On this last day before I depart for Namibia, there are many thoughts and emotions running through my mind. I have trained consistently. No injuries. I have all my required equipment and double checked that they work. I’m bringing duplicates of some items in case anyone has forgotten something. My pack is as light as it reasonably can be. I’ve got my pretested nutrition/hydration/electrolyte plan. This is the behavior of someone whose first RTP attempt resulted in a DNF. All we must do now is get to Swakopmund on time.

Remember don’t hand carry your knife/multitool and hiking poles on your flights. Put them in your checked luggage or they could be confiscated. I feel a little naughty bringing large bags of white powder, a box of small plastic bags for repackaging, and an electronic scale. How much should I hand carry and how much should I trust having my checked luggage make it all the way to Walvis Bay? Sometimes you just have to have faith.

I’m looking forward to stepping up to the start line again. One foot in front of the other, pink flag to pink flag, checkpoint to checkpoint, and the sound of the drums at camp. Hydrate consistently with electrolytes and take in those carbs/calories. Before you know it, you will be in camp. Don’t forget to look around at the incredible scenery we will be experiencing. The checkpoints are great places to stop, hydrate, and pull yourself together. The volunteers do an outstanding job taking care of us.

I’m looking forward to seeing friends from Gobi and Atacama and meeting new ones. Have an epic race!

It is time to check and recheck that you have all the required equipment and nutrition. I’ve got everything neatly arranged in one room ready for packing. Don’t freak out if you forget something or it gets confiscated in transit. Many of us bring duplicates/backups. If you get to Swakopmund and realize you forgot something, just put out the word (WhatsApp) and I’m sure someone will have what you need.

It is exciting to hear that nearly half of the participants are doing their first RTP race. My biggest tip for first timers ….. get that pack weight down as much as possible! My second biggest tip, have a nutrition/hydration/electrolyte plan for when you are on the course each day. Have fun! We will be in the middle of the Namib Desert! How cool is that?

Send your friends the link to follow your progress (suffering) each day. They will track you with great interest. Tell them that they can send you messages during the race through RTP. Receiving these messages from friends and family is great for the spirit. You will leave the Cyber Tent with a smile.

Get ready for a great adventure!

Wow, it is now about 4 weeks before we all make our way to Swakopmund, Namibia. Well, at some point, I am going to remember how to pronounce Swakopmund. I think it is finally starting to stick. I can tell by the chatter from the WhatsApp group that people are getting excited. First timers may be getting anxious about the unknown even after watching RTP videos over and over again. It is nice to see the veterans providing information and tips. Btw, check out Jeff Pelletier’s 2021 Namib Race report (https://jeffpelletier.com/racing-the-planet-namibia-ultra) and his wonderful 9-part video series about the Namib Race (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9zH676KAK0).

Last year I did my first ultramarathon race, a 50K at the Pistol Ultra in Alcoa, Tennessee. I used it as a rehearsal for the Gobi March, carrying my pack weighted with 6 kg. It was an important practice and I learned that I needed to be more consistent with my hydration and nutrition. What I discovered about ultras at that race was that there is a lot of walking. For the great majority of us it is more about finishing than being fast. Holding back a bit during Stage 1 is probably helpful for the rest of the week.

I already have my freeze-dried food for the race, but Stowaway Gourmet just announced two new dishes, Rogan Josh (lamb) and Kimchi Jjigae (pork belly). I couldn’t resist and will try them. I have pretested all my food to pick the ones I really like and sit well in my stomach, so that I look forward to them when I finish each stage. Nutrition is so important but each person is different.

In this last month before the race, there is still plenty of time to get some good training accomplished, equipment tested, and hydration/nutrition figured out. I look forward to hearing Sam say each morning “Good morning everybody!” which signals the beginning of each day.

Having a solid reason or motivation for attempting these types of races is important because when things get tough (and they can get tough) and you are struggling on course, a strong motivation for attempting the race will help get you through difficult times.

My first attempt at an RTP race was the 2022 Atacama Crossing but I had to withdraw at CP3 during Stage 2 because I was exhausted (pack too heavy, improper nutrition and electrolytes) and would not make the cut off in time. I thought I had a strong motivation to attempt the race but now I realize that my motivation was more of a curiosity than a determination to finish such a race. I had not trained properly to handle the logistics of such a complex race.

My motivation for the 2023 Gobi March was to prove to myself, knowing that I had trained properly (lots of rehearsal with a weighted pack) with the guidance of a coach who understood my goals, that I should be able to finish this type of race. If not, then maybe I had gotten too old for these types of races. Well, I finished! It wasn’t a walk in the park but the only time I struggled a bit was climbing up one of the steep sand dunes which was more of an annoyance. I was literally climbing up on my hands and knees.

My motivation for Atacama 2023 was knowing that I should be able to finish this race (having finished the Gobi March) and I didn’t want to fail and have to come back a third time! I finished! Another motivation that spurred me on was that if I finished Atacama 2023 I would qualify for the Last Desert, Antartica. In retrospect, I might come back to do the Atacama Crossing again because it was really fun and challenging. Doing the Long March in the Atacama Desert lit by a full moon was incredible.

My motivation for the 2024 Namib Race is join the 4 Deserts Club!

So, do some reflection and figure out your motivation to complete the Namib Race! Make it a strong motivation that will drive you forward in the Namib Desert when things are going well but also when they get tough.

I think it was late summer in 2019 when I came across a YouTube video for the Atacama Crossing by Racing the Planet. I was captivated. Although I had completed multiple marathons and Ironman triathlons, I had never considered doing an ultra-distance race let alone one for a whole week in the desert, sleeping in tents and eating freeze-dried food. I wondered if I could complete such a race. It seemed at the edge of my abilities. However, I was encouraged learning that there were checkpoints every ~10K. I could wrap my head around 10K. It was exactly the challenge I was seeking. Little did I know I was taking the first steps into a great adventure.

I wanted to do the 2019 Atacama Crossing but I didn’t think I had enough time to train for the September race. However, I was too excited to wait for Atacama 2020, so I registered and started training for the Namib Race scheduled for April 2020. But then of course the pandemic began and the race was postponed.

Fast forward to February 2024 and I am registered for the Namib Race. It recently hit me that it has been four years since I first considered doing this race. Last year, I was able to complete the Gobi March and Atacama Crossing. Now, here we all are training for the 2024 Namib Race. I know it will be a great experience!