Well,we're getting into quite a routine here - out of our sleeping bags early,pull on the same running gear (we are all smelling as bad as each other by now so nobody worries!) stretch the achy muscles, eat a good continental breakfast and then line up for another start.
We're also into a daily pattern of Karen pushing ahead up the mountain paths and encouraging Jane to follow and then Jane setting the pace on the treacherous descents and the downhill runs as the finishing village gets closer. This works well to keep each other going.
Luckily the North wind has been blowing behind us as it is a bitterly cold assault on the body if you have to face it. We've been running South and have at last found some kind weather. The change in latitude has made a huge difference to the height of the snow line which was 500m higher today (in Italy) than when in Austria and Switzerland. We still had to contend with a lot of snow(climbed our highest peak of the race of over 3000m) but the comfortable temperatures meant that we could step on rocks without slipping on ice like the past few days.
These Italian dorps are wonderful - a bit more ramshackle than the Swiss ones, but still so tidy and charming. Townsfolk are generally friendly although somewhat bemused at our comings and goings. Not surprisingly - what we are doing is probably a bit extreme - extreme distances, extreme terrain, extreme people in the race, but we're having extreme fun and learning lots about ourselves - teamwork, lessons in not giving up and learning how not to put limits on ourselves! The peak we climbed today an example, looking at it from the bottom was daunting, but we did it!!
Thanks to all of you who've sent sms's and commented on the blog - brilliant to get. Also brilliant donations pouring in for the foundation. One more day of running then all of you who've sponsored us per kilometer will have to start depositing the money!!
Not sure if we'll do a posting tomorrow - I think that the partying starts the minute we cross the finish line. Lots of love from us both, Karen and Jane.
For pictures look on the race website, we feature in stage 5 photos
We're also into a daily pattern of Karen pushing ahead up the mountain paths and encouraging Jane to follow and then Jane setting the pace on the treacherous descents and the downhill runs as the finishing village gets closer. This works well to keep each other going.
Luckily the North wind has been blowing behind us as it is a bitterly cold assault on the body if you have to face it. We've been running South and have at last found some kind weather. The change in latitude has made a huge difference to the height of the snow line which was 500m higher today (in Italy) than when in Austria and Switzerland. We still had to contend with a lot of snow(climbed our highest peak of the race of over 3000m) but the comfortable temperatures meant that we could step on rocks without slipping on ice like the past few days.
These Italian dorps are wonderful - a bit more ramshackle than the Swiss ones, but still so tidy and charming. Townsfolk are generally friendly although somewhat bemused at our comings and goings. Not surprisingly - what we are doing is probably a bit extreme - extreme distances, extreme terrain, extreme people in the race, but we're having extreme fun and learning lots about ourselves - teamwork, lessons in not giving up and learning how not to put limits on ourselves! The peak we climbed today an example, looking at it from the bottom was daunting, but we did it!!
Thanks to all of you who've sent sms's and commented on the blog - brilliant to get. Also brilliant donations pouring in for the foundation. One more day of running then all of you who've sponsored us per kilometer will have to start depositing the money!!
Not sure if we'll do a posting tomorrow - I think that the partying starts the minute we cross the finish line. Lots of love from us both, Karen and Jane.
For pictures look on the race website, we feature in stage 5 photos
2 comments:
Well girls, almost done!!!! Great to see the photos!!! I am still very jealous!!! Enjoy the BEER tomorrow!! You deserve it! Love Bartrams
You both did so well. You have my admiration and to be honest I am a little jealous and was kind of thinking this might be a nice little thing to do myself next year but the pictures I have seen scare the heck out of me ! Well done you did South Africa and yourselves proud and when I find out what to do will also make a donation to Smile - !!! whoever you're rooting for and sponsoring deserves it. Regards Atholl BCC ghost runner
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