I'm now back home in Hong Kong safe and sound.  A week has passed since the end of the race, so I have had time for my blisters to heal, to fill my belly (never knew I could eat so much), and somehow manage to forget all the bad times during the race and simply remember the good!  What an amazing experience it was. 

The last day of the race was a simple 10km jaunt along the chilly Atlantic Skeleton Coast to the centre of the small, Germanic town of Luderitz ; the first sign of civilization we'd seen all week.  I promised myself that I wouldn't, but when I saw the finish line and all the cheering people, I just burst into tears.  I was so emotional that when the mayor of Luderitz presented me with my medal, I sobbed my heart out.  She gave me a big hug to her plentiful bosom and said "Cry!  Cry!  You strong woman!"  Bless her.  I continued crying whenever anyone crossed the finish line.  I was such a cry baby that I thought I might dehydrate. 

In the end it took me 60 hours in total (the winners came in at 25 hours - those guys are machines!), and I came in at position 122nd out of 215 racers or 23rd out of 54 female racers (very happy!).  Several people told me that it would be a life changing experience, and in many ways it was.  It was a massive challenge, and I feel that if I can do something like this, then I can do almost anything.  I thought that whilst on the race I would have lots of time to ponder life's big questions, but in fact the most complex thoughts that went through my mind were "Hmmm, what ice cream would I like right now?"; something that could keep me occupied for an hour at least!  (Vanilla Hagen Daz, in case you were wondering).  

If you haven't had a chance to sponsor me yet, please consider it if you have a few spare dollars tucked away.  SOS Children's Villages is the world's biggest orphan charity, and do some wonderful work around the world.  Your money will be earmarked for a new home in Zambia, in an area that has been ravaged by HIV & AIDS.  My fundraising page is here: www.justgiving.com/nicolaogilvie2.   Thank you so much if you have made a donation already.  I have raised nearly GBP3500 / HKD40,000 / USD5250, which is brilliant! 

Thank you again to all of you who kindly wrote to me during the race.  All your messages gave me such encouragement and it was wonderful to know that people were thinking of me.  And also a big thank you to KK O'Connell, who encouraged me to sign up in the first place, and my training buddies Mike, Ted, Brian, Jenn and Tim, who were great company.  And of course my old friend , who was nuts enough to let me talk her into coming and kept her big smile throughout the whole week. 

Advice to anyone considering doing something like this: Just Do It (as Nike / Nicky says)!  Really, I'm no top athlete, I just enjoy the outdoors, and one year ago the longest I'd ever walked in one day was 25km!  There were people of all ages and backgrounds on the race, and one of them could certainly be you.  Enjoy!