Blog

Himalayas: The Race: 14 Aug 2011 11:06 AM

I DID IT!!!!!!!!.... no no no WE DID IT, we did it, we did it,... firstly to my crew, my dearest crew, you did everything in your powers to make it possible for me to complete this gruelling adventure... I love you guys and I couldnt have done it without you... every single step of the way you were there, willing me to the finish. At times you even protected me with your bodies from the diabolical truck convoys, you gave me strength to fight through the snow storms, the sand storms,the terrifying heat. You picked me up when I passed out. You held me when I broke... you calmed when when the panic attacks, the asthma attacks debilitated me. I have never experienced such dedication in my life.. and when was willing to keep on going.... you were prepared to put yourselves, your comfort, your health your heart into my dream. This was not a victory mine alone but of me and my crew and my wonderful wonderful sponsors who believed when I said I could do the highest and toughest ultramarathon at the roof of the world in the himalaya.

To chris, my powerhouse, my protector, my motivator,the one who made me pull all the last reserves out of my battered body and my at times close to broken spirt, to Josh, my passionate, fighter,with the determination of steel and the action to back it up, to Venkat, the dad of the crew the quiet the organiser, the smoother of ways, to Luke (my tireless cameraman, the capturer of the drama, my companion on the road and the one who provided the biggest laugh to us all at the finish line when in a rush to film us he when arse over turkey and faceplanted inthe dirt but still managed to save the shot, to Rana, my smiley, dedicated, tireless crew man and pacer and Sunny who smoothed the way for me from the start, eased my way into india and got me to the start line before having to leave us ...
To you all I thank you from the bottom of my heart.




The race was so full of stories that I dont know where to start. forgive me when I am so choked up with emotion right now that I cant really begin to even tell the story but it will unfold it the next days. IT WAS EPIC AND BRUTAL AND OFTEN MORE THAN I COULD COPE IT.

MORE TO COME I PROMISE....

Himalayas: Day 13 and 14: 8 Aug 2011 11:05 AM

sorry for no blog yesterday, everything in leh was closed due to the one year anniversary of the disastrous floods so nothing but nothing was open, leaving a lot of hungry stranded tourists, we got wind of it the day before and tried to stock up on a few items and made plans to go up tang lang la.



before we left for the day we had a big briefing where Molly the woman who attempted it last year, reaching the 120km told us of her experiences. Her crew (which were only locals) left her near the top of the pass and waited over 2 hours for her to get to the top (rule one never leave your runner), as it was freezing they slept with the windows closed at the top of the pass and nearly died, their oxygen levels according to organiser Kunal was down to 30% when they got to them. with the windows closed they were breathing out carbon dioxide (monoxide??) anyway whatever it is you breath out and depleting the precious little oxygen in the car, not to mention poor molly who was by this time severely dehydrated and had to be taken to hospital for an IV. After Molly Rajat the race director talked about accompanying mark cockbain from england who is the only one to have finished, for the last pass. For a start he stopped for some soup at the bottom of the pass and it took so long to make 2 min noodles (cooking with gas here takes forever due to the altitude) and mark started suffering hypothermia in the freezing temperatures. somehow he keep going, it took him 10 hours through the fnight to fight his way up the pass, Rajat said he had no idea what he was doing or why he just kept moving forward, he was completely delirious and rajat had to keep him from going over the edge of the road ( read big falls down banks or cliff). When questioned whether it was fatigue or altitude sickeness, Rajat who is a sports doctor said he had no idea but didn't want to pull him out after such a long way. Sounds dangerous to me. Somehow mark being one of the most determined people i know managed to finish it but still has to this day dizzy spells. Just how much damage you are doing at these altitudes depends on your oxygen saturation anything in the 70's % is not good. all the crews and runners were bombarding the organisers with questions but i don't feel safe really. most runners have had some problem or another, and the doctors are really good, so that is something




First outing as a complete team and the first altitude excursion for josh and luke to test their wings. our driver looked about 16 and didn't instill confidence and we were in for a terrifying ride with many close encounters. everyone drives like maniacs here and you are alway glad to be home in one piece. we had one particularly close encounter including a army truck which we were trying to over take at the same time as a family of donkeys were crossing the road. the driver slammed on the brakes just in time throwing us all out of our deep tired post altitude slumbers.



I decided to run 12km up to the top of the pass today and was feeling not too bad. even managed to walk/run which at over 5000m is quite something. Luke is doing a great job getting footage and chris is running around snapping everything and the whole team is pulling together nicely. Venkat (henceforth to be known as the cat) our accountant is the dad of the group and makes sure we all get we need to be on time and organises our finances etc. but today he is was feeling sick so didn't manage to pace at all.



Josh was as usual a machine and was having no trouble with the altitude, he will be a strong pacer i think. Chris has recovered from his tummy troubles and was doing great too.



At one point we had thirty huge army trucks pass us with their black exhausts, one after the other making the breathing for the time being cancerous. And from then on i had to fight with asthma. i would just get it under control then have to sip some water, and end up each time having my bronchial tubes just shut down on me. It took a lot of concentration and calming thoughts to stop the panic taking over completely.



i tested whether i could eat anything while going up hill near the top and managed in-between gasping asthma to get one lolly down and one peanut. How the heck i am going to be able to get enough calories in is beyond me at this point. going up hill (each pass will take between 7 and 10 hours estimated) so I will need to find a solution to this.




AFTer a brief stop at the top of the pass, a big group hug and some filming we headed back down, the total trip of 9 hours long so we had a long trip back with this crazy driver and were anxious to get down. We pulled out the food we had bought the day before, including a pizza which turned out to be not such a great idea, promptly josh started feeling sick, and i had to get out and vomit again. Venkat was also green.



but by then we got down to the nearest village there was a ceremony being held for the anniversary of the flood and the locals were giving out fry bread and tea and wouldn't let us pay but happily invited us. Their hospitality was lovely.



we continued our weary way home and managed to get a meal at 9pm at our hotel (it was meant to be at 7.30pm) which promptly burnt it way down our gullets. Hot as hell. But the refreshing watermelon after was a hit.




This morning though i woke up at 4am with cramping in my tummy, things didn't bear well, i had been planning to go running so i tried but was so weak i could only walk slowly up to the monastery where i rang mum again. By the time i got back to the room, all hell had broken loose in my tummy and i had to miss the shopping excursion with the boys today which was to get supplies for race and just had to sleep and sleep. The doc's are onto it tho. I also have toothache and have been put on antibiotics to clear up the infection. so i am feeling very weak and sick and scared that this wont go by the time the race comes. Chris' tummy troubles tho have stopped so maybe mine will by tomorrow too.



my room is in total chaos with all my race gear spread out and i am trying to workout what to take to camp in two days time. my toilet is leaking so overtime i need to go in there i have to walk through puddles of toilet water. yuck.



so i shall now return to my room for another lie down

Himalayas - Links: 8 Aug 2011 08:58 AM

Hi All, below are to links well worth checking out:

www.trailrunnermag.wordpress.com
www.thehigh.in

Himalayas: Day 15 - and then we were six: 7 Aug 2011 08:55 AM

forgot to add that one of the race Cathy Todd pulled out today and has flown out already. so we are now to six. She wasnt adapting to the altitude and was feeling constantly unwell and she said she came to the himalayas to race in a pristine environment not in the extremely polluted air here and she didnt want to risk her health with that or the altitude its just too risky to have permanent damage. I share her sentiments but am doing it anyway. None of us had bargained for the pollution

Himalayas: Day 15: 7 Aug 2011 08:54 AM

first up apologies the last two days blogs arent there yet. day one the shops were all closed due to anniversary of the flood that killed so many here and so couldnt get blog out then next day internet was down, so have written it all up but on lukes computer so it will come out of sequence tomorrow.



Anyway. last night we were filming in the market down town in leh, chris interviewing me as we walked through the chaotic streets, josh and venkat making sure the cameraman who was walking backwards didnt get hit or walk into any thing. on the streets its donkeys, wild dogs, carts, beggars, people selling wares on the road, tons of cars and heaps of people so we had to be careful. but when we turned a corner, and josh wasnt looking, Chris got hit by a car, side swiped so to speak, no damage but a good reminder of what not to do and dam good audio for the doco, ahhhh.... sh....t, oh man are you aright....etc etc. unfortunately the camera wasnt rolling. ha.



Since yesterday morning i have been sick with ladakh belly,and feeling very weak, but its coming right slowly. i am petrified that I will have a sick tummy when race day comes, nothing worse than trying to run 222km over the himalayas with diahroea i can assure you... flashbacks to the misery of niger...



This morning at 5am i was woken up by the worst dog fight i have ever heard. it was horrific and one poor dog who was literally squealing must have been being ripped apart it was quite horrid to hear.



all my boys went to Thiksey monastery, a famous monastery nearby. this morning, but i stayed home to pack and sort.
venkat and josh came back at 9am but luke and chris continued up to tanglang la pass with the other runners to interview and film them (dedication i tell you, its a 9 hour trip or more out to there) i didnt go because i have already been up to the passes 6 times.



Sam gash did her first up hill walk 5km to the top of kardung la pass yesterday and agreed with me, its bloody hard going just to walk.



Josh, venkat and I have been packing and repacking, getting last minute supplies, and then went down town where i indulged in my favourite pass time of buying jewels for the shop. Got a couple of incedible pieces after much haggling.
lunch then sleep, its all about rest and recovery from in. Race day thursday.

Himalayas: Day 12: 4 Aug 2011 08:14 AM

woke at 5 thinking its six and hurried to get going for our trip to the pass kardungla today. went to chris and lukes room and was annoyed they were still asleep before i realised "i am a dork" it was only 6 and not 7am. went back to bed.

An hour later i met sharon gayter at breakfast, the favourite women in the race from England, she had run a marathon down hill from the top of the pass the day before and she had some dramas with her asthma (a problem we share) her inhalers didnt work up there and the exhaust fumes were diabolical. The doctors are now organising nebulisers for us (another way to get asthma med in) so we may have to run along hooked up to a machine for 10 min if we have attacks up there which is pretty much a given..Chris, venkat and Rana and I piled into the van to head up the kardung la pass again for training, it was chris first time up after only having been here for two days. Josh and Luke we left down in Leh as it was too dangerous to take them up just yet as they only arrived yesterday and to go straight up to 5600m would be downright stupid. Chris with camera in hand was happy snapping away on the ride up. We stopped at the police check in point at north Pullu grabbed some water and headed up further. Chris had had an upset stomach all night and I was a bit worried about him but he decided to jump out with me and to try to get some footage and photos for a bit then the headache started. My crew alternated for a while while I tried to control my breathing and to stop the oncoming asthma attack from getting out of control. The wind was strong for a while and the traffic terrible. if the altitude doesnt kill us the fumes will. Just when you have so little oxygen anyway the black smoke of the cars ad trucks is a constant menace. I plugged on till we again were stopped by a huge rock avalanche. Rana and chris grabbed waterbottles and accompanied me but chris started getting a massive headache and had to peel out and wait for the car to get through. Rana continued on with me, he is the dark horse here, he is doing really well at altitude and manged 4km in total with me today which doesnt sound like much but every kilometre up here is equivalent to about 10 km at sealevel in regards to anaerobic stress, fatigue etc. I plodded on to the top of the pass completing just 12.5km. I immediately went and stuck my finger in the oxygen monitor machine i have with me which measures the oxygen saturation in the blood given as a %. 98 % is normal at sealevel, prolonged levels below 90% is getting dangerous. Mine at that moment was 79%. Get any lower than 72% and you are really in trouble. We stayed on top for a good hour trying to use the time to acclimatise but poor chris was not doing well so we headed back down as fast as we could.



I still cant get my head around how I am possibly going to run/walk/crawl 222km in these conditions in just a few days time. 12km is knocking me for a six. 1 or 2 or 3 km is knocking my crew over, i just dont know how it was possible for mark to do it last year... I can only keep praying and trying to think positive and taking it slow. Incomprehnsible is the word of the moment.



we finally got down to Leh with a very green looking chris, who has only had two days here, and the other two were also feeling very fatigued and sleepy. We thought we would be at the hotel in a minute or two when we ran int o a huge furneral procession, a very colourful affair but a very slow moving one, for 2km we had to follow at walking pace behind the procession just dying int he heat.
We all hit the sack immediately once we got back. Two hours later i went to get some water from a shop and heard that all shops and all restaurants will be closed tomorrow ( we were planning a supply shopping day tomorrow) and no one will be able to get anything to eat. We just bought some bread and 2 min noodles and hope we will get something somehwere. we are now trying to bring our plan to go up Tang lang la the second pass, tomorrow instead but only if the taxis are going which i fear they wont be. There is nothing to do here if the shops are open and you cant eat. dam

We just a meal which again took 3 hours to get. (what I wouldnt do for mcdonalds speed) and this morning when we came out of the hotel we saw the cook come out of the kitchen of the restaurant we ate in the day before, he snotted all over his fingers then flicked it on the ground and went back inside to cook. it doesnt instill confidence.

well till tomorrow. appreciate our beautiful little country

Himalayas: Day 11: 3 Aug 2011 08:13 AM

Finally my crew are all here. 6am we were up and ready to pick up cameraman luke mcnee from nalu productions. no one knew what he looked like but he was the white guy with the huge amount of luggage we gathered. back to base camp. interviews with the other doco crew working here and crew interview with race director going over preparation, roles of each crew member, safety measures, communication measure, and the giving out of the official t shirts for crews and runners. Then luxury of luxuries... a 45 min massage with physiotherapist who has come all this way from Dellaware, to gather more experience int he field so to speak. She was struggling to massage us in the primitive conditions on the floor and the altitude was making it hard physical labour for her... we are all very thankful for the commitment of all the medical staff.

at 10am we went to the airport to pick our last but definitely not least... Josh Paurini who had had a mammoth flight from nz to leh straight through, its josh's first time out of nz and he has now been here 4 hours buts seems to be taking it all in his stride, only the first visit to the toilet made him gag a bit. We went for lunch which took 4 hours to get fed, Indian time whoa... the speed here makes a snail look fast.

And now my team and i are on the march around the town looking for supplies and food in the myriad of tiny shops here selling a very limited supply of stuff. so far, one seat, two gas cartridges for the cooker, two packets of 2 min noodles, 4 soup packets, tissues, chewing gum, a jar of apricot marmalade and quarter kilo of almonds, a jar of nuttella and some crackers, i wonder if that will feed 6 people for 6 days.hmmm maybe not.

just left the boys still wandering around heading back for a nap for josh deliverance of megan stewarts instructions tonight.

Himalayas: Day 9: 2 Aug 2011 09:58 AM

woke up with birds this morning to catch a taxi to the airport.... finally chris ord was due in at 6.25am.. was very excited to see him...Sunny, venkat and i all went to the airport but I had no passport with me as these had been taken by the organisers but were required to enter the airport, somehow smooth talking sunny got them to let me in. The weather this morning was a little brisk but the coolness made me feel quite good today.

Finally chris and two other crew members from other teams emerged. Chris smiling like a cheshire cat let out to play and ready for action. Didnt really want to know about down time and taking it easy. When i announced a bit later i was going traiining up to the shanti stupa steps (580) steps up he was keen to come but was told by the docs to sit tight.
We had our medical check ups this morning and my oxygen saturation level even after a week and even only at 3500m was 90% while resting iwhich i thought was low but the doctors said was ok. My haemoglobin (red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen ) was ok but not great, my crews were much better. (maybe they should run instead of me).

All vital signs checked and noted including weight, blood pressure, haemoglobin, pulse, etc were checked for runners and crew alike. One crew member from the other documentary team has been so sick overnight he is freaked out and is leaving.



At 9am we had to say goodbye to my good friend Sunny who has had an emergency at home and has had to leave me. I was sad to wave him goodbye but just so glad for his help over this critical acclimatisation week. Rana his brother in law in taking his place we also got another driver from India alloted to us Venkat from Mumbai and we have decided to pay extra and to get a second vehicle during the race because we have soo much gear with the cameras, around 30 litres of water each, clothing for all climates etc and also so our cameraman Luke can run ahead getting good footage elsewhere and chris can get updates out.



We were given a detailed itinerary yesterday with all the housekeeping rules, the organisers have set out a acclimatisation plan including a drive again up kardung la and treks... I still think its too little too short but the proof will be in the pudding.
On a personal level, I am starting to feel better physically, at least down in Leh town and am looking forward to having my entire crew minus Sunny with me soon. Josh and Luke are in the air as we speak, winging their way to this remote outpost of civilisation. They will be welcomed tomorrow morning, and i cant wait. Slowly slowly we are getting to the business end of things. Its a hellish waiting game in a way but a necessary one. Physically i am feeling better although, training up the stupa was strenuous and the asthma kicked in a bit towards the top but nothing i couldnt handle. A new symptom tho has arisen, a shooting pain in my left ear... no idea \what that is.



Tonight more meetings and briefings, things that have to be done, the boring bits. Every runner and their crew seems to be an insular cell, no one is really mixing much outside their group, all wanting to look inward and focus on their people and the task at hand I can only presume.



The crews are rounded out with local volunteers who have travelled from all over India at their own costs to be a part of this epic adventure, lovely people and so helpful.



The medical crew are from Dellaware in the United states and they seem to be very thorough and great. They are doing to research studies, studying the body's reaction time to altitude adaptation in trained athletes as compared to crew members and most of us are taking part in the study. Should produce some interesting results, there has never been a study like it at so higher an altitude.
off for the briefing now.

Himalayas: Day 7: 1 Aug 2011 10:56 AM

Well another freaky day here in the himalayas, this place is crazy and a tough place to survive, some of the stories i have heard are frightening.



Well my night from interrupted when a huge crash and tinkling of glass burst through my deep dreams. a window in my bedroom had smashed. was there someone in my room? what was going on? i did the only sensible thing and hid under my covers too scared and tired to check it out. in the morning i found the debris scattered all over the floor and gathered that the shoddy workmanship was responsible. Everything here breaks... and nothing runs ... the infrastructure here is woefully overchallenged and its so remote its hard to get anything done, especially when its only accessible by road for 3 to 4 months a year and the winters are totally brutal and nothing can be done. Add to that the mixture of cultures and yeah well its organised madness.



Sunnys friend, colonel Arjun Singh from the army here arranged to pick us up at 9am and take us on a tiki tour of the district. This man is the head honcho here and he has seen a lot in his time in the army. This area was the sight of the cargil war with pakistan in recent history and the army also do a lot of work with and for the people of this district. He wasnt allowed to be offcially seen in the company of foreign nationals (me) so i had to be hidden in the back of the jeep. Elumalai was our chauffeur for the day too, one of Colonel Arjuns subordinates. A very nice and quiet young man who knew how to drive in this place. We were in for a very interesting day full of culture and hospitality. I was struggling with the heat and the after effects of yesterdays attack on the pass. And I felt slightly unwell, and nauseated all day in the heat. Add to that the rough cramped ride in the back of the jeep and it all added up to a lot of fun.



First stop on our tour was Stok palace standing at the base of the over 6000m peak of Stok mountain. Here the royal family of ladakh are in residence and we were treated to a tour of the palace and its mueseums. I was in awe of the delicate jewellery work on show and the elaborate turquoise headdresses worn by the royals on special occasions. I looked down the list at the long line of kings and queens reaching back hundreds of years and noted that most did not live past 25. So harsh were the conditions up here. They are very much a hardy bunch of people in this corner of the world.



Next stop was an incredible monastery with over 300 lamas in residence. The temples and shrines to budha are incrediblly intricate and colourful. Here each family in the surrounding 60 villages must give male child to the monastery to become a lama. Lots of little boys wandering around in the wine coloured traditional dress. I wonder what their lives must be like, a life in dedication to their religion and owning no material wealth only spiritual wealth.



Next up another monastery after a hot and wild ride in the jeep with a running commentary frm colonel Arjun. And we were in for a treat. The matho gompa was over six hundred years old but it was the new addition just three years old that wowed me. The shrine to Budha was magnificent and as a colourful as a rainbow. After spinning the prayer wheels in the hope of some help during the race we were treated to a very special lunch with a local family who had obviously been cooking for hours. They had carried the picnic including carpets and pots etc 2 km from their home to lay out below the shade of a beautiful tree next to a river. We had a refreshing wash in the rver we were totally covered in dust, my hair briefly grey instead of dark brown. The apricot juice we were first offered was something devine, followed by some serious beer. This lovely family, the husband one of colonel arjuns soldiers, his lovely shy wife and their niece and another neighbouring lady had prepared a feast fit for a king. we ate gratefully and hungrily enjoying the unusual flavours of the new type of cuisine. The colonel told us many stories and after we visited the families new house before heading home, wary and culturally enriched. The hospitality shown us as strangers was touching, the people really lovely the history and religion their culture and traditions are such an eyeopener for a little kiwi along way from home



Tomorrow the other runners and their crews arrive, bar my three. Looking forward to seeing them all and to catching up with sam especially.



Today i have been able to briefly forget about the immensity of the challenge that lays ahead and have been able to relax and enjoy a little. But always hanging in the background of my mind is the constant tension and yes fear of what lies ahead. But as i have said many times its good to scare the hell out of yourself sometimes and to explore new horizons. just hope it wont be just too impossible this time.

Himalayas: Day 8: 1 Aug 2011 09:57 AM

at 6am the rest of the runners and their crews landed in leh after three days of sightseeing and receptions in Delhi. I thought it more important to be up here acclimatising as I really dont think 9 days is enough at all.



We are down to just seven runners now... dont know whats happened, whether the others have thought better of it.

Its always a bit of a strange meeting, everyone getting together for the first time and sizng each other up and swapping status and plans. Sam is here with her top notch crew including Ryan Bennett who was placed second in sahara with us last year, he will be a great asset to her as a pacer.

Ray sanchez, the legendary badwater, arrowhead and and and champ and ex golden gloves boxer was all confidence, ah we will just have fun and enjoy it... hm easier said than done for me.



Rajat the director and his crew have also arrived and are being bombarded with questions requests, changes etc. its a huge undertaking and I wouldnt really like to be in his boots right now,.... ah but then i am not sure i want to be in my own either....



I have had some good and some very bad news. The good is that Luke from Nalu productions is on board, somehow chris ord, wes greene and stuart myerscough have pulled off a miracle and gotten him visas, flights etc. I am totally stoked to have him on board. I also met up with the other doco crew Barry Walton who is keen to cooperate so I am feeling positive that this doco is going to be worthy of this crazy race. Cause I dont think i will be repeating it somehow... too dangerous.



The very bad news I had today is terrible. My main man here in leh Sunny Grewal has to go home urgently with a major medical problem with one his family members. I am hoping things will be ok for his family and of course health and family must come first. He feels terrible leaving me I know but this is just a race after all.
So poor sunny has been despertely trying to deal with indian bureaucracy to get his tickets changed and is running up against brick walls but he hopes to be on his way at 7am, only half an hour after chris and Luke arrive. I am very thankful to Sunny for all his help this week he has looked after me like a big brother and has gone beyond the call of duty. Taking his place on my crew will be his lovely quiet brother-in-law Rana who has been with us all this week. Unfortunately Rana doesnt speak much english but I have one other indian driver with us so that will help. Rana is just jumping in the deep end and I am very grateful again.



We had a first medical briefing, there are 5 doctors here almost more than runners. Kunal informed everyone today to take it easy. Two tourists just arrived in the morning and died in the evening a few days ago. (it had a few in the crews freaking out) . We have discussed taking altitude tablets and their sideeffects etc and the studies and research they will be undertaking and vital signs they will be monitoring throughout. They are taking this very seriously.



Molly sheridan, the woman who attempted it last year is back to try again... she got to 120km last year and will be telling us of her experiences later this evening.



Tensions are high and the shittiness is apparent...already been told to bugger off with my video camera by one of the runners when i was filming the doctors... hmm



The organisers are under the thumb at the moment trying to get everything right and havng just lost the support of the army....



On a domestic level, we had to shift into the race hotels, (two side by side) and I was in one that had a very dodgy manager who was just drooling all over me and telling me all the things he knew about me and who kept popping into my room to see if he could do anything for me.... he said he had been dreaming i would stay in his hotel and not next door. I was promptly freaked out and organised with Sunnys help to be transferred to the other hotel... dont need any weirdo stalker right now.



The other place is slightly nice anyway and quieter so i am happy now.
Crikey this acclimatisation game is such a drag. So long a time of waiting , preparing, stressing a bit. I am used to working my little butt off at home all day everyday and to just have to sit around and wait and acclimatise etc is difficult for me being the hypo kid i am. I could just train more, but its not advisable to do too much too soon. I am heading up to the beautiful shanti stupa now above the city to get some exercise and to escape this hot hell village.
7pm another briefing....

Himalayas: Day 6: 31 Jul 2011 10:54 AM

Still no word if our replacement cameraman luke mcnee has managed to get visa. It will be touch and go. Chris my wonder organiser is on the plane monday so wont be able to help after that
. Rajat race director, nalu productions, chris ord and air asia are really trying to move mountains to make this happen. Air asia has been wonderful and is willing to change names on flights and organise at last minute etc. Thanks stuart and team.

Back in the himalayas... we went back up the kardungla pass again (the first pass on the race route). I am trying to push just a little further everyday. Today i ran/walked (more the second) 10.5km uphill to top of pass and then 5 k down. I vomitted on way up but hung in there. The trucks and jeeps here are very frustrating and dangerous too, and the exhaust (which are not of our standard but full black smoke) is really hard. The whole time its smells of petrol fumes around me, even tho i am on big mountain that plus oxygen deficit is really a recipe for nausea. We had three big rock avalanches come down ahead of us on the way up the pass today and i had to leave my crew behind and climb over the rocks and keep going... how we will manage that during race is going to be interesting... Prob josh or chris will have to don backpacks and water and continue with me till the crew car can get through. The rock avalanches are a bit of a worry too if they come down when you are running beneath it.



Again my lungs were screaming for air the whole way up, its impossible to eat. and even drinking water which you have to do every three minutes due to the dryness of the air and the altitude which makes it crucial not to dehydrate, To take a drink of water and spend the next 10 steps trying to catch your breath back.



At the top of the pass we stopped for beautiful chai tea, love it before i ran back down just 5km and another rock avalanche later and I was about to vomit again so i called it a day. The next symptom in the car driving back down the windy pass is a mix of altitude sickness and car sickness and then your body just wants to sleep, sunny and rana too. Its so fatiguing.



Once back i washed under the cold tap, rinsed out my dirty clothes and collapsed into bed feeling sick...just a general feeling of unwellness, headaches, fatigue. The guys too. Have just surfaced to write this email to you guys and am in a stinking dirty hot internet cafe.



I just emailed with my exercise physiologist advisor, Dr Reginald O'hara from the US Air force and told him my symptoms, problems and when to know its getting serious with altitude sickness. He has told me to monitor my oxygen saturation levels (now where did I put that little piece of equipment, will have to search my luggage) and to be alarmed if i am below 90% saturation for any period of time.. You will be sick and not get better at that level he says. So will start watching that.. from my symptoms he says i have mild alt sickness at the moment so tomorrow i might not run up the pass but go rafting instead. Staying in this hot noisy, polluted but very interesting town is getting a bit much, have to get out in nature as much as poss. So a trip down the indus river tomorrow might do the trick.



Chris arrives tuesday hopefully with luke mcnee in tow and josh paurini arrives the day after. The runners which I believe are now only 12 and their crews arrive monday.
Will be good to see my mate sam and exchange plans.
Spoke with my mum on the phone this morning (courtesy of sunnys contacts who organised us a local sim card, avail usually to only ladakhis) and had a wee meltdown moment as you do when you can relax and stop having to be so dam brave all the time... mummies will do that to you. She told me a lady came into the shop yesterday who had been living in leh as a vet and helping the poor mangled wild dogs here... of which there are literally hundreds of these poor creatures and she says there is another new plymouth man here doing the same thing, i hope to find him and film his story for the documentary, isnt it a small world.
well hasta manana everyone.
Hope i am feeling a little healthier, less freaked out and happier tomorrow.... hey but it wouldnt be an adventure ... if the outcome was known and if there werent risks involved and ups and downs. Its a very intense experience of that you can be sure... all a little overwhelming right now, sensory overload but all part of the journey... and life is not a destination (or a finish line) but a journey.

Himalayas: Day 2: 27 Jul 2011 08:45 AM

I have found my crewman sunny, thank the lord, was getting rather worried and on a more basic level, i have found toilet paper.... phew.

life up in leh is starting to become normal, the culture shock and jet lag, although still there are diminishing. I am still struggling to breath and its a weird feeling to be sitting doing nothing and puffing. oooh how am i going to run at 2000 metres higher than this and not for 5 mins but for 60 hours and 222km. Incomprehensible to my struggling body right now. I am trying to remember events like walking across the libyan desert with 35kg, I remember putting the backpack on in the hotel room and not knowing if i could even cross the room... let alone 250km of desert but somehow I did it, so somehow I have to be able to do this as well... surely. omg

havent got out of the town yet which is the usual third world town chaos, just with the added bonuses of heaps of wild dogs and roaming holy cows, tibetan monks and hippy tourists.

Sunny and I have made a plan for the next few days. Tomorrow is the start ... we head up to the chang lang la pass (the first on my running route) at a height of 5400m to check it out and feel the altitude and to do some sightseeing and walking at that level.



Cant wait to get out of the hot chaos of town even if it its culturally extremely interesting. We just visited a buddhist temple and got some footage of the tibetans in their place of worship.. wonderful. last night I even spun the prayer wheel with trillions of little bit of paper inside with the chant omi padme hum (excuse the incorrect spelling). Hope it helps, I need all the help I can get.

The mountains that surround us are daunting and the weather can change in an instant i have been told. Kunal said when mapping the course he had inside a few short hours, sand storms, snow storms, rain and wind.... and rajat the director was saying... yeah the harder the better... right now I am not sharing this sentiment... its hard enough as it is.



My little lungs are in for a hard time... of that I am sure.
the day after chang lang la we will rest then the following day head up the second half of the route and the second pass Taglang la. I am keen to see what we are in for and get a feel for the place.

The following day we will visit an incredibly spectacular lake and check out some scenery. May even do a bit of white water rafting, camel riding and looking for the elusive snow leopard.
Got to speak to my mum today which was wonderful. I miss home as soon as I am away and especially travelling in third world countries its makes you appreciate every little thing we take for granted at home, like flushing loos, and electricity...
And this is why it is so good for us kiwis to travel. I will say it again /... we live in paradise.
Day two on the other side of the world. sighning off below the shadows of the himalayan Korakorum mountain range. Lisa

Himalayas: Day 1: 25 Jul 2011 12:51 PM

after 35 hours enroute i have arrived in Leh a town in himalayas where I will be based fort he next two weeks while I acclimatise.

We are at an altitude of 3500 m.
I just flew in over one of the most spectacular vistas possible. the himalayan mountain range and to be honest I am very reminded of death valley. Its pure desert here, only a few green spots in the valleys.
The scale here is enormous.
The army presence here is huge and beside them are tourists, climbers, trekkers and druggies mostly.
I cant find my crew man sunny, he is awol and I am a bit nervous till i find him.

My accom is good or tho there is no electricity most of the time, its something that comes and goes up here, no toilet paper anywhere in site, oh god, and only cold water. have eaten lunch which was surprisingly good and am wandering the town slowly, very slowly trying to adapt and get over the heat, the jet lag, the culture shock. Got to find some toilet paper... my mission this arvo..
ha

the people seem pretty laid back (except the army) not to mess with. no one attacks you if you look in there store but let you browse and I have seen some fascinating jewellery which I want to explore more and bring some bits home, love getting pieces from the places I visit, with local gemstones and artisans.



I am feeling ok just dazed and swollen from flying. but all good, two weeks till countdown,
have had a meeting with Kunal who is part of the organising team here and have got the heads up on altitude and what to do... all good , he is an interesting character who speaks 6 languages, is an IT professional, and climber who guides tourists here.



life is interesting, but missing home already... we live in paradise
bye all talk again tomorrow

THE NORTH FACE TODAY ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF NEW-ZEALAND UL: 15 Feb 2011 10:20 AM

The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announces sponsorship of New Zealand’s premier female ultra marathon runner Lisa Tamati.

Lisa Tamati, has been running internationally for 13 years, clocking up more than 60,000 km or the equivalent of over two and half times around the equator, in training and in some of the most extreme endurance races in the world.

In 2008, she became the first New Zealand woman to complete the legendary Badwater Ultramarathon, widely regarded as one of the most demanding and extreme running race on earth, placing 10th female.

In 2009, she competed in the Gobi March in North Western China managing 2nd place female, then last year took part in the unforgiving Sahara Race in Egypt, placing 5th female.

Accomplishing these two incredible 250 km self-sufficiency races through some of the hottest deserts in the world and over the harshest terrain has proved Lisa’s determination and incredible performance. The North Face couldn’t be more excited to welcome Lisa as a new sponsored athlete.

Stephen Winnacott, The North Face Marketing Manager in Australia and New-Zealand, commented: “Lisa is an incredibly hard working, professional and ambitious athlete. She already has an impressively long list of accomplishments to date, though we believe signing with The North Face will see her go on to achieve even bigger things. As her sponsor, our role is to enable her to realize her biggest dreams, explore her furthest limits, and inspire people to achieve great things in their own lives.

This year, Lisa will be challenging herself in completely new environments. Warming up with the 4th edition of The North Face 100 in the Blue Mountains (May 14 & 15), she will then head to the Himalayas where she is one of the only 25 extreme runners in the world to be invited. All will compete in a 222km non-stop race over the two highest passes in the world. Later in December 2011, Lisa is also intending to run the “world’s coldest” 100km ultra-race in Antarctic.

“To become a North Face athlete is for me the biggest honour, to be associated with the world best in sports adventure wear is a dream come true. I have long looked up to my role model Dean Karnazes who has been a North Face athlete for years and to be in a team alongside him and many other incredible athletes is both humbling and very exciting. I look forward to representing The North Face and will proudly be wearing the brand in all my running adventures of which I hope there will be plenty. Thanks to the team at The North Face for believing in me and helping me push the limits”, said Lisa.

Day 5 Sahara Desert: 11 Oct 2010 09:37 AM

Day 5 Sahara Desert the long stage 94.5 km

We went to hell and we stayed there a long time. The stage we knew would kill us and it did. I was lucky to team up with Sam Gash and Manus from Ireland and, we stuck together all day. We pushed the speed as much as we could and took no breaks at the checkpoints whatsoever, desperate to keep moving and cover the distance, the landscape was incredible again. We went through the valley of the whales, not caring that 8 million year old whale fossils lay on the side of the track.

The heat came in with a vengeance from 10am onwards and we suffered through the day, and we just kept running or more like waddling in an army march style. Manus was worth his weight in gold, such a gentleman and selfless person and we will be friends for ever in fine form we just went and went.

Megan was struggling on her own behind me. It would take her over 26 and a half hours with hugely painful blisters but she made it and I am so dam proud, don’t know if she wants to be my friend anymore though. At the moment she is passed out in the tent absolutely spent like never before in her life, she gave it her all.

Sam, Manus and I fought through finishing finally at 9.45pm at night, after 15 hour 15min, there were hugs and tears of relief at being able to stop moving forward being able to stop pushing and driving and forcing ourselves to move. The terrain was extremely rough underfoot and constantly changing. I am exhausted beyond words. I am watching people still coming in over 13 hours after I finished.

I am proud of Megan and myself its been a battle of the body and the mind and we overcome it all to finish we only now have the victory lap around the pyramids of Giza tomorrow then I can get clean and civilised again, eat real food sleep in a soft bed shower ten times, slowly fix all my wounds. My body is a mess from head to toe, and as I sit here in 50 degrees heat writing this, I am being buzzed by a hundred flies. Hot, bothered and exhausted I know I need a rest my mind and body as it has taken more punishment in the last few years than I can handle right now.

I need recovery - we did it

Road to the Sahara - 3: 7 Oct 2010 10:17 AM

Day 4 done and dusted. Thank the heavens above now we only have one more ginormous stage to face 95km which will be the ultimate test.

I am scared silly. I have found this desert race particularly hard, my body is tired after three years of full on racing and I am due for a holiday. I am trying to get my head in a better space because its the only thing that will get me through. Without the right headspace you are in trouble.

Unfortunately Sam Gash who I ran with in the Gobi and who I was planning on running with is now running with some Irish guys from her tent so I am facing the long day alone which I am not pleased about, I have gotten lost before at night in the dark in the desert and its not nice. i am just hoping i will be able to buddy up with someone.

My body is ok after today just losing all my toenails and they have blistered up bad on right foot and my back is buggered in more ways than one. Its open with chaffing and the straps of the backpack have cut into me and I am struggling with my sciatica which is paralysing pain when I try to bend or when I stop and try to change positions. Going to the loo on the run is a real mission on its own, what with weak legs and back nerves catching its quite an hilarious sight to see.. I am just trying to hang in there and finish this race its all about surviving the long stage now. 95km, 45 plus degrees, a broken down body and a heavy pack make for hard going, lots of people fighting with their own problems but the camaraderie is fabulous, the people too awesome,

Road to the Sahara - 2: 4 Oct 2010 08:40 PM

Ok its time to get serious: The beautiful fun days in Paris are over. Its time for business.

I fly into Cairo tonight arriving late at 8.30pm I hope my friend Megan, who has been in Egypt all week will be there to help me get to the hotel. Cairo I know from my last desert adventure in the Western Desert years ago can be a scary adventure in itself. I had hoped Paris would still be hot but it’s only been 12° degrees or so here so the body is in for a massive shock.

Tomorrow we have registration and control of our equipment before being loaded into vehicles and heading deep into the desert. By Tomorrow night we will be in camp one getting ready to rumble. I woke this morning with a big ugly cold-sore and feeling unfit and nervous; wee bit of asthma... so standard panic reaction of the body trying to tell me... aaarrgh for goodness sake don’t do it to me again...

Answer head... shut up. Toughen up, and get on with the job.

It never ceases to amaze me how the body tries to cause problems just before a race... it’s a psychological thing, the fear trying to stop you from achieving my goals. All you can do is take a deep breath and ignore it...250km Sahara here we come, two Taranaki girls heading out...

Pre Days - Countdown to Sahara: 29 Sep 2010 09:42 PM

I left Saturday morning 25 September on the Ultramarathon mission of getting to the other side of the world, and as all kiwis who have travelled so far, 36hrs in the air and in airports takes a big toll on the body so i needed a few days to acclimatise before racing, so instead of risking a bad tummy in Cairo I am visiting a friend in Paris and having a great time.

Its amazing where running can take you, before heading across the sands of the Sahara and finishing outside the pyramids of Giza I get to visit the most romantic city in Europe.

The first couple of days have been hard to adjust culturally, I don’t speak a word of French and the body is rebelling with a bout of asthma and general body clock time issues but its wonderful to have a guide.

Both yesterday and today we ran through the downtown area of Paris along the River Seine, through the Louvre down to Notre Dame up to the Eiffel Tower and through the elegant shopping areas of Paris with streets of big brand name shops, elegant clothes, and beautifully dressed people.

Philippe who is also an Ultrarunner and I have been planning an adventure to Australia early next year to do a 500km run through the desert of the Northern territory and are planning on filming it... stay tuned for another adventure then ... another two days and life will get serious again its off to Cairo and straight out into the desert. I arrive at 8.30pm then in the morning we head out....getting nervous

Documentry Timetable: 21 Sep 2010 07:31 PM

Gobi Desert Race: 19 Jul 2010 01:56 PM

I’m very upset at the articles published recently, about my Gobi desert Race. I made some comments about the death of fellow competitor Nicholas Kruse, during the Gobi race, when I had just gotten off the plane last week, tired and very upset, and since then the papers have blown everything out of proportion and sensationalised it.

My condolences to Nicholas family, it was a tragedy, and it touched all of the runners in the race, and we were understandably upset. However, it was an amazing event and a life changing experience, and it was a real privilege to run in such a amazing location. I in no way wanted to cause any distress to Nicholas family, friends or other runners.

Despite the situation I had an amazing, certainly difficult, but very positive experience, and I’m looking forward to the airing of our documentary on the Sky Sports channel in September.

Thanks to everyone for their support, and for remembering I’m firstly an athlete and not a P.R expert.

Lis

Training: 17 Jul 2010 09:29 AM

Hey guys this is a brief forecast of our event for this sunday, forward this to family friends or supporters who would like to cheer you on or take part in some of the festivities.

Please prepare accordingly- sleep well the night before pack loads of food and drink, i.e. substantial shit and lollies electrolyte replacement, clean clothes etc............i cant emphasis this more- i will be riding you this weekend, i will be hurting along with you but rest assured i will push you to your physical limits so take note of our 2 x 15 min breaks THAT IS IT for eating and changing clothes- we can take fluids during the whole event and jelly lollies but that is it.

Now is the part i will answer your thought as to why me and why the am i doing this?

In 9 hours i am attempting to make you mentally tough through pain and physical suffering developing fortitude.
Our 16 weeks of conditioning so far has made you fitter, stronger and i would like to think more susceptible to high intensity training and durability.
When an athlete is mentally weak and doesn't posses the minerals for successes or ( running his share of the north island ) his body will fail , hence the phrase you control the mind and the body will follow.
When an athlete posses mental strength and fortitude THERE IS NO END TO WHAT THE HUMAN BODY CAN ENDURE

It will be an experience we will remember for ever- stay hydrated and eat and sleep well from here on in

1) 30 KM RUN 0600-0900
leaving from igolf heading all the way up albany highway to glenfield road
follow glenfield road to birkenhead ave
follow birkenhead ave to onewa rd
left down onewa rd till lake rd
follow lake road till you get to ocean rd
right onto ocean view rd continue down than left into sunnybrae rd
then right onto archers rd and follow till left onto wairau rd
follow then right onto tristram ave follow then left onto forest hill rd
continue onto east coast bays rd
follow east coast bays rd to oteha valley rd
left onto oteha valley rd and follow back to igolf

2) 15 MIN REST 0900-0915

3) 10KM RUN 0915-1015
Up albany high way
continue until left onto sunset rd
follow then left onto east coast bays rd
follow then left into constellation drive
right into appollo dve
then of to the millennium

4) 1000 REPS OF PLYOMETRIC LUNGES 1015-1100
@the millennium gym inside

5) 5 ROUNDS OF 1 MIN MAX BURPEES / 1 MIN REST 1 MIN MAX BOX JUMPS / 1 MIN REST 1100-1130
@ the millennium gym inside

6) 10 KM RUN 1130-1230
left at apollo dve
left at constellation dve
right up east coast bays rd
left down aberdeen rd
left down beach rd
left down sunrise ave
right onto east coast bays rd
left into rosedale rd
then back to milinium

7) 15 MIN REST 1230 -1245
@ millennium subway

8) 100 V-UPS, 100 PULL UPS, 100 PUSH UPS, 100 SIT-UPS 1245-1315
@ millennium gym inside

9) 10 X 100M SPRINTS WITH 1 MIN REST IN-BETWEEN 1315-1330
on the outdoor 400m track

10) 100 GI JANES ( BURPEE PULL UPS WITH KNEES TO ELBOWS ) 1330-1345
inside the millennium gym

11) 4 X 400m RUN WITH 50 AIR SQUATS AND 5 MUSCLE UPS 1345-1415
on the inside 100m track with gymnastic rings utilized

12) 500 SIT-UPS 1415-1445
on the grass outside on the 400m track

13) 2 MILE INCENTIVE RUN ( I.E 8 LAPS OF THE 400M TRACK ) 1445-1500
run and incentive burpees preformed on the track

14) OFFICIAL FINISH AND DE BRIEF 1500-1600

Gobi Final: 12 Jul 2010 05:57 PM

Our friend and fellow runner is dead. ON day 3 during a brutal stage through the sand mountains, on a 36km stage our friend Nick collapsed of dehydration, another runner coming through tried to help him but found no pulse and so ran to the finish line to get help. The organisation was atrocious. 5 strong runners offered to go up and get him down but the organisation mucked around while they decided what to do and eventually sent up doctors, doctors who are runners or fast or strong, Nick they found unconcious but barely alive and burnt severely at the finish line where I had already been in for hours the tension was high. Hours later the last of the struggling other runners came in after battling for 13 and a half hours for only 36 kms. we were told Nick had been taken in an ambulance to hospital and that he was stable. This was now the eve of the longest stage 100km and the fear amoungst the runners was high. what would happen tomorrow, what was happening to Nick, could some of us be next, how much is too much and woul the organisation in the light of the situation maybe shorten the stage tomorrow which was expected to have temps of up to 50 degrees again through the most difficult terrain. I was frightened, I am well trained and very experienced but that just made me aware of what can happen out there, I was scared for what I would go through and scared for the others who were slower, not so experienced not so trained.

We started out at 8am into 12km straight off the bat of swamps, river crossings, fighting our way through 12 foot tall bamboo and the most rugged terrain underfoot. and that was just for breakfast. With wet feet the blister situation for most was excrutiating but I had the blessing of the best pair of running shoes I have ever run in, my North Face shoes and I didnt even get one blister, North Face you rock. Then it was off through a Weger village (the Weger people, I hope I spelt that right, are a ethnic minority here in this area and there is a lot of civil unrest between the Weger and the Han Chinese, I am afraid I am ignorant of the details but just know its a highly sensitive area and hence the ever present police presence near us)
It was great to be on a road for a while and to see the people and how they live then it off across burnt fields of nothing before we hit the socalled Salt flats which werent not like salt flats as I know them, beautiful white expanses of salt crystals looking like something out of the antarctic but rather dirty ugly mounds of broken earth encrusted with salt and the odd salt pool with colourful greens and oranges like the champagne pools in rotorua.
For mile after mile my girl Sam and I (Sam and I had met on day one and decided to run the long day together, Samantha Gash is an aweinspiring young lady from Australia, a bloody aussie but the coolest girl, 25 years old attempting to be the first woman and youngest competitor ever to complete the whole 4 deserts, atacama, gobi, sahara, antarctic in one year while in her final year of law school, now if that doesnt make you feel inadequate I dont know what would) anyway Sam and I trudged our way on, we had dropped two of the other female runners Fiona from New Zealand, another cool kiwi girl and Amanda behind us at check point two . We were in second place.
We were running at a steady pace the whole way but the pain was setting in in places we didnt know we had by check point 4 45km into the race. We were lucky there was a little bit of cloud cover and expected 50 odd degrees hadnt hit yet so we were going hard out to get through the hottest 40 k of the race before it got worse, This is when your training and experience can save you a lot of pain and exhaustion. many of the slower runners and walkers dont have the option of pushing harder for a while to make it easier in total and being slow means being out int he elements two sometimes three times as long as the faster, you are in far more danger.

By check point five at 55km the casualties were mounting and even good and fast runners who had dehydration and electrolyte imbalance problems or dysentery which weakens you terribly were going down. Its a fine tightrope walk trying to get the right amount of water and electrolytes and food in without overdoing the electrolytes and eating something that turns acid, the digestion can just shut down and everything you put in just fires straight back out, when we talk of dehydration its not a simple matter of well drink more. it doenst work like that once you reach a certain point your stomach just heaves everything back out and only an infusion can really help or a rest phase in a cool place.

Sam and I stoped for only 5 mins and pushed on and on and on. by kilometres 65- 75km we were slowing progressively, even tho we were still running it was more like a wobbly shuffling forward motion, Sam who is so tiny and weighs only 45kg and who has such little legs was struggling, our backs were bending and our eyes could only see our feet we couldnt lift our heads anymore. Checkpoint seven we had planned to rest for 15mins but it just wouldnt come and the cloud cover was gone and the humidity horrendous, Sam started to break down and i took her by the hand and made her press on. at one point we came across a spring of water and it was our saving grace we dropped our packs and dived our heads and arms under the cool water, with our arses in the air, kneeling next to my mate with water dripping off us I looked over to sam and we started laughing and crying at the same time, emotionally drained and slightly hysterical and we tried to make light of our situation, what the hell situations do we get ourselves into .... we trudged on with slightly cooled core temperatures for a few minutes which restored our resolve to carry on, the gnawing doubts pushed to the back of the mind again. check point7 check point 7 it cant be far, but it was another 6 km longer than they said it would be, enough to break the strongest man , it meant another hour plus till our long awaited rest. and Sam was in a bad way. Then finally finally we saw it the long awaited check point 7 we collapsed and sam let go emotionally and physcially exhausted, we rested a bit and drank and drank then ate. the volunteers there helped us, but the doctor didnt want sam to go on for a while, but I knew once she started talking again after 10 mins and joking we could get going again. I pushed her to move on and she was up for it, the doc was not happy but she didnt have another 25km to go and the night time and darkness closing in, meaning getting possibly lost etc and I know the longer you wait the harder it is, sam pulled her shit together and soldiered on . we reached the next check point in the dark and way of impossible to find, the glow sticks hadnt been erected and we kept getting lost we were passing through another weger village and men on mopeds started to follow us. at one stage 5 men on mopeds follwed us on this lonely stretch and sam and I were now scared for another reason. two little exhausted girls in shorts running through a muslim area and being followed was not a good feeling, I took sams hand again and we stuck close to each other, eventually we reached check point 8 and were greeted warmly by Mark Petersen a young guy from NZ whose dad Johann was running in the race and doing extremely well. he apologised for us getting lost and tried to explain how to reach the end . we stayed just five minutes before pushing on and getting lost again and again, falling down craters, overs banks going into circles. scared now out of our wits. I am not proud of it but at one stage I started to have a panic attack when I couldnt find the way ad the exhaustion was just too much. I cried and yelled abuse into the night air. Finally some poor volutneers who had been trying to help lost runners found us and I abused the hell out of them, it wasnt their fault but I couldnt take it anymore and I had to apologise later for my outburst but I was nearly in la lah land. Sam was now the stronger one and she took my hand and made me move on. then we hit the last hurdle the sandunes which we knew was the last big hurdle in the dark of the night these huge dunes loomed and made our life even more hell, we couldnt find the easiest route along the ridges because of the dark, when walking dunes you can save your self a lot by picking your route but we just had to go up and down . fighting for each step. Sam and I were now both between will power determination and the feeling I just cant do it anymore, its just too much. I just want to lay down and die. but when she went down it made me pull myself together and vice versa and we coaxed each other over each single dune. until finally at over 18 hrs of fighting we heard the drum beat that signalled camp and the finsh line, coming down off a huge dune we saw the camp and ran hold hands and falling down and crying over the finish line totally spent, relieved and happy - we had done I hugged little sam and cried some more ...

Our battle was over and we were second int he female race and 20 something overall, 150 odd poor bastards were still out there and they would fight their way over the next 18 hrs. We slept and ate and the endured the massive heat of the next day while one by one each battle weary runner slowly came in. Our hearts went out to them, many many casualties were also being bought into camp who had had to give up. In my mind each one a winner to even have come so far, there is no shame in not making it and in my eyes no failure just amazing characters who had given everything in the attempt... there but for the grace of God go each one of us on another day.

The drop out rate was high.

at 7.30pm the following day 18 hrs after we crossed the line, the last finishes limped in.

We had done it. the last stage would just be a victory lap of 6 km and a celebration .

Next day it was over we ran our 6km into a village where we were greeted with local music, food and a party to end all parties in the heat of the gobi. that first beer went down like water and so many sweaty hugs and dusty sandy smiles and cheers and photos were exchanged it was beautiful. We had been to hell and back together and we were as close as 150 people can be to each other because we had all done it together each fighting his or her own battle and each knew what the other had been through.

I have made friends for life and I am shattered, tired happy and so so sad rolled into one big emotional heap at the moment.

At the prize giving last night I received my trophy - I got second and I am so proud but we lost a mate, Nick, on the way and nothing makes up for that..


Love
Lis

Gobi Stage 5: 12 Jul 2010 05:57 PM

If there is a hell on earth its here. we wewe re scared out of our wits before starting but if we had known te carnage awaiting we wouldnthave started. we started with 12km of river crossings bamboo 12 feet high and swamps, then we headed across villages and into the in famous and ugly salt lake flats which were not the nice white lake bed i was used to. We died in the heat and Sam the girl I was running with was broken I cant describe the hell we went to and the stories that are still coming to fruition, i finised in 18 hours in second place after going trough the whole gambit of hysteria, panic attacks, getting lost, being ard.

Followed by 5 men on mopeds through the dark parts of a village. I wish i could express what we went through but i am too exhausted and this computer is buggered. Its 48 degrees and I am a mess. so will have to write about my experiences after. I am lost for words, but proud of Sam and my performances, and frightened about the 22 km of sandunes still to come.

Gobi Update: 2 Jul 2010 06:20 PM

Stage 4

Its pure carnage here in the Gobi. Everyone is dying in the heat. We had a dam hard stage, through huge stoney sand dunes then endless narrow sand gulley’s, with steep walls just enough to run in. It was brutal. Up up up again. its an epic battle between the girls, and I found myself in third place with just a few kms to go and from there it it was down hill through steep gorges and sand dunes, and we gave it hell.

I was behind Denvey who has been in front for a lot of the race and I must say most of the girls are great and I wouldn’t give a dam who, won except her. She has been trying to psych us out since the beginning and then in front of her was another girl Didi . I started singing the maori batallion song to myself and ran my little heart out of his chest. I gave it everything, and Denvey rose to the occasion and the chase was on in sweltering 50 degree odd heat. With no regard briefly for tomorrow 100ks I forgot and ran and ran and ran. All the guys in our way parted to the side as the girls came through. It was the stuff of legends. I passed Denvey on a steep sand dune corner and my shoes were full with sand to almost bursting. But there was no time to empty then so risking hI ran on. Denvey gave chase but then Didi came into view and she was unaware how close we were and the battle going on behind her. Suddenly a huge budhist temple town came into view, obviously camp for the night. With half a km to go I tried to pass Didi but she rose to the challenge as well. We battled at full speed to the cheers of the cameramen and photographers in camp. With 100 metres to go we were neck and neck but then I had nothing more to give and as the course went down into a dip and another sandune rose to meet us I couldn’t hold on and Didi crossed the finished line 50 metres ahead before me, before we both collapsed in heaps. The heat was brutal but we were in in record time. The poor bastards who were out there in the heat all afternoon were suffering badly and the walking wounded number is growing as I write. The Buddhist temple is a treat. With Buddha statues carved into the cliff walls, and a huge mueseum and wonder of wonders there was a river I walked the half mile down into the canyon, covered in sand, sweat and dirt and walked straight into the icy curing wonderful waters. It was the most beautiful feeling I have had in months. The purity of the water restored my tired and aching soul and body. I stayed for an hour then I wandered back up to eat.


Upon reaching the top I found the police were here and we werent allowed to be in the water. They were threatening to close down the race and all the poor buggers coming after me couldn’t use it. The political scene is very unstable and the police follow our every move. Our race directors had to explain what we were doing and were in big trouble. All 150 runners are now stuck in one hall and the noise makes its impossible to sleep and the heat makes it impossible to recover.

Tomorrow is the day of horrors and we are all terrified and those that arent don’t know what they are in for, 100kms in 50 degree heat with bodies already wasted and hungry.


May the lord having mercey on our silly souls


Lis

Gobi Update: 30 Jun 2010 06:19 PM

Day Three

Today went much better as it was a better stage for runniing. We travelled along a river bed for 11km crossing six rivers. wet feet. Very concentrated run ningas, it was like running on big rough and sharp stones, few casualties today with broken and twisted ankles again. Its really quite dangerous running with pack on such rough terrain and going hell for leather. Then we crossed into the mountains again up into a plateau where the running was good for 11 km and just when we though it was going well they threw a curve ball at us and sent us up into the mountains up and down stoney sandunes.



Finally reached camp in 4th place again. very happy with that but know it will alll change on the 100km stage. its anyones game on that day as you can lose hours if you get sick or dehydrated. Everyone is knackered to put it mildly and just for fun the race organisers have decided to to wake us at 2.30amm this night and put us on a bus trip for 2 hrs to go to a different area to start running at 6am. It’s been raining and they had to change the route. We are staying the night in peach village with the locals hosting us in their simple abodes. Amazing how they live.



Day three down, the tummy is slowly coming right no prob today with electrolyte imbalance, its like walking a tight rope tryiing to keep eough going in and out. Running out of food and constantly hungry, As are many others here. That’s one way to lose weight, run your back side off and have very little to eat.



I have been filming with my Panasonic Camera and trying to give the viewers at home an insignt into the crazy adventure of such a race. The logistics, the vibe, the landscape, the difficulties, the pain, the injuries and the camaraderie which is fantastic . Hope it make for good viewing.


love lis

Gobi Update: 28 Jun 2010 06:19 PM

Frid 24 June.


the rumours are coming in thick and fast, its pouring here in urumqi and there are flash floods out in the desert, the route has been washed out and has to be remarked and some of the camps have been taken out. The temperatures have been ranging from 5 degrees up to 55 degrees, according to the sources here and they have told us to expect the unexpected. We are not sure whether we are going to be dealing with wet shoes (blisters) and gear and wading through swollen waters or burning in the hot sun.

Just had a last western meal at the hotel, wont be eating like that for a while....
Everything is as ready as its going to be.. no escaping now... here we go.

check in and registration tomorrow morning then off into the turpan depression where the race awaits..

Gobi Update: 28 Jun 2010 06:18 PM

Sat 26 June
D day minus one. we are off into the desert. Check ins this morning, hope I have everything and dont get any time penalties for missing bits. Have backpack will run.....


The feeling here is very anxious and exciting more from the desert.
Thanks again to my sponsors without whom I wouldn’t be here.
ETL Group Ltd
Tasman Toyota
North Face
Panasonic
Masons Appliances
Manuka Boosta Bars
Thompsons
Red 8
Kerry Hamilton Dental Surgeon
Fire Design
Big Media
Webfox
and many more

Gobi Update: 28 Jun 2010 06:18 PM

June 26 Urumqi,

We have just gone through the bureaucratic side of the race, controls and checks which took a couple of hours. Met the Camera man who will be filming some footage for me and a second cameraman doing a another documentary for crossfit who will also be taking some footage of me for their crossfit film. Crossfit rulz.

In one hour we load up on buses and head north into the Turpan Depression where we should arrive about 8pm, sleep then race starts at 7am tomorrow morning. First stage will be about acclimatising and not going too hard out and blowing a gasket have to ease into the race. Very nervous about the 100km stage.
At least its not raining.

Gobi Update: 28 Jun 2010 06:18 PM

Day 1 Tian shan mountains gobi desert



Bloody hell that was ridiculous, painful intro to reality in the desert again. the course started out ok but then it hit hard- we had to climb to 2,200m hghover the roughest terrain imaginable. up the sides of mountains and down shingle slides. my toe nails are dying for sure. but my main probs today were my asthma, the sun is intense but it was cold and the altitude meant for serious asthma probs consequently i wheezed mz way up the mountains. but the bigger prob right now is my sciatica which is catching me badly. wheres my masseur. camp one is at 2,200m and its freezing we are surrounded by unblievable beauty we saw wild horses in the gobi how cool is that, and the other runners are suffering just as much which is good. dont know where i came in dont care too much, will be about survival with this sciatica prob. think i did ok. have been filming which adds to the difficulties a bit but will be well worth while.

off now for a sleep .

thanks panasonic the camera is brilliant and so simple for technical idiots.

32km up the mountains down

220 to go...oh shit... scared as about 100km

Gobi Update: 24 Jun 2010 06:17 PM

Thurs 24 June 10.06am


The North Face back pack is bursting at the seams, cant fit everything I want in so am squashing and pushing and getting some straps added to the outside today if I can find a local seamstress in the chaos of the streets.

I have been nauseated in the night. My legs feel like elephantitus trunks, with the swelling from the heat. Body is in shock coming from 5 -10 degrees Taranaki to this heat.


However this morning I am feeling a little bit better, focussing now and getting ready to do the business end of the deal,.... this waiting around is the hardest thing, every little twinge and problem makes you do a double take and i am just trying to get as healthy as poss.,

I have found a flash hotel up the road with a gym in it, so am off training shortly. My body is in withdrawal from lack of exercise and although its only three days till race start, I have got to move.

Been hiding in the security of my little hotel room this morning about to go out and brave the crazy streets of Urumqi... my new equivalent of the proverbial "Timbuktu" although slightly bigger.

Till later... for more rambling before I hit the sand....

Gobi Update: 24 Jun 2010 06:16 PM

Wed 23rd June Urumqi, North Western China

Well we finally made it up north after a 5 hr flight from Shanghai. Urumqi is the most remote city in china but tis huge still, everything here is overwhelming and massive and hot.


It’s very “wild west” here up near the Afghan, Mongolia border and there is a strong Russian influence. There has been alot of civil unrest in this part of the country and a lot of fighting between the different peoples and last year her 160 were killed in riots. We have been shifted from our original hotel and they have closed the areas near the riots to foreigners.

I am feeling overwhelmed and have been nauseated off and on all day, the food here is very different and my tummy isnt liking it, add to that the smog, smells, sights and masses of people, jet lag and a lack of training opportunities and I just dying to get the hell out into the desert and nature.

Kiwis you dont know how good you have it, you can see the stars, see the sun, fresh water and moutains and beaches.aah and this is why its a good reminder to travel and experience other cultures and ways of life to appreciate home all the more.

I can’t wait to just get started the travel and waiting are getting to me and I just want to start running. I am struggling to fit everything in my northface pack, trying to keep it all to bare minimums no luxuries whatsoever, every gram is a burden when you are running.

I have met some of the other competitors and they are a very mixed bunch from walkers (the cut off times are very lenient) to world class ultra athletes. We are all on a journey together to experience the desert, our bodies, and our abilities, to face our many fears, to push to the limits and beyond and to strive for our own little goals.

The excitement and fear is building and everyone is a little anxious, and those that arent should be, they dont know whats coming...

There are lots of horror stories going around about the last race run by 4 deserts organisation (event managers of this race) which was in Australia, 40% dnf (did not finish) rate, half the competitors on drips the first day, failed water delivery, one lost competitor who nearly kicked the bucket completely and so on.... all good scary stuff to keep us on our toes.

I expect I will be running a lot of the time alone, and that makes me a bit scared on the long day (90km) on day 5 which will go through the night, visions of me getting lost in Jordan and Niger are surfacing in my dreams again... sometimes experience can be a bad thing. Will go and get my wonderful panasonic camera out and do a video diary and pour my heart out there, its someone to talk to

Oh well signing off for the night. off to take my swollen legs and nauseated belly off to bed...

Gobi Update: 23 Jun 2010 06:14 PM

Hi everyone
its tues morning here in shanghai,, I have had a ball since arriving here. John Mckenna of travel the real china.com has been wonderful to me showing me around, taking me out to restaurants, helping me get some last minute food and gear.
Tonight I have something very special. I have been invited by the New Zealand Trade to speak at an event held for me at their brand new offices here in shanghai, which is set up for kiwis doing business in china. The consulate general to China is coming as are a number of other dignitaries . Its been held as part of a series run byNZ Direct David Caselli on "Great New Zealanders" alongside such names as Jonah Lomu, Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Jackson, John Walker etc. Talk about feeling rather intimidated right now. Hope my speech goes ok. aaagh.

tomorrow I fly to Urumqi in north western China, a city of around 2million where we meet with all the other competitors and then we have a couple of days there before we are driven out into the gobi desert. We start the race Sunday.
I am panicking about my north face backpack and fitting everything in. its extremely squashy and have bugger all room for food. Absolute bare minimums. Will be a hardcore week. The temperatures up there yesterday was 46 degrees celcius. The area is known as "The Oven" sounds great.
Have met two other competitors, both first timers, looking as nervous as I feel.
Will be fabulous I am sure.

found out today there are a couple of actual rivers we have to cross which means wet feet which means guaranteed blisters i should imagine. Joy!!
Thanks to Deepak Ahluwahlia and the ETL Group Ltd for getting me here, without you it wouldnt have been possible.
My Panasonic HD camera is in full use. Been filming my little heart out. looking forward to making the documentary of the race for sky sport channels.
Thanks too to North Face, the gear is awesome and to Tasman Toyota, Kevin, James and the team and the MMFM crew (www.mmfm.co.nz) for the training. Thanks to my trainer Jamie Milne, mate you are the best.
to Peter Tainui and Scottie Mckinnon and Hayden Pohio from manuka Boosta bars.
To Kylie Sousa,cheers for the PR work.

Visited some markets yesterday in shanghai, in particular the bug market stood out, incredible what they keep in cages here.
love from china...
lis

Gobi Update: 21 Jun 2010 06:14 PM

Just arrived in Hong Kong after 12 hr flight from Auckland, off to shanghai shortly where i will off to the expat kiwis pub to watch the all whites play. How cools that.


Had a wonderful send off yesterday from my friends in Auckland. Trainer Jamie met me at the airport and gave me a pep talk before heading off to wellington to plot out the course for Their charity run in august (Auck to wellington in 5 days) raising money for charity.


Then off To the EECP clinic with my brothers, where Will gave us a good session and tanked me up with supplements, then training with Guy Wilson, Becs and Craig Dixon, standard running crew in Auck (missing the boss Jamie) but we managed a two hour session running with 200 press ups, sit up and jumping jacks thrown in for good measure. Guys wanted to make sure I got thrashed before sitting my bum on the plane. Worried i might lose fitness just running through the desert.

Then off to a massage shouted me by my friend Aaron Ridgway, with the best masseur in the country Ian McKellar, then whisked off to dinner at a very nice steak restaurant in Ponsonby to make sure i have enough protein in my tummy for the long run.

Awesome I am on the way. 6 days to d day...

Commonwealth champs update, Close up: 22 Sep 2009 03:14 PM

hi all,
well just returned from England last night, the race didnt go quite to plan but hey thats sport, gave my all but the body wasnt happy, knee and tummy troubles, lots of blacks out etc but did 162km. Val and Vivien did great and as a team we just missed out on the bronze medal. Bugger.
Then it was straight onto the plane and a 40 hr trip back intime to do some filming with Close UP crew. Tomorrow night it will be on, so spread the word. The NZ run is the feature and my book. we have a new website www.nzrun.co.nz check it out.

Commonwealth champs 24 hr , keswick, england: 15 Sep 2009 03:12 AM

hi all,
have been in this beautiful english village in the lake district in england now for 4 days and have done lots of exploring and training. Now its getting toward the business end of the trip. The NZ team is living in ptarmigan house together, the three girls in the 24 hr team, me, Valerie Muskett and Vivien with our wonderful supporters and then theres mad macca holding up the blokes end all alone. The girls are in the competition as individuals but also as the NZ team. Realisitically it will be damm hard to beat some of the top english and Scots woman but it will come down to the days performance really, but as a team we have a chance.
Mad macca is planning on joining me during my NZ Run for a number of days which will be great, he is the funniest guy I know and should keep us all smiling.

Just another note Gerhard Lusskandl, the most wonderful exhusband anyone could have, has just completed his run through Austria for charity but had major achilles problems, but congratulations for sticking in there very proud of you. He has advised me that the running day for day for day is ubnbelievably painful, thanks for that g.
cheers
lisa T in england

book release- running hot: 4 Sep 2009 04:12 PM

hi everyone.
Gerhard left for his run through austria today, 800km for charity. Good luck and go hard. check out his website www.gerhardlusskandl.co.at

My autobiography "Running hot" is due for release on 28th of sept and will available online here and in shops for $35
Thanks to everyone who helped me with the book especially Nic McCloy and Abba Renshaw

If you have time check out the link
www.runnersworldsonline.com.au. with info on my book

Death Valley Live Update: 8 Jul 2009 01:13 PM

Today we went tramping to the most beautiful desert i have ever seen, photos will be up on my gallery shortly under death valley II. Its in Arizona and is called the wave we have been trying to get permits for 4 days and finally got 4 of only 20 allowed per day. The sculptures and formations formed my sand, wind, and rain are mind blowing, I have seen a lot of deserts but this is the second most beautiful I have seen and the socalled wave itself is incredible. the wind was blowing so hard the sand was like needles going into your skin. at one stage gerhard and I tried to scale a near vertical wall (me one step behind, I am not dumb) and gerhard got stuck and then a wind gust nearly took us both off the cliff gerhard ended up with skinned knees and I lost my hat but we made it back down. Then we came to the top of a mountain where there was a small pool of water and in it were tadpoles and frogs. up at over 1500 metres miles from any other water source, how did they get there, how do they survive what do they do when the water dries up completely. This place rocks literally. On the sporting side I am feeling better today finally adjusting to the heat. thank goodness.
back to vegas tomorrow for final prep and to pick up my crew on the 10th

Death Valley Live Update: 7 Jul 2009 02:35 PM

Just been for a run overlooking Lake Powell. 40 degrees, AT 6PM. the most beautiful and breathtaking scene I have ever run through and thats saying something.
feeling ok, going over pacing charts with gerhard, he is aiming for 28hrs that will be too steep for me but we will try to run together for as long as poss. trying to work out details of how to do drinks, mixes , etc. deep breath. more photos later on my gallery page under death valley II

Death Valley Live Update: 7 Jul 2009 08:28 AM

hi everyone, we have been in the states 6 days now and are in Page which is a small town in Arizona, close to all the amazing sights like grand canyon which we visited yesterday, Monument valley and antelope canyon. Its the area of the navajo indians who have an amazing set up here. great to see the indigenous people doing so well here.

Arizona, Utah are just places of amazing natural beauty raw huge deserts with plains, massive rocky mountains and crazy canyons, sandstone carved out passages etc. We are training in the heat everyday and at an altitude of around 1500m trying in a hurry to get used to both things, the body is protesting loudly but am making slow progress, both gerhard and I commented yesterday that if we had to run death valley today we would both be in trouble. heres hoping the body recovers in time.
have sent a few photos of me running in monument.
xx

100km Nationals - Taupo : 21 Feb 2009 08:43 AM

The 2009 100km Nationals saw the largest field of ultraathletes ever to gather in NZ. I got second in a personal best time of 11 hours, 3 minutes but had a very hard day with asthma, hamstring and achiles problems but we made it.

I had a top crew including my 14 year old cousin Jamie Schwieters who ran a staggering 30 odd km along side me. He is the son I never had and I am most proud of his effort. I would say the family has another upcoming ultra runner - if rugby doesn't beat me to it.

Cheers to Megan and Casey - awesome team work, and Neil my trusty kick bum running mate who pushed me to the limits.

3 years running 3 second places, ah well, maybe next year.

2008 in Review: 31 Dec 2008 11:12 AM

2008 has been an interesting, exciting and crazy year for me. I would like to formally thank all those special Taranakians who helped me fufill my dream of going to death valley. My generous sponsors and friends who believed in me, your faith motivated me to keep going when the going got particularly tough at times.
2009 is also shaping up to be a big one for me, lots of projects already happening or in the pipeline from a book to applying for death valley again to the run through New Zealand, to doing a course in personal training at the college of fitness in Auckland. In my time off I will be in our jewellery shop in New Plymouth and doing a bit of training. Enough to keep me out of trouble for some time to come..



Anyone interested in running or my projects please feel free to drop me a line I would love to hear from you.