Victory at Sphinx
Day 7- Giza, Egypt
One kilometer from the finish of this grueling 7-day stage race across the Sahara Desert I ran past the great Pyramid. As the first woman and 4th overall person in this epic journey I was handed an American flag to carry to the finish line at the base of the Sphinx. Definitely a moment that will be tatooed on my brain.
Terri eats up the sand...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
To get to the start of this final 10K stage we had an exhausting bus ride from the desert into Giza. For security reasons, the government would not allow us to enter this area from the desert. There was a two wave start from Giza proper - the second wave started at 9 am and included the top 10 men and top 3 women. The rest of the field started at 8 am.
Camels in the Sahara...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
I was shocked at how fast I could run with stiff, swollen legs. Once I loosened up a bit I tried to open it up and hang with the fast boys. After dodging and weaving through cars, camels, donkeys, carts and people we headed into the pyramid compound and I got my first glimpse of these complex structures.
Sand and more sand...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
My first thought, "I'm running full out, dirty and stinky with a pack on my back and a race number on my shirt and my only spectator is a pyramid. How bizarre."
It was a perfectly unique end to a perfectly unique journey.
The race organization has said this was the most difficult of the four deserts races. They had the highest attrition rate. Given my experience in a variety of races - I could imagine that to be so. This one definitely pushed back the margins a bit.
I had to scrub my scalp a few times to get be rid of all the sand. I slept like a dead person, then ate like a king at an eloquent post race banquet. Tomorrow I hit the sites. Stay tuned for post race reflections. I have a feeling these are going to be a doosy...
xoxo Terri
Editor's Note: When Terri returns to the U.S. she will share with us her own photos from the race. So check back...
One kilometer from the finish of this grueling 7-day stage race across the Sahara Desert I ran past the great Pyramid. As the first woman and 4th overall person in this epic journey I was handed an American flag to carry to the finish line at the base of the Sphinx. Definitely a moment that will be tatooed on my brain.
Terri eats up the sand...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
To get to the start of this final 10K stage we had an exhausting bus ride from the desert into Giza. For security reasons, the government would not allow us to enter this area from the desert. There was a two wave start from Giza proper - the second wave started at 9 am and included the top 10 men and top 3 women. The rest of the field started at 8 am.
Camels in the Sahara...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
I was shocked at how fast I could run with stiff, swollen legs. Once I loosened up a bit I tried to open it up and hang with the fast boys. After dodging and weaving through cars, camels, donkeys, carts and people we headed into the pyramid compound and I got my first glimpse of these complex structures.
Sand and more sand...
Photo by Chris Lusher / Racing the Planet.
My first thought, "I'm running full out, dirty and stinky with a pack on my back and a race number on my shirt and my only spectator is a pyramid. How bizarre."
It was a perfectly unique end to a perfectly unique journey.
The race organization has said this was the most difficult of the four deserts races. They had the highest attrition rate. Given my experience in a variety of races - I could imagine that to be so. This one definitely pushed back the margins a bit.
I had to scrub my scalp a few times to get be rid of all the sand. I slept like a dead person, then ate like a king at an eloquent post race banquet. Tomorrow I hit the sites. Stay tuned for post race reflections. I have a feeling these are going to be a doosy...
xoxo Terri
Editor's Note: When Terri returns to the U.S. she will share with us her own photos from the race. So check back...
Subscribe to Terri's RSS Feed
5 Comments:
Congratulations!!!!!! Can't wait to hear the rest.
Safe journey
Love Suzanne
btw my new family is flying in next week for a visit. They missed Maria's bd party.
Congratulations! That's so awesome. I can't wait to read your post-race thoughts. Way to go!
Brett
Way to go! See you this week. Can't wait to see your photos and hear about it. You rock!
Penni
Congratulations!!!
I'm a soldier in Iraq but I have never run more than three miles in 100+ degree heat. I can only imagine what your journey was like. Thank you for sharing it with us.
You Rock Terri! Great job, can't wait to hear all of the gory details.
Greg
Post a Comment
<< Home