Restless sleep last night which was the opposite of what I ‘ordered’ – my last night of clean sheets and hot showers for a bit, so I’ll just take that part as a win.  My brain non stop with 2 sides yelling at eachother – the WORK side vs the RACE side — much ado about nothing…. Ha. Lists, final check offs, and so on.  We’ve all been there so no need to bore you with the details but at 4 this morning I yelled out BASTA! (apologies to my hotel neighbors) and jumped in to the finishing touches of all.  Final work emails that this time I really really really was logging off and truly won’t have connectivity in the Gobi Desert – and no, I have not been kidnapped, and no this is not a phishing scam – yes this is me in Mongolia.  So yes, after a flurry of wrap up emails early this morning (NY aft/eve) I’m turning down that dial.

As for RACE final checks – that’s the part I look forward to completing today with check in on gear shortly.  Our competitor briefing this morning with delightfully energetic with smiles and hugs and a general electricity of excitement throughout.  Always great to see Mary who runs the most amazing ship called “Racing the Planet” running down rules, expectations, weather and so on.  New for me this round is the requirement of a GPS to be worn when on the course.  And if you DON’T return it – you pay…..although as Mary shared perfectly, the plus of it being a GPS device is that if you do lose it on the course – THEY CAN FIND IT (rim shot….).

Final checks and camaraderie as we share thoughts, new decision making on gear – or how you pack it – and shared advice from past races.  My philosophy is to approach all with beginner mind, especially anything as challenging as what I have ahead of me this week, so it surprises me when I find others new to RTP looking to me for advice.  I am a tried and true back of the packer/enjoy the journey type, so perhaps that kind of advice is needed for those (like me) in awe of the front runners who have advice I may have used 20 years ago!  But, I was SO lucky to have so many runners (of ALL speeds) help me through my first few races with advice on gear, course, and all of it in general, that it truly makes me happy to return the favor!  I’m especially channeling Lynne Barry from Australia who helped me through Patagonia (my first race) when I was in tears and could not even fathom HOW I was going to get all in my backpack.  To this day I still use the cinch sack and tethers she lent me with good luck and good grace which spurned me on to enjoy a phenomenal experience that has had me returning many times since.  Thank you Lynne and so many people I wish I could name here!

GEAR CHECK:

Yep – they check everything on the mandatory list to make sure you have it ALL, especially the required nutrition which for someone like me is never a problem, and actually the opposite.  I always seem to bring TOO much.  I managed to cut down better this round, but no matter, one’s appetite leaves you by Day 2 or 3 and food gets left behind daily.

(time pause)

Back from my check (all good!) and one MORE repack – good to finalize it all…final final but not final if you know what I mean……

Needing to log off as it is that time.  Adding in a photo of my final pack – sleeker than before – and a shot of my brand new GPS.  Next time perhaps a chip under the neck like a beloved pet????

See you on email (yes please do send – they print all emails out, so it IS public – so mind you Roberto, keep it clean — which is a godsend when I arrive in camp; and I will do my best to post blogs nightly.  If anything to capture what happened during those many hours – once again I am sure words won’t suffice but I will try and breadcrumb it!  And major disclaimer – when I go in to extreme like this, the 30 years being married to a jazz musician from Brooklyn and those same 30 years living, growing and surviving in the jungle known as NYC brings out my own colorful version of language and humor – perhaps one could say that the filters go away!  I find it impactful and gets one’s point across a hell of a lot quicker!  AND another disclaimer, if my writing looks like nonsense, or might offend my amazing HS and College English teachers who drilled proper grammar and spelling in to me – I am sorry!  This will quickly turn in to stream of consciousness writing.  I hope you enjoy!  And thanks for the good vibes.  Away we go……

xo