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Mara Symes

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Namib Race (2008) blog posts from Mara Symes

30 October 2008 03:18 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Dear All,
 
Today was a much better day for me.  I discovered the powers of ibuprofen.  I didn't feel the pain of my blisters nor the pain of the three new ones that formed along my left big toe.  I felt really strong.  We covered a similar distance to yesterday, 24.3 miles, and I shaved over 2 hours off of my time.  Pain relief really helped!
 
Today's course was largely flat and I am told the temperature was 110 degrees farenheit.  It was mostly sandy but there were expanses of flat rock formations.  It was really great to run across these as there was much better traction.
 
Yesterday we were supposed to see a small stream but were severely dissapointed when none of us spotted it.  Today we saw a bona fide oasis.  It wasn't a mirage!
 
Music was a real motivator for me today.  My colleague Priscilla loaned me an iPod which I broke out today since my morale was a bit low after yesterday's pain.  It worked wonders.  I sang out load and danced my way through the miles.
 
When I saw the finish line over the dunes I started a sprint.  There was a lady in the distance who I had been trying to catch all day - - I finally caught her.  I also ran past one of my teammates who must have thought I was mad because I was screaming his name and waving my hands as I made my mad dash.
 
All in all, today was great.  Wish me luck for tomorrow's 63 mile challenge.
 
Love,
 
Mara

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 03:08 pm

"All men have the stars," he answered, "but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travellers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. For my businessman they were wealth. But all the stars are silent. You--you alone--will have the stars as no one else has them--" (The Little Prince)

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 02:51 pm

By the (like horses) who run with panting breath then dash off sparks by striking their hoops, then charge suddenly in the morning then raise up clouds of dust. then penetrate into a host in a body! Verily,....

29 October 2008 09:31 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Hi All,
 
I made it successfully to the end of another day.  My feet were killing me but I did all 25+ miles. I have developed a pretty bad blister on my pinky toe and a hot spot on the toe next to it.  This made it really difficult for me towards the end.  I really had to do some self-motivation to make it in.  I reminded myself that I wasn't homeless, hungry, in prison, blind, etc.  It worked.
 
I am proud to say that the sweeper camels didn't have to pick me up and I made it in before dark!  What an experience.
 
Today we went thought the Hamada Trail.  It was flat and there was nothing to see but sand for miles in all directions.  You couldn't see the horizon it was so flat and desolate.  Near the end we climbed the most beautiful sand dunes.  They were steep going up and down.  I really had to work hard to make it up and then had the most fun running down.  The wind picked up as well; it wasn't quite a sandstorm but the effect was just lovely.
 
Tomorrow holds another 25+ miles.  This is in preparation for the 62.5 mile day.  Yikes!  Wish me luck.
 
Please tell others to check my blog and the racing the planet website for race results.
 
Love,
 
Mara

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 08:53 pm

Good DNA

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 03:51 pm

checking your blog everyday and thinking of you as well as wishing you good and stable endurance..

28 October 2008 08:57 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Dear Family and friends,
 
Don't be alarmed if you do not see my blog right away.  All the messages are sent once a day via satellite.  If there are technical difficulties there may be a delay.
 
Anyway, day two was tough but I think I enjoyed it more that the first day.  I improved my time and really enjoyed the landscape.  My favorite part of the course was the 'Animal Kingdom'.  It is a fairly flat plain covered with limestone structures in the shape of animals.  This was in the last 8k of a 38k day so it was a great diversion.  I saw a rooster, a snapping turtle and a cobra to name a few.
 
Tomorrow will be a tough day.  We will cover 40k.  We are starting at 7am to escape some of the heat of the day for the faster runners and darkness for the slower runners.  Today's temprature was 102 degrees farenheit.  I actually didn't feel it but a lot of people didn't cope welll with the heat.  Thank got I was born in Jamaica!
 
Bye for now.
 
Love,
 
Mara

Comments: Total (0) comments

27 October 2008 04:11 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Dear Friends and Family,
 
I am doing well.  I completed the first stage of the race which was 22.5 miles.
 
The portion of the desert in which we ran today is called the White Desert.  It was absolutely gorgeous even though it was really difficult to run.  The terrain was 50% powdery sand and 50% packed sand with rocks.  The days are not as hot as I expected and the nights are not as cold either.  So at least the weather is helping out.
 
I am sharing a tent with my workmates and some other participants.  There is a really bad snorer in the tent.  Also, last night some people wandered into our tent by mistake. It is so dark here at night and very difficult to see.
 
I am feeling pretty good.  I know I will be sore tomorrow but everything has been positive so far. 
 
If you are reading this let others know they can read my updates by accessing my blog on the racing the planet website.
 
Wish me luck for tomorrow!
 
Love,
 
Mara

Comments: Total (3) comments

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 11:13 pm

Hey Mara and Team Vision SCB. Lots of people are asking for you today and you are in our thoughts. Hope everyone is healthy and still happy after day 2! Regards, Kate L.

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 04:55 pm

Friends and family are thinking of you. wish you good luck :)

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 04:51 pm

wish you good luck