RacingThePlanet: Madagascar 2014 Blogs

-Another day with the South Africans. We seem to be falling into a solid routine. We hear race briefing, discuss hitting a 7 hr per 25 miles, and then decide the running sections from there. -My fluid plan is working- including evenings I would guess I am doing about 12 liters of fluids and a salt pill every 45mins. -Knees ok, ankle not bad (all things considered), heat oppressive but somehow it’s fun to lose your mind out there and get supper loopy. -toes better than most (drilled a hole in left big nail to drain it, two blisters, one will be rough tomorrow). -random abe muscle cramps from holding center pose with pack and hand cramps at night. -no chafing, huge!

Today’s course… -Started with some more brutal sand. -Took us on to the beach after check point 1, sand was firm so not bad, plan became run 2 mins walk 4. -Came out in these amazing canyons (think they are called tngsy, spelling?) and found ourselves flanked by these walls of blood red sand. Surreal. -Wound are way up a rough upgrade to crest the top and run the canyon wall. Run 2, walk 4. -Steve seems to naturally glide into position 1 and push us on (he also has the gps watch), I “street sweep� and mike and nick (our south African friends) chat it up in the middle. One topic of conversation today: how old school nasa dudes were studs but not over the top about it. -From canyon wall to river beds, through villages, the everywhere sky is ocean blue, look up, remember where I am, enjoy the breeze when it comes (may not return),head down, think about the next step, think about the next rep of 2 mins running, and nothing else. -we had a river crossing 2k from camp and took pack off to soak. Worms be dammed (steve will get us meds when home). -arrive at camp bit late but considering the climb and river joy we are pleased. -real race starts in two days with the 50.

Thorn: heat and lame sauce blisters (again I have it better than most) Rose: the moment in the middle of the day when I ran through the red red canyons and felt no pack, no bit of the previous stages, felt at home on the other side of the world.

All is well here. I am taking care of myself (feel better today than end of stage 1). My love to everyone dancing their own dance wherever that may be.