Well yesterday is over and our ship is heading back to Ushuaia.  The last course in Dorian Bay was absolutely spectacular. We again traversed a 2K loop but this time it was pretty much single file through knee deep snow which ultimately became somewhat packed down.  The scenery was amazing in every direction. Penguin rookeries spotted the land with the little inhabitants milling about proud to show off their beautiful home. Mountains of snow surrounded and were the backdrop of the course flanked by water below.  Once we climbed to the top we looked down onto what appeared to be a lake.  At one point a sailing ship was moored and coming down the hill were 4 individuals who had hiked (attached to each other with rope) back and were skiing.  And we thought our adventure was amazing I can only imagine what theirs might have been like..possible something to think about for future adventures J
 
I managed to complete 8 loops and was overcome with so much emotion on the last lap.  This has been such an emotional and spectacular year.  I will be writing a much more in depth blog once I have time to truly absorb all that has taken place. I do want to thank everyone who has sent me emails or responded to my blogs along the way as they are truly inspiration to keep going.  I absolutely could not have done it without all your encouragement.  And to my husband and family I am truly blessed to have you in my life and to encourage what to most would be crazy dreams…I love you all. 
 
Thank you also must go to Bob Seebohar for without your guidance and training I could not have performed at the level that I did. To Keith Brantly for working with all of our volunteer runners and helping to take them to a place that they didn’t even know they could be. And finally to Generation UCAN. What can I say about a product that was developed out of love to keep a young boy alive and today is helping athelete’s go beyond there wildest imaginations, thank you for your vision!
 
Stay tuned for my last blog of the year.  Until then I have Dreamed Big & Accomplished Big!!
 
Linda

Well, I am finally thawed out, fed and rested with a good night sleep.  Yesterday run was, to say the least, quite monotonous but I faired well.  We went from nice, cold weather to hot sunny weather to extremely cold harsh wind with snow at the end.  The wind was blowing so hard that even with my poles I could hardly stay upright.  I never stopped except to put on my spikes as it became mandatory and the downhill rather icy.  Running round and round at 1.5 mile loop and climbing & descending the one large hill took it’s toll on the legs.  My Achilles was screaming by the end however, I managed to complete the 11 ½ hours. As we headed back to the ship at the end the wind was blowing somewhere around 25 knots and I think my body was shivering at around the same speed.  Thank goodness we had a nice hot shower to retreat to instead of a cold hard tent!
 
This morning we are almost to Dorian Bay where we will run somewhere around 5:00 hours weather/snow permitting. We are watching Killer Wales along side the boat feed on our poor little penguin friends.  I know this is the Circle Of Life and how nature works but it is really sad to watch those little guys swim/jump as fast as the can while the Orca is just playing with them. They become so tired out that it then becomes easy prey for the whale.  Quite fascinating to watch.
 
I’ll try to get my next blog up before they post everything, but if not it will arrive the following day.  Hope that today is less cold but anticipating lots of snow and ice…Antarctica is quite fascinating even the second time around.
 
Keep forging on and Dreaming Big!
 
Linda

You probably won’t read this until we are well into tomorrow’s run and might possibly get both blogs at the same time.  Today’s run was postponed from a 6:00 am start to 10:00 am.  Weather here at this time of year is so unpredictable.  Snow had fallen however there was still quite a lot of mud to navigate through.  As I set off on the long part of our 15K loop I was feeling surprisingly strong.  Music was going, focus was there all was good.  Made it to the turnaround heading back towards the mandatory walk area when things began to look rather dark & it became a bit more chilly.  We were all told that there was a storm coming in and we must head back to the ship immediately.  The snow gods were with us as everyone didn’t seem too disappointed.  We made it back for a wonderful lunch, I rested in my cabin with a movie waiting to head back out to run again after the storm lifted.  Needless to say this did not happen. We witnessed a spectacular snow storm and were privileged to see exactly what Antarctica truly is like.  Every picture I had ever seen came alive at that moment…truly amazing!
 
We are now heading for Deception Island where we have been told that we will begin our run tomorrow at 6:00 am.  That means a 3:30 wake- up call as we board the zodiacs at 5:00 am.  This will be rather interesting as we are going to run a 2K course for 15 hours! Yikes, I think we will all be mad by the time we’re finished with the day.  I’m going to treat it as if I’m on a treadmill or quite possibly like a hamster in Anarctica (not sure if they have them) going round & round thinking I’m having fun! 
 
Still enjoying myself, happy & proud that I will complete this mission…but also missing home! When you read tomorrow’s blog please forgive if I am babbling as it will be a direct result of the days madness.
 
Linda

Finally back on the boat and beginning to thaw out.  Today we started late because of the weather so put in a very long day.  I woke up at 3:00 am, dressed and arranged everything to take.  Around 3:40 am we were informed over the speaker that the start was being postponed so I went back to bed for a little more rest.  We finally boarded the zodiacs somewhere around 11:00 and started the race around 11:15/30.  Even though I had run this course before it was so much more different.  We had to run through snow which was rather deep and water underneath. Mud was so thick that just staying upright and keeping your shoes on was difficult.  To add even more of a challenge they threw in plenty of hills and lots of water.  I also was in such a hurry to begin that I forgot my little pack that holds all my snacks and music.  When I realized it I was given permission to retrieve it from my drop bag with a 15 minute penalty...small price to pay if I wanted to eat.
 
I was able to complete 3 laps, the equivalent to a marathon so all in all I did ok.  Hoping that tomorrows run will be a lot better and that I can write about some better news. Thanks to everyone for sending such wonderful words of encouragement, please keep them coming as I truly draw my energy from them.  Will write again tomorrow so until then, please keep Dreaming Big along with me....we can do this!
 
Linda

2nd day on the ship and very anxious to begin this race.  At our morning briefing we were informed that we will arrive at King George Island by midnight.  Race start will commence the next day at 6:00 am.  We are then to run as many miles as we can until 9:00 pm.  The course will be 14.5K passing the Uruguay  & China Research Centers. Good news is that although we must carry some mandatory items in our backpacks it will be substantially lighter than what we carried in the other three deserts.  At the moment I am feeling very good, no motion sickness (knock on wood) and so very ready to put my foot back onto King
George Island.  I truly hope that one of my little penguin friends wants to come along for a brief jog with me as I missed that adventure the first time around.
 
This is a very short blog as time on board ship moves quite slowly with not too much to report.  We are all getting in a lot of reading, movies, backgammon and card games.  Comedy happens quite frequently as someone or thing gets pushed from side to side at the sole discretion of the wave action.  Lots of “oh my god” as well as loud crashing happening.  At this very minute I am holding on to the computer so not to lose my entire blog!  We are all at the point where the legs need to run and the anticipation getting to us.  I’m sure that after tomorrow we will be wishing for some down time, however that will not come for another 4 days.
 
Until tomorrow’s blog please keep me in your thoughts as I try to tick off at least 75 miles…a very daunting task.
 
Keep DREAMING BIG!
 
Linda

We are now 24 hours into our trip having crossed the Beagle Channel and heading into the Drake Passage. Our ship, "The Antarctic Dream," is rocking back and forth with fairly high waves.  Glasses are tumbling to the ground' furniture sliding while tipping over, i's as if the ships ghost are playing tricks. It is actually funny to watch as we try to navigate from the couches to the dinner tables.  Slipping, sliding, holding onto whatever is chained down is imperative.  I guess we're getting some equilibrium training, a great thing for me, thank goodness for my Power Balance braclet.
 
On the nature front Albatross as well as Petrel seem to be taking on the task of escorting our ship through the water.  I wish they could transfer some of their energy to me as they never seem to stop, not even to fish for food.  I guess if we were to step outside with a sardine in our mouth they'd come running in (no pun intended) what a site that would be. Visions of the movie "The Birds" keeps flying into my head.
 
Only another 36 hours before we see land. My challenge to you...get out there, run, walk, bike, rollerblade or just move, then send me your energy...I will tap into it and use it as my reserve tank when things get rough.  UCAN do this.
 
Until tomorrow, keep DREAMING BIG!!
 
Linda
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