Since this is my first, and quite possibly, last ever blog, I thought I would post a few post race comments and thoughts. This is actually more for my own record in case I ever need to remind myself why I am foolish enough to do these things!

So, I'm back, in 1 piece and probably the only person in the history of the world to actually have GAINED weight while running a self supported 250km race through the Gobi desert, I mean, WTF. I never weigh myself so thought it might be interesting to do a pre/post race weigh in. I clearly brought far too much food or wasn't running hard or fast enough as I am half a kilo heavier! All the boys in my tent looked like they had just escaped from some POW camp - all chiselled, bronzed and rugged. Really CANNOT say the same for myself.

Anyway, without sounding too gushy or overly earnest and American about things - The Gobi really was a life changing experience. And I don't mean this in the traditional sense of the phrase. It's not like I've come home and become this new, improved, better, cooler Amanda all of a sudden. It is much more a process of learning and understanding and quiet, subtle satisfaction and happiness that I hope will continue to seep through... days, months and years into the future. Doing something like this is such a physical and, more importantly, mental challenge that you cannot ever expect the effects of it to be immediately apparent. People always ask me if I do these crazy races for THAT moment of pure elation when you cross the finish line, but it's really not that at all. Of course it is incredible in that moment but it's not the kind of adrenaline high that say bungee jumping or sky diving is - it is a more subtle, yet in my view, no less intense and much more difficult to achieve high.

Being outdoors in one of the world's wildest, most unforgiving, vast and beautiful places. Being without communications or technology for a whole week. Being almost entirely reliant on yourself for energy, warmth, sustenance and survival. Pushing your physical and mental boundaries right up to the edge but knowing yourself well enough to do the correct and sensible thing.

And most importantly, especially in the case of this particular race, forming friendships with people which will hopefully last for life. For someone who is pretty wary of new people and new friends (yes yes, antosocial loser that I am), this was a real revelation. Almost complete strangers are thrust into this fairly weird, foreign and intense environment where social graces and steps of relationship building are overlooked or bypassed. I would say that it would take around 5 years to get to know a person as well as I do my tentmates in "normal life" as opposed to a week in "desert life". I was especially lucky to have the dream tent who became like my little cocoon of safety and good times at the end of each day. Their highs and lows became my highs and lows and as cheesy as it may sound, them crossing the finish line became just as important as my own personal goals. There are too many examples and amusing moments to recount but to my fellow DAUR tent members - you rock. I will be eternally grateful for your toilet humour, sexist jokes, random food offloads and farts in the night.

On a more sombre note, we found out that Nick, the guy who collapsed during the extremely hot day in the slot canyons, has died. As you can imagine, this has had a pretty sobering effect on all of us and I guess there is just a lot to process in terms of realising the inherently dangerous nature of this sport, the importance of adequate preparation, the lengths to which we will go to achieve our goals and, as I mentioned earlier, knowing when to pull the plug. Those who saw Nick in Peach Village the night before the slot canyonssay he was happy, laughing and loving the experience of being in the desert. We take some comfort in that.

So, this is over and out from me. The rest of my summer will be spent eating and drinking my way through Provence and Switzerland. Not sure how long it will be before I put on my running shoes. I'll give it a few days at least :) Lots of love x