matter who you are or how fit you are. Mental toughness and
keeping your feet in shape are the only sure ways to finish.
You can feel great one minute and the next minute, you are
in a heap - its important to listen to your body. Its also
important to focus on the day ahead and not think about the
days beyond. For instance, I have no idea how I’ll complete
the remaining 218km, but 42km tomorrow sounds bearable and
I cannot think beyond that.
Until tomorrow
Matt
|
|
| September 24, 2005 |
| Greetings from Farafra
Oasis, 6 hours from Cairo. |
|
Its 8pm and in the last
half an hour, our entourage of 100 competitors and 40 support
staff have arrived at the Farafra Oasis after a six hour journey
through spectacular desert scenery. We are in the White Desert
of the Sahara and true to its name, its very white! Before sunset,
we saw white rock and white sand around us in all directions.
Its now spectacularly starry - the moon will rise at midnight.
I write sitting on the floor of my tent, in darkness, as competitors
unpack and settle into camp. There is buzz through the camp
as everyone prepares for tomorrow's start. |
|
There are ten competitors
to each tent. Reflecting the multicultural nature of the Racing
the Planet events, I'm sharing with two Swiss, one St Lucian,
one Brit, one Russian, one Singaporean, a Dane and two Egyptians.
Luckily for my tent mates, the two Egyptian competitors have
just told us they will be sleeping outside of the tent each
night, so this will provide luxurious extra space for the remaining
eight of us! |
|
As the camp crowd prepares
to eat a catered meal from Cairo, our last real meal before
we turn to our own supplies, it is a balmy 24C at 8pm. Our camp
is on relatively hard sand, so is quite comfortable and we're
hoping future camps will be like this. We have just been told
that tomorrow's start will be 9am to allow for local, Egyptian
dignitaries to arrive and officially start the race. |
|
During the bus trip,
we were briefed by Ian Adamson, the course director; Dr Brian
Krabak, the lead doctor; and Dr Ron, the podiatrist. Ian told
us to expect a reasonably flat and very fast course. Elevation
differences are only expected to be 100m during each stage.
Dr Brian emphasized the importance of hydration and also talked
us through preventative measures if we are bitten by a snake
or scorpion (lets hope not!). Dr Ron gave us some simple foot
advice, but made the point that foot care is a very individual
thing - what works for one person may not work for another.
|
|
Its interesting to note
that there are some very strong competitors in the Sahara field.
The top 10 place-getters from the 2005 March are all in attendance,
along with a number of top performers from the 2003 Gobi March
and 2004 Atacama Crossing. This should make for some healthy
competition among the field. |
|
I'll be grabbing an
early night tonight, after dinner, to stockpile some sleep.
Each morning, I find it best to rise around 2 hours before race
start to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, tape feet and pack up,
so this means a 6am rise. With that, I'll sign off. |
|
Next update late tomorrow
after the end of Stage 1.
Matt |
|
| September 23, 2005 |
| Hi from Movenpick, Heliopolis
in Cairo. |
|
Its 10pm on Friday night
and with less than 36 hours remaining before the Sahara Race
start, I have just completed my official check-in for the Sahara
Race. Racing the Planet organized a VIP check-in for 41 of the
100 competitors who are returning for their second or beyond
race, so I was fortunate to be part of this crew beating tomorrow
morning's rush hour. At the check-in, volunteers and staff checked
that we have all the items of essential equipment (e.g survival
blanket, compass, blister gear etc) and at least 2,000 calories
of food. Our packs were weighed and we were weighed! My pack
came in a little under 7kg (16 pounds) with some careful packing.
|
|
Virtually all of the
competitors have now arrived in Egypt for the start of the race.
There are plenty of tired, jet-lagged people wandering around.
Everyone (especially those doing their first race) seems fixated
on getting their packs as light as possible. Personally, in
order to keep pack weight low, I think the key is thinking carefully
about food rations and not taking too much food (I've noticed
lots of people in the two previous races throwing out excess
food in the final days). Taking food and first aid gear out
of plastic wrappings or heavy packaging can save valuable kilos. |
|
I spent time with Dr
Brian and Dr Brandee, this afternoon, becoming acquainted with
the special vest I'll be wearing for the John Hopkins Institute
research project. Using inbuilt sensors, my heart rate will
be monitored throughout the race. The heart sensors will be
synched with a GPS, so data will be collected on how my heart
rate responds to changes in elevation, temperature and fatigue.
Linked to the heart sensors and GPS, will be a PDA. During the
race, I'll make entries into the PDA on how I'm feeling and
these entries will be compared to the raw data collected by
the computers. I shouldn't get too bored out there! Especially
since I'm also hot weather testing a new, yet to be released
MP3 player for Philips as well. |
|
Tomorrow, Saturday morning,
Race Director, Ian Adamson will brief the field at a 7am breakfast
on what to expect in the seven days ahead. If Gobi and Atacama
are anything to go by, Ian has a challenging and interesting
course in store for Sahara. No doubt they'll be river crossings,
canyons, perhaps a salt flat or two, dry river beds, soft dirt
and plenty of sand. Everyone is quite nervous about the sand,
although perhaps we'll all feel better when we actually get
out amongst it tomorrow. To cope with the sand, I'm wearing
goretex shoes and will wear ankle gators. |
|
As I head off to bed
tonight, having just munched away on another huge meal, I'm
starting to think more about the race ahead. Like yesterday,
I'm getting increasingly more eager just to get out there and
get started. We leave the Movenpick Hotel at 12 noon tomorrow
for the 6 hour bus journey to the Farafra Oasis in the Sahara.
We'll be treated to our last real meal tomorrow night over a
campfire. When we wake on Sunday, we're on our own! |
|
On the eve of the departure
from Cairo,
Matt |
|
| September 22, 2005 |
| Hi from the Movenpick
Pyramids Hotel in Cairo. |
|
Its Thursday afternoon
and there is a hive of activity here. Competitors are starting
to stream in - its great seeing familiar faces from the Atacama
and Gobi. There's lots of nervous and excited energy here. With
two and half days before the start of the Sahara Race, I still
cannot believe I'm about to embark on another desert crossing.
Only four months ago I was in China going through these same
emotions before the start of the Gobi. For me, this will be
my third Racing the Planet event. |
|
I flew in from Singapore
early yesterday morning. Quite jetlagged, I spent most of the
morning sleeping and then most of the afternoon fiddling around
with my equipment. I'm mentally starting to focus on the race
ahead, although I always find it takes two or three days to
adjust from the demands of normal life to the upcoming pressures
of the desert. I took a short wander up to the pyramids yesterday
afternoon (about a kilometer away) to stretch my legs, followed
by a felucca cruise on the Nile. This morning I returned to
the pyramids for an hour run in the polluted air and 38C heat
- must say I was pretty happy to return to the hotel! |
|
I've been frequenting
the buffet counter at the hotel restaurant trying to get in
as many calories and carbohydrates as possible, before the fast
weight loss diet starts in the desert. I'd be lying if I said
I wasn't nervous about the race ahead. Doing another one of
these races for the third time doesn't make it an easier. I
feel under-trained as I've recently lost three weeks of training
to the flu. I'm also running in new goretex Asics shoes that
feel different. I'm worried about blisters again, so will be
taking the extra precaution of taping both heals and ankles
this time. |
|
This afternoon, I'm
meeting with the doctors to learn more about the hi-tech vest
I'll be wearing that will be wired with heart sensors and linked
to a GPS. I'll be wearing this for the John Hopkins Institute
in the United States as part of their study on ultra-marathon
running and its effects on the body. I'll also be re-packing
my pack to try to get it down to my goal weight of 7.5kg. Thanks
to some previous desert race buddies in Singapore, I've trimmed
vital weight by having a lighter sleeping bag (483g) and wind
jacket (65g). |
|
OK, time for another
huge meal now, followed by a dip in the pool and an afternoon
lazing on a deck chair. These luxuries won't last for much longer! |
|
More tomorrow,
Matt |
|
