The final stage snuck up on me. I can’t decide if this week went by super fast or if I was in the middle of the desert for a very long time. It’s almost as if time was suspended. Either way, the feeling is stupendous.  

Our last stage was only 9.9 kilometers (slightly over 6 miles). The course included a sample of all the terrains and landscapes we experienced during the last five stages: sand dunes, soft and hard sand, some river beds, and even two tiny rivers. The rivers were very small, yet I managed to get one of my shoes wet. 

The day was cloudy and perfect for running. My phone was fully charged and I decided I would finally listen to music and run the whole course. After mile two, my friend Saad from France caught up to me and we paced each other. 

During the last mile, we had to make a quick stop to take pictures with a flock of camels. We crossed the finished line to be welcomed by an amazing cheer from volunteers, the medical team, fellow runners who had already finished, family members of some runners, the race organizers, and local dancers. 

We celebrated with pizza before heading to the hotel for a much needed shower.  

The event wrapped up with a fun evening banquet. It was cool to see how great desert runners clean up. Indeed, a very handsome group of people, both inside and out. 

This experience truly exceeded my expectations. I came in excited and nervous for the challenge but what I did not know was that my fellow runners would turn into close friends. We were there for each other. We lent a hand when someone needed encouragement. We celebrated each other's successes. We truly built beautiful friendships. 

The Namib Desert took much from me, including a lot of sweat and a few tears. But it also gave me so much and I leave with a very full heart. 

Thank you so much friends for following along in this journey. I have decided to do all four desert races. Not sure when the next one will be - maybe the Gobi March in 2023 or 2024. Hopefully I will share that experience with some of my new friends and hopefully some of you will also join. 

Hugs, kisses, and lots of smiles! 

Marisa

Greetings from Moon Valley!

The trip from the US to Namibia was long but worth it.

I am now resting and getting acclimated in Swakopmund, a lovely German-influenced coastal town. The people here are nice and welcoming. I am grateful I get to visit such a special place. 

I’m sharing an Airbnb with Doreen, a fellow participant and experienced Racing the Planet racer. She is also one of my three tent-mates for the following week.  Doreen has been incredibly generous with her knowledge and advice. I will forever be grateful to her.  

But I can’t lie. I’m nervous. My first night here, I went to bed early and woke up 30 minutes later from the excitement. It’s the same feeling I felt waiting in line to ride Viper, my first roller coaster ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 1995. It is also the same feeling I felt before running my first marathon in 2009. It is anxiety mixed with excitement. It is fear of the unknown. But my fear of being afraid is also pretty strong so I won’t let this feeling get in the way of this adventure.

On my second day here we got tested for COVID. This allowed me to meet several of the race participants. I immediately felt at ease. These are my people. Volunteers and participants from 26 countries, who chose to spend over a week in the middle of the Namib desert.

Today, we explored the town and bought some lucky bracelets to help us on the course! 

Tomorrow we'll head to camp and our adventure begins on Sunday morning. 

Let the fun begin!  

"Porque la vida es solo una y hay que vivirla!"

-

The wait for the Namib Race is almost over! So much has happened since I decided to register for a Racing the Planet event 18 months ago that I can’t believe it’s really about to happen. 

My original goal was to run the Atacama Crossing in the fall of 2021. The race is the same format as the Namib Race. Participants spend seven days in the desert traversing 250 kilometers, while carrying 35 mandatory items, including food. COVID prevented the race from going forward and I transfered my registration to the Namib Race in Africa. 

With so much time to plan for a race, you’d think I’m in the best shape of my life and I am ready to push as hard as I can. But no, this is a different kind of race for me. 

Last August, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 41 years old. The cancer was discovered during my first mammogram, which I reluctantly did because, “I lead a healthy lifestyle, I’m too young, and there is no history of cancer in my family, so I’m good”. Wrong.  

About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer during their lives. Although breast cancer mostly occurs among older women, about 9% of new breast cancer cases affect women under the age of 45. Early detection is key. Please be vigilant and get checked regularly. 

I received my diagnosis while on vacation with my family. I took the call in my room. The gynecologist who called me did not know any of the specifics. He simply said I needed to see a breast surgeon ASAP. Before I came out to tell my sisters and brother-in-law, I asked myself the same question I ask every time I face a challenge: what is the worst thing that could happen? 

This strategy works for me because if I find a solution for the worst possible outcome, it’ll be easier to handle whatever ends up happening. 

In this case, the answer was that I could possibly die. As I reflected on this possible outcome, I decided death wouldn’t be tragic at my age. I have always tried to live my life to its fullest. Suddenly, I remembered the race and was a little sad at the idea I might not get to run a 250K stage race. Seriously, that’s where my mind went (insert facepalming emoji here)!

Spoiler alert, I won’t die of breast cancer because it was detected early and my team of doctors are amazing. I had surgery in November, underwent localized radiation in January, and began the final phase of my treatment two months ago. At each phase of the treatment, one of my questions to my doctors has been, “how soon can I run?” They gave me the green light and told me my only limitation would be any pain I felt. 

This has meant that I began training for this race a bit later than I had planned, that I haven’t been able to push as much when it comes to intensity. It also means that I know more than ever how lucky I am to be able to do this. 

None of us know how much time we have on this earth, but I am determined to make the most of it. For me, it means doing adventures such as the Namib Race, where I get to test my physical and mental limits. 

My approach for the Namib Race is to savor every moment – the good, the hard, and the stinky (I still can’t believe I won’t be able to shower for over a week!). 

My goal is to finish injury-free. I will not be racing. In fact, I plan to hike most of the course and only run after my backpack is lighter or when my body asks me for it. After all, the longer I take to finish, the more I get to experience the desert, right? 

Thank you for reading this blog. Stay tuned for live updates!

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far one can go.” T.S. Eliot

Inspired by Joan, one of the main characters in the sitcom Girlfriends  (portrayed by Tracee Ellis Ross), I recently signed up for an adventure so epic that has me thrilled and —at the same time —scared to death. 

In the show, Joan turns 30 years old and is depressed that she has not lived an adventurous life and decides to change that. I am happy with the way I’ve lived my life, but being in my 40s feels different. Life is too short to not focus on the things that truly make you happy. Accordingly, I curated a list of 40 epic adventures to conquer in my 40s. 

I’m an amateur runner, but I love the sport and its many benefits. Thus, I had to incorporate a few races into the list. Since I was looking for epic adventures I googled “best races around the world,” which led me to a Red Bull article on the 10 most epic races around the world (a gold mine!). One race was the Atacama Crossing, a self-supported, 250-kilometer (155-mile), six-day race across the driest desert in the world, in Chile. 

I tried to convince a few of my running friends to register with me but so far no one has agreed to join me (there is still time friends!). Nonetheless, I was told that most participants go by themselves and leave with new like-minded friends. Sold. I signed up for the race the day I turned 41.

To be honest, I am scared. But I take this as a healthy sign that will motivate me to train properly. I am registered for a few marathons and my first 50K in the spring. After that, I plan to follow a formal plan to prepare and conquer this race. 

To add more meaning to this adventure, I will be fundraising for a special cause. I am passionate about a number of issues, including equal access to education and mental illnesses. In the next couple of months, I will select an organization to support and will ask for your help in raising funds to help them.

Thank you for your support friends. Wish me luck!