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Namib Race Blogs 2024
5
PostsNamib Race (2024) blog posts from Sal Powell
03 May 2024 09:58 pm (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia
Here we are at day 6….the finish line is close but not close enough.
I was very thankful that yesterdays stage was reduced to 75km..what’s 5km…just a park run…not at 1am when every step is painful. There are murmurings that tomorrow will be 15 instead of 10km. Surely they can’t do that..YES they can !
I was very quietly confident ( because everyone kept telling me ) that if I got to day 5, I would finish. Really not sure what they based that advice on but I have made it my mission to listen to all advice… not necessarily apply it but at least listen.
My mantra at the start was to just control the controllables, be prepared that things were going to go wrong and when they did, deal with it, problem solve and just keep going.
What I couldn’t control was the heat, which on its own was HOT, but then add the East Wind….yes that is the hot wind, that was blowing dirt at a speed that people have measured not in kmph, but superlatives, similar to the ones currently being used to describe the heat….use your imagination and you will be spot on ! I also couldn’t control the terrain, technical rocky formations that require ankle stability, sand tracks, long vast spaces of desert with no one in site, with a few dunes thrown in for fun!
What I could control was being aware of what my body needed. Even the best plans don’t guarantee it will work. Drink drink drink….carbs, electrolytes and a bonus coke…just fuel. I can control … now that I am wiser … spending a bit longer at a checkpoint to get the body temp down and actually resting 5min. I’m not going for a podium finish ..this time ha ha!
I could control who I ran with in the dark and the support we gave to each other. I was lucky enough to spend almost 12hrs with Deb, Patty and Rebecca. We made memories that will make us laugh forever. With out Deb…and her torch, I may have had to sit on a rock until the sun came up.
Often easier said than done but practice makes perfect apparently…so tomorrow is a new day and I will again try to control what I can and deal with what I can’t control the best way possible.
Tomorrow is going to be a great da…I hope !!
(Please ignore all spelling and punctuations mistakes etc!!!)
YOUR MESSAGES ARE SOOOO APPRECIATED
Xxxxxx
01 May 2024 08:58 pm (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia
Ok what a day !! I don't know where to begin but I have to make it quick because cyber tent closes in 5 min. My headlight is charging, my watch is dead, my phone is dead....everything is failing except the mind and body...body close.
Dot points for tonight...If you haven't already looked up Moon Valley ...do it !! Amazing scenery but.....HOT! I cannot describe the heat! 54 degrees today ....add the heat from my sunburn legs and it must be around 60. BUT I made it!!
Mainly on my own today except for patches with Patty and Richard. Everyone is amazing.
I have massive blisters on both feet which are not fun. Once the shoe goes on it doesn't move until usually checkpoint 2...off it comes.. stick a needle in and drain it....then off I go.. Not as big as the south African guys though so I have nothing to complain about.
Electrolytes are almost gone but the up side of a tent mate dropping out is he has given me a few. I have decided to take 10 from "Racing The Planet" and incurring a time penalty...I figured I am so far from a podium finish I would rather live to run another race.
The excitement for today was when the volunteer "accidentally" tipped water on my head...then sadly the awesome photographer missed my reaction so we had to do it again.
Then...to top it all off..I had the best dinner..carbonara. I am saving my m and ms for bed.
This is the least blog like blog but it is what it is. I am loving the messages and they are getting me through so keep them coming. We are all in this together.
I am proud of myself today :) Oh did I say it was 54 !!!!
Comments: Total (5) comments
Leanne Lakeman
Posted On: 04 May 2024 03:30 am
Tracking you all along Stage 6, Sal. Willing you along. What a ride!!!! RunSalRun!
Louisa Forrester
Posted On: 02 May 2024 11:48 am
You’ve got this Sall! The Great March is just about the end of the race and you will have completed it by the time you read this, so congratulations already!
Remember, what does not kill your, makes you stronger!
Suzie Briscoe
Posted On: 02 May 2024 04:51 am
What an amazing achievement.....Loved reading this blog today, you still sound so positive which is heartening for us back home. Keep going we are all behind you to push you along when you need it the most. Sx
Danielle Core
Posted On: 02 May 2024 01:14 am
54 my arse!!! You are just a school girl running a cross country.
Great work, Salliann xx
Flor Hernández
Posted On: 02 May 2024 01:14 am
Pupusas must be proud of you! I am without knowing you! Keep going strong
29 April 2024 05:44 pm (GMT-12:00) International Date Line West
Mind or Body
Day 2 DONE !
40 degree day made for an incredibly challenging stage. The spectacular dunes weirdly made the whole thing worth it.
When everything gets hard I question what is going to get me there mind or body ?
Yesterday I was sooooo physically shattered I really questioned whether I can finish this event. Today was a new day and felt completely different…despite the heat it seemed easier until the final 2 km. I am anticipating tomorrow will be another physically challenging day but I get the feeling the mind games are able to begin. Mind or body ???
The body can only achieve what the mind believes.
Let’s hope that gets me across the line. A bigger challenge than I can put into words :)
Comments: Total (4) comments
Danielle Core
Posted On: 01 May 2024 12:02 pm
We've become your personal stalkers!!! Inspirational. Can't wait to see the results each night and know that you are good to go for the next day. AMAZEBALLS!!!!!
Danielle Core
Posted On: 01 May 2024 12:02 pm
We've become your personal stalkers!!! Inspirational. Can't wait to see the results each night and know that you are good to go for the next day. AMAZEBALLS!!!!!
Danielle Core
Posted On: 01 May 2024 12:01 pm
We've become your personal stalkers!!! Inspirational. Can't wait to see the results each night and know that you are good to go for the next day. AMAZEBALLS!!!!!
Geoffrey Clark
Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 11:25 am
Watch out. Day 3 Desert 🦁
27 April 2024 03:48 pm (GMT-12:00) International Date Line West
Arrived at camp ready to go - I think :)
I am not sure how many times a bag needs to be packed but I would say that after more than a dozen times it all made it in. Sacrificing a few treats a headband and maybe one or two other items I got the zip closed…oh and putting the sleeping bag on the outside helped.
After a 45min bus ride, followed by a 5 min ride in the back of a ute (you could go inside but why would I do that! ) we arrived to singing and dancing and a beautiful welcome.
Settled in to tent 18..can’t remember our tent name this minute! It is cozy…except for the rocky floor. Hoping my mat doesn’t get a hole in it.
All the old timers seemed very excited by the porta loo at camp…so I will be excited with them :)
Dinner 1 was a dehydrated spag Bol….and it was delicious :)
New friends tonight are Sophie from Hungary, Alex from Austria and Juliet from the USA. I have realised my flag recognition is fairly poor. Will have it nailed by the end of the week.
The sun is setting now an
Comments: Total (6) comments
Suzie Briscoe
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:42 pm
Keep going Sal, so very much in awe of you right now. I am becoming a little bit obsessed with tracking you every night. I hope that you are able to soak it all in and give yourself those "pinch me moments" It looks absolutely amazing. I'll watch look forward to watching the progress of #128 tonight. XX
Louisa Forrester
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 09:15 pm
Saw that you survived the dunes and completed stage 2, Sall. Awesome job! Stay strong and enjoy the ride!
Lucy Phelan
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 09:11 pm
Well done Sal, stage 2 sounded very hot and like a one foot in front of the other kind of day !! Keep it up ! Xx
Alison Young
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 03:46 pm
Amazing woman! I am so proud of you! What an experience! ❤️
Louisa Forrester
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 12:35 pm
Well done Sall! Wish I was there. Enjoy every aspect of this awesome race and remember to take it easy! Say hi to Sam for me
Kate Prendiville
Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 11:56 am
Great work Stage 1!! Remember other competitors will offload food so be sure to harness your inner seagull !! And look after your feet!!
16 April 2024 10:59 pm (GMT+10:00) Brisbane
One week till departure.
If I could slow time down at this point I would !! A little more time to get over a few niggles. A little more time to get my head around all the food I need to pack and definitely more time to work out how I am going to get it into my pack. BUT as I have no super power that can do that, it must be onwards and upwards and let’s do this. That’s what I love about running…just keep moving forward and looking ahead. No matter how much time I have I would probably never be fully prepared. At this point it is plan the best I can – control the controllables – and enjoy the lead up. TRUST THE PROCESS and HAVE BELIEF ….with a little bit of COURAGE. @runsalrun_
Comments: Total (4) comments
Julian Doyle
Posted On: 26 Apr 2024 11:31 am
Feel like I need some runsalrun merch
Julian Doyle
Posted On: 26 Apr 2024 11:31 am
Feel like I need some runsalrun merch
Morlie Wang
Posted On: 24 Apr 2024 07:18 pm
I love that! Trust the process.
Sam Fanshawe
Posted On: 16 Apr 2024 01:30 pm
This is the perfect attitude. You will be great. See you soon!
Comments: Total (0) comments