I'm at home now and have just been reading my blogs and all of the comments that were made over the week. It brings back the days so clearly. I wanted to finish my story and fill you in all of the details since I crawled into my sleeping bag in the middle of the night early last Friday. So, while I munch on potato chips here (hope this isn't going to become a staple in my diet,) let me tell you what has happened since. 

I woke up just a few hours later and got out of the tent around 8:00 am. A group had assembled outside the tent fashioning lounge chairs out of small stools imbedded into the sand, combined with Therma rests as the bases. It looked pretty comfy actually, so I did the same and joined them with a view of the Finish line.  After what had been a full night's sleep for some in camp, other competitors were still out on the course. Yes, at this point at almost 25 hours, they were still coming in. Now, that is persistence and endurance personified and created damp eyes for all watching. The final group on the course came in together holding hands at around 10:00 am and the sweepers and camels followed sometime afterward, signifying that everyone was finished. I cannot imagine having been out for that long and the fatigue that they must have been feeling. They had every reason to be proud.

 

The rest of the day was spent napping, eating, and blogging in the cyber tent.  In some ways, it felt like we were killing time, waiting for the next day to complete the race and I know it was frustrating for those who had finished so early the previous day.  I personally found the day to be a glorious way to relax and really soak up the celebratory feeling that permeated the camp.  For me, there was no anxiety or concern about what would come next, just the calmness and pleasure that comes from accomplishing something of significance.  Small groups were scattered throughout the camp.  A feeling of relief and raucous laughter brought energy to the atmosphere.  Physical movement was still scarce and slow. 

 

On the morning of the long day we had been told that this would be the ‘final’ leg of the race.  The last stage at the pyramids would be of a ceremonial nature only, as there isn’t enough land in the surrounding area to safely create a 10km route.  We would run 2 km to the finish but the time would not count toward our results.  So, now, the pressure was off.  We were really done.

 

For the last night at camp, many of us opted to sleep in front of the tents, under the stars.  The temperature was perfect.  Warm, with a cool breeze. For the first time since our arrival, I slept right through the night.  We scrambled together what was left in our packs for a ‘breakfast in bed’, enjoyed our pajama party, and packed up our gear for the last time.  We headed off to the coach buses parked 200 m away for the 2.5 hour drive to Cairo and the pyramids.

 

Upon arrival in Cairo, we unloaded, donned our backpacks for the last time and were ushered through the entrance to the Pyramid grounds.  It felt a little like a reality show.  There we were, all bunched together waiting for the first Male, first Female and first Team, to start ahead of the rest of the field.  We giggled about how staged this felt, but I ate it up.  We were in front of the Pyramids!  And they were exactly as I had imagined.  Huge.  I took my time on this short route, pausing to take pictures, smiling the whole way up the steep incline to the finish.

 

Crossing the finish line, running on the woven carpet, flying under that Sahara 2011 banner for the 6^th time, I was presented with a heavy pewter medal, strung on a dark green ribbon.  I had made it!! 

 

Every runner who had finished before me was milling around the finish line, diving in at the pizza and guzzling the cold beer and coke. We were clearly back in civilization again. Many photo versions of our Canadian team were taken.  Those will be special souvenirs for me to keep.

 

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful, in an Egyptian kind of way.  I watched pedestrians try to cross a busy, four lane highway like the Gardiner, right in front of our bus.  Upon arrival back at the hotel, Anne-Marie and I waited for almost two hours for our room to be ready before we could shower and head to the pool for a long awaited dip.  In the meantime, we consoled ourselves with mojitos at the bar.  We finally made it to the pool in the late afternoon and continued our celebratory beverage consumption.  My drink of choice, chardonnay, is not what Egyptians are known for, but it sure tasted good then.

 

We all assembled in the hotel ballroom for our banquet at 7:30.  The transformation of the group was incredible.  Sweaty and bedraggled runners had turned into very attractive athletes.  Alison and I were awarded trophies for winning our respective age categories.  I was so delighted!!  Finishing in 8^th place in the female contingent, and 71^st overall out of 160 starters makes me proud.  Accepting my trophy, I was lucky to be able to make special mention of my Canadian team mates and tent mates who had been so supportive, as well as thanks to Geoff and Len, who had given me such a memorable experience.

 

My arrival at the airport back in Toronto was the last leg of my travels.  Jim and Morgan met me, complete with a gorgeous Welcome Home sign to ‘Sandy Horizons’.  Bags of potato chips, a box of meringues, champagne and flowers sent by friends completed the picture.  There’s no place like home.

 

This has been an experience like none other in my life.  I’ve had such a long time to think and prepare for this race it has become just another part of my life.  After reading the notes sent to me by so many supportive friends and colleagues, I’m shocked at the how the event and how my performance is perceived by others.  I’ve been told that I’ve created inspiration and awe and that I’ve impressed those who can’t imagine doing something like this.  While I’m thrilled that I can say that I have raced 250km in the Sahara desert, I’m not sure I hold the same awe of myself.  Maybe I’m a little too close to the whole thing.  Maybe it doesn’t even seem real.  Or maybe I think this is just the kind of crazy thing that I do to make sure that I still feel alive.

 

Before leaving on my trip, I picked a few lyrics from an Avril Lavigne song, ‘Anything but Ordinary’ to be my theme. 

 

To walk within the lines
Would make my life so boring
I want to know that I
Have been to the extreme
So knock me off my feet
Come on now give it to me
Anything to make me feel alive

Let down your defenses
Use no common sense
If you look you will see
that this world is a beautiful
accident, turbulent, succulent,
opulent, permanent, no way
I wanna taste it
Don't wanna waste it away.

 

Mission accomplished.

 

I did it!
 
It is 11:00 am on Friday.  I came in last night at 2:30 am. It was a day that I wanted to last and wanted to end. 
 
We all headed out as a team yesterday morning at 7:00am which is the way it should be.  Colin, Anne-Marie and Mariska joined us again after taking some time off. I joined Alison toward the beginning.  She was taking it very easy after spending several hours the previous night in the medical tent with an IV.  Our conversation in the morning made it seem like a regular long run with a friend.....Mariska caught up and the three of us moved together. What a great way to start the day with optimism and happiness all around. 
 
Time went very quickly in the morning and we reached Checkpoint 2 at 10:30 and found a huge surprise.  Little adobe huts set the stage for the Valley of the Whales, an open air museum.  It looked like what I expect New Mexico to look like.    For the first time our checkpoint was not housed in a tent with flapping sides, but in an clay  building cooled by breeziest through the non existent windows.  Long picnic style tables filled the room, and there was the rest of my team sitting at a table together munching on potato chips and guzzling coke!  Now this was a mirage!  Or is iwas it an oasis?
It turned out to be a store, I guess for visitors to the whale museum. And there were flush toilets to boot!  Not trusting my ability to resist this very appealing picture, I shared a few chips and kept moving.  I thought if I got too comfortable, I'd never leave.  Alison and I left together and Mariska joined us soon afterward.  (She couldn't resist the call of the flush toilets.)
 
After ascding out of this area we were faced with a long and broad expanse of sand and dunes.  This is where a panoramic camera would've been great.  There was nothing to break the view and you could see forever  When we reached Checkpoint 4 there was something completely different than we had seen all week.  The tent was situated high on a dune, and I mean high.  Those checkpoints are so appealing and yet always seem so far away.  After crawling up the skippering sand, I was rewarded by a very gusty destination and David's left over potato chips.  It sounds like I'm a garbage scrounger.  I am.  He didn't want them and I hadn't stopped thinking about them.  The craving for salt is something I've never had and I'm not even a chip eater.  I sure love them now.  And then out of nowhere, Anne-Marie and Colin appeared.  They had decided not continue on and AM offered the poles that she had borrowed that morning to me.  The timing couldn't have been more perfect.  As we left the checkpoint, we had to cross a very narrow ridge, the width of my feet with steep inclines on either side.  I don't think I've ever skied down anything so steep.  The poles helped manage my balance and then I "skied" down the back slope!  Yee haw!!!  that felt awesome!
 
From there, it was just a long, flat, monontous trek.  We all moved at our own pace and I was alone.  The sun was setting and I caught a picture just as it was setting behind the dunes.  I reversed the camera and took a shot of my own ginning face. 
 
The next checkpoint marked 50km.  This was a landmark worthy of note.  I had never done 50 k before, and still was rockin'.  ok, well, rockin' in my emotional space, but my legs were starting to feel the fatigue.  This was the opportunity to make a meal, rest and visit the medical team before heading out for the remaining 37k.  (Have I ever mentioned how cute the doctors are here?)  One is a surfer from the North Shore of Oahu.  Need I say more?  I decided to make my stop brief.  I had business to attend to.  I cooked up my Vegetable Curry with rice and sank down in the open tent with a few other aching soldiers.  As we discussed possible wardrobe changes for the upcoming night stage, we laughed about the disgusting condition of our clothing.  That's not plural.  I've been wearing the same shirt since Sunday.  Uggh.  it's so stinky and grey.  The desert wind, so welcome, also wafts my own scent toward me. I can't wait fior a shower.
 
I put on my long sleeved shirt, (clean) affixed my bib number to it, donned my headlamp and turned on my flashing red light affixed to the back of my pack.  I headed out by myself.  The moon was so bright, I didn't need my headlamp for the first few hours.  The air had already cooled and the stars were out.   What a different experience running at night!  I walked and ran, surprised by my own new found energy.
 
The course was now marked by glow sticks which clearly marked the way, tucked in close to the ground.  I was navigating the Sahara all alone
I had already passed the half way mark of this next stage when two head lamps approached from behind.  Alison and Mariska.  We didn't spend much time together before they carried on at a really steady clip and I was alone again.  This was ok.  I liked having the cool breeze and all the constellations above for company.  It was so peaceful.   One foot in from of the other, following the glow sticks.  I had a little cry at one point.  I was just feeling so tired, but not unhappy, and thinking about being at home again. What better time to have a boohhoo, than when you're alone...really alone.
 
That feeling passed and I was doing my best to keep a steady pace.  My legs were aching and I was finding it hard to stay in the jeep tracks that had appeared in the dirt road.  Staggering probably more accurately describes my walking style.  When I arrived a the 3rd checkpoint, I was presented with a welcome gift.  Mariska had left behind a zip lock bag with her remaining potato chips for me.  I continued on by myself, clasping the little baggy in my hand like a purse.  I tried to get as many of the precious crumbs in my mouth without leaving too much of a trail for those folloiwng behind me. The rest of the race is a bit of a blur.  It was darker and my headlamp was needed to see what was ahead.  As I made my final bathroom break before the finish. a voice came out the darkness, saying, "it's not far now".  Where did he come from?  Not that it mattered.  Of course, there were lcompetitors behind me still.  I just didn't want anyone passing me at this stage.  Oh, what was I thinking? Who cares? I've almost completed 86km, can barely stand on my own feet and I care about some stranger coming up behind me?  I followed his red light for the last kilometer.   The ground was uneven and I'd love to see a video of me stumbling down toward camp.  Approaching 2:30 in the morning, the camp was quiet and dark, save for the bright lights marking the finish line.  I was greeted by two volunteers, who took my chip card to mark my time, and provide me with my 3 liters of water.  An anticlimactic finish to a very long day and long week.  I made my way to the tent and there were a few hellos and congratulations from those who were still awake.  I didn't have the energy to make myself a recovery drink ore even open one of the water bottles.
 
I crawled into my sleeping bag and closed my eyes.
 
This  is the last day we can blog from here.  I"ll complete my story upon my return home....More to come.  The final leg of the race tomorrow at The Pyramids, my personal celebration back at the hotel and the Awards Banquet tomorrow night.
 
I read all of the new blog comments and emails this morning.   Thank you.  I feel very loved.

Day 4
Done!  An easier course today and I think I came in about an hour faster than yesterday.  I think I should be getting a bathroom allowance on my results as I had 9 or 10 bathroom breaks....arrgh.  My prescription from home and the Imodium haven't; quite kicked in yet.  Despite that inconvenience' I'm in great spirits.  My day was great.  Lots of dunes at the beginning  and then mostly flat terrain and wide open spaces.  I had the company of Anne-Marie for Stage 2 and David for 3 and 4. And I even met up with Jeff, again, for a bit on Stage 4.  Unfortunately, I had to let him go as I had to stop for a pit stop and didn't want to hold him up.
 
The camp is now filled with those who are limping, exhausted, have heat hydration and stomach issues.  One of my team mates, Alison, has been in the medical tent since she got in several hours ago.  Hopefully, she'll have a quick recovery and be starting with us tomorrow. I feel lucky that I've only one blister so far and the rest of me seems to be holding up just fine. 
 
I'm tired and would love to be in my bed at home.  Tomorrow is our really long day. 85 km. and then we'll be done!
Not sure If I'll rest at the mid way point or just have something to eat and carry on. When I'm done, I'll be able to crawl into my sleeping bag and stay there for the day if I want. 
 
So tomorrow is the last day that we get up at 5:00 for a departure of 7:00....so no blog tomorrow night, but you'll be able to check the site for updated results as we go along.
 
I have the option each night of sending one email or post one blog so I've opted to post the blog.  I haven't been able to respond personally to your very kind emails, but be assured that I have read and treasured each one.
Next full report will be on Thursday....Stay tuned.
 
Morgan, I'm wishing you a fabulous weekend for you and Annie in Montreal. in case my next blog doesn't get posted before you leave.  I am so looking forward to seeing you at the airport.  "Our" bracelet is still securely on my wrist and I think of you every time I look at it.  Love Mom xo

Day Three   42.7 km
 
I introduced myself to Mary,the CEO of Racing the Planet this morning before the race started.  She has been so supportive covering the course in a jeep during the day cheering us on. She said that today would be just as tough a course as yesterday....with big climbs and soft sand for the first 4 stages with an easier last stage.  Perhaps we shouldn't have spoken.
 
I started the race with the strategy of covering as much ground as possible while I was fresh and the air cool.  Well, it's not really cool, but cooler that what comes later.  I reached the first checkpoint before the rest of the team and I was delighted to see them when they arrived shortly afterward.  But again, I'm a little shortly pants and could not keep up with my long legged friends.  I was on own for a while and hooked up with a British woman, living in Singapore.   She has done the Gobi race and gave me some great tips  The terrain was incredibly tough today, sand dune after sand dune....lots of climbing, just as Mary had promised.  The scenery is amazing.  Sand dunes that look like slightly browned meringue, so perfect in their formation and skies so blue they look photoshopped in.  If I weren't here, I would think they were all fake...
 
Checkpoint 3 brought a surprise.  In the middle of nowhere, there was a small structure with a donkey observing all the action and next to it, our rest tent was situated right beside a swimming pool!!  Who knew?  I think it was spring fed, god knows from where and several competitors have jumped right in to cool off.  It looked soooo tempting.  I opted to skip this refreshment for fear I would never get out.  There was no breeze at all there and it was stifling.  After refilling my camel back and reapplying sun screen, I had one more thing to do....Just apply a little glide, which is a stick of anti chafing cream.  When I popped it open, I discovered quickly that the whole thing had liquefied in the heat and it spurted all over my hands and legs.  Alison and Pat were sitting right beside me with no socks on so they got an impromptu foot massage each....
 
Here's where the serendipity comes in.  Just as I was leaving the checkpoint, My new best friend, Jeff, from yesterday was also leaving....
Company for me!  What a difference.  We spent the rest of the day together, which makes the time go so much faster.  Not that today was fast.  I have a whole new respect for this event.  I never would have predicted the difficulty of the course, with so much varied terrain. 
Coming into the finish Jeff and I each put on a brief running spurt to cross the line.  I immediately found  a stool to perch on while I dry retched.  What's all that about?  Again my team mates were amazing.  Taking my pack from me to set up a thermarest and get my protein drink going.
I took a quick pic of the already setting sun and proceeded directly to the  toilets.  I seem to have contracted a wicked case of the runs.  Perhaps my time was slowed by the 8 bathroom breaks on the course.  The bathrooms are conveniently located 100m off the course, wherever you want.  Perhaps too much information, but it's all part of the experience.
 
It is now 7:45 and I am so tired.  I'll head back to the tent now and hope for a full night's rest before the final single stage.  I've come a long way and am feeling so satisfied.
 
If you'd like to check the daily results, you can do so on the www.4deserts.com site and look under official results.
 
Thank you again, to all you fabulous friends for following my blog and sending me notes each day.....I love them all.
 
Morgan, I hope I'm not too late to wish you a great race at your Cross Country meet tomorrow.... I too, wish I were there to cheer you on. 
Good luck!  I miss you. xo
and Jim thank you for sending all the notes you packaged for me .  I look forward to reading them each night.  And no, I haven't cheated and read them early.  Perhaps that's why you stapled them shut?  Nite nite xo

Wow, it has been an incredible day....It was an very tough course, longer than yesterday and hot at 41 degrees but filled with majestic scenery.  I would never have believed there are so many different types of sand.  And the shapes they make!  Stunning dunes, some of which we had to climb, followed by downhill's that were as steep as ski hills. That was the fun part!  Really quite windy in stages, which was so lovely in a cooling kind of way.
I ran the first stage' but after the first checkpoint reduced the running sections and added in more walking.  I had a shift in mindset today.  Yesterday I hadn't really known how to do this   Should I have a racing mindset?  How long would this take?  I was a bit anxious about it.  I hadn't anticipated how tough the course would be and that any pace I had been considering would be thrown out.  Today was different.  I decided half way during the second stage that I was going to do my best, but enjoy the experience as much as possible.  I had the good fortune of joining a very friendly South African guy, Jeff, who I fell into step with for the rest of the way.  Two of his tent mates had dropped out and they came by us in the truck and I was kindly offered  their poles.  For the second day in a row.  Jeff had them  too, so I accepted.  Again, it was brilliant idea.  I felt great.  Loits of energy today and felt good the whole way, even when I saw the multiple dunes we had to climb up to the finish. The scenery was stunning and I enjoyed every moment.  I was greeted at the finish line by a bongo drummer and my team.  It is the most amazing feeling to have such support. 
It's been a tough day and the cut off time imposed will undoubtedly cause disappointment for some of the competitors who won't finish in time. 
While we ate our dinner there was a line of headlamps in the distance of racers just heading out from the last checkpoint.  Although you can see the camp for a long time it is a discouragingly long way off.  It is now 7:45 pm and there are still runners coming in.  Almost 13 hours....
My white shirt is now grey and I stink...and I don't care.  I'm so grateful for another day in this desert and am so happy.  Thank you for your wonderful emails.  They make a huge difference to me.  xoxo

It's been an incredibly difficult but satisfying day.  After not sleeping very well,we were up at 5:00 am to get ready.  A little oatmeal for breakfast - just like home.  We got briefed on the course for today and we headed off into the desert complete with camels and a group of locals dressed in traditional garb to send us off. The first stage was short - less than 10k and I felt pretty good sailing in about an hour.  The terrain was a combination of hard packed sand roads, sand dunes and soft sand which is definitely much harder to tread.  I successfully managed a bathroom break shortly after this.  I was quite pleased, and I'm the envy of my team now.
 
I spent a bit of time with David.  I wish I had his long legs.  He can walk faster than I can run. Just before the second checkpoint, I was starting to fade.  HOT temperatures up in the mid 40's and sloppy terrain. I passed a competitor who didn't look very healthy,. staggering at the side of the road.  I blew my whistle hoping the runners in from of me would do the same to alert the medical truck which had just passed us.  The poor guy seemed to be totally disoriented and started convulsing.  At that point, the medical truck arrived and I moved ahead with a fellow Canadian, who kindly offered to stay with me.  With Len,  59 and  veteran of 3 desert races and climber of summits on every continent, I was clearly in good hands.  What a huge difference it made to have company and pass the time talking.  He encouraged me to keep drinking and also offered his walking poles which made the soft sand so much easier to navigate.  There was a definite shift here in my expectations.  Just completing this event will be a huge accomplishment.  It is very humbling to walk for so much of the course and still feel depleted.
Today we could see the finish line indicated by flags at the top of a hill.  Oh, was that a welcome sight!  Unfortutunately you can see it from a long way off and it seems to never come.  About 2 km from the finish we came across another fallen soldier.  PJ, a friendly runner from China was on the side of the road, unable to move....And once again the medicals crew was on site.  I count myself lucky that I was able to complete the course without any outside assistance, save for my new best friend Len.
And there was the finish....I was welcomed by desert drums and took this opportunity to run through to the finish line.  Amazing what one can do when you want to pull through.  Len got a huge hug at the end for his help.  He made my first day memorable and bearable. 
Alison came over right away to help me by making my protein drink and making sure my timing chip had been verified.  Stefan then came over to get my feet on the wall of the tent and to hang my very damp socks and short on the tent.  Now, that's service and great to be a member of a team.
Runners continued to finish for another 3 hours....  I popped my one and only blister and have slowly moved around camp since then.  I have a wicked tan. with lines that won't go with any outfit I have and I don't care.  All of the team came in safely and we will start to get ready now for tomorrow.   I'm feeling very grateful for a good finish today but slightly apprehensive about the second stage, aptly named "Sandy Horizons".
Thank you so much for your emails.  Thank you for your support.  The notes make me cry but keep 'me coming.
time to go to bed now.  The desert sky is magnificent.   Full of stars and no lights anywhere, but here in camp.

What a first day!  It started wiith a delayed wake up call after very little sleep.  AM and I had had trouble sleeping and chose to spend the time laughing instead.  We scrambled to pull our gear together in 10 minutes for the group meeting, immediately followed by our checkin.
I was delighted to see my pack weighing in at only 8.8 kg.... My pack was checked by one of the medical staff and one of the race staff.  One checked to verify that I had all my mandatory items and the doctor checked that I had all the calories required.  I passed.  After all my angst in the packing process, this was a relief.  I can now spend my future packing time assembling my items in the most efficient way, knowing that the pack will lighten each day.
We gathered out on the back marble patio of the hotel with the rest of the runners, waiting to be called to the buses. Everyone was checking on last minute items and then David arrived with two long baguettes.  I thought we were in Egypt, not Paris.  Classic David.
I had understood that the start of the race was only about 60 miles away.   Hence the surprise that the drive was an anticipated 3.5 hours.  The traffic in Cairo was slow, congested and incredibly entertaining.  Bicyles, motorcycles, donkeys, pedestrians, and vegetable markets all shared the road, with no acknowledgement that there were any lanes at all..  Everyone merges at the same time without any signals. On the way out of the city,  I caught my first glimpse of the pyramids.  Huge and imposing, they made a striking background to the busy metropolitan scene. 
 
After my poor sleep last night, I took the opportunity to close my eyes as soon as we left the city.  I was woken up by a tap on the shoulder and the announcement of a pee break   Half way into our journey, everyone desembarked to the side of the highway and strolled out in the desert for our first toilet break.  It was a quite a scene.  100 odd runners facing the other way to relieve themselves.  Cameras were snapping e everywhere to capture this.
 
From there on, the landcape became more and more desolate, the road reduced to a two lane highway with nothing in the distance but sand and horizon. We arrived at our destination just before sundown. All the tents were set up near the edge of a lake.  Desert drums greeted us as we made our way though a entrance flanked by all of the international flags representing all the competitor countries.This felt amazing.  We really have arrived.
 
After setting up our sleeping bags in the tent, we started the process of taping our torsos with leukotape to prevent chafing.  We did this as quickly as possible to get it in before the sunset.  Then onto our dinner.  It's a quick way to make a meal.  Add boiling water and stir.  
The cyber tent is clearing out now and the camp is mostly dark.  My bib number is pinned on my race shirt ready to go for tomorrow when the race starts at 7:00 am.  The stars are out and there is a cool desert wind blowing enough to keep us cool. This has been a very special day and I'm so happy I'm here.

Yippee! I made it... Well, at least to Cairo. I had a lovely send off from Jim and Morgan at the airport. Morgan made me a special bracelet which she put on my wrist when we got there, and is now my good luck charm for the week. After an uneventful, but slightly delayed set of flights, Anne-Marie, Colin and I arrived around 11:30 last night. There was one stop on the highway with an armed guard, but we were waved through. The hotel is beyond expectation! With an expansive marble lobby and large infinity pool surrounded by palm trees, we're in lap of luxury. White canvas umbrellas and lounge chairs clad in bright pink towels complete this oasis picture. Pretty nice place to spend the week..too bad we're not! We're sitting by the pool now listening to AM read to us out of her 'Fixing your Feet' book about blisters. Fun,huh? I'm surrounded by conversations about training, packs and food. It's important to stick to your own plan at this stage. There's an air of anticipation that is palatable. More competitors will be arriving today and I'm looking forward to meeting more if the group that we'll be spending the rest of the with. Tomorrow morning we'll have a group briefing and pack check in before we head out to the course mid day. The start is 3.5 hours away and then we'll be in the middle of nowhere to start the real journey. Stay tuned.

It doesn't seem to matter how much prep time there is prior to a trip, there are always last minute things to do.  My preparation has been over a long period of time, hence I've had a progressive approach to my packing and the acquistion of the carefully selected gear.  I 've been training with my pack for several months, and after adjusting to the weight, I've found it to be comfortable and seemingly perfect for my purposes.  That is, until last night, when I put the last pieces into the pack and the shoulder strap started to rip at the seam...
No, I didn't cry.  But I was off to the store this morning to replace my pack.  I walked out with a pack of the same make, and same size, but a different shape to better accomodate the contents.  Sounds like a rookie move.  Which I have already admitted I am.  I like to think, however, that I treated this hiccup like a pro....obstacles will arise, just keep moving ahead.
So one more day to go....and off to the airport tomorrow.  
I'm looking forward to the whole thing....I've done the best I can with my training, packing and prepping.....and it's now time to just see what happens around the corner. 

It has been a full year since I committed to this race....I've covered the trails around my home in the colourful autumn, the clear sunny days of winter, the mucky, but hopeful Spring and the hot, dry days in the last few months....and here it is back to where I started.  By the time the leaves are in full colour again, I'll be starting on a new trail.  It'll be hotter and drier and completely unfamiliar.  This translates to scary, unpredictable and hey, exciting! 
I feel as if I'm about to do an exam.  I want to do more studying, more cramming, more of anything to make me feel prepared and confident.  I know from experience that after a certain point before any race, additional training won't make me fitter or more prepared, just as cramming the night before an exam, doesn't really help in learning the material. And so often, we go to exams realizing that we already knew the material and the extra cramming only served to make us tired. So, my goal for the rest of the month is to continue my taper in mileage, enjoy the process and the reduced fatigue.  And most of all, trust that I've done the training required.  
I have a few things to get for my pack ...but not much.  a sleeping pad, some oatmeal and get my gaitors sewn onto my shoes.  I haven't been able to find a legionairre style hat that will fit my tiny, pea brain head - I've decided to go with my trusty cap that already fits and a buff to cover my neck.  oh, and I need an electrical convertor for the hotel room.  I imagine I'll want the luxury of using a hair drier upon my return from the race.  Not that a hair drier will transform my appearance after a week in the desert.  I imagine I might look somewhat like an apple doll from a farmer's market.  Hopefully the look won't be permanent.

Two weeks ago, The Globe & Mail published a story about our team and our fundraising initiative for NABS.  It was a thrill to see our long awaited endeavour made public.  The emails Iand calls I've received as a result have been congratularory and supportive.  Thank you to all the cheerleaders in my life! 

I have been doing all my long runs with my pack....I want my pack to be my friend, but today I decided I needed to go it alone. And what a pleasure it was to have solitude for a few hours.  I donned my camelback - just enough to carry water and a few small snacks.  It was glorious.  It's like the freeing sensation of taking off your winter coat and boots and stepping out the door in shorts and a T-shirt.  I felt as light as a feather.
I ran just over 30k and covered the distance in an hour less than the same route last week, when I had my pack.  hmm...interesting.  Guess that says something about what to expect during the race. 
Despite the fact that I perhaps 'wasted' an opportunity to run with my pack, today was a confidence booster.  Covering that kind of distance and feeling good about it made me feel fit.
I did spend most of the afternoon on the couch, but it was a nice kind of exhaustion...if there is that kind.

How timely!  Two months out from my big race and our Toronto temperatures are starting to approach the expected Sahara temps!
Everything I can do to mimic the race conditions will help.  I've been up at the cottage for a few days in Georgian Bay and as we're on an island, it's a bit difficult to train.  So, I get into the boat with all my gear, and take off to the nearest trails, which happen to be in one of the few national parks in Ontario, Beausoleil Island.  It's a popular camping and hiking destination, 14 km end to end with great soft trails.  Perfect for the kind of training I want to do.  It comes with it's own kind of risks, however.  This year there are 5 times as many bears as there have been in previous years. 
So, after managing the heat, and my pack, I've got wild animals to worry about!
I've purchased a few more items to fill my pack up and add to the weight.  About 8 weeks and counting.  There's a little bit of anxiety as time gets closer....Not sure I can ever say I'm really ready....


 

 I raced on Sunday.  Yes, in an official race.  I haven't done much of this in the last couple of years and I had forgotten how painful it can be.  
My friend, Cory, has created a most impressive race series for women and this Half Marathon is her flagship race.  It sells out months in advance and provides an amazing experience for female runners at all levels. I was delighted to participate in her event, as I hear about all the planning details during our training runs over the entire year.  I wasn't sure what to expect for my own result, but, surely with my training, I would be able to pull off a13.1 mile race, even if I couldn't do it as fast as I might wish. 
The event was perfectly excecuted.  It started on time, it was well organized, the marshallls and volunteers were amazing.  Water stations were manned by the most appealing fire fighters, who cheered me on by name. ( It must have been because my name was printed right on my bib number.)  Nonetheless, it was highly appreciated, when things were getting tough on the course.  And they did get tough.  For some reason, my mental abilities seem to proportionately decrease, as my running speed increases.  I can't calculate 2 + 3 in my head while I'm racing.  That would explain my confusion about my race pace, not to mention the actual distance that I was racing.  
For awhile I thought my finishing time was going to be 2 hours.  That was when I thought my 5min/km race pace@ 20 km was 100 minutes, which clearly means 1 hour, 40 minutes for 20k, not 2 hours. Duh.  I was thrilled when I discovered my miscalculation in my favour.  That was only until I realized that the race was 21 km, not 20 km, at the 18km point.  Duh, again.  And this is from someone who has run many marathons and half marathons.  Maybe all the running has just made me stupid.  Anyway, at 18km, I thought I was done.  Nothing like thinking you've got only 2k to go and discover that there is one more left.  I hung on anyway and to cheers from the crowd, ( from those who could read my name on my bib), I finished in 1:49...and 4th place in my age category.  Well, that was certainly worth the effort.  It gave me a confidence boost that I can hang in even if I can't think, and pushing through the pain is worth it.  It's only temporary.  
And now, in very timely fashion, the temperature in Toronto has dramatically risen to 30 degrees. One step closer to Sahara conditions... Onto the next training challenge!

Hmmm, which shoes will go with this outfit?  not sure...maybe I should take the sandals and the heels.  That's what usually goes through my head when I pack for a trip.  It's nice to have options. You never know what you might be doing, what the weather will be like, at which restaurant you might be dining.  Dressing appropriately makes me feel comfortable. It's frustrating to know that you have the perfect thing to wear and darn, it's in the closet at home!  All of those thoughts now seem ridiculous and I know cannot be uttered out loud.  It is one outfit only.  To be clear, one outfit for the whole week.  And only one pair of shoes.  No options.  With a jacket and long sleeved shirt, for cool temperatures at night or sun protection, in addition to what I wear every day, I know that I will be appropriately dressed. The lack of options makes choosing the perfect outfit critical.  Each item in my backpack will be chosen carefully for weight, suitability, comfort, useability....each selected specifically for me.  I did a shop yesterday and was served by new best friend, Bob, a seasoned ultra racer himself.  The two hours I spent in the store provided me with personal attention and a multitude of tips on equipment, racing strategy, training and nutritional advice.  Some of the pieces I'd like to try weren't in stock in my size, so I will go back.  But I know that the time is right to be building my kit so that I can use them during my training and start testing the weight of my pack. 
This is all starting to feel real.  Our fundraising group has just launched our website...with the very generous assistance of Cornerstone.
www.running4nabs.com  Please visit us there!

Yesterday's race is one I'll never forget.
It was 3 degrees, high winds, torrential rain and the challenging course consisting of wooded trails, steep inclines, water crossings and more mud than I've ever seen in my life.  There were three distances to select from, and being my first trail race, I picked the shortest distance.  29k, as compared to 50k and 50 miles.  It turns out that it was one of my smarter decisions.
Just before the start I decided to don my rain jacket and I'm so glad I did.  The rain never stopped and at times was driving horizontally.  The water crossing which we did twice, turned out to be a 50 ft crossing, up to my knees in an ice cold current.  My feet never dried out because there were numeorous puddles that came up to my ankles and on the way back of the point to point course, many sections had flooded.  There was one incline which must have been 400 meters of pure mud.  I laughed to myself about how insane the whole thing was....and when I met another competitor, there was always an exchange of chuckles or a smart comment.  Who does this kind of stuff on a Saturday morning?
Everyone was experiencing the same thing. I wiped out three times and was covered in mud. There was no way around it. 
Based on my previous best of 2:18 for a 30k race, I figured this would take me 45 minutes to an hour more considering the terrain.  Fat chance.  I finished in just over 4 hours!  I was wondering during the race if the Sahara race would be more difficult.  Surely hotter, but thenumber of steps I took on this one, trying to pull my feet out of the mud without losing a shoe, I'm sure can't be equaled.
I went home before the awards ceremony because I was so cold. (One poor runner suffering from hypothermia was taken away in an ambulance.)  I'll have to wait to see how I ranked when the results are posted on line, but I'm pleased with my efforts nonetheless.  That was a real experience in perseverance and I did my best  to hang in there.
Last night, after this crazy race, Jim and I went to a 50's themed banquet ....I was so tired, but hung in long enough to win the hula hoop contest.  Now there's something I excel at !

Tomorrow is my first Trail Race!  My race experience on trails is limited to cross country races..up to 10km, and not on what I would call particularly tough terrain.  Tomorrow's race is a bit longer --29km!!  and includes water crossings and who knows what else...  The forecast is cool and rainy, true cross country weather made for those who love mud!  The advice that has been given to me is to relax and enjoy the experience.  That might sound contradictory, considering what I'm going to be doing, but it sure takes the pressure off.  I've decided to approach this race the way I would a smart game of golf.  If you've got a short layup, but don't think you can clear the water, why not hit it where you're going to be safe and save yourself the penalty stroke of landing in the drink?  Why try to look a pro and end up proving that you're a duffer?  It's tempting to do the first and hope for the best, but you have to consider your total score.  The game includes all 18 holes, or in this case, crossing the finish line.  So, with that in mind, I think I'll save the heroism, and try to keep an even but conservative pace.  I'll plan on walking up the hills that are so steep that walking takes less energy than running, and zip down where I've got a clear path and some downhill.
Kind of excited about this in a weird way....stay tuned.

After a really great hill workout two weeks ago, I lost my motivation to go for a run at all.
I skipped Sunday, my long run day, and then Monday, and Tuesday and Wednesday.....
What was the matter with me? Maybe too much news watching on the events in Cairo?  Forget about the race....am I even going to get a flight?  
I finally pulled on my running shoes on the Friday to go for an easy run at lunch, despite the fact that Cory couldn't join me.  It felt great.  
Sometimes, you can't plan breaks.  You just need to take them.  I don't even know if I was physically tired.  I think it was mental.  Too many things going on in my little head.  I put in two very decent runs this past weekend, totally almost 5 hours.  I was dragging at the end, with sore muscles and a gait like a regular shuffler!   I started to imagine what it will feel like to do this day after day.   uggh. But it's a confidence builder to put the miles in.  The winter running has been beautiful.  We've had a ton of snow and the countryside up north is gorgeous. 

The weather in Toronto today couldn't be more different that what I expect to experience in the Sahara next October.  Snowy and minus 18 degrees.
On Saturday morning, I kept to my resolution and dragged myself out of bed while it was still dark to go to the city for the group hill run.... or rather, 'Torture Run', as I'm sure I'll be calling it in few weeks.   It's usually a quick drive down on the weekend, but the roads were snow covered and slippery and I arrived late.  The parking lot was full of cars, but I had to start alone. When I arrived at the intersection of our hills, I could see runners going in every direction.  The workout consisted of 8 hills - equivalent to a 10 mile run.  It wasn't until the final hill, that I was close enough to have a brief conversation with another tired soul slogging through the snow.  So, I wasn't alone after all.  Running tends to feel like an individual sport, but we're all doing the same thing, just at a different pace, and I've found that it creates for an incredibly supportive environment.  My new friend cheered me on up the last section, which I am proud to say I ran the entire way.  I was feeling quite herculean by the time I crested the top!  
The snowy footing felt like running on damp styrofoam.  My feet sank with every step and there was no traction to speak of.  Hhmmm, perhaps this is exactly the type of training I need for the desert....

Day 2 of 2011.  Yesterday....11 degrees, raining and looking like a lovely March day....
I had a great run....after feeling like crap my entire holiday, taking some time off was the smart thing to do.  I felt fresh!  
Today, minus 2 degrees and tiny flakes of snow flying all over the place.  Winter is back! I took the longer drive down to Toronto to do a hill workout with the group.  It's too hard to do that on my own.  This is going to be a bi-weekly thing...adding on more hills each time.  Today was certainly manageable and I feel like I've gotten off to a positive start.  I understand by the time this series of workouts is done, sometime in the Spring, I'll probably have run up the equivalent of Everest.  Or at least it sounds like it.  I wore my new Nike running watch, a Christmas gift from my biggest supporter.  It promises to keep track of everything I do, pace, calories burned, distance, elevation, who knows what else... I can then handily enter it all into my computer to create a permanent electronic version of my program.  Very efficient.  Too bad the new owner of the watch erased the workout upon completion of the first major hill workout. arrghh.. It's not erased from my brain or body though.
Let's start fresh again tomorrow.

I've been wondering...is this really the right event for me?  As I've started to share my plans with others, one common question keeps arising.  It's posed by those who are really intrigued, not by those who think I'm crazy.  "How do you train for an event like that?"  Although I prefer to appear knowledgeable about my sport, I have to admit that in this instance, I don't have an answer that rolls off my tongue. 
So, I posed the question to my long time running partner, Cory, who is an expert at all things fitness.  She provided me with a most helpful article, which I found incredibly comforting.  It's published in the January 2011 issue of Running Times. The title says it all.  'Good Runners Going Long'.   Expert advice for experienced racers on how to get started in Ultrarunning.   Aha!  That's me.  It outlines some differences between marathon training and ultra training.  So, this is a good start.  One of the  guidelines is on running for time, not distance, when trail running.   This creates a different mindset and one that I can see will help prevent overtraining and burnout.  At this stage, overtaining is the least of my worries.  I came down with a pre Christmas cold which has been hanging on for far too long, and it seems to have zapped all my energy.  I was hoping to get so much training in over the holidays...

I've recently connected with a running group close to my home in Aurora.  Being new to the area, it's been challenging to do so much of my running alone.  But just asking for what you want very often brings results quite effortlessly. New running friends from Toronto, from an ultra marathon group, offered an introduction and voila!  more running buddies.  I was so grateful for the company this weekend.  It was raining and snowing all at the same time....one long, 2 hour plus run, sloggin' it  in the slush....Not very Christmasy!  The day before, while doing some Christmas shopping at the new MEC in Barrie, I thought it would be a good opportunity to do some browsing for my own equipment list.  I tried on a back pack.  It was beautiful, lightweight and seemed designed for a small female frame.  I decided not to purchase it just yet.   I have some time before I need to have a pack in my inventory.  Turns out my decision was a good thing. After reviewing my list when I got home, I realised all the recommended packs are 20 - 25 L.  Tne one I tried on was a 59L!  I'm sure the sales person wouldn't have believed me if I had told her I have to pack an entire week's gear in a pack half that size....can hardly believe it myself.  More research required.  And more evidence that I am a mere  rookie....