| Daily Medical
Note 09/27/2005:
And the winner is……the wind!...No, no wait, it's the water!
Last night we found ourselves in the middle of an 8 hour sand storm. I had to go outside to fasten down the tent windows wearing a headlamp AND sunglasses due to the dark night sky and blowing sand. Several tents blew away and many staff members came to sleep in the medical tent. Despite tying all windows and door closed, a tremendous amount of sand and dust got in coating everything and everyone. At times we couldn't open our eyes or breathe without sand assaulting us. It made it somewhat difficult to have a clean medical treatment tent in the morning.
We all survived the night and got off to a start this morning with a few extra helpers at each checkpoint. Several of the runners who have pulled out of the race have been volunteering to help out supporting the runners at the check points throughout the day. Dr. Brian was kind enough to assign me to the midpoint station of the day, now nick-named "Disco Dunk." It was located at a stunning oasis with a naturally occurring cold pool where the exhausted and overheated athletes could dunk their clothes, poor water over their heads, or even get into the pool. We had an ipod with speakers playing music and the runners were completely rejuvenated. My job as medical staff at that spot was so much easier because the vast majority of complaints at midday are heat related, and I had the perfect medical treatment available in the form of a gorgeous desert oasis.
Not nearly as many runners were pulled from the course today. I think it's likely due to starting earlier in the morning (the runners left at 6:30 am today), have a cool pool in the middle, and having the checkpoints very equally spaced around the course. No IV's were given and I hope the same will follow suit tomorrow, since we're starting even earlier (5:30am). I hope the glow sticks that Ian and Neil have used to mark the way tonight last through out dark morning start.
Dr. Brandee signing off… |
