Rob Bailey and Hustle Standards....el continue

the only way how I can describe how I feel at the moment, is through the words of my favourite band at the moment. For some weird reason they calm me down, even with all that screaming and swearing. Its not that I'm nervous about the looming race in Chile, it more about getting shit sorted at work in time. Tomorrow I'm getting on that plane, and I am going to forget about everything that is remotely linked to work life, or really in life in general.
I need to get to the desert, the open spaces, the nothingness, the quiet days of running, the long days of running....my heaven.

ok, maybe enough emotional blabber for now.

lets get down to the real stuff.....my backpack....friend/enemy/lover???
I re-packed my stuff last night, and with my sleeping pad, my pack weighs about 8kg.
bloody hell, why can't I get that thing to weigh like 6kg?? Maybe because I don't want to go hungry or freeze my privates off. One thing that I learned in Jordan....take those warm clothes with, because being cold is really NOT fun. Shit, I hope its not that cold in the Atacama. Bring on the 40C!!!!

packing 101:
compulsory equipment, including a sense of humour - check
compulsory clothing - check
nice to have's - check
(ie. IPods...yes IPods...3 of them, camera, trekking poles)

Javier and Jorge Rodrigues Rodrigues (check Javier's cool duct tape)

A fantastic collection of super nutritious food items...

All this (excluding the glue) that I am taking with....and managed to squeeze in my pack.

My super high tech Xonic watch. This piece of equipment can tell me the time and its got a stopwatch setting. Rad stuff!

When I get to San Pedro on Friday I will re-pack again, to see if I can shed some weight of my pack..

but for now, I can't wait to hop on that plane tomorrow night!
I have been looking forward to the Atacama Crossing since Sahara Race 2012. This race will be a big reunion for a few of us Sahara 2012 desert rats.

My little nephew, Nicolaas Willem 'Bull' Louw is sending me to the desert with a beautiful picture of a bird that sees rain for the first time....I hope that this bird(me) does not see rain in the desert. The picture is safe and secure in a Ziploc bag in my backpack. a few xtra grams that I am willing to carry with me.

This is it.

in a week from now I will be finished with stage 2 of the Atacama Crossing.
and I can't wait!!!!!!

Training is done now. Now my head will take over and take me to the finish line.

"Wake up, wake up it's a brand new day
I got a fresh breath and a full plate

W-w-wake up, wake up up
This is not a game
I'll take my fresh breath and go my own way

This is what I live for [live for]
This is what I, this is what I live for [live for]
This what I live for [live for], this is what I
This is what I live for [live for]

Measure my growth by the season
Limits don't exist if you don't give them reason
but everybody wants to know how
I built this dream and never had a doubt"
 "Rob Bailey and the Hustle Standard"

The desert. THAT is what I live for.


To the BOS sport peeps and to RACEFOOD....you guys ROCK

Rob Bailey & the Hustle Standard

Yesterday I took the Jonkershoek Mountains by storm, and in return it kicked me in my non existing balls!
Mountain 1 - Kriss West 0

It was just one of those training runs where nothing worked according to plan. My pack was to heavy, my energy was a big fat zero and I just did not have fun at all. One good thing about the day was my food....various nice things from Racefood...slowbar, fastbar, and the super delish nougat.
Although it is not possible to take BOS sport energy drinks with me to the desert, it is possible to take it with on my training runs. The perfect picnic at the top of the mountain consisted of BOS sport and 2 nougat bars! For a moment life was good.

and I had  Rob Bailey & the Hustle Standard to keep me company.
the lyrics are a bit explicit, so for the sensitive reader...please skip the next few line.

the song that helped me up the mountain was 'BEAST'

When the sun rises,
I wake up and chase my dreams.
I won't regret when the sun sets,
Cause I live my life like I'm a Beast.

I control my breath, keep my body ready.
Focus on the finish, and keep my head steady.
Breathe in (~breathe), Breathe out (~breathe).
Breathe in (~breathe), Watch out.

I'm a motherfuckin' Beast!
Imma Imma Imma Beast.


Atacama Crossing 2014 starts in 5 weeks - and I don't know if I will be ready for this one.
But according to my brother, its the same thing every time before a race...
I know when I get to Chile, to the first campsite, the desert mode will take over! And I can't wait!!!
My game plan for the next few weeks is to train as hard as I can, rest as good as I can, eat enough of the right food and drink enough water(not wine!)

the BEAST signing out

The countdown to Atacama Crossing 2014

Don't worry, I'm not gonna start post those 'Stay Calm' posters everyday! But the countdown is in full swing for my next desert adventure. This time I'm off to Chile!!!
Everytime it is the same story, I have no idea what happened to the time. The time is flying and in less than 50 days I will be in Chile, and taming that Atacama desert in the true queen of the desert style.
But before then, there is still a lot to do.
By this time I should know what to pack....the trick is now to get the pack even lighter than in Jordan.
How I'm going to do this, I have NO idea.
One additional item I'm taking with to Atacama, is a sleeping pad #comfort!.
So where do I cut to make up for the xtra grams added by my sleeping pad....food....gear...I DONT KNOW.

I'm slowly getting all my kit together, looking at various food items, pimping my running clothes etc etc.

The pre-race craziness has not set in yet....but I can feel it coming

a big thanks to BOS Sport, without you guys, there would have been no Chile outing for me this year.

Keep watching this space for some pre-race bits and bobs.

4 Deserts - Sahara Race 2014 - Jordan

and so I went to Jordan for my first desert fix of 2014!

We (Uwe, Magda and I) left Amman at 10am on Friday morning for the first leg of the Sahara Race 2014. All excited for the 3hr trip to the host town of Petra. We arrived just after lunch on Friday at the Beit Zamman Hotel. The Hotel was located in what could be described as a dodgy part of Petra, but it was just the way everything looked there. No fancy buildings, buildings half build and small small little superettes.

Ok, but now the problem was....it was freezing!!! One of the main things I like about desert races is the HEAT. No no no, not in Jordan....it was winter, as in Sutherland type cold winter vibes. shit! I did not plan to take that pair of long johns, but I figured, rather take them with. it's only a few xtra grams....maybe that is why my pack ended up weighing 8.5kgs and not the 8kg when I left South Africa.

On Saturday morning we had the race briefing and kit check session before we were shipped out to the desert. The kit check is sort of funny in a way. So I pack my bag very carefully before I left for Jordan. I knew where everything was, in neat little packages in safe little pockets in my pack. Well, kit check just screws up everything. You just dump all your shit on the floor, and one of the volunteers bombards you with questions...whistle...compass...shit where is my compass...looking, searching...it is attached to the whistle. Duh? Anyway, I passed the kit check with a golden star.

Now things were starting to get real!!!

Fast forward to Camp 1...and to our home 'Karek Castle - tent nr. 9)
(Michael, Sonke, Piers, Me, Amanda, Magda - the brave troops of tent nr. 9)

Our desert home

Wow! What a magical place the Wadi Rum is. We were greeted by locals singing and cheering and welcoming us to there little piece of heaven. Although the scenery was amazing, the  rain clouds and freezing wind made me worry a little bit. According to the every single weather website out there, we will have rain!! And I did not really feel like being wet and cold in the desert. A desert is supposed to be HOT and DRY. But I was SO super excited to be there - nothing could damp-en my spirits....or so I thought...and the rain came.....The Bedouin tents weren't exactly water proof, so just as we got into 'bed' the rain started. Everyone was scrambling to get out there bivvy bags. So in your sleeping bag in you bivvy bag. The bivvy bag did keep the rain out, but because of the condensation, your sleeping bag still got wet. a bit of a f'up! I just tried to sleep and really hoped that when I wake up the next morning the sun will be out and things would return to normal. desert normal.


Magnificent view at Camp 1 

Quick rewind to the sleeping arrangements.
Think there was about 4 or 5 Bedouin tents put up for all the competitors. There were 'deviders' between 'tents' in every Bedouin tent. We were only 6 people in our 'tent'. And it was a tight squeeze.
And I was the only one that did not have one of those fancy blow up matresses. I was the lucky winner of a sleeping mat, barely big enough for a baby. But, it is all about the weight...I sort of forgot about the comfort factor!

At 5am we were greeted by a very cold and wet Wadi Rum!

Let the games begin!!!

I am a no fuss no hassle kind of girl. In my normal working day, I would get up and be ready for work in about 20mins. I just wear whatever is lying on the floor from the past few days. and mix and match pieces of clothing that looks clean ( a true lady!)

But in the desert.....from 5am wake-up to the start line at 8am, I am busy doing stuff! STUFF!! looking for stuff, packing stuff, un-packing stuff because I cannot find the stuff I'm looking for! Really, this is not the first time I'm doing a stage race, but I still don't have my game plan for every morning.
The easy part is getting up, drinking coffee and eating breakfast (Oats so Easy with chia seeds....chia seeds don't work with Oats)(6 days of this 'delicious' breakfast)
Right, now I have to fit everything back into my pack. That should be easy...

let me take you through it:

Inside the backpack is the dry bag(compulsory), which is important even if it is not raining, because you sweat the whole day, then your sleeping bag and spare clothes and socks will be wet.
1st thing to go in, right at the bottom will be the place for my sleeping bag. Fine, easy, stuff sleeping bag into it's own little bag into the dry bag.
2nd shove in xtra socks, long sleeve shirt and spare nickers.
3rd carefully - testris like - put in the ziplock bags with the food the rest of the race.
4th close dry bag

Time to get dressed for the day.

Having a long conversation with myself

Put on running shorts....ah shit, still wearing my long johns....take off long johns and put on running pants.
(Open dry bag and squash in long johns)
Put on socks, 2 layers to prevent blisters (that worked rather well this time, NOT)
(Open dry bag again, looking for that 2nd pair of socks....can't find it...yes, yes...I can feel it right at the bottom of the pack...take it out... no, its the long sleeve top. fuckit! Dump the contents of the carefully packed drybag on the floor)
So I have to start all over again with packing my bag.
Put on socks 'Take 2'
Proceed to put on socks 'Take 3', because I put on the first pair without putting Vaseline on my feet first.
AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
it is now 6:45, I am still not dressed, my bag is not packed yet.

More or less the same story everyday!!

The race or adventure is probably more accurate...

For the first hour of day 1 I felt so strong and just loved every single minute of running. After CP1 I could feel this pain in my left leg - it started at my foot and shot up all the way to my glutes. I did not know what to do, because this pain was new to me. I tried to run with Amanda, but I got to a point where I could not even walk. She walked with me for a bit, and then I just said please go, I'm holding you back. And so my Day 1 in the Wadi Rum was full of pain and full of tears!
My Italian boyfriend (Juliano, I met him at the Egypt race) came past me, and he was also in pain. If it wasn't for him, I still would have been in that desert. He just said 'come, we have to go'.

my Juliano

so the 2 of us did the shuffle, desert style...slow, but steady. And I've never been so happy to see the finish line of day 1!

When we got to camp, half of the tents weren't up yet and it was raining and it was cold. We found space in one of the tents and tried to get warm. I put on my spare long sleeve shirt, down jacket and long johns and in my sleeping bag.

in the desert you are allowed to make a fire in a tent

The 4 deserts organisers went to the closets town and bought a truck full of blankets. What a treat that was!!! Those blankets saved many lives!!! The blankets where so big, that I used half as a sleeping mat and the other half as a blanket. Uwe made sure that he got a leopard print blanket every night. Stylish!

From day 3 I could feel my grove coming back and I perfected the sand shuffle. And I loved every single minute in the deserts.  Amanda and I ran together the whole time. That was a first for me, because for some reason I can never find someone that runs the same pace as me. And the 2 of us where unstoppable. Day 3 - 5 was probably my best running to date in any event. Man oh man, did we have fun in that desert!!!!

It is difficult to put in words just how magnificent the Wadi Rum was. Every day was completely different than the previous day. Rock formations, sand, canyons, dry river beds and a the long climb up the Turkish Road.

I found day 1 - 4 rather easy and we (Amanda and I) ran most of the time, we would only walk up a hill...because really....I really don't get it why you want to run up a hill!
and then came day 5 - The LONG March (87km)....it was a long loooonnnnggg day. and a difficult one....nothing compared to the first 4 days.

on top of the world!!!!

Carlos was probably the most hated man in the whole of Jordan!
But you know what Carlos - Thanks for an AWESOME race!! Carlos was the course director for the race and he and his wingmen did a fantastic job.

There as so much more to tell...but for now I will leave you with some pictures of my 7 day holiday in Jordan.

not for fat people...

on route to somewhere

now THIS is life! look at that view!!

Uwe, Michael and Sonke

dinner time in the desert

and the blankets!

a very rocky Camp 5! aka MARS

 

Finish line vibes!

 

Already looking forward to my next desert fix in Chile in October!! ATAMACA CROSSING 2014 wooohoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The year of 2014 will be a SUPER exciting year.

I've teamed up with BOS Ice Tea/BOS sport!! Watch this space! Amazing fun filled adventures await.

Dakar 2015?

The Universe is all around us, sending us little signs on a daily basis about our lives. Little signs, little nudges here and there. Just to make sure we are 'going' in the right direction. But, when we don't listen to those little nudges, the Universe has no other option but to send you a big MOFO of a sign....a bit fat klap(aka a Fight Club kind of punch). If you don't listen, then you must feel.

Now that is exactly what happened to me last week Wednesday. I got knocked over by a motorbike, right infront of my flat. NICE! I fell rather hard. on my head. on the tar road. me and my laptop.
First things first....my foot!!! Blue and Bruised!!  I am on my way to Jordan. To run. 250 km through the desert. So my feet are sort of VERY important with this little outing!

The colour blue does not suit me at all!!

Long story short.....I can walk. my foot is still a little bit swollen and bruised, but I know I will be fine by Sunday (the start of Sahara Race 2014 in Jordan)

It will take more than a motorbike to keep me from going to get some desert love!

Back to the Universe....so now I need to figure out what the Universe was trying to tell me. Well, I got 7 days in the desert to find the answer!

or....the reason why a motorbike connected with me, means......I have to go and do the Dakar Rally?
My mom does not think that was the message the Universe was trying to send me....anyway.
I think I would look rather kick ass on a motorbike!

Back to the real world....

Tomorrow evening I am on my way to Jordan for the 4 Deserts Sahara Race!!!

I finally managed to finish packing over the weekend. And my pack is nice 8kgs...guess if I leave my ipods, trekking poles and camera I can cut some weight from my pack, but you know what - I'm not going to! I need my music(I've got enough tunes to keep me going for 10 desert races), I need my camera(I have to do something while I walk, can talk to myself, but i'll take some pictures instead) and I do need the brothers Rodrigues Rodrigues (Javier and Jorge)(my Raidlight Trekking poles). They always travel with me to far away deserts, and they never let me down. Never!

Food...I've got about 600grams of food per day/+-2200Cal per day. Faaakkkk, I think I might be a bit hungry.
My daily food consists of the following:

Breakfast: Oats so easy + Chia Seeds + nescafe cappuccino(a little desert luxury)
Running: Race Food + Gels + Dates + Sports Beans
Lunch: Parmesan + Soup
Dinner: Back Country Freeze dried meals + Olive Oil

 

 

During Ultra Africa Race in Burkina Faso in November, I had Pronutro for breakfast. Still scarred for life!! ProNutro is the bomb, but that smell is still a bit fresh in my mind. So Oats it will be for Jordan.
As they say 'Breakfast of champions'.....lets see.

Equipment and mandatory gear.... Well, this time I have to take a whole lot of extra shit with to the desert. This will be a cold one. So down jacket, rain jacket, rain pants, thermal underwear, beanie etc etc...I don't mind being cold, but PLEASE, I don't want to be wet!! I've been google-ing the whole of yesterday....weather in Jordan. The one websites says rain, and cold. The other one, no rain, and not so cold. Whatever, I will see when I get to Petra on Friday.

super cool pimped jacket

I will be blogging via the 4 Deserts website every evening during the race. So please log in, leave a comment! You guys have NO idea how much it means to read something from home!!!!

www.4deserts.com - Sahara Race

If you see a flash of orange in a photograph, that will be me, speeding past the photographer.



happy vibes everyone!!!

check you on the flip side

And a big BIG thank you for everyone that's on board to make this desert trip an absolute beaut!!

HASH TAG SWEETS
HASH TAG BOS ICE TEA
HASH TAG RACEFOOD
HASH TAG ALLMYFRIENDS
HASH TAG MYFAMILY

40 days and 40 nights

here I go again....another desert needs to be tamed! This time I'm on my way to Jordan for the 4 Deserts Sahara Race 2014!!!! Whooohoooo!!!!!
Today I can really feel that desert sand vibes racing through my body!!!! So from today it is all systems go for my first race of 2014. The training has been done....no just to get all the admin out of the way, then I can go and have my first desert fix of 2014.
When I look at all the compulsory kit that must go with to Jordan, I'm a little bit worried.
For example.....rain jacket....really....I thought I'm going to the desert. But whatever the 4 Desert peeps ask, I do.
These guys know their game and they want all of us to be prepared for anything that might come our way in the desert.


Holding thumbs that the weather in Jordan will be kind to us and let all of the competitors have an epic time!




With only 40 days to go, it might be a good idea to clean my dining room table - ie. remove the remains of Burkina Faso - and start with my Jordan packing list.






Pictures to follow soon.




cheers
Jordan vibes!


Oh, check out this song.....my theme song for 2014!!






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ZljzdGPUg

Ultra Africa Race 2013

If I may use only one word to subscribe the race, it would be SURVIVAL.

This was definitely my most difficult race to date. The combination of insane heat, high humidity and dust. Maybe it was a good thing that I don't really do my homework before a race - maybe I would have never entered this crazy race.....nah...I would have.

16 Brave runners from all over the world ventured in to deep dark Africa for the Burkina Faso adventure. This race toook 'lost in translation' to the next level. Broken English was spoken between runners, but in the end you knew exactly what the other person was saying. Lets call it the language of the Ultra runner.....Aaaahh, Ouch, Aaaahhh, Ouch, %^&!!!

The BRAVE ones

We were such an awesome mix of people - Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Burkina and Cameroen....and some funny place called Luxembourg??

The race was held in the South West of Burkina Faso, in the Banfora area. A lot of dirt roads, little shade, warm water and many small villages. And a lot of very friendly locals that were always willing to give you some water to cool down. Those little pit stops at the villages saved many lives!!!!
The Italians were always in front, so by the time I got to a little village, the locals already knew the drill. "Bonjour madam, l'eau pour la douche, s'il vous plait" "merci madam"
It was so ridiculously hot, that I really had to have very long and hard conversations with myself. Anything can happen out there, and dehydration is a reality. So I was always trying to be conscience of my body the whole time and how I felt at any given moment. Because tomorrow will be another long day. And I am going to finish this race!

Water pump in the village

Ingrid having a 'shower'

One of my collegues asked me 'so what do you think of while you run' - to be quite honest. Nothing.
or maybe, only one thing - don't die.

OK, now I sound like a drama queen. Yes, the race was very difficult. Yes, I slept in a tent and no sleeping mat. Yes, my feet where shattered. Yes, I had to carry all my food etc on my back. Yes, I LOVED IT!

it is difficult to explain to someone why I do these kind of races.....mentally unstable does pop up now and then....

maybe I want to see how far I can push myself, and after this race I know I am physically and mentally tough enough to face anything that comes my way.

There is so much to tell.....but let me tell you about the race...

A typical day in the Ultra Africa Race:

3:00am - wake up.....because the sleeping pill only works for about 6 hours. toss and turn. fuck, I should have brought a sleeping mat.
aaaahhh, now I have to pee.

3:30am - try and sleep a bit more....no success

5:00am - get up, start the 'stove' and make some coffee. I promised Timo coffee in bed every morning. he was too busy dying, so like a good race wife, I make the coffee. men!

6:00 - 7h45am - check if yesterday's blister is looking better. cool. merthiolate did do the job.
get dressed (smell my race shirt....shit, why do I do that....it stinks) a well, nothing like wearing the same running shirt for 5 days.
pack and repack my backpack. I'm sure I have more stuff in this bloody backpack than yesterday. It's not getting any lighter!!!

Fill up water bottles (with the 2 liters......only 2 litres......do they realise how f%ing hot it is)(i'm going to die)(No, I can die when I get home....it will be to much of a mission to get my body back to South Africa if I die in Burkina)
Ipod - check
sunscreen - check
Vaseline...... - check

8:00am - let's run party people.

8:15am - fuck I'm tired - think I will walk for a bit.

8:17am - just run for peet's sake. or try and run more than you walk. 50 counts run, 20 counts walk...and repeat

8:20am - might as well take a picture because I am walking AGAIN.

8:22am - fuck it's hot

8:23am.......and onwards......

this race was a serious mental challenge from the word go. I had no idea how long a day will take me, I had no idea how far I've run and how many km's still to go. Pffff.
The CP must be here somewhere.....and then the familiar face of Christene, with some water....only 2liters....Jerome will be driving up and down with extra water if you do need more. Duh??? Yes.

and Jerome or Vincent were always somewhere patrolling the 'streets' of Banfora. And they gave me some xtra water without me having to point a gun at them.

aahhh..... a ice cold coke will be so nice right now. TUN!!!! Really, we are in the middle of nowhere....and you mention COKE! aaahhhh, these Luxem-burgers!

(In my next life I will be Ryan sandes....don't think he is much of a walker during races like these....one day.....)

Apart from drinking a lot water with added electrolytes, I tried to eat at steady intervals.
My 'running food' consisted of Racefood (super tasty nougat), Jelly beans (they don't melt) and dates (just to get some food in my stomach)

+- 3/4pm - the camp site must be here somewhere....yes is should be here.....OK, this is the little 'town' mentioned in the road map book......hallelujah!!!! the familiar green banner of Ultra Africa!!!!

First things first.....recovery 101.
Get 'stove' and fuel block. Make tea. Drink tea. Eat Parmesan cheese. Gonna puke. Lie on my back.
Make soup. Drink soup. Think I'm dying. Nope. Just tired.

Lucky for me, I recover quite quickly after a long day on the road. So within an hour or so I had enough energy to go and make some more boiling water.....don't feel like this Sweet and Sour chicken....according to Cecile 'it looks like something we feed our dogs in France'....thanks!



Team Espanol

Carlos in the kitchen

Fire almost burning....or not

FORCE FEEDING!!!!!

6:00pm...EAT....don't want to....EAT. mmmm, this Bobotie is quite nice....you want to taste Timo?

6:10pm to 6h59pm. laugh at Ollie and Tun's jokes.

7:00pm. aahhhh....Sleeping pill time

7:25pm. SNORE!!!!!!!

Between the time you reach the camp and going to 'bed', there are a lot to do. Everyone is busy making dinner, sorting out backpacks for tomorrow and then 'movie time' ie. fixing blisters. Hahahaha, our campsite looked like a refugee camp every evening. Body's lying everywhere!!!
and Isabelle looked like she really enjoyed 'fixing' blisters.

Ollie's sexy feet

Some runners where in more pain than others, some runners could not finish the race because of very bad blistered feet. But almost everyone had a smile on their faces everyday. A smile makes everything better. Even if it is just for a minute.

Anatole's daily saying "don't worry, be happy"

And how true is that!
If you let your mind go to that dark place, you will really struggle to get it back.
Mind over matter!!!

even though this was an extremely difficult race, I loved it!!!
The camp life, the new friends and a lot of dirty jokes....thanks Tun....the number 71 will never be the same.

And to my wingman/race husband....Timo....what a lovely honeymoon we had.
But next time I will choose the honeymoon destination. OK!!!

Now I will rest for a while...a week or so....because Sahara Race-Jordan is around the corner.

lots of positive vibes from a sunny Stellenbosch.

the infamous WEST

(I'll do another blog post on the travels in Burkina, Ouagadougou, Bobo and Banfora)