Hi everyone,
 
I am writing this blog with a smile on my face......I have been back at Camp for around 2 hours after completing stage 5!!!!!!!! I started at 6am on thursday morning and I finished at 2pm on Friday afternoon (32 hours!!!!!!!!).  About 57 miles in total.  It was the toughest day of my life! I started strong but the feet became agony around stage 4 when we had to walk down a steep cliff face.  After having a cup of tea with locals I plodded on with an english and swedish guy.  At stage 6 we could sleep so I slept under the stars for 3 hours.  On awaking I was in tears when trying to put my trainers back on.  I then walked with an Aussie girl to stage 7 and from then on walked by myself until stage 9 (the finish at camp).  Again, I spent most of stage 7 and 8 in tears due to my feet and hips.  The doctors gave me soo many tablets but nothin seemed to work,  The last stage had massive dunes that were really hard to get up but I was greeted my everyone clapping and cheering which felt fab!
 
I have become a bit of a celeb over my feet.  I have just spent an hour with the doctor.  I have blistered every toe apart from the middle one on each foot.  Both my big toe nails are going to fall off and possibly my small toe nails to!  I have lost all the skin on my balls and heels which has left pink/raw skin.  My feet are totally bandaged up. Many people took photos and the camera crew were even filming them!  Trust me!
 
I am really proud of myself.  I have only missed around 12 miles of the whole race so have walked around 148 miles.  I would have liked the medal but hey ho - it was my first Ultra Marathon so maybe next time!!  I have learnt alot, things I would do differently etc.
 
Roger the fly made a returned visit and at one point I actually shouted at him to F OFF!!!  Fatique makes you do weird thing!
 
Got to go as tent closing - See you all soon and thanks soo much for all your emails of support!
 
Karen
xx
 
Ps - Sorry if my grammer if awful - I am knackered!
 
Our camp this evening is breath taking - We are on the top of a hill and can see for miles.

Hi there,
 
Well....after going to bed a little dissapointed I woke this morning with the sorest trotters possible!  But those of you that know me know that I am a stuborn mare!!  So.....back went on the trainers and away I went!  I had planned to just reach stage 1 but felt so good I continued to stage 2........then 3 and 4 and CAMP!!!!!!!!  Around 26 miles I think.  I arrive around 7pm as well so it was my best day yet and there was still around 10 people behind me!  Yippee!!!!!!  So all I have actually missed of the race so far is 12 miles from stage 3!  I am chuffed with myself!  Its tough with cut trainers!
 
It felt strange walking alone but met lots of interseting people along the way.  I am sitting in the cyber tent in the dark so tricky to type.
 
I am now suffering from nose bleeds, I think it is just the stress on the body!  I look a state and long for a bath.
 
Myself and Jack plan to complete the long stage tomorrow which I believe is around 50 miles!!!  Its a 6am start which I think is a little cruel.  So...off for some freeze dried pasta and then to my sleeping bag.
 
Wish us luck for tomorrow -  We are going to need it!
 
Love to all
 
xx
xxxxxxx
 
ps - Mum - get some sleep and stop worrying!!!!!!!
 

Hi all,
 
I cant quite remember what I typed yesterday - we were out on the course for nearly 16 hours, arriving back at camp just before midnight and felt pretty crap.. I got into bed at 12.30am on tuesday morning and had to be up at 6am for the 8am stage 3 start.
 
As so many people have been arriving back into camp late (we have been last every day although quite a lot of people have pulled out) they have introduced cut off times to get to check points. We had to reach check point 2 by 3pm.  We started well, had to climb a fairly big dune as soon as we set off.  By check point 1, myself and Jack were finding it tough - Due to the lack of rest, calorie intake and heat. I had to use my emergency blanket to try to deflect the heat.  At check point 1 we thought we had to call it a day.  At this check point I received much interest in my feet!  I have over 14 blisters and have lost a number of toe nails which is making walking complete agony(you may find some of the pics on the website).  Jack has been very dehydrated and feeling sick, he says it is alot harder this year due to the amount of soft sand.  There are areas where the sand has a crust on it but this is very few and far between.
 
After rest we continued on - after around 3 miles my feet were soo painful and the heat over 100!  At this point, the organisers had to cut my shoes open at the toes and heels.  This worked for a while but then began to rub in other areas.  I then tried walking in my crocs and even just socks but it was impossible.  Jack became sick and very tired.  Anyway, we plodded on but missed the cut off time for check point 3 by around 30 mins, withdrawing us from the stage. This means we will not receive a medal but can just continue on tomorrow.
 
So you may see on the website it says we have withdrawn but basically, it was just taking us way too long to complete each stage.  There are some amazing athletes here and I take my hat off to anyone who is able to run in these conditions!  A bloke in out tent came 3rd today and is now walking around in his pants!
 
I am really enjoying it even though it is very hard.  Not just physically but mentally!  1 mile feels more like 3 miles!  It is an amazing adventure and has totally given me a different out look on things - I have alot of thinking time on my long walks!!  We have now walked around 62 miles in sand.  I am losing weight and my bum is like steel!  I managed to wash my hair in an Oasis which was wonderful!  I am going to have a gourmet meal of freeze dried vegetable tikka tonight - yum yum!  It is very hard to eat out here, it makes you want to throw up!
 
Thank you so much for all your emails!  You will no longer get finishing times for us but I will blog you to let you know what we are doing and how many miles we have covered.
 
Jack has decided to rest now and to complete the final stage on Saturday.  I am going to see how my feet are in the morning and try and complete a few stages every day - I want to reach 100 miles in total!!  I am still determined but just a little disheartened about the medal!!
 
Right, I am knackered so I will blog tomorrow.
 
Dont worry about me - it is just my feet which are killing but they will heal!
 
Love to everyone back home!
 
xxxxx

Sorry I did not get chance to blog yesterday, thank you for your emails
 
Well............
 
Stage1
 
Sleeping in a tent was ok - a few snorers in the tent!
 
Day started at 9am. Was very tough.  Came in last with the camels at around 8pm.  During the course I think I went insane and named the camels Fred and Ginger and a fly that kept annoying me Roger!
 
Blisters - 9!!!!!! Plus I have lost 3 toe nails.
 
Stage 2
 
Was very hard to get up, day started at 8am. Feet sore.  Really struggled today with the heat, temperature went over 100!  At check point 2 I was ready to call it a day but I rested a while and carried on plodding.  Sooooo tough, especially the 3 dunes just before the end!!  As I write this, I have just finished and the time is 11.42pm! Over 15 hours on our feet!!!!!!!!
 
I am now going to have some dinner and go to bed.....I will have to look at my feet and the situation in the morning.  The problem is lack of rest. 12 blisters!
 
I am thinking about you all at home, I really do not want to let you down but this is the toughest thing I have ever done.
 
Dont worry about me!
 
Karen
 
PS.....I would kill for an ice cream!
 
xx

Hi Everyone!

Well.....I have just written an essay of a blog only for it not to save!! I am fuming! Ha Ha!

In brief......

1. Had dinner on the terrace with some other competitors/volunteers last night.
2. Slept well and woke at 9am.
3. Pancakes for breakfast (yes I have the greedy gene!)
4. Spent all day laying by the pool.  Big Egyptian wedding here tonight so going to be noisy.
5. Jack appears to be a bit of a celeb in the ultra running world!  I just think he's a silly old git who keeps introducing me as his wife!!!!! He He.

It will be my last night in a comfy bed this evening so I am going to make the most of it!  I will also have a nice soak in the bath!

We have kit check at 11am tomorrow morning and are heading off to the Desert around midday.  It will take approx 7 hours to reach the Sahara Desert so just time for a freeze dried meal and then it's sleeping bag time (snoozy time!).  Race starts 8am Sunday morning.

I am now beginning so feel nervous but also excited.  It will be a great adventure.

I will not be able to blog until the end of Stage 1 now so wish me luck!  Please keep your comments coming as I think it will be a great boost during tough times.

It will be hard not speaking to anyone back home for a week but those people that are special to me will know I am thinking about them.

So.......blog you from the Desert on Sunday!  Make sure you keep an eye on my progress!

Karen (and Jack!) xx

PS - Please remind me why I signed up for this!!!!!!!

Hi again!

Thanks for all your messages!  You will be pleased to know that both myself and Jack slept like a log as the beds are soooo comfy!  I think they have done it on purpose so that we REALLY suffer in the Desert!

After yummy pancakes for breakfast we headed off to an Egyptian School to give out toys, pencils and sweets.  After being turned away from two (due to corruption) we stopped at a very poor school.  The kids went mad for all the gifts and it really was quite a sight to see.

We then visited a Sudanese Refugee School where we were given a tour and treated to prayers and songs from the children.  Again we gave gifts to some very deserving children, many of whom had lost their parents or witnessed horrific things.  This was very moving and something me and Jack will always remember.

We then sunbathed by the pool which was lovely.  Jack treated me to a bag of Mcoys crisps and a cuppa!  As you can see....we are both on athlete diets!

We have been very organised and packed our back-packs so that we can really chill out tomorrow before our long trip out to the desert on Saturday.

Off to dinner now, few drinks and back to our comfy beds....it's a hard life!!!!!

More competitors are now beginning to arrive.  For those of you that are arriving tomorrow - Can you not look quite as athletic please! Ha Ha!!!

Look out for tomorrows update.  I love seeing your comments so keep them coming!

Don't forget to visit - www.justgiving.com/jackandkarensahararace.  We are raising money for Cerebral Palsy Care.

See you soon

Karen and Jack
xx

PS - Thanks to Ross for getting me some water bottles, very much appreciated!

Hi,

We have made it to the hotel in one piece (just about, the drivers are crazy!).  I would recommend you write down the name of the hotel to give to the taxi driver........we had to stop 4 times for directions!  Fare is roughly 140-200 Egyptian pounds but barter!

The hotel is lovely, not tried the food yet but will keep you posted.

I have only gone and forgotten my water bottles!!!  Does anyone have spares that they could bring along?  Please let me know, i'll buy you a drink!  If not, hopefully Sam the organiser is going to try and sort something.

I am very impressed that a few competitors have already been out running since arriving!  Also impressed with the electronic shower screen in the bathroom!

It is fairly walm but we arrived around 3.30pm so getting cooler I guess.

Myself and Jack are off to visit a Refugee School at 10am tomorrow which should be a great experience.  Oh know....that means venturing out onto the streets of Cairo again....wish us luck!

See you all soon

Karen and Jack - who is sitting next to me in his fleece....the air con is pretty nippy so I would suggest bringing one! X

Now these patches are beginning to test my patience!  I have ironed them on only to find they are peeling off!  So...... I am now stitching all the blighters on!  4 down........12 to go!!!!! Aghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woman being good at sewing is a myth!

If I manage to get this done by the time my flight leaves for Cairo on Wednesday it will be a miracle!

I am now beginning to feel VERY nervous but also cannot wait!

See you all soon

Karen x

Hi Everyone!

I have signed up for the Sahara Race 2009 and can't help but ask.....WHY?!!  Actually, I know why - 

I am the Fundraising/Marketing Coordinator for the Kent (United Kingdom) Charity Cerebral Palsy Care.  Since starting at the charity, I kept hearing one of our supporters names crop up...JACK DENNESS.  I was told he had completed hundreds of endurance events, raising thousands of pounds for charity.  Then one day, Jack came into the office and he has been my hero ever since!  Last year Jack took part in the Sahara Race 2008 and I was glued to my seat everyday following his progress.  When I found out he had crossed the finish line I was over the moon!  For those of you that have not met or heard of Jack.....he is 74 years young and a school care-taker and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet!

Anyway, to cut a long story short.......

Jack came into the office at the beginning of 2009 and said he was returning to the Sahara in October and asked if I would like to go with him (jokingly I think!) but to his surprise I said YES!

I am no athlete but have always been interested in keeping fit and have danced from a young age.  Alongside working for CPC I am now a qualified dance teacher.  In 2007 I completed the Flora London Marathon and earlier this year I completed the Three Peaks Challenge.  I have also ran 10k's and taken part in various 25 mile Bike challenges

The Sahara Race is going to be a massive challenge for me but I am extremely excited about it, although a little nervous but I guess this is normal!

My aim is simple.....make it to the finish line with as few blisters as possible, raising money for children with Cerebral Palsy!  I shall be be walking with Jack for the duration and plan to use his experience to go the distance!  We have been training together every Sunday and yesterday completed a 28 mile walk.  Apart from a few blisters and sore legs, I am feeling pretty good!  If anyone reading this has any tips on avoiding blisters I would love to hear from you!!  

I can't wait to meet everyone in Cairo - meeting people from all over the globe will be an experience in itself!

That's it for now - Good luck everyone! 

Karen xx