An Unnatural Act
Day 1, evening:
We camped on Day 1 among countless limestone towers that had been carved over thousands of years by the wind. They stood like majestic chess men. Locals from the region through which we are moving, Farafra, built a bonfire for us and served us mint tea. They then shared the history and geography of their region. While we took it all in, we laid on the warm sand among the chalk sculptures and gazed at the star-filled sky. I had to remind myself that I was in the Sahara. It was a magic moment for sure. The night was so hot I couldn’t even sleep on top of my sleeping bag – I thrust it aside and plopped down on the tent canvas. Again, telling weather for things to come…
Day 2:
Distance: 42K, total elevation gain: 296 feet, temperature: holding steady at 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Locals shared the history and geography of the region. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
We are getting unusually high temps for this time of year here – go figure. Even the folks who have done similar type events – Gobi March, Marathon de Sables etc, have been commenting that the sun here is the most brutal they experienced. Amen.
We started at 7 in the morning and were able to pop off a couple hours before the sun really hammered us. I felt 100% better than yesterday until about 8k to go. We traversed beautiful sand dunes and rock formations. I was then reduced to walking at the end in very soft sand, chalk and shale, in
unrelenting, inescapable heat. I am shocked at the intensity of the sun here. It comes from above and reflects off the white sand or limestone to hit you hard. When running, I dream of the shade while trying to focus on what I’m doing. When I finish and lie in the shade it still feels as though the sun is beating down...I open my eyes to see if there is a stray stretch of sunlight hitting my skin but – nothing – only irrepressible heat.
Limestone towers carved against the sky. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
To be an ultra athlete you gotta be willing to strip down to the raw wood beneath the veneer, because running this far in this environment is a pure but unnatural act. There is a power in the risking though, especially for a dream that no one sees but you.
I’m feeling nervous about our long day (50 miles) with a guaranteed run through the heat of the day. I’m not sure how that will play out but I’ll give it a solid go.
Eventually racers are reduced to walking through the chalky sand. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
Off to bed after shoving down my dehydrated meal…
Back at your tomorrow.
Terri
We camped on Day 1 among countless limestone towers that had been carved over thousands of years by the wind. They stood like majestic chess men. Locals from the region through which we are moving, Farafra, built a bonfire for us and served us mint tea. They then shared the history and geography of their region. While we took it all in, we laid on the warm sand among the chalk sculptures and gazed at the star-filled sky. I had to remind myself that I was in the Sahara. It was a magic moment for sure. The night was so hot I couldn’t even sleep on top of my sleeping bag – I thrust it aside and plopped down on the tent canvas. Again, telling weather for things to come…
Day 2:
Distance: 42K, total elevation gain: 296 feet, temperature: holding steady at 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Locals shared the history and geography of the region. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
We are getting unusually high temps for this time of year here – go figure. Even the folks who have done similar type events – Gobi March, Marathon de Sables etc, have been commenting that the sun here is the most brutal they experienced. Amen.
We started at 7 in the morning and were able to pop off a couple hours before the sun really hammered us. I felt 100% better than yesterday until about 8k to go. We traversed beautiful sand dunes and rock formations. I was then reduced to walking at the end in very soft sand, chalk and shale, in
unrelenting, inescapable heat. I am shocked at the intensity of the sun here. It comes from above and reflects off the white sand or limestone to hit you hard. When running, I dream of the shade while trying to focus on what I’m doing. When I finish and lie in the shade it still feels as though the sun is beating down...I open my eyes to see if there is a stray stretch of sunlight hitting my skin but – nothing – only irrepressible heat.
Limestone towers carved against the sky. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
To be an ultra athlete you gotta be willing to strip down to the raw wood beneath the veneer, because running this far in this environment is a pure but unnatural act. There is a power in the risking though, especially for a dream that no one sees but you.
I’m feeling nervous about our long day (50 miles) with a guaranteed run through the heat of the day. I’m not sure how that will play out but I’ll give it a solid go.
Eventually racers are reduced to walking through the chalky sand. Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
Off to bed after shoving down my dehydrated meal…
Back at your tomorrow.
Terri
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3 Comments:
Terry,
Must be nice having that dehydrated meal at the end of the day.
Kenny
PS.
You're invited to Thanksgiving. It will be in the afternoon. Bring your dance shoes for the evening. You can pitch your tent in the back if you are excessively hydrated.
Kenny
Terri,
You can do it! One foot in front of the other
Take some time to look up at those awesome those stars while you're sucking down your freeze dried ice cream!
Penni
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