Live your life while you are alive

WOW WOW WOW

What an absolutely amazing week in the Namib desert! I can honestly say that is was THE BEST week of my life. The race the people the organisers (Kinetic Events - www.namibdesertchalllenge.com) everything.
And to the Sossusvlei Lodge that fed us every night. At 18h30 every night they rocked up with most amazing food! Springbok steak and potatoes for me, thank you!

With the build up to the race I was quite nervous....will my feet be OK, will I be OK.....you know what everything was perfect. I did get a few blisters, but nothing serious. With the adrenalin pumping you don't even feel your sore feet.

Day 1 and 2 was WET. and they say it never rains in the desert. Bull!
It was all fun and games, I managed not to get any blisters on day 1, only realy disgusting looking feet.
At check point 1 I changed my socks.....was a mental thing....because 30 seconds later they were wet....again.
Mike and Glen(in picture below, and members of Team Toss) passed me at the checkpoint with the following remark..."Looks like trench foot" (thanks guys)

Finished the day with a big fat smile on my face!

and I just knew, this will be an amazing 5 days in the desert.

Day 2 was still wet........

But running in cool weather does make a difference....last year I did day 2 in 6h30 and this year I came in at 5h03!

Thank goodness the sun came out for a bit so that we could dry our clothes, socks and shoes.
We had a barbeque for clothes..........and we came up with new perfume as well....Fire and Sweat.
One day myself and Jesus Menendez will cash in on this unique fragrance!

The Team Toss washing line

and then came Day 3...........and the sun! YEAH!! I trained for HOT weather conditions and not for Jungle type weather. So I felt confident that the day will be good, and a great one it was. Got back to the camp after 4h of running, the sun was shining and could charge my ipod, dry my clothes and all was good.
(as you can see, the main theme of NDC this year was "how to dry your clothes and shoes")

The long day, Day 4

I teamed up with David Barnard after about 6km's and we ran together the whole way. This was the first time in a race that I ran so well with someone else. We ran, walked and chatted and suddenly the day was over. As we approached checkpoint 4, I was a bit disappointed......because the day was almost done, and I wasn't ready for it. Only one more day, and the race will be done and dusted.

Jo(1st lady), Me and Tiaan

Me and Jesus

Day 5........What a blast!. The route was very flat for the first 10+km and then we hit the dunes. Super cool racing and so so beautiful. As I approached the finish line, there were a truck load of tourists behind me - they had no intention of passing me, but instead they cheered me on all the way to the finish line. That was super cool!

Dirk Cloete - NDC 2012 winner!!!

Every day I ran MY race, MY pace and in MY comfort zone.
and I felt alive. I belonged there. Staged racing is my thing. LOVE it!

To all my peeps! Dudes, thanks for all your support! You guys have no idea what it means to me to have you behind me and supporting me in my crazy adventures!


To all my new friends...........was super super cool to meet you guys! I really hope we meet up in the not to distant future.

You know you are all welcome to join me in the Sahara later this year.......

Kriss West, Queen of the desert