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Namib Race Blogs 2022
View All Posts 2022 From : Anim Swart

Rest Day indeed!
06 May 2022 07:27 pm (GMT+01:00) West Central Africa
THANK YOU O THE AMAZING WORDDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM EVERYONE, WOW, WOW, IT WAS A ROUGH COUPLE OF DAYS BUT SITTING DOWN RIGHT NOW READING EVERTHING, I KNOW THE ERNERGY THAT DROVE YEATERDAY IN HE LONG MARCH WAS FELT, FROM EVERYONE, THANK YOU!
THIS WILL BE MY LAST POST FOR NAMIBIA BUT NOT MY LAST POST OF MY JOURNEY!
What a ride stage 3 nd 4 meshed together with heat, winds and more heat and more sand and temperatures out of this world but yet in this world. Unimaginable high temperatures with a head wind with no mercy. We prevailed and with temperatures changing fast and mandatory stops taking us out of the boiling heat the the answer to success.
Stage 3and 4 was spectacular with the scenery the slot canyons and climbing over bolders. constantly being challenged, mentally , physically and absolutely spiritually we have arrive at today.
The long March, the dreaded long march, how is it possible to run 4 days of absolute brutal challenging and then start a day where you have to run 73km. Yes the march was somewhat shortened but if you think it took away from what we had to do you are mistaken. FYI we will be running longer tommorow and will it be easy HELL NO!, Do we want it easy HELL NO!
The long march is a combination of everything we have done. It started with a very low vibration in camp everyone just thinking about what is to come. It was quiet and we started slow , we could NOT go fast as it was windy and the temperatures started going up.
It was truly incredible we walked this long dusty road and out of now where this pink quarts wall rose in front of me, I have pictures and of course a selfie.
That was a fleeting moment because looking up we saw the hill/mountain we had to go up. If you haven't heard it before it was hell, walking up the heat was pounding and my heart rate went out of controle, my core temperature went so high, I could not breathe and the fucking bee that stung on my boob was itching as hell. Needless to say scratching my boob in front of a bunch of guys was not a pretty seen or maybe the look on their faces was not well....
The top, finally!, mandatory stop that was heaven it was time where we had to stop and the time would be deducted after. This was done for safety as the wind and heat was picking up. sitting and lying around feet up, trying just to cool down was soo fun. Stories laughter jokes and pure enjoyment was the current of the day. Well time to fly and yes I got up, scaled down that mountain and it was running time. I nailed it. I ran like the wind. Running into the sunset I could stop smiling I felt like I was 5. Something magical came over me, I could stop, I was planning to stop at the over night tent to eat dinner ( your basic freeze dried mac and cheese), but me feet had other plans. I ran it felt like my hear t was going to burst of joy. At moments I had to walk just to remind myself it will almost be over. The course started out of a nightmare but it became this magical journey the night carried me, the stars were as bright as could be and my soul was free.
My long marches has been the worse but this was magical and yes magical, as in magical. I ran into camp literally dancing and singing, wired like a kite and overwhelmed with emotion.
The question of the day was and still is, ARE YOU GIONG TO EAT THAT? food is in low supply and hunger is in the air but we can prevail, ARE YOU GOIN TO FINISH THAT?
Tommorow, last day and this will be a epic run for me , because I will run with my friend Amelia Henning whom I reconnected after 35 years by accident through RTP. Our story started in University together and it is a story worhwhile knowing but for another time. We will run to the finish line together as she did it in 2021 and is a volunteer here to run with me my finish line 2022.
To everyone out there that connected and followed us. As promised you will see things from amazing people. These people are your neighbours so don't think you cannot do this .I have seen heart and soul, dont miss out in life by settling do something that shakes your energy and you will grow into something wonderful.
Thank you from my heart to yours.
Anim #87
Comments: Total (7) comments
Karen Neubrandt
Posted On: 07 May 2022 08:47 pm
Trish OKeeffe
Posted On: 07 May 2022 06:23 pm
Trish OKeeffe
Posted On: 07 May 2022 06:23 pm
Susan Santana
Posted On: 06 May 2022 10:48 pm
Benji MOR
Posted On: 06 May 2022 07:18 pm
Carmen Cordogan
Posted On: 06 May 2022 07:13 pm
Carmen Cordogan
Posted On: 06 May 2022 07:13 pm