RACE INFO

RACE INFO

RACE INFO

RTP Home

Namib Race Blogs 2008

Henrik Eiberg

8

Posts

Namib Race (2008) blog posts from Henrik Eiberg

01 November 2008 09:49 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

100,2 km I must admit is a long run and putting sand on the course doesn't make it easier or running at night on rocks but ithas been worth every bit of the 14 hours and 41 minutes it took us getting in. We arrived after minight and the only right thing to do was too get some food and go to sleep right away!
 
Being in the top 25 we started out at 10 am and the rest started at 8 am it was a fast small crowed that started out and we gave our best shot to stay up front and get as much land covered before the night would arrive because running in sand and on rocks can be tough with only a headlight. We kept goiing fast and kept our check point times trying not to spen to much time at the check points to gain moretime on our competitors and it seems it worked.
 
After passing the first 50km things get lighter and you feel you can reach the end but that doesn't mean that you only hae wonerful thoughts, no pain and lovely running because in a 100km run you do hae lots of time to think and think once again and so many things go through your head  all after what mood you are in at that moment  it can be good or bad - you love the scenery, you feel free, you feel lucky to get to do this in the sunset there is so many nice thoughts but also thoughts like where is the next check point, avuuuu my feet are hurting, my legs are sore, why am I doing this, I just hate sand, would it not be better if I just stopped etc...But it is all thoughts you can play with an just let them pass because you no within time there will be good thoughts coming along your way.
 
It gets dark around 6 pm so we ha many hours in the black night because there is no moon anywhere but a picture perfect star nigth and on the run we got to see what must have been the biggest shooting star for many years it felt like we followed that shooting star for 10 seconds it was an amazing view an gave us all energy.
 
Running this far you just have times where you go inside your self and listen to nothing but your body which happens quite often the farther you get.....we just ran and ran and ran and ran until we reached the finish line and trust me it was a wonderful sight which I would not have changed for anything.
 
During the course I must admit my knee got worse actually really bad but I was out there and just wanted to finish and nothing would be able to stop me I ha a goal and for sure I would make it. In the beginning i could run with no real problems but then the pain began to come on and of but once ignored it would just disappear and I woul be out of pain for along while. The last 30-40 km my knee went really bad an every time we came to a check point my knee would lock up and I woul have a very tough time with lots of pain getting back in the run - I just ha to keep moving my leg for the last 3 check points to make sure I could carry on.
 
Right after finish line we just had something to eat and went to bed but did that hurt!!!! laying down and letting your boy relax it just went crazy legs, hip, angels just went stiff an started to hurt my body was cold and I started to freeze and just ha a tough night - just got up a few hours ago an now it is 9 am an the sun i starting to come out and I will have to relax for the ay before we get put into busses in the middel of the night for at 6 hour bus drive an then dropped of out side Cairo to run the last apx. 5 km crossing that final finish line - I JUST CAN'T WAIT.
 
For the record we did win the team event when we just after 50 km passed the team laying second and that is with us starting 2 hours later than them!
 
This will probably be the las blogging I will be oing but I really hope you all enjoyed and didn't go to crazy with all my spelling mistakes and typing errors. I am really happy for all of you that haebeen sendingme emails which has done a big difference when I got back to camp every night- Thank you to all of you out there.
 
I will at the same time send out a big thanks to all our sponsors who made all this possible with out SIPA (Swiss International Proberty Advisors), Teko Socks, Tissot and Udo's Choice Thank you all.
 
Now I will relax and enjoy the few days which is left before we are all heading back to I am sure cold Denmark, many phone calls, lots of emails etc....
 
Take care and once you should give your self the treat to try this out it is tough but worth eerybit of it.
 
Henrik
 
 

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 02 Nov 2008 04:33 pm

Congratulations to all of you!!! Enjoy your well deserved rest and take care of that knee!! Talk at you soon.

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 08:15 pm

We are proud of you chief. Showing us how to break the limits

30 October 2008 03:24 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

39km, 42 degrees, sand, oasis and the black desert.
 
4th stage is done and with a good result once again we are the first team arriving at camp and apx. 20 as individuals so we have done good with tough competitors out there and with that extra factor of being a team. Working as a team is so much different then  just running by your selfand I could higly recommend that teams probably should have done a bit of training together to get to know each others strong and weak sides small things really matters  - Like can you eat and drink while running, what pace(speed) do everybody run at and then ofcourse what is the over all goal for the stage and for the event. I actually think we as a team has managed really good with out much training together but it is still tough to follow others pace and that is one thing why running  as a team is such a different thing. I have enjoyed running as a team so much and has learned so much. A big thanks goes out to both Thomas and Jacob for making this experience so good.
 
Todays running was super and for the first time I did not feel much of my knee and I have had so much extra enegy all day and still have so maybe I have run my self into good shape and hopefully I can benefit from that tomorow on the long run 100 km it will be a long but for sure wonderful run. Running through the desert arriving at an oasis in the middel of no where was just so different but nice and after that heading towards the balck desert where they really turned up the heat with temperatures reaching at some points all the way to 42 degrees I am happy I like the hot weather and just feels like a machine that could keep on running for days.
 
It feels like it all just began but then again in only few days it is all over which I find sad all this nice weather, wonderful scenery and all the nationalities togheter just makes a perfect experience but I willfor sure enjoy the last days and by now I am pretty sure we will win(second team is around 3h50m behind us)  the team competition if not one of us brakes down so it has been worht every pain and every bad thought. Almost sounds like I have been through the 100km already but they are still waiting ahead and many things ofcourse can happen.
 
Running out there for that many hours really clears out your mind and so many thoughts go through your head once running you just have to make sure it is not your ego taking over but you taking over for your body! It is so great when we run and little by little we every day cath up and "eat" the other runners one by one.....almost all of them :-)
 
Life at camp is just wonderfull - I have had my noodels when we got in and they were GOOD today I also have a soup and a real meal to get more calories ffor the long day. Most of all the runners are happy but still it is in almost everybodys mindwhat is going to happen tomorrow - the 100km and thoughts like will I make, is it going to be hard, have I got enough energy, tomorrow I will just run slow all thoughts which almost will be gone after crossing the starting line tomorrow morning.
 
Well I will go out and enjoy the sun and the goodcompany from around the world - take it easy and thank you to those of you who have already send me an email.
 
Here a quick note in danish:
 
Jeg skal hilse tusinde gange og sende millioner af kys fra baade Thomas og Jacob til baade kaerester og familie - de savner jer. begge har faaet nogle flotte vabler som de stolt viser frem inden de skal ordne fodder. Saa er der selvfolgelig nogetomme staengermen ellersermodet helt i top.
 
Hej Skat,
 
Haaber alt er vel i lille Dk og du nyder livet mens jeg er lidt vaek. Tak for din mail ved ikke om nogen ikke er kommet frem eller du har ligget lidt paa den lade side :-) Tusinde tak for din stotte opmod lobet og din forstaaelse for at det betyder utrolig meget for mig at kunne komme vaek paa denne maade og det e paa trods af at jeg savner dig. Jeg var dog ikek helt tilfreds  med atdu ikke troede jeg ville gennem forer at du har kunnet holde fast paa det saa laenge skulle jo kun gore at jeg skulle vise dig anderledes saa nu kender du mig forhaabentligt endnu bedre - det er super vigtigt som  jeg altid siger, at vi finder de gode ting ved det vi laver :-) 
 
Jeg maa jo nok ogsaa erkende at dette loeb som ikke giver os 1. pladsen individuelt gor jo at der er noget tilgode for mig saa du maa jo nok saette dig op efter endnu en lobe, som vil kraever lidt ekstra stoette og support. Det behover jo ikke vaere lige nu men some day..... Glaeder mig til vi ses knus Henrik
 
Cross fingers for tomorrow
 
Henrik
 

Comments: Total (5) comments

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 08:14 am

Hej Henrik. Vi venter spændt på at høre om de 100 km. Hvor er det dejligt, at det går godt for dig. p.s. kassen er ikke tom. hihi

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 09:43 pm

Kære Henrik, Jeg skulle lige hilse fra Canada - Island og Australien, Michell skriver : "I am watching and rooting for Henrik... he is really crazy but I admire him." Nyd det hele, I klar det uden at brænde ud - FLOT - Thomas har fået en hundehvalp. Mor

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 08:56 am

Stort tillykke , fantastisk og velkommen i mål--- afventer med stor spænding ref. fra de sidste 100km. body jan

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 05:10 pm

Namibia ought to be your next challenge ! Sahara is a beauty - you just wait for the southern Africa dunes and deserts. But WELL DONE - wise words about co-operating - just pamper your knee - you have only two days left!! And what is wrong with winning the team section ?

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 09:20 am

Hej Henrik, Hvor er det godt gået!! :-)) og vi er glade for at dit knæ holder. Det er sjovt at læse din blog, så skriv endelig noget mere. Vi krydser fingre... Kæmpe knus fra Store Søs

29 October 2008 09:12 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

Another 39km has passed by and my legs are tired after a long run - we did great today and I thought I had seen sanddunes the other days but today we got to see sanddunes and i mean real sanddunes deep soft sand planted like a mountain in the middel of no where and ofcourse we had to go through lots of dunes it was tough but a sight with nothing like it. All the day was through sand and you just have to accept your feet dicking in and slowes you down. After this day we are still the leading team and with the time covered today we are 2h 30m ahead.  If my knee sticks in and do not get much worse I am sure we will win but my knee is not to good and everyday I have to go through lots of pain but once I have had pain for a while the body gets used to the pain and I just accept the situation on the passes where we walk it is very tough getting back in gear with the pain once again coming back but dropping out has probably never been an option. I just keep my fingeres crossed that I will not do any real damage to my knee!
 
There is nothing like arriving in camp it really must be one of the greatest things in life after a long day with 40 degrees, pain and heavy legs just getting to lay down, feet up, making your recovery drink and relax for a while until it's time for a soup or some noodles - just can't wait for my noodles today :-) that is enjoying life to the fullest.....
 
All the challenge with blisters, sore backs, feet and nails about to come of is about to start - Jacob on the team has already lost a few nails or they are on the way because blisteres are pushing and wwe all have bloody blisters but again you learn so much from these things - by now I no how to treat blisteres inn so many ways and how to handle heat stroke and I am sure there is a lot more to learn out there from all the challenge we go through.
 
Jacob and Thomas sends there love to both of there loved once - they have talked and talk about them now for hours and I thought I would let you know :-) no being away from home this way makes you appriciate so many things in life which I am sure many others take for granted and ofcurse we all miss things back home and ofcourse I miss my wonderfull Louise, thank you for the mail(got one from you so far). Please let the mails keep coming it gives a kick - just remember comments on the blog I can not read only the emails sent through the racing the planet site.
 
All in all the spiret is up and we are going strong so far. Others have to blog so I will let them take over and leave you with this final note that you really should see some of the pictures because once again the scenery is not possible to put into words!
 
Henrik

Comments: Total (1) comments

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 08:15 pm

Imponerende! At du stadig er med. At du også har overskud til at skrive. Vi er med dig. KH HK PS: Kom ikke hjem før tid, vi prøver at tømme firmakassen... ;o)

28 October 2008 07:44 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

38 km, 5h21m, losts of sun and sand! Good energy and realize the difficulty in running in a team.
 
Another day and stage has now gone by and backnat camp we are all happy faces, glad we got in and was looking forward for the resting in the tents.
 
I had a great day - had to take a pain killer for my knee and made it home with not to many problems. the most tough part is probably running as a team when one is felling good another one is down and the coordination in gettingeverybody going at the same time can be tough. Today we started out quite slowly with a lot of sand and small hills during the day we decided to run a bit more on the flatouts and relax a bit in the tough deep sand.
 
Running gobi is a big differnece from the sahara not only running as a team but also all that sand that gets in every where and just make you run slow.
 
The scenery once again has been super and right now I feel great even though I am a bit hungry and just cant wait to get some food! Tomorrow is waitning around 40 km with 20 km with real sand dunes and that will be tough - hope my knee will make it and that we will all come through.
 
Running the Sahara is diffently at a differnt pace then my gobi race was but this time I have time to enjoy the sorundings and that is nice to try even though I can feel it is hard not being up front with the faster runners.
 
Dinner is calling and my stomach is waiting for food. talkk to you all tomorrow.
 
Henrik
 

Comments: Total (3) comments

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 05:31 pm

Hej Henrik Fed at høre at det går godt og at du ligefrem er i ekstase over de 100km i morgen ??? Som du nokk kan huske fra vores mange træningsmorgen'er, så hørte jeg jo også til dem der troede at turen til ørkenen for dit vedkommende var spildt pga dit dårlige knæ, så jeg er virkelig glad på dine/jeres vegne over at det går godt. giv den gas i morgen :o) Thomas p.s. tager jo selv afsted i morgen tidlig på en træningsuge i det eksotiske....

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 08:36 am

Hej Henrik Håber alt er vel hos dig og at knæet stadig holder, vi krydser fingre for dig her i Danmark. Freddy (Joan)

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 11:34 pm

Hi Henrik & "Super team and happy faces" Stadig flot klaret, i er super og blandt de bedste. Ønsker jer held og lykke i morgen og resten af løbet. Flot at du skriver hver dag. Mor

27 October 2008 05:19 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

35km, lots of and and sanddunes, 40 degrees, heavy sun, bad knee and 4 hours later.....
 
Back on the blog after a lolng  and tough day! The team started out perfect and everything went like it should for quite a while until between 2nd 3rd stage where my teammate Jacob had a rough time with his stomach getting upset and we slowed down which for was both nice and a killer - A killer because that ment more hours in the sun which is hot and tearing you apart especially when you start walking a bit you really get to feel the heat but it was also nice because of my knee - The story of my life, that damn knee it started to hurt after 5-8km and just got worse by each kilometer and by the end it was killing me and I just had to accept the pain and hope that I willheal up during the night - I must admit that right now I seriously doubt that with the pain I am in right now that I will manage my way through the race it is just to much pain starting out this early but  will sure give it a go!!
 
The scenery today was amazing and really hope they upload some pictures for you to see. All the different formations and then ofcourse the sand, sand and sand and then ofcourse the sand dunes!! Pretty much feel like those sand dunes are in my legs today and my gaitor works like shi.. so I have been running around with half the desert in my shoe which is not nice!! I already start feeling the blisters coming and my nails start feeling like they want to come of - that's just to early.
 
I must admit just as much I enjoy everything out here I do miss things back home when i get in pain and I really look forward to getting nursed by you Louise with nice food - right now I just wished I had some nice noodles...
 
Better get back resting and lets see what happens tomorrow.
 
Henrik

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 11:40 pm

Hey, not doing too bad!! Keep your chin up and good luck!!!

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 09:33 pm

Hej Henrik, Du har altid et valg! Solen er alles, men knæet er kun dit. Flot klaret i dag. Mor

26 October 2008 12:24 pm (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

Wonderful, arrived at first camp site after 7-8 hours drive with to much junk food and crazy talk fro my teammate Jacob!! It gets dark around 6 pm so we did not get to see anything at the camp arriving at 8 pm. Just had super nice dinner and wverybody feels excited about the race starting tomorrow. I have almost forgotten about my knee but tomorrow reality is back and I will have to see what happens.
 
Staying out here in the desert, watching the stars, enjoying camp and all the people from all over the world just make this worth the trip and the running tomorrow I am sure will be hot, nice and unforgettable - just can't wait.
 
Heading for bed in the tent with a nice laying down on the sand.
 
Henrik

Comments: Total (8) comments

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 01:14 pm

Hey Maestrodude Husk nu at stræk ud. Kan du ikke tilmelde mig til næste år:) Sezz

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 05:15 pm

Hej Henrik. Jeg kan se du har gennemført både 1. og 2. etape. Flot. Jeg håber ikke knæet gør for ondt. Jeg følger i hvert fald med og krydser fingre. Jeg var også ude at løbe i morges 15 min. 3,3 km i 2 graders varme. Lidt andre imstændigheder end dig!! Fyr den af. Vi ses. Kh. david- Skal også hilse fra Marie

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 04:40 pm

Hej Henrik! Det ser ud til at du og knæet klarer udfordringen meget meget fint. Vi ønsker dig et fantastisk løb/oplevelse. /Stine & Casper

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 03:26 pm

Hej Henrik. Så fandt jeg ud af, hvordan jeg kan følge dig på turen. Tak for info. Håber du får et super løb med et super godt knæ.

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 09:56 am

Hej Henrik, ja... det er ikke kun dem i lille DK der følger dig!! Vi her i Spanien venter spændt på at læse nyt her på din Blog. Alt mulig held og lykke!! Vi håber knæet holder! Stort knus fra Store Søs

Posted On: 26 Oct 2008 10:35 pm

Hi Henrik, we follow you. You are the best. Take good care. Mom

Posted On: 26 Oct 2008 06:42 pm

hej skat, super godt gået, vi krydser fingre i DK. husk at tage billeder:-)

Posted On: 26 Oct 2008 05:43 pm

Hi Henrik, Way to go... Now you only have 4 days in the terrain !!! Will follow your experiences under the stars from cold Denmark. Alex

24 October 2008 05:48 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

Back on the blog - Just arrived late last night and had to stay at another Hotel because where we are staying tonight had no space! It was a long travel getting here waiting in Vienna for 3 hours! Getting our stuff from the airplane took another 1h15m and driving to the hotel 1h20m but eventually I got there and found my bed -nice move.

Getting closer to the race I start to feel more and more excited and a bit nervous my thoughts go wondering on and of and just keep getting back to the one single thought will my knee make it? Maybe my thoughts are part of me hving a bad knee but eventually I have n ot been running now for 3-4 months and just had to try out this morning in the gym - hmmmm... well, I got by with 5 km but knew I had a knee when i finished - I just have to let go and live with what ever happens but that is a tough call.

Last year I came to Gobi desert with so much power and energi and in a way i feel the same here if just my knee will let me - This is all part of the race for those of you not having tried this I can tell you, you never have so many thoughts going through your mind as before race not saying during the race and that is what makes the difference ofcourxe you have to in some physically form but on top of that you mentally really hve to prepare your self and beaware that you  mind will start challenging you at any time and any where. Your ego will start telling you WHY, WHY do this? You might as well sit home and enjoy the family and friends and then to "survive' you just have to laugh and know it is your brain playing with your thoughts - it is a funny game and with the long day coming with around 100km I get plenty of time playing that game ;-)

The first day is around 35 km as I remember a nice way to start out and see how my knee reacts. I just want to get on with that race no - I have been prepering and getting ready for so long that the waiting time no seems forever and the ride going south tomorrow for the starting line with a 8 hours drive I could live without.

I better get back and get the last things done before we check in later this evening. I still need to figure out if I should bring some noodles for snacking after each day but again it is weight in my back pack which now is around 7kg it must be one of the few lightest here but I will see later. I also need to fix my gaitors - the pice/cloth on my shooe making sure I get now sand in the sure or not too much!

My team mates Thoms and Jacob will arrive later today and we will have a chat before the race. Running as a team will be different for me than last year where I just could do my own thing when I had energy I could run faster when I was down I could slow down. This time I have to listen to two teammates and make averything work as a team because we have to stay in range of each other with something like 25 meters - another challange on top of the others. What a week I am up for. Glad you got all the way to the end and took the time to read my post. Thank you for following along.

I will get back on the blog but probably not until the first day has finished, that is sunday evening.

Take care out there and thank you for your support.

Henrik

Comments: Total (0) comments

06 October 2008 09:34 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

First of all hello to everybody out there and thank you for taking the time to read this post. I am sorry if you find any spelling or word mistakes but I am sure you will understand the point!

It seems just few days ago I decided to enter the Sahara Race and then again looking at the date I can see it is now nearly 6 months back but all of a sudden the 250km through Sahara is getting very close and I am looking forward to getting down there standing on the start line the first day......but will I make it?

Last year I had a awesome run through Gobi which I at any time would recommend anybody to try out! I pulled 6 months out of the calendar and started training as a maniac. It would be my first long run and luckily for me I did well. Back the I remember saying that I would never ever do this again but only few days after my mind has changed and now I just had to find out when and where I should do it again  -I chose Sahara 2008.

I found this run much harder because in your mind you keep saying, well you have done it before and you can do it again and I kept pushing my training ahead of me but one day I woke up and said well, this is it I will have to do some training! As stupid as it can be i started out with a 24-hour run because when you have been fit once I would still be or would I....? Of course not and that race has costed me a lot! Ever since that24-hour run I have been struggling with a runners knee and that has followed me for a long time and here only a few weeks before starting I still find problems with my knee!! I  have tried many things to get out of pain with my knee but nothing has really  been super. The last few weeks has been with out prober running and hopefully the rest will make my knee happy :-)

As a sportsman so many things run through your head in a situation like this - Will my knee be ok? Will I make it with out that much training? How will the result be? and many other things but in the end I will only find out by trying! That is why I have decided to still go and do what ever I can do with the circumstances I have been in - And the again I am quite stubbern and would almost do anything to cross that finishline in Sahara 2008.

I will be there and I will be looking forward to another perfect race. To all the friends I made during Gobi 2007 - Hope you are all doing great.

I will blot everyday during the race to let everybody know how I am doing during this race.

Henrik

 

 

 

 

Comments: Total (3) comments

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 02:38 pm

Following you evryday going to the limit,best off luck,say Hi to two runners from Vancouver B.C. mona and claus

Posted On: 26 Oct 2008 11:53 am

Hej Henrik! Hvor er det sejt at du gør det igen! Mange gange held og lykke! Håber du har gode ben:-) KH Mary og Jakob

Posted On: 09 Oct 2008 08:17 pm

You have set your mind to go through with this race - and so you will ! You have suffered pains before - and this time could be equally painful - but your pains will not keep you from crossing the finishing line..... On this race you are part of a team, and you will support eachother to achieve the best possible result. Your backing group will cross fingers and look forward to your comments from the hot sands of Egypt.