So I've been telling myself that I would sit down this weekend and put my thoughts together in a succint summary that captures the race with all of its ups and downs, triumphs, defeats, and life lessons. But really, a memory is a living breathing thing, and each time I tell the stories or answer questions, my view shifts, so rather than a penultimate account, I am going to try and put a couple of "thoughts" together as they come to me.
Case in point- I was feeling strong and powerful for most of the race. When asked how I felt afterwards, I repeatedly said that I felt great and hit a new level of physical fitness.
Until today that is... I hiked the Twins and wanted to do nothing except to crawl up into a little ball and take a nap. So much for physical prowess.
Still it was an incredible feeling when I got to checkpoint 7 on the long day and decided to race the clock home, or checkpoint 3 on day 3 with feet wet and blistered, through pure determination I made it to camp in under 7 hours. I definitely broke some physical barriers even if that type of strength is elusive today.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wheels up
Giddy up...
Here we go..
While in the desert, friends can email messages of support and encouragement via the Racing The Planet website. Any all and all messages would be greatly appreciated as I take on the greatest physical challenge of my life. You have two options:
- Click on this link and you can email me: http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/rtpgmtp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14
- Read my blog updating my progress here- http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/comptetior_blog_new.php?pid=NTA5&blog=10 the link on the bottom right that says, “Comments” in light blue. At the bottom, there is a little form where you can enter your name, email and comments. Enter the security code, hit submit and voila. It’s a little more public but I know for sure I can see this.
I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive group of friends around me and look forward to catching up with you all in person, over the phone and over email once I'm back in HK the week of June 23rd.
Much love,
Kathryn
Here we go..
While in the desert, friends can email messages of support and encouragement via the Racing The Planet website. Any all and all messages would be greatly appreciated as I take on the greatest physical challenge of my life. You have two options:
- Click on this link and you can email me: http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/rtpgmtp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14
- Read my blog updating my progress here- http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/comptetior_blog_new.php?pid=NTA5&blog=10 the link on the bottom right that says, “Comments” in light blue. At the bottom, there is a little form where you can enter your name, email and comments. Enter the security code, hit submit and voila. It’s a little more public but I know for sure I can see this.
I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive group of friends around me and look forward to catching up with you all in person, over the phone and over email once I'm back in HK the week of June 23rd.
Much love,
Kathryn
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tornado
When I was a little kid, one of my favorite games was called Tornado.
The premise was simple- spin around and around and around until you fall down. Whoever falls down last wins. So long as you play on grass, everybody wins; that dizzy feeling is great.
I sort of feel like I'm in the middle of a game of Tornado with last minute gear checks, project handoff at work, and all the remaining errands- buy Crocs, check; pedicure, check; pack normal clothes for post-trek, uhoh still to do.
I am really looking forward to falling into my Dragonair seat tomorrow and taking a deep breath before the game resets with an 8kg pack on my bag.
Dear Mom and Dad,
As promised, here is a link to my trip blog http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/comptetior_blog_new.php?pid=NTA5&blog=10 and an explanation of how to send messages while I am on my trip. I will be sure to give you a call in Beijing , where I am staying with friends, but after that, I'm not sure how well my phone will work. Why don't you try posting a comment today so that we can make sure it works before I go incommunicado?
We’ve already talked about most of this, but I thought I would put logistics in writing in case any questions come up. So the trip that I am doing is called Racing the Planet. Basically they set up these treks all around the world to show people really interesting and culturally significant places while getting some exercise. Some of the people on the trip are super hardcore athletes and run the entire thing. For those superhumans, this trek is actually a multi-day ultramarathon, so Racing The Planet has put together an awesome medical team that includes a doctor from NASA. How cool is that! I'm sure they will also help mere mortals like me who will be walking the whole thing. Hopefully blisters will be my only reason to seek out their help... So between the medical team and my expat insurance, you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about from a health and wellness perspective. Plus I've put together a spreadsheet with all of the food I'm bringing which includes calorie content, so I will be well fed.
I arrive in Kashgar around 4pm on Friday afternoon and hopefully will get some time to check out the town. As I mentioned last night, the Chinese government is in the process of razing the city to protect it from "earthquakes." It’s a total shame, but I am so glad that I get to see it before the historical City Center is gone. Here a link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28kashgar.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=kashgar&st=cse
Dad, I really wish you were going to be here with me. I think this sort of place would be right up your alley. Apparently there are tons of ruins scattered all over the region from the old Silk Road days. When I’m home I will get you this great book about all the 19th century explorers. You will love it. Mom- apparently the market is incredible. I will break out the camera and post pictures on Facebook (although I doubt the fruits and vegetables will be spectacular as Rennes ) and look for lots of pretty silks and presents for you. As with all of my trips, I think to truly understand the local culture, some quality time in the public houses is required, and apparently the teahouses and bars in Kashgar do not disappoint. I will save that expedition for the end of the trip though.
So Friday to Saturday, we're in a hotel, and then Saturday we are bused out to camp, and we get started on the trek Sunday morning. Basically imagine the Billings’ tents but coed and substitute the Taklamakhan desert for Lake Fairlee . No waterskiing, but we should still have the gorgeous night skies, plus the people I’ve met doing the trek so far are wonderful.
Every day we go through a different type of landscape. The first day we'll see canyons, and the rest of the week will range from dunes to spectacular natural arches. Part of the fun will be discovering new areas. The trek ends on Saturday, followed by a celebration dinner back in Kashgar. Once we get into camp at night, I'll have a chance to go to the cybertent and hop on the Racing the Planet website to let you know how I'm doing. I can't access regular email but you have two options:
1) Click on this link and you can email me: http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/rtpgmtp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14
2) Or click the link on the bottom right that says, “Comments” in light blue. At the bottom, there is a little form where you can enter your name, email and comments. Enter the security code, hit submit and voila. It’s a little more public but I know for sure I can see this.
I know you guys think I’m a little crazy for picking this as my vacation, but you also thought I was a little crazy when I decided to move to Hong Kong at 23 and think about how much you love HK now! You guys brought me up to take risks and make good decisions. I promise not to drag you to this remote region of China . :)
Of course, it’s only because of your love, support, encouragement, and 100% faith that I’m able to take on these incredible challenges. Besides the strong appeal of unplugging my Blackberry for 8 days, I guess this is another chance to push outside my comfort level, see a new (and quickly disappearing) part of the world, and learn a little bit more about myself along the way. Strangely, I suppose this adventure is sort of another milestone on the road to adulthood (despite my continued attempts to delay that reality for as along as possible).
I am so lucky to have you both in my life, and it has been so fun to share the crazy stories from training with you. (I did a quick Google search and confirmed the desert is free of monkeys, so no worries there!) In all my wanderings through the woods these last couple of months, I have often thought how fun it would be if we could all be 26 at the same time, exploring this gigantic world together. Those logistics would be difficult, so I’m glad that I have inherited your adventurous and independent spirits instead.
I will be thinking of you (and probably how much I wish we were back at the Metropole in Hanoi ) over the long trip and look forward to giving you both big hugs in just a few months.
Much love,
Kathryn x
We’ve already talked about most of this, but I thought I would put logistics in writing in case any questions come up. So the trip that I am doing is called Racing the Planet. Basically they set up these treks all around the world to show people really interesting and culturally significant places while getting some exercise. Some of the people on the trip are super hardcore athletes and run the entire thing. For those superhumans, this trek is actually a multi-day ultramarathon, so Racing The Planet has put together an awesome medical team that includes a doctor from NASA. How cool is that! I'm sure they will also help mere mortals like me who will be walking the whole thing. Hopefully blisters will be my only reason to seek out their help... So between the medical team and my expat insurance, you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about from a health and wellness perspective. Plus I've put together a spreadsheet with all of the food I'm bringing which includes calorie content, so I will be well fed.
I arrive in Kashgar around 4pm on Friday afternoon and hopefully will get some time to check out the town. As I mentioned last night, the Chinese government is in the process of razing the city to protect it from "earthquakes." It’s a total shame, but I am so glad that I get to see it before the historical City Center is gone. Here a link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28kashgar.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=kashgar&st=cse
Dad, I really wish you were going to be here with me. I think this sort of place would be right up your alley. Apparently there are tons of ruins scattered all over the region from the old Silk Road days. When I’m home I will get you this great book about all the 19th century explorers. You will love it. Mom- apparently the market is incredible. I will break out the camera and post pictures on Facebook (although I doubt the fruits and vegetables will be spectacular as Rennes ) and look for lots of pretty silks and presents for you. As with all of my trips, I think to truly understand the local culture, some quality time in the public houses is required, and apparently the teahouses and bars in Kashgar do not disappoint. I will save that expedition for the end of the trip though.
So Friday to Saturday, we're in a hotel, and then Saturday we are bused out to camp, and we get started on the trek Sunday morning. Basically imagine the Billings’ tents but coed and substitute the Taklamakhan desert for Lake Fairlee . No waterskiing, but we should still have the gorgeous night skies, plus the people I’ve met doing the trek so far are wonderful.
Every day we go through a different type of landscape. The first day we'll see canyons, and the rest of the week will range from dunes to spectacular natural arches. Part of the fun will be discovering new areas. The trek ends on Saturday, followed by a celebration dinner back in Kashgar. Once we get into camp at night, I'll have a chance to go to the cybertent and hop on the Racing the Planet website to let you know how I'm doing. I can't access regular email but you have two options:
1) Click on this link and you can email me: http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/rtpgmtp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14
2) Or click the link on the bottom right that says, “Comments” in light blue. At the bottom, there is a little form where you can enter your name, email and comments. Enter the security code, hit submit and voila. It’s a little more public but I know for sure I can see this.
I know you guys think I’m a little crazy for picking this as my vacation, but you also thought I was a little crazy when I decided to move to Hong Kong at 23 and think about how much you love HK now! You guys brought me up to take risks and make good decisions. I promise not to drag you to this remote region of China . :)
Of course, it’s only because of your love, support, encouragement, and 100% faith that I’m able to take on these incredible challenges. Besides the strong appeal of unplugging my Blackberry for 8 days, I guess this is another chance to push outside my comfort level, see a new (and quickly disappearing) part of the world, and learn a little bit more about myself along the way. Strangely, I suppose this adventure is sort of another milestone on the road to adulthood (despite my continued attempts to delay that reality for as along as possible).
I am so lucky to have you both in my life, and it has been so fun to share the crazy stories from training with you. (I did a quick Google search and confirmed the desert is free of monkeys, so no worries there!) In all my wanderings through the woods these last couple of months, I have often thought how fun it would be if we could all be 26 at the same time, exploring this gigantic world together. Those logistics would be difficult, so I’m glad that I have inherited your adventurous and independent spirits instead.
I will be thinking of you (and probably how much I wish we were back at the Metropole in Hanoi ) over the long trip and look forward to giving you both big hugs in just a few months.
Much love,
Kathryn x
Drumroll please...
My bag is now down below 8kgs. Less than18 pounds for those on the English system...
That's a substantial improvement from the 22 pounds that I was looking at on Sunday night. In addition, almost everything fits inside the bag...
Serious progress. Just about 24 hours til takeoff...
That's a substantial improvement from the 22 pounds that I was looking at on Sunday night. In addition, almost everything fits inside the bag...
Serious progress. Just about 24 hours til takeoff...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Deep Breaths
I have been completely giddy about the entire Gobi endeavor for the last week or so. Maybe it was just the sugar high hangover from "testing" all the snacks this weekend, but yesterday I could not sit still. Just ask shower man- we had an extensive debate on the efficacy of deodorant wipes after three days without a shower. He won; they didn't make the cut. Sorry boys...
Today, though, I find myself in a quiet moment. There is still a lot of work to be done- both in my usual Hong Kong life and in preparation for the Gobi. I've been diligently crossing off the to-dos from my list, packing and repacking, counting the calorie content of Cheez-Its, and preparing to part with my dignity. Still I am overawed by the enormity of what is about to take place- the landscape, the race, the people, the journey...
I hate that I sound like VW commerical.
Only five days til the gun goes off...Go Gobi...
Today, though, I find myself in a quiet moment. There is still a lot of work to be done- both in my usual Hong Kong life and in preparation for the Gobi. I've been diligently crossing off the to-dos from my list, packing and repacking, counting the calorie content of Cheez-Its, and preparing to part with my dignity. Still I am overawed by the enormity of what is about to take place- the landscape, the race, the people, the journey...
I hate that I sound like VW commerical.
Only five days til the gun goes off...Go Gobi...
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