Holiday over and we are sitting at the airport ready to head home on our second flight for the day the long stretch now of 9 ½ hrs. So many thoughts and emotions still going through my brain and if common sense would surface I would only be thinking of taking it easy even for awhile but oh no I am already thinking of what’s next....oh arhh oh arrh oh arrh ...... Well I want to sign up for something at home in Australia for 60 to 100ks on trail would be my preference.... Col  is looking at bike ride challengers could take us anywhere with what he is saying......never a dull moment with us to.................... But the one thing we agree on is we are going to sign up for Atacama next year.... I know I know....... ... all logic says no but we are neither logical nor common sense people... ha ha ha .... yes for those that know us you would be nodding your heads...... OMG you two...............I can hear you now..............

Well we have had a great week after Gobi touring around China’s country side in the Guilin and Yangzhou area... we have ridden bikes, visited and eaten with local families. We have been on chairlifts and walked to the top of Mountains to seen rice fields.... the views amazing...  We stayed in a lovely motel with the most comfortable bed and ate drank, walked, talked and ate some more and then did it all over again..............we eventually even found a nice coffee to have....ohhh so so delicious so been missing my coffee.....

 Okay recovery over back home and back to work and yes back to training. Think a massage will be in order and then build the body back up again......... Right about now I feel great I am so happy and so content what more can one ask for.... just some quality time with family and friends will top it up nicely............ I am still clutching on to my medal which will be proudly displayed at home but not before I show it off to everyone.......... 
Woot Woot Woo..........

The event ended in the most amazing Buddhist village and not only were we blest with the backdrop but with the food they prepared. Lovely fresh veggies, salad, melons and cold water was everything I had craved and needed right about then....okay I was in a desperate need of a shower but that can wait as my taste buds savour on the joys of this food...... yes there was beer and pepsi  but this was heaven to this vegetarian.....well I will admit to having a half a can of pepsi.....actually it was quite good at the time... oops better not tell the grandkids that one.......

After much celebration, photos and taking in the whole ambience of our surroundings we headed back to the motel for yes that long awaited shower. One week is a long time to stay in the same clothes and have no shower...... ohhh how the bus smelt took us the week to perfect it but yes we were ripe alright...... 3 ½ hrs on the bus and out we bail at the motel boy did I feel sorry for them...

The shower was the absolute best and I was starting to feel human again. It was time to remove all the bandages & plasters on the feet, along with the ones I had on my shoulders and sides of my waist from the backpack rubbing....... Oh yes that comes with doing one of these races....

Sitting in the motel room Col has his feet up draining enormous blisters I was going to say the size of a 50c piece but double that on the souls of both his feet and he is hobbling big time walking very very slow and has a few black toes and bad rub marks on his back from the pack.

I have a huge bottom lip of serve sunburn that is so painful I am cutting up fruit in little pieces to eat it and have a big toe nail that I have popped a blood blister underneath and it is ready to fall off along with 3 other toe nails... and my legs are slightly swollen from the event which will take some days to go down...but overall feel pretty dame good......

Why do we do it to ourselves...ummmmm ...you find so much about yourself out in a desert and what you thought was impossible you just proved to yourself it is not ...... you find out your strengths and your weakness and they are not always what you thought...and trust me you will have low times ..... those demons in your head telling you to stop...... it is from there that you find out the most about yourself...so when you dare to put yourself through the challenge you are already a winner... but be prepared......prepared for anything and much more....

The dinner and awards banquet was at 7.30 and the most wonderful meal was provided....oh arhhh how we all just wanted to get into that great food.... I think my eyes were bigger than my belly but I enjoyed every mouth full.......

Awards were presented and I felt very happy when my name was called that I had received the 50-59 year old female first place trophy hey I may be that old but I am still out giving it a go don’t ride me of yet.....ha ha ha......Then the biggest shock to Col and I.... so far from left field it left us both sitting there in a blubbering state...... We were awarded the sportsmanship trophy a gorgeous putter embossed plate..... And the kinds words that Alina (RTP staff) said just made us both cry..... we were so touched that when we received the trophy and made a speech for the first time in Col’s life he was struggling to say a few words but did manage..... such an honour ......you just can’t imagine you would be the ones to receive it...... and a very touching and humbling experience. WOW still teary now..

We were given a great slide show of many of the pics on the course which made us all reflect on the enormity of what we had just achieved to finish up the night.

Well we have once again left this race with many memories and many wonderful friendships.... how can you be so close to people and go through so much without bonding...thank you to you all and especially our incredible tents buddies we certainly had great fun and shared so many great moments, laughs and each other’s victories sicknesses and mental demons.....  You are all amazing may we meet again another place another time.

To all our family and friends oh we so love you all and can’t wait to see you..... Every one of you played a part in the race and we will hold that in our hearts forever for without you we would never have made it to the finish line......love you all lots and can’t wait to see you ..... until then we will eat drink....lots of H2O ha ha ha ........... And be very merry.................... WOOT HOOOOOO...and bring that medal home....... yippppppppppppppyyyyyyyyyyyyy..............xxxxx

WOW what a night we have come back from and to say things come from left field in these events in an understatement.... and I am talking about the awards banquet dinner  but before I go on about all the emotion from the night I would like to go back to finish  my blogs from the Gobi desert...Yes the rest day ha ha and the final stage no 6.

Well REST Day kind of way from what would call it but an incredible story to tell of heat sweat sandstorms and to the statement that summed it up all in the morning “oh now we all look the same colour” ...ummm

As the day broke and we came in after the long day the thought of having some catch up sleep was certainly on our minds but as the morning went on the sun got stronger the heat more intense and the breeze dropped to nothing. The escape out of sun was to go in the tent but it was like an oven and you could not breath...in fact a sauna would best describe it...I laid down then sat up then did the same all over again time after time but could not get comfortable..for someone that loves the heat and doesn’t sweat much it was pouring of me and it was unbearable. Someone put a thermometer outside and it read 54 degree....that did my head in and the day dragged and I was so tired. I fell asleep but woke in a pool of sweat feeling sick so quickly downed some water and eventually at about 7ish it started to get better with some breeze...

So looking forward to tomorrow’s last stage...... into bed still hot in the tent but more bearable to be woken but a huge sandstorm. Never seen anything like it.... thanks to quick thinking tent buddies grabbing the tent flaps and against the force of the winds and sand..... tiring things down in all efforts for the tent to not blown away. There was yelling outside and lots of running around by RTP staff to hold and anchor everything.  We were told to not go outside as visibility was down to nothing much at all. I thought the tent was going to blow away and wrapped my headlight torch around my wrist in case.....Well we woke in the morning to a lot more calm everything in the tent covered in sand including us from top to bottom so when I thought I couldn’t get any dirtier I did...oh this desert is telling us something...

Stage 6 the final day starts with Col going in the first group starting at 8.30 and me going in the second group starting at 9.30 our goal to meet just before the finish line and run the last bit in together. We are made to take an extra litre of water to get us through as no checkpoints. It was a very impressive last day I loved it in and around canyons, weaving through then on narrow tracks coming up and down. Sliding on my bum down the steps bits and laughing to myself I had a ball and a great run felt so good in some ways wished it was never going to end but excited beyond belief to cross that finish line. Our planned worked well as I started to pass people from the early start and no that I would hopefully be pretty good on my time to catch Col to do that last bit together...yippy I here go Sandy from the bottom of the hill as I come out of the canyon and there is Col I scream back as I am running down hold out your had we are running this bit in together Col ...I can hear the drums and feel the emotions ...so overwhelming... His hand in mine we weave up to the buddist temple and finish line just so so pumped.... metal around our neck ...... a feeling beyond words we completed the journey....so much more has happened from there..... another blog tomorrow will tell all............... just had to get those thought down before I get too emotional with the rest.......

Love to all our friends and family for your encouraging comments and best of wishes..... xxxx

Well what a day and like always the desert came through with all the challengers and unknowns without disappointment. Col and I had decided to go to check point one together and then we would just plod along from there into camp …we got part way through stage one and Col wanted me to go ahead and he was fine on his own and doing a great job. Check point 2 to 3 was a lot tougher than many thought and I ran with many different ones along the way… ended up on my backside going down a loose very very steep bit and got prickles in my backside and hands and had trouble getting up just kept sliding…. So relieved I made it to the bottom without any major concerns . Many of us were running out of water and no checkpoint in site. I stayed with Jim from Canada to checkpoint three and shared my water and the favour was returned down a steep bit of down he got me through…thanks Jim much appreciated.
So pleased to see the camp and ran walked in with Denis and Andrew, from our tent 6, Denis powered on and Andrew and I ran walked together…great team work for all Well Col the legend did so great today and I went to the toilet and missed him coming in but heard the yelling on my way back to tent…yeah go Col
Well Col had to look after me as I had a good to chucks but now feel great and had dinner….Bring on tomorrow update then now of to bed and get organized for the day.. love to you all and thanks for all the great emails and comment just really lifted our spirits….xxxx

After a long night and day we finally made to Urumqi....so many delays just getting out of Melbourne airport but our 10pm flight finally left just after 2am. We still made connecting flight which was also running late...thanks Glenda for some tips on our flights so true what you said but we were prepared and if you are game you can travel with us next event.....

Yes Carolyn you get to experience waiting at many airports with us in January so I will bring UNO i am sure we can entertain everyone...geez they might just join in .....

Seen as I have been assigned to bring Tim tams and vegemite for our tent to share we have been out walking the streets acclimatizing...thankfully they don’t sell either so phew that’s extra weight in the pack I now don’t have to worry about. Col saved me on the road as they drive on the wrong side here as far as I am concerned but seen as communication is not going so well they have the right away...

Well the talk in the foyer is all about weight of backpack what we have and don’t... and plenty of nervous tension and excitement from all........I am  thinking everyone is keen to get out there and just do it..... me I am relaxing eating drinking and enjoying the sunshine (well kind of).....although what did start out as a pleasant around 34 deg day seems to be getting hotter by the minute so back for more water and electrolytes.

Had some wonderful text from family, friends and my special KBB’s and that has been really nice means heaps that you are excited about this journey as much as us......we love you all and thank you for your cherished words.

Well Col and I are about to unpack and repack and tick all the list of again so we are ready for check in tomorrow.  Briefing is at 8am then gear medical checks...ect..... Oh no Sam I haven’t got you to plat my hair....

Well do a quick update before we leave tomorrow which is around lunchtime here 2 hours behind our time...oh yeah and what’s the go here it was light at 10pm last night...sun started going down about 10.30 ish..... Either that or I was of the planet somewhere will check it out tonight....

“BRING IT ON” Mickey your words echo in my ears...and Denise I am not going to tell everyone what you brought and were forced to tell us in a text message.......everyone needs support in life.... ha ha ha  ...  to our gorgeous grandkids we love you so much and Nana  has your picture and will chat to you every day you are our inspiration....xx

Sandy and Col xx

P.S. Kerry- B1 have my butterfly firmly attached to my top...

What a whirl wind of a day...pilates, work, home, finish packing, clean house and out to the airport for our flight.... I am exhausted but pumped that we have finally made it to today, the day we fly to China.

So looking forward to the challenge while feeling very nervous and quiet sick in the stomach. It’s all the unknowns...which by the way already started this week with the ash from Chile cancelling flights out of Melbourne.  The airport has resumed services today so all should be good.....

Have read about the flooding in China were we are going and that the course has been changed and will be slightly over the 250km.... well whats a few extra k’s between friends...hey.... ohh arhhh scary.

We’ll see you all in China and to all my wonderful work mates, family, friends and buddies that have wished us good luck thanks heaps we are sure going to need it. Keep you all posted with our blog.

Sandy and Col xxx

P.S. thanks Carolyn for telling me to “Suck it up Princess” when I had a melt down yesterday and wanted a good cry... Oh I so needed to be told that......worked a treat no time to lose the plot now.

With 2 weeks to go I have decided it’s all about looking after the body and praying like anything that we don’t get sick……ummmmm easier said than done as half the staff at work are coughing and spluttering along with half whom you meet in your travels each day. Oh well it is winter here and the winter has sure set in.

Training has been a challenge & a half with the shortest day upon us next week and such cold wintery days to endure. Can’t even imagine that we are going to face the sunshine and warm weather shortly, let alone the desert heat.  Wow …… Col and I spent some time in a heated outside pool last night doing Aqua jogging… it was 27deg Celsius in the pool and as we stepped out of the pool it was a chilly 7deg……..mahhh ….. I so don’t like the cold…  Must say I am learning the benefits of the pool running and will incorporate more in our training in the future.

The time has come to pack the bag, stop procrastinating and know all we have done just has to be enough….. I have finetuned my mental status and I am now prepared for anything….. oohhh arhh that is so not true…. But I am trying to convince myself it is…. but it is clearly not working.  As my friend Mickey would say “BRING IT ON” well Mickey the days are getting closer and I will be thinking of you at that start line along with the mantra you have given me to get me through the tough days.

While Col and I were doing a presentation the other day about our journey of Sahara and how hard it was to make it to that finish line……I looked around at different faces and thought I don’t think I am selling this as one of those must do’s but was thrilled to know how it motivated many of them in other aspects of their life. I did ask the question who would like to do the next one with us and in a room of about 40 one person put their hand up….. Yes failing a psyche test should be on the mandatory list……… dont you all agree?

Well my work mates go between thinking Col and I are insane, to admiring us, to suggesting other challengers…..thanks gals……   Our family are just amazing and that is something I think we can all appreciate is how much they go through with us doing one of these events. I feel like I am neglecting them and yes that’s what we do when we work fulltime and juggle training there is only so much you can cram into a day and yes it is also about work life balance…..…. and my wonderful children and grandchildren you give us incredible support and we love you dearly for just that…. You make this possible for us too and in those “moments” in the desert I am going to look at your picture and know I have to push through it to make it to that finish line………… 

Countdown is on and the build up of excitement and worry is happening in my brain…….. With cutting back on training I think I will be jumping out of my skin when I get there….well I hope anyway….….

Take care all, safe travel see you in China….. Sandy

The month of May was always going to be a busy month with the increase in training, trying to finalise documents and sorting & finalising gear/food for the backpack.

The question I ask myself over and over again can I get the pack down any further in weight. Well every article has been weighed and I am pleased that all that effort has paid of and I have the pack down another kilo from when I did Sahara….. And Colin, I am very impressed, as you have your backpack weight down by one and half kilos. Yes this is very excited as every gram out of that pack makes a difference and that is one thing I learnt the hard way when I had problems with my back pre leaving for the Sahara event last year. Being a small frame I was carrying both in training and on the first day of Sahara close to 20% of my body weight and running with that strapped to my body swaying around I inflamed my lower back joints and the muscles around the joint went into spasms two days before we left on the plane to Sahara…. A very hard lesson to learn…… this time in training I have slowly increased the weight up in the backpack and we are only training with it in the weekends. During the week Col and I are doing two longer runs on bike paths increasing the distance but with no backpack just getting kilometres in the legs…. so far so good.

After some dramas with the visa we finally have success and they have been issued, flights are confirmed and all gear and food has been trialled.  The only thing left is to sort all the food and gear out and get it into the backpack…..now that is a challenge in itself.  Just a tip for everyone glad snap lock bags are about to become your best friend. Col and I used them for Sahara for everything and it worked great.

Well looking at this training spreadsheet we are coming to the last few weeks of intense training before we start cutting back….what is it called ...tapering. With the cold weather starting to set in I am so looking forward to that and also think the body will be relieved as well….  The gloves, thermals and rain jacket have been very handy of late and in the cold dark of the morning have been wondering if I am training for  Antarctica ………….….okay okay not quite………… it isn’t -20c just feels like it I hate the cold so so much….. Well all see you in China not long to go now……. Yeahhhhh …………….. JSandy

Hills, hills and more hills that is what our focus on training has been in the weekends along with increasing the backpack weight. The one thing I have learnt is that it isn’t only about the hard slog up it is also about the steep and steeper than steep bits down. I have decided there must be an art in running down hills especially were they are slippery and rocky. Silly to say but I have been practicing different ways of quickly moving down other than on my backside.......yes that has happened a few times. My knees are rather tender so have been doing a funny waddle run walk trying to protect them as much as I can. So if any one has any ideas please enlighten me....

Cross training has been good and tried some pool running too. It is certainly some work out if you want it to be and can see how great it is for non impact exercise. Could be a convert but seriously would find it so boring after awhile.

Well May is the month to ramp it up a bit more and put in some long training days in the weekend ......please weather be good to us!!!...... I can hear it laughing at me already.... yes lots of rain is forecasted....ummmmm

Do have some news that I am very pleased to tell ........Col has his first black toe nail...... yes after years of me suffering with them and Col never having one he now knows how they hurt....go Col ...... happy training everyone..... Till next time....Sandy

My mental game has now started as the weather becomes more wintery and the days get shorter amounts of sunlight. Oh how I hate the winter months and yes I have to toughen up to do the training. Col and I went out for a trail run with our packs a few days ago and for 2 ¾ hrs we ran in the rain the ground was getting slippery and the hills seemed harder than normal as the water ran down them like water falls...Oh no this is just the start of the dreaded winter blues.... but all the effort we put into training is for the dream to complete what we set out as our goal at the start of the year ....”The Gobi March”........ the dream of that medal around our necks and the satisfaction “We did it”..... all that training was finally worth it....

The other handy cap we have on our bush runs are the leeches....and they were out to get us just like the wet and windy day..... Col and I still have red bite marks on our legs and hands ...ohhh for such small creatures they sure made a mess of my legs. Col even has bites on his neck and yes it was the leeches..........

Did Pilates this morning and it is a great balance in our training no pounding and plenty of core work to adjust the muscles. You wouldn’t believe how sweaty you get doing the class but feel fantastic afterwards. The other cross training we have been doing is bike riding in the gym doing interval training .....seems to have helped out with keeping injuries to the minimum...... I have had so many injures over lots of years that I long for the day of getting to an event and having none....perhaps never possible... Col on the other hand never gets any injuries but has so much trouble with sweating and cramping.... Oh what a funny couple are we but geez at least we are out giving it our all and supporting each other in our challengers...

Baby sitting two of the grandkids this weekend (age 4 & 5) so we are going to take them up to one of the bush trails and set them loose ....so to speak.... figure if they want to keep up with Nana and Poppy then we better start giving them an appreciation of the bush. If we train them up slowly there could be something in that for us as when, and if we ever slow down they can carry some of our gear on our other hikes.... sounds great to me. One of the best things when we babysit is we have an excuse to see the kids movies and are off to see "Hop"... Oh yes we are both big kids at heart......  and I am sure the popcorn is a good carbo load for our training.....ummmmmm

Well have to organise injections, medicals and visas this week....another box we can tick as complete for what awaits us in China....   Cheers everyone.......Sandy

Well the months are slipping by the Atacama is now finished and the next is the Gobi …kind of scary really as all of a sudden I wonder if I am going to be ready……. Flights are booked, extra motels nights booked, visa getting organised, approval for time of work, gear & food all over the floor in a mess in the spare room and we are ticking of the days on our training spreadsheet. Wow I am exhausted thinking about it all or is that because working fulltime Col and I get up at 4.30am two mornings a week to get in a long run before work and the other 3 working days get up at 4.55am to get our training in……...ummmm ………….What is really pathetic is that we get very exciting in the weekend when we get a sleep in to 6am even sometimes ignoring the music on the alarm till 6.30…. arrhhh so nice…….. Trail runs with the pack in the weekend are great, so love being out in the bush feel like it regenerates the soul .You seem to forget the time you have been out more than on the bitumen pounding pavement there is far more distractions and I have to watch were I am putting my feet or I can easily go head first and face plant some unsavoury object…… yes have to admit done that before and ended up with one big shiner……..oh fancy admitting to that…..well actually Col has done that before too so we now have similar scars above our eyes…. Have to take credit for being the first to embarrass myself and then of course had to have a measure of sympathy for Col when he did the same….. Oh we are such a funny pair……. Our warped humour keeps us going so apologies to whoever shares the tent with us…….. but we don't snore so thats a plus.......

Another sight in our house is the lounge room floor which now has massage balls, massage rollers, heat packs and a wobbling machine….ummm…..every night is the same I look at them all and say I really have to do all THAT and struggle in my tired state to convince myself of the benefits. Well somehow I manage to drag myself out of the lounge room chair and like everything one makes an effort to do I feel better afterwards and hope some of those sore spots are rubbed away… well that is until the next lot present themselves….Arrhhh but it is all worth it in the end…

I have put the pressure on Col now to get his pack weight down and after the shock of being in the motel room in Cairo and realising his pack weighed 11kilo without water I think he will be more ruthless this time. It was quite a priceless moment when all of a sudden reality hit and things were getting chucked out of the pack pretty quickly to get the weight down a bit more before we left for camp in Sahara........... Arhhh but in true spirit Col has taken on this challenge and has had some great success this month changing items around and getting the backpack weight down…… I am impressed Colin.........

Have been checking out photos and video of last year’s Gobi March and I am getting very excited and looking forward to so many different aspects of the event....an for anyone that has never completed an event before it is a truely amazing experience ....... yes it will be so great to be part of another “desert journey” and catch up with so many wonderful people. Live life to the fullest is what I say …………….Woo hoo see you in the desert …..Sandy

I didn’t expect this morning when I was asked how was I and I said “great” for someone to come back and say “why are you so great”…………….my instant response was why not I am healthy, happy and woke up on the right side of the ground…umm I am thinking what have I got to be sad about I am living the life I have always wanted and have a lovely partner and family to share it with.  Life hasn’t always been that way and when you come from your lowest times and fight your way back perhaps you just appreciate the small things much more. Life to me is about living the way you feel comfortable with….. not about how someone wants you to live your life. I have been very lucky to have a second chance in my life and like to think I am making the most of opportunities coming my way. Completing the Sahara with Col was another one of those wonderful opportunities and the benefits certainly out weight any pain or suffering experienced in the journey. My fear was that we wouldn’t complete the race and make it to the finish line but we knew we had family and friends supporting us following our blogs and encouraging us online I looked forward to the Cyber tent every day when we came in to camp. But I learnt much more it was about the journey in between the friendships the bonds and the sacrifices we all made to make it there we were all winners. I am so looking forward to catching up with old and new friends and sharing another great adventure.

Col and I are once again trying to raise money and awareness for the Australian childhood foundation they support children and families devastated by abuse, family violence and neglect something I hold very dear to my heart.  http://www.everydayhero.com.au/colin__sandy_suckling

Running became my medicine in life and when I was out running I could solve all my problems and it gave me a great sense of freedom......... the longer I learnt to run the better the mind felt not sure about the legs but they just learnt to cope. So my love of running was born and now Col and I go out running and solve all the problems of the world….. clearly we need to do more running.  Well Gobi will give us that opportunity and although the world issues may not be resolved we will certainly be well prepared to take on the Gobi desert and I am sure although we may cross all the boxes and tick of all we have to do before we leave something will come up left of field as it always does.........Like everyone else doing these events we will tackle everyday as it presents itself and cope in what ever way we can to get through the challengers trying not to let it beat us.

Well I have changed food around a bit more and managed to get the back pack down in weight a few more grms...…yeah …. Now I just have to hope I don’t get injured going into the event this time. It a fine line we all balance……… happy training and I look forward to following the Atacama with much anticipation to complete it in 2012…………………. Cheers all Sandy

After a wonderful time away in the wilderness of Tasmania we are back on the computer catching up with emails, downloading photos and recharging IPods etc. We have had the most magical time away and are ready to start our next level of training for Gobi. 

While away in the wilderness for 10 days we survived with what we could carry on our backs and filled water at mountain streams, checking maps and working out what the next lot of contours meant. The only thing we really worried about was food, water and not getting lost.....Oh yes and a dry place to put the tent at night. Oh if life was so simply I say to myself now that I am back in the rat race of life. Perhaps that is what takes us back to the desert.... Col and I still get asked “but why would you want to do that” and we still answer “well why not”..... is it complete madness to want to give up weekends and during the week get out of bed at some ungodly time of the morning to prepare yourself for such a challenge, getting totally obsessed with gear and food and be so excited every time you can get it down by another 100grams .......... well guess it is.......... and face it everything is possible it just depends on what you want to put yourself through to achieve the goal. Well we won’t die without wondering will we!!!!!!!!!!

Col has the spreadsheet on the go for our training and we have had discussions over the Sunday cups of coffee planning what we think is possible for us with all our work and family commitments.

I am back to researching more ideas on food & gear and plan to change a few things around on my spreadsheet. We found last time it worked well for us trying out all our gear and food in our training and it is surprising what we thought would be good sometimes didn’t work and we kept changing until we felt we had it somewhere right..........at the end of the day it’s what suits you as an individual.

I am thinking of changing my shoes but will stick with my sock combination. I tried so many things as I have always suffered from blisters and black toes in marathons and if there is one piece of advice I can give any first timer...... you need to look after your feet. Get it right in training and you are half way there........ it is the one thing that can prevent you from finishing the race....... the very one thing that can get so out of your control. My shoes were 1 ½ sizes bigger and after a few days had to loosen the laces and by the last day my feet had swollen so much I could only just get them on comfortably.  My socks I cut at the band as had so much fluid in my legs and they were cutting in but it was all manageable. The gaiters I will sew on again as that stopped anything going into the shoes. I was the most fusses with my feet than anything else, checking my socks and shoes each day and making sure nothing was going to rub my feet. Hydropel became my best friend and I covered my feet in it every morning.

Well better get back to updating the spreadsheet and doing a bit more research ......Happy training everyone. Sandy & Col

P.S. Rebecca so happy you have decided to sign up for Gobi hope we see the wonderful Steve at the check points cheering us on again.... Woot Woo ......

Were back .......!!!!! After much thought we have decided to experience another 4 Deserts challenge and here I am writing but another Blog. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was writing a Blog from our motel room in Cairo and wondering where that week had gone in the Sahara desert. The journey was amazing and to say I got a lot out of it would be an understatement.

We are just so excited that we have finally made the decision and will be back tackling the Gobi March in June 2011. It’s funny as now I feel focused something I hadn’t felt since I have been back from Sahara. I am quite pathetic really...... never mind could be worse

Well the obsession will start again on our gear, food and that back pack weight. There will be some tweaking on the “what didn’t work for us” and of course what did. Have to say learnt heaps of great ideas from fellow competitors. To say competitors doesn’t seem right as they were a lot more than that by the time we had finished the race....well more like a walk crawl whatever it took to get to the finish line......and that we did hand in hand over every finish line......... and yes I still proudly show of that medal which means far more than I ever would have imagined.

Well I enjoyed the interaction of the Blogs so expect many from me.......... happy to post the things that worked for us and what didn’t for any nembies...have to say thanks to all that shared information to Col and I on gear & food I am now a proud owner of a great spreadsheet that I will use once again.

Happy training everyone....geez just realised Col you are going to have to do up that training spreadsheet again.....Ummm some things on that will need a bit of tweaking too.....

One more thing hope I catch up with some of you wonderful people I met in Sahara..... .as Tina and I said you just have to press the SEND button...application done..... Sandy