(Note: This is Jacqueline's blogpost for June 20, 2007. "In the field" entries are posted as soon as they are received by the Inquirer's Online Newsdesk.)
Hello all,
Yesterday was stage 3 but unfortunately we had no computers at the camp site. It was quite the day. The first 22K was an ascent to the top of a mountain which would put us at 14 thousand feet. No one ran this stage as one could barely go several hundred meters without stopping to suck in some more air. Before I arrived at the top, it started snowing.
By the time I arrived at the top, a blizzard was underway. The volunteers checked to make certain I had enough fluids and set me on my way. There would be no lingering if possible at this altitude. I headed down through the blizzard which lower down turned into freezing sleet/rain. At this point, I stopped and stripped down, pulling on my dry Helly Hanson top and pants, as I knew I would expend too much energy trying to stay warm. Not having gloves, I put my spare pair of Injinji socks on my hands and kept going.
The descent was worse on my bad knee then the ascent. It felt as if someone was drilling into my knee cap with each step. I kept going through the fog and rain. After descending about 7,000 feet, I could feel the positive effect of the additional oxygen at the level. My breathing was no longer shallow.
I finished the day in 126th place in a time of approximately 12 and 1/2 hours. My left knee was swollen but not infected. That was great as I did not want to be pulled from the race for an infection. The last two people had to be taken off the mountain at 3 am in the morning.
This day of racing was like none I had experianced in the Sahara. It was truly tested my physical and mental resolve. After I had some tea, which I must say is just the best drink after such a grueling day, I went to the medical tent to have my knee checked.
New steri strips were applied and, oh joy, it's the Sahara all over again. It was time to drill through the left big toe nail so as to break the blister which was underneath. The nail was purple and had a pulse of its own. It would be nice if they gave the patient a swig of Jameson's, but no, one just had to bite down and hopefully not take a swing at that doctor.
Stage 4 - Umpteen water crossings and, finally, desert.
Today was 46K (yesterday was 42K) and we started at 9:30 am.
Almost everyone had on wet socks and shoes which were a result of yesterday's end stage river crossing. There had to be at least a dozen river crossings within the first two hours. I managed to keep my feet dry for the first fifty minutes and then, I just started going straight through.
It really wasn't bad as the sun was shining strong. We passed through several villages where people had never seen the likes of us before. They stood outside their homes and waved and clapped, offering us apricots and plums which were the size of kumquats. I ate one of each, peeling the plum to ensure I wouldn't come down with a case of IBS, which could really make a race day miserable.
In the last 15k we left the valleys filled with barley and corn behind and entered the desert. It was spectacular and now the heat was upon us. I finished in 80th place and was quite pleased as I wanted to make up for yesterday. My overall standing is such that I am starting in the morning with the faster runners at 9am. Fifty individuals will be starting at 7 am.
Tomorrow is the long day! 80K. The start will be a climb of 500 meterss and then sand and more sand. It's time for bed and then in the morning, some Outrageous Outback Oatmeal and coffee, shut the pain sensations off and just go.
Hope you are enjoying the race. More to come. Cheers.