Well, I had written other blog entries but I'm not quite sure why they didnt go through.  The race is over now, with just one ceremonial kilometer left to do around the pyramids.  I'll try to recap on the days I wrote byefore:
 
Day 2 was rough, but not nearly as bad as day 1.  Day 3 was 28 miles and we learned it was 122 degrees for the high that day.  On the morning of day 3 I had dumped any extra supplies and food.  Still, my pack weighed at least 15lbs.  I think if someone had told me that it was going to be 122 degrees that day I wouldnt have been able to make it through the day, but, not knowing the temperature or anything beyond needing to get to the next check point I pushed on.
 
Day 4 proved to be more difficult than day 3 though I think the temperature was only 120.  Wow, to think that people were passing out at the Chicago Marathon where it was only 90 that one year...I dont think of myself as any more prepared for these things, I just think that you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it--well, with the help of water of course.
 
Day 5--the final stage:  54 miles.  Okay, Im not going to lie, this day was murder.  Another hot one, and don't forget, we've had no opportunity to shower or clean up for any of this--the good news was that we started the day at 6am.  I jogged/walked until about 6pm with only 10-20min breaks at the rest stops(there were 6 rest stops until this point).  And the breaks really only consisted of refilling water and pulling out more electrolytes.  The water system I had originally planned on didn't work so I had managed to duct tape two water bottles to my straps of my back pack.  This worked fairly well, except they both leaked so my left side, which was used for electrolytes was caked with sugary slime for the duration of the race.  However, once you've run one 8 hour day with out showering it all seems to blend in and one extra coating of grime doesn't make a difference.  I was going strong on this day until about 10pm...mind you, I had started at 6am, having woken at 4am.  At 10 I had just completed a 35 minute power run and had decided I could finish the final 12 miles in 2 hours.  But then, it dawned on me, once I do those final 12 it will all be over.  All the planning all the training all the calorie counting and eating just right and missing out on this and that to train--all of that work for that moment.  So, I decided to savor it.  I turned out my head lamp and strolled through the next stage of 7 miles.  Okay, 7 miles is never a stroll but it was wonderful walking through the desert, completely alone for 2.5 hours with no other sounds but the wind and your foot steps and no other light except the stars and the moon. 
Then, I reached check point 8, the final check point.  Between there and the finish line it was supposed to be 5 miles.  Somehow, I actually became really depressed knowing that because I realized that even if I were to break my ankle I will still finish this race:  It was a done deal--I could crawl 5 miles after going 150 on foot.  Nothing was going to get in my way, and losing that uncertanity of "can i do it?!?"  Just killed it for me.   Ha ha, as a result, that final 5 miles was the toughest 5 and took me 2.5 hours and at some points it was so difficult (all soft sand dunes) I actually did think I was going to quit.
Well, I didn't quit, and I finished the race.  And now it's all over.  I did my 4 marathons and an ultra and then some in 120 degree heat, with a pack on my back, no music, no showering, no real food (I think my total calorie intake for the week was about 11,000).  It was a poor time for the final day but Im glad I had that time in the desert to savor the journey, because, ultimately, to enjoy life, that's really what you must do.  And I'm glad I finally learned to do that.

stage 1 and 2.
 
Well, where should i begin?  The first day of this race was actually the shortest: 21 miles.  Sadly, though, I finished it in a miserable time of 7 hours.  I thought i would start the day off easy and walk the first portion.  big mistake.  the problem is that once 11am hits the sun is extremely hot and there's just no way you can run.  so, i walked the whole thing, and, of course in true sharon style i forgot to drink or take in electrolytes until 4 hours into it when my muscles started cramping up and i felt nauseous.  I came in exhausted and hardly motivated to eat, let alone write in the blog. 
today I made some changes to my bag and felt all geared up to run the first part of the race, but, sadly, not one hour into it my water bottle came loose, and my bag broke open ans spilled all my stuff onto the trail.  Still, I did remember to take in a proper amount of electrolytes so, I finished 49th today...And I probably could have done better had i not stopped to take photos. 
 
Oh, and Kevin, you were so right about the trekking poles and no appetite and well, pretty much everything. lol.
 
okay, gotta go force down some protein bars.

So, after an exhausting journey over here:  Awake from 10am on Wednesday until Friday at 1130pm, I got a little rest (jet lagged sleep is never good) and now it's Saturday morning and I'm about to do my equipment check.  I only have 5 minutes to write this so I will have to make it short. 

I must say it's very nice to finally be surrounded by other people that are equally as "nuts" as I am and see that they are actually normal.  

Well, wish me luck.  I will be writing again tomorrow,\

Sharon

So, the week of the race is finally upon us...this went by way too quickly!  I don't feel ready but I'm not sure if I would ever feel completely prepared.  I have 24 hours of work left, getting off of work at 4am the night before my flight out to Cairo.  It's been a whirlwind of a week.

Last night was my final run: a short 6 miles on the tredmill before hitting the sauna.  Someone told me that the best way to get ready for the climate is to sit in a sauna until you've sweat about a liter of fluid.  I've sat in the sauna every night since Friday and plan to continue sitting in there for one hour each night (great way to catch up with reading).  

Sharon