Running on Empty
Day 4
Distance: 41K, total elevation gain: 671 feet, temperature: holding steady. (Water and other drinks the race trucks were carting on top of their vehicles were exploding due to the heat. The water we are drinking is hot – you could make tea with it. The race organization was actually considering canceling sections of the race due to the heat…)
The temperature is dangerously hot...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
I slept outside last night and it was heaven. We woke to a relatively cool breeze to prep for a 5:30 AM start. Another magical moment as we started up a couple of sweepy sand dunes in the dark to a plateau where we ran flat for about 20K. The wind blew cool, stars were strong with a sliver of moon. I trotted along in the dark and felt quiet and content. Ah – a perfect moment in time.
Sunrises in the Sahara are orange and bright...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
The sunrises here are orange and bright. As soon as the sun hits the earth where we run it heats up, but today we had a strong wind to cool us a bit. We headed into the Black Desert today – terrain changed up several times as well as the surface on which we ran. The Black Desert has silver limestone and black lava rock as well as the usual copious amounts of sand. I felt steady and strong with the legs starting to tighten a bit toward the end. This is the first day I’ve finished and not felt as though my brain has been fried. But then there’s always tomorrow.
The ubiquitous sand coupled with black lava rock...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
They are starting us tomorrow – our 80K day – with a staggered start. For logistics reasons, slower runners will start at 5 AM and faster at 7 AM. Bummer. I’m not real happy about this – it means that we’ll do most of our running through the heat of the day – they are anticipating the top runner to take 13 hours to finish this day. They will have two mandatory stops for 45 minutes each – for safety reasons. These will be in a village with a tea hut and a cold spring – ah….
I am concerned about tomorrow partly because of the heat and partly because I’m running out of food. I need to focus on being smart and steady – the heat here can really mess with your head.
What an epic journey.
Back at you tomorrow,
terri
Distance: 41K, total elevation gain: 671 feet, temperature: holding steady. (Water and other drinks the race trucks were carting on top of their vehicles were exploding due to the heat. The water we are drinking is hot – you could make tea with it. The race organization was actually considering canceling sections of the race due to the heat…)
The temperature is dangerously hot...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
I slept outside last night and it was heaven. We woke to a relatively cool breeze to prep for a 5:30 AM start. Another magical moment as we started up a couple of sweepy sand dunes in the dark to a plateau where we ran flat for about 20K. The wind blew cool, stars were strong with a sliver of moon. I trotted along in the dark and felt quiet and content. Ah – a perfect moment in time.
Sunrises in the Sahara are orange and bright...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
The sunrises here are orange and bright. As soon as the sun hits the earth where we run it heats up, but today we had a strong wind to cool us a bit. We headed into the Black Desert today – terrain changed up several times as well as the surface on which we ran. The Black Desert has silver limestone and black lava rock as well as the usual copious amounts of sand. I felt steady and strong with the legs starting to tighten a bit toward the end. This is the first day I’ve finished and not felt as though my brain has been fried. But then there’s always tomorrow.
The ubiquitous sand coupled with black lava rock...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
They are starting us tomorrow – our 80K day – with a staggered start. For logistics reasons, slower runners will start at 5 AM and faster at 7 AM. Bummer. I’m not real happy about this – it means that we’ll do most of our running through the heat of the day – they are anticipating the top runner to take 13 hours to finish this day. They will have two mandatory stops for 45 minutes each – for safety reasons. These will be in a village with a tea hut and a cold spring – ah….
I am concerned about tomorrow partly because of the heat and partly because I’m running out of food. I need to focus on being smart and steady – the heat here can really mess with your head.
What an epic journey.
Back at you tomorrow,
terri
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5 Comments:
Terri,
I've been following every day. You are strong and you can do this...just keep thinking of that beam of light drawing your forward. Good luck for the long day. Be strong.
Penni
Truly inspiring. Hang in there. Keep in mind that it is cooling here in the Northern Hemisphere. I rode to work in 4 degrees celcius. I am sure that feels good to you right now.
As our Sentinel race draws near, I am reading your journey for inspiration. You are keeping me going and I hope all the encouragement back here is keeping you going. We are all wishing you well!
Terri,
You are quite an inspiration. I would like to hear how you trained for the Saharan heat in the luxurious Aptos fog. Did you drive to King City, Los Baños, or Manteca?
I loved reading about your gear selections.. I'm curious why silicon ear plugs.
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
If the journal I just read is accurate you came in 5th place in the 50 mile stage! What a finish!
You are the endurance goddess!
Good luck tomorrow in the 10k!
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