Sitting on a sleeper train heading back to Cairo from Aswan after 3 weeks touring around after completing the Sahara race we are now discussing what’s next!!!

We fly back tomorrow to home and arrive the next day to family members and friends whom we will be very excited to see. We have had the best time which was a combination of some days in Cairo visiting temples, the museum, the Citadel & Alabaster Mosque, the many Pyramids and back to complete as a tourist now the Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx. We then from Cairo travelled West to the Suez Canal then on into Sinai to do some hiking all around the Sinai region. We stayed in a Bedouin house a very simple life style and did a series of stunning day walks anything from 6 to 10hr walking meeting many local tiny villages on the way and be invited in for lovely refreshing mint tea. Communities nestled in the rocky surroundings such an amazing sight.  Mt St Catherine was a highlight and a great challenging walk followed by ascending the famous Mt Sinai starting at 2am in the morning to arrive for sunrise a truly remarkable experience. We then descended down the “Steps of Repentance” and then had breaky at the Monastery. We headed further south and snorkeling in the Red Sea took a boat trip down the Nile and took in sights of rural life and villages along the way. We checked out Bazaar market places and ate many Falafels on the streets. The Turkish coffee was an acquired taste but one we challenged our taste buds too. Then our final lap of this venture after a month in Egypt is the sleeper train back to Cairo a 13 ½ hr trip. We then catch our flight back to Melbourne.

Well what’s next …..after much discussion we have decided Atacama 2012…but we have decided for 2011 we are going to do a marathon in each state/Territory in Australia. Now for those that don’t know there are 6 states and 1 Territory…..yes that is seven marathons in one year …ummm not bad I am thinking either that or crazy…what the hec just do it anyway. It will be great training for Atacama the following year.

Well all thanks for the memories, the friendships and catch you some day in the future….

Well here we are sitting in the motel room back in Cairo a week of our lives have passed and it is truly hard to believe that is the case. We are very different people than those that walked out the doors a week ago, nervous very apprehensive and wondering about so many things as we boarded the bus to the Sahara desert. A group of individuals we started but friendships have now formed and we all admire so many things about each other as out there in the desert we became a team and every one of us was a winner as we all took on the challenge in the first place. We all have great admiration for each other if you came first, last or didn’t even finish we all played a very important role as each and every day brought up new challenges.

The long day brought up many challenges for Col and I and we realized that at our lowest point we could give just a little more and if that wasn’t enough then we just had to dig deeper and give more again. It is truly incredible how far you can push yourself when you think you are totally spent and that we continued to do.  During the day it was its usual hot sun beating down on us and out in the desert there is no shade cover to get away from it and then night falls and the coolness comes but brings across a new challenge of tiredness and uneven ground seeing a few competitors spraining ankles. Going through the Valley of the Whales was so uplifting and such an incredible place I took so many pictures and to see Whale bones from billions of years ago was a real treat was hard not to stay longer but we were conscious of the cut of times. The hot water and sleep spot was checkpoint 6 which we made around 10. 30pm and was great to rehydrate some food and have a hot meal in your stomach. I had a crisis just before checkpoint 6 with the inflammation in the joint in my back giving me so much grief I was gritting my teeth and just wanted to stop so mentally this was my lowest time a few tears were shed but after arriving at checkpoint 6 eating and taking the weight of my feet for awhile I was in far better shape to continue so that we did slow and steady. Another competitor Michael from America had asked if he could join us so we all walked along together and chatted away it was great. Michael was struggle a bit so it was nice to get him into the next checkpoint where he was so spent he wanted to stay and have a quick nap and we continued on…..The Ipod came in very handy and then it was great to see the sun rising but it took all our mental toughness to get to that finish line and across the mud crusted flats. As the sun beat down on us with no mercy Col muttered I am so spent I don’t think I have anything left to give however he found something left and as we walked towards the finishing banner with the drums beating I started to cry we could finally rest it was 10am in the morning and we had made it……….only a short few kms and we had achieved what we had come he to do and much much more……….

It was so great to see our tent buddies and they all gave words of phrase. I asked my usual question to Andes as I collapsed on the tent floor was so are you still number one the answer yes I was so happy for him he is such a humble person and his words of phrase to us on what we had achieved was so nice. We have been very lucky to share a tent with such a mixture of competitors all with stories to tell which has made this event even more special.

The following day we had our final lap of the Pyramids and it was all I dreamed of and more. So so incredible I took lots of pictures and running up on the red carpet, camel’s flags of all the countries, drums beating people cheering I was tingling all over I held Col’s hand and did a spin and crossed the finish line with a kiss…WOW WOW WOW We were given our medals and I couldn’t hold back the emotions this was a magical moment I will never forget. 

 Well to sum it all up I can’t really at the moment I need some time to reflect and take it all in look at the photos and have a realization of all we have achieved. I will follow up with a blog in few days on our food and gear and how that all work for us for future reference and for any future newbies that might be interested. I do know one thing we will be back!!!! Atacama & Gobi sound pretty great to me and after all we have new found friends we have to catch up with Woo Hoo……. As for now I think we deserve some relaxation and some sightseeing in this truly amazing country…… Thank you to everyone who commented and got us through each and every day and to the wonderful RTP staff, volunteers and all the incredible competitors that started this journey with us team Sahara 2010 Thank you xxxx

Sitting in the foyer of a air conditioned 5 star motel in Cairo with 250km of desert to cover on foot is quite hard to describe how one feels…..apart from nervous, excited and thoughts going around in my brain of can I get the weight down more in my backpack……. Well the room is a mess with food and gear everywhere and Col and I are now going through every article to make sure it is needed and can we make any last minute changes and of course the same thing is on everyone’s mind how much does your backpack weigh…… It has been so lovely to meet the wonderful RTP staff and put faces to names what a great bunch of people.  Competitors have been arriving and it has been so nice chatting with them all there is a lovely feeling of comradeship already and we have meet so many wonderful people. Well this is it the next Blog will be from the Cyber tent somewhere in Sahara desert all seems quite unreal…… just hope there is no tears on the first day. Thanks to all for their comments on our Blog we are sure going to need them at the end of each long long day ahead of us….of course there is every chance that will make we laugh and cry all at the same time…….I know I am a women I can multi skill……Mark all I can say is go Saints but there is no doubt one of us will be happy…….Kerry I have my butterfly on my shirt and have no doubt it will keep us safe………. Mickey make sure you have a beer for us and as you would say Bring it On……. xxx

Wow can you believe how time has flown and in amongst the chaos of organisation it has also been a humbling week of many catch ups before we leave. Well yes Sam the house does look like a camping ground and I have checked and checked the gear many times I keep thinking can I get a few more grams out of that pack...but as soon as I think I can yeap there is something else I think of putting in that was on the list. Well hope everyone is doing fine and will be great to see faces to names when we meet in Cairo. Col and I are very nervous but also very exciting and I am so happy we are achieving this goal together. Many of you will be catching up from previous races you have done and I am so inspired by you all and will be great to hear all the stories just don’t make then to scary I am nervous enough already...ha ha ha

Yes we have had a great week catching up with friends and family and it has been very humbling to receive such lovely well wishes so thank you to each and every one of you. We also had a great time at the gym were Mel our instructor had organised a fundraiser along with Deb what a fantastic bunch of gym junkies you all are thanks just doesn’t seem enough..... Also to everyone that has helped me get this pack to some sort of order I need to say thanks heaps...food/gear I was totally confused about it all but now I seem to have some type of handle on the whole thing. Kelly your spreadsheet has been brilliant thanks so much.

Another big thank you is to Lululemon who have given us some great gear to get us to the finish line ......to the wonderful Aaron from KX Pilates for his professional wit & charm and of course for all the strength and stretching of our bodies. Thanks also to Natasha and the team at “Cafe Coffea” a hidden gem in Narre Warren Nth for their support and for donating 10c for every coffee sold over the last 3mths so very much appreciated.

To our gorgeous children and grandchildren we know you all support us and you have had to put up with us being busy all the time training but we love you lots and yes Nana and Poppy are going to bring back that medal.....just for you all..............

Well my footy team the wonderful Saints drew today in the Grand Final who would have thought that.....ummmm.... all of Melbourne is in shock actually make that Australia....of course this means they will need to play next week ....please someone post and let me know what happens.............

Now the final note to our office staff/buddies while we are on LSL “BEHAVE” and only make mistakes you can fix yourselves...... I know ya dee da da da ........ okay enough of that...

Well .....Cairo here we come..... I sure hope I can fit all that stuff on the floor in my backpack.... Will keep you posted ...cheers to all.

What a weekend that started out with kangaroo v’s car... the worst weather forecast predicted for the state, yes our odds were already not looking good.....Outcome:-Roo dead, car needs repairs, and unfortunately they had the weather forecast right....... Arrhhh but wait there is more, yeap, mud, slush, rain, flooded tracks, wading through freezing cold water, creek crossings deep and rising, leeches in the billions....okay a little exaggerated but I do have 9 lovely bites on my legs, one on my arm and for some reason Col only got one, yes one on his face...ummm. Then the fun in the sand, I fell and slid down it bum first as it gave way, Col slid down it jumping over water, I did crack up laughing but that soon turned on me when I took a different route and slipped face down...and yes Col laughed hysterically....go Col ha ha ha so funny..... boy are we going to have some fun in Sahara was all I could think....... but the rain kept belting on us and we had to keep moving or we just got far too cold....Sahara I don’t think!!!! And if that wasn’t all enough we did 60km of trail, rock hopping, river crossing, tree root jumping and night walking and then got up and did half of that all over again the next day......... But there was one bonus we got to see Whales up close on the shore so so amazing. We heard them first then boulder hopped to get up close to them and right in front of us they were just rolling around in the surf........ they would pop up their heads and just look around felt like they were checking us out too ... we just stood there and although cold and wet we were memorised by the whole experience.

We tried all the food again and changed only a few things that last time didn’t work. That was again a worthwhile exercise. We had planned to come in the last bit in darkness but it was slow going over the day with the track being flooded and muddy so we spent the last 2 hrs in the darkness. I would have to say that was some experience and worth doing as you are tired and all you want to do is get into camp but you so so have to concentrate. It put a whole new perspective to the journey.

Things that worked well for us were:

·         Mixture of rice snacks and nuts in a snap lock bag

·         Mix of RTP’s jelly beans, Gu-chomps & power bar chews in snap lock

·         For me RTP’s Perpetum divided into snap locks and spread out over the day

·         A cup of soup (instead of noodles) and some crushed up chips when we finished

·         I pod Shuffle was great and only weighs 20grams

·         Pacer poles have been great and finally learnt the art of running with them.

·         Hydropel, injinji sock liners and over socks have worked a treat in stopping me getting so many blisters

·         Powder egg from supermarket added to main dry meal pkt or noodles adds calories and light in grams.

·         Col cramps heaps and the RTP salt tablets have been great for him and Hi five 4:1

·         RTP’s Endurolytes have been good for me as I can’t stomach sweet electrolytes

·         Small Solomon pouch at front with all food in for day and side pockets with sunscreen, sanitiser & camera worked well. First Aide in top meant didn’t have to open back of pack which was great.

Well another weekend upon us and I am thinking a massage could be on the agenda after a short run on the trails to give the legs a bit of recovery from last weekend. Ohh not long to go now and I will be checking my gear a few more times yet. Do need to say, sorry Kelly, yes I did let the secret out.....ha ha ha.......

Reflecting back over the day’s events I wonder to myself how we cram so much into a day but then I ponder on this amazing journey we are experiencing called life. I guess life is about choices and when Col and I signed up for Sahara we both looked at each other and said well now it’s real and we are committed to completing this journey whatever it takes. So getting out of bed at 4.30am this morning to fit in a 2 hour run at 4deg c. before we start work seems all like too much effort but one we have chosen to do to get fitter for this challenge. Time is going quickly and we are hoping now that all we have done is enough to get us to the finishing line in Sahara. One thing we can’t simulate is the weather it’s hard to imagine how hot 50deg c. is....mind boggling really. And here we are longing for some warmer weather but winter is holding on and our headlight torches are getting plenty of use in our morning training sessions before work. We sure are in for a shock when we get to Cairo.

One of the best trainings we have done a couple of weekends ago was to go bush,(Wilsons Promontory for those that live here) and do two days of 44km (well more like 45km as we made detours to fill water by creeks) We also trialled all the food we thought we would use in a day in Sahara. I would have to say it was a very worthwhile venture and the hardest thing was when we returned to the camping area, were we had hired a cabin for the night, and the cafe was still open...ummmmm we were heading back to eat our dried meal packet of food and that cafe food sure looked good....but we had to be strong. Okay we did succumb to a caffeine fix of a long black coffee......but geez we did hit the freezing cold ocean as recovery and I can tell you I hate cold and I had to do a lot of convincing to myself that it was going to help......and yes it did!! We pulled up pretty good the next day for a further 45km loop although I will say it was more like a shuffle than a run when we finally came into camp completing the 90km over the two days. We felt good with what we had achieved and although our running styles are quite different we have learnt lots about running together.

We came away from the weekend re jigging a few things and now have a better understanding of what it’s like to do long back to back days. With some wonderful advice and help I had put a spreadsheet together of food and gear and it was great to see how it worked in reality and now I feel confident to swap a few things around to best suit our needs.

Other things we learnt:

·         How not to leave the zip open on front pouch and loose some food out of it.

·         To stop and remove sandy pebbles from shoes before you get a blood blister

·         When crossing creeks go to the shallow end .....hey Col ..great picture thou

·         Don’t drop top of water bottle when filling with water as sand and dirt don’t taste great

·         When tired lift your feet so you don’t trip on rocks or tree roots

·         Okay I have to admit cold ocean water, actually icy water, is great for recovery......

The list could go on but will keep you posted on the next big challenge in a week’s time ....... 60km Saturday and then a 45km Sunday. If we can nail that one I think mentally we will be far better off ....also will have another trial of the food and then  “Sahara here we come”...countdown has already started and we are so excited but also so petrified and unofficial have named ourselves “Team Poo Pants” but that’s our secret..... geez now I have gone and blabbed it out...........Happy training everyone whatever your challenge is in life good luck.....

Count down has started and I find myself now spending much time checking gear, making decisions on food and of course getting obsessed with what it all weighs. My brain is working overtime and my frown marks are getting worse and the hours we spend training all of a sudden feel less stressful than getting the backpack down to a weight that is manageable. Being first timers I am not sure that I even know what that is so I read every ones blogs to get some type of idea in my head and then do a panic as I crunch numbers (not the normal numbers I crunch at work) these are numbers that are painful if I don’t lower them more. I am sure others have felt this way in the past and perhaps like me are feeling that way now.

But Colin and I have another challenge on our plate and that is to raise money for the Australian Childhood Foundation an organisation that works tirelessly to support children and families devastated by abuse, family violence and neglect.

Our goal is to raise both money and awareness for such a worthy cause and one which is particularly near and dear to our hearts and one which I have battled in the past. You can move on but the scars and questions unanswered remain. So you can see this is a personal journey but one that also gives us strength to continue each and every day to complete this epic and extraordinary adventure.  We are asking for nothing in funds our self as we are fully funding our own trip but what we do ask is for you to  jump online and if you can support this worthy cause, we would be very grateful.

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/colin__sandy_suckling

To all those that have donated so generously already , encouraged & supported us in our training, helped with food & gear preparation,  and to all those  friends, work colleges, gym mates, complete strangers we meet in our training in weekends, you have all made us feel very humble in your words and emails of phrase.... we thank you all.

The one other thing that gives Col and me strength everyday is our wonderful blended family. We not only have 5 children between us and their partners of course but we have nine grandchildren that give us the greatest of joy and pleasure in our lives. They give us strength every step of the way as they are what our life is all about. I will certainly be carrying a photo of my little cherubs all the way through Sahara to remind me of how lucky and blessed I am in my life.

It’s hard to imagine in less than 3 months we are going to be in Cairo. I keep looking at the training spreadsheet Col has done and the ticks are filling the boxes and the red box is getting closer that says “fly to Cairo”. My sights are still firmly focused on that box and as winter sets in and sunlight is rare now in our early morning training before work I keep that goal in my thoughts as some days I would just like to stay in the warm comfort of my bed. Col is the morning person and pushes me out at 5am with words of encouragement......like ... geez its cold and I think the rain is set in......I don’t wish to know any of that but the body moves and I am reminded by Col that this will toughen us up mentally to brave these winter conditions......ummmm ...I have to agree nature is not going to turn its charm on in the desert and that is what this is all about...so toughen up I do and jump out of bed.....actually stagger and moan more to the point.

 I wonder how I will feel sitting out at the airport waiting for our flight to Cairo, hoping the training has been enough, the backpack isn't too heavy and worried sick that my body will hold up to whatever presents itself.......sounds dramatic but guess the nerves take over every now and then and the brain starts playing games....well as Col and I always say get over it, get up and keep moving..... one foot in front of each other and that is what we will do encouraging each other every step of the way.

At this point food/hydration-electrolytes seem to be our biggest challenge. Working out how to keep the weight down, calories up and not feel hungry....for me probable trying to keep the food down when really I'd rather chuck up...sorry for that visual. If anyone has anything to pass on that would help we would appreciate even the smallest of tips.

 Well its wet and very cold outside so looks like the thermals and waterproofs are in the backpack for tomorrows training something I sure won’t need in Sahara. Take care all and happy training.

Well the months are passing by and I have read many blogs, researched gear, been to a sports nutritionist, and followed RTP events. Col & I have tried backpacks, water bottle holders, food and gear to see what works best for us. After running on roads and bike paths we have discovered the beauty of running on bush trails and the challengers it brings with a back pack strapped to your body. I have discovered places I have never had blisters and rub marks that I am sure I could have shown as trophies but I keep telling myself there is an end goal.…it is to get to the finishing line and along the way raise awareness and funds to support families devasted by abuse.

Col has done an impressive spreadsheet, even colour coded it, of our training and commitments for the coming months and as I sit here looking at it the thing that stands out the most is the red box at the end that says fly to Cairo… I just can’t lose sight of that….all I have to do now is tick of all the other boxes and put in the hard yards… gosh sounds easy in the comfort of my office eating my lunch!!..ummm

 This is our first ever event of this type and after signing up I was both excited at the challenge and downright petrified that I was seriously now committing myself to make it to the end no matter what….My brain is going YES you can do this my body is going NO you are mad don’t…well at that moment I remember my first marathon and I thought I was never going to make the distance but I did and I still draw a lot of strength from that as at one stage when I decided to get fit and lose some weight I couldn’t even run 500m to the corner of our property.

Life doesn’t always go the way you want and certainly hasn’t for Col and I but every obstacle just pushes us to a new level and each time you learn just a little bit more about yourself. Well this journey has started and as my friend Mickey would say “BRING IT ON”... Sandy and Colin