GOBI

by Donna Carrigan

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I hope my Dad isn’t reading this right now. I think I’ve lost my passport. Last I saw it was last week in one of my purses. Now the purse is gone. If I don’t find it by Monday I’m going to have to pay for a new one. Have you seen those lines outside the passport office lately??? eeek.

Today I did something I didn’t plan on doing. I walked into the MDS Metro Lab. I flung my right arm in the air and held my my left hand on my face. I peeked through my fingers at the receptionist and whispered “just do it. take my blood”. (This is for the blood typing requirement for the Racing the Planet organizers.)

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1204/ Body hair

by Donna Carrigan

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What to do with my body hair for the race……

I’m sorry. If this is your first time reading this blog I have to tell you something. I talk about all of the real life nitty gritty details. so if you’d rather not hear about my hairy legs you should push the back button on your browser *now*

Captain Rob told me that for his race in 2005 he shaved all of his body hair. He went on to say that it didn’t really seem to benefit him during the race. I, however, wonder about chafing around my arm pits and bikini line. Add sand and sweat into that picture and *ouch* sounds painful. I think that I would be best to wax these special spots but I’m still undecided. Anybody out there with thoughts on this please let me know!

1104/ I hope they understand

by Donna Carrigan

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Logistics: Travel

I think I am in logistical Hades. Everything is working itself out so far so I shouldn’t really complain, it’s just that it takes so much time. For example booking flights to Kashgar from Bejing. We’ve been trying to nail this down and luckily we heard today that Racing the Planet has arranged for a good price on flights. Fingers crossed that they have room for 6 of us.

Why 6? Team Gobi is 3, plus my sister, Donald’s daughter and her chaperone. I’m hoping sister will bring chips and cake to the start line with me so that I can get as many calories into my body, right up until the very moment the race starts!! I’m lucky to have such a sister!

Absorbtion: I’m a sponge and the desert is my, um… water

Work has been so busy lately that I have been fitting in my workouts in odd places. Riding my bike to the doctors, turning right around and going back up a hill I just rode down…. jogging to China town and back from Visa Application info……stepping up and down the curb 50 times while I wait for someone. When I go grocery shopping I see food on teh shelf in terms of protein and carb units that will fuel my body. At this point, I am entirely absorbed in the race.

I’ve had to tell my friends that I just can not make any plans with them until after the race. It’s two months away. I hope they understand.

Song of the day: Sister, She Wants Revenge 5:18

0904/ Training in Tofino

by Donna Carrigan

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Pre race jitters

I’ve been running in my sleep. It happens about 2-3 times a week now. I feel like I’m magicaly getting extra training in which makes me feel calm about the upcoming race. Any other pre-race jitters I feel get shoved into a drawer called denial. The drawer gets emptied once a week at yoga. 69 days to go…

Friday

My eating habits are under scruitny even by our local newspaper the Times Colonist.

The gang (7 of us) arrive in Tofino. Kim takes us on a mystery hike by Radar Hill.

Saturday

It was a rare day for Tofino - no rain. I decided to fit in my long run and instead of distance (38km), I logged 4 hours running to the centre of town and back again and then along the wet beaches. It felt good to run on the sand but for the first time my lower back started to ache from the pack. I asked the lady at the Tofino Post Office to weigh my pack for me and she confirmed it was 11 pounds. I finished off the days exercise with a paddle in the surf. I had my lifegaurd on duty and that a good thing because I swam more than I surfed… but I had so much fun!! It was a good upper body and core workout. My lifeguard then cooked me seafood thai for dinner.

Sunday

Sore knees and a sore back had me playing on the logs and strolling the beach at Longbeach. Rocket Man and I watched Shark Mark enjoy a last day of surfing. We watched as he narrowly avoided the jaws of a territorial Sea lion. The girls took the day to visit the Hot Springs.

Easter Monday has us all back at work again. I’m tired, but happy. Everything is coming together.

0504/ Know Your Blood Type

by Donna Carrigan

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Thank you to the volunteers that have come forward!!

Logistical challenge: Blood type

There are a lot of aspects to preparing for the Gobi March. For example the Racing the Planet organizers would like to know my blood type just in case I need a blood transfusion in the field. Mom don’t worry!

I called my doctor to see if he had it on file from my breast tumor operation. No, apparently they don’t test for blood type when you have an operation. So then I asked them if I could make an appointment to get my blood type determined and got into a heated discussion with the doctors office. Apparently they feel it is ridiculous for the race organizers to ask for this information because if I ever needed a transfusion the doctor would be obliged to test my blood type immediately beforehand. It is a mistake that could cost you your life and a doctor wouldnt chance second hand information.

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0404/ 2 more needed

by Donna Carrigan

3

We have had 2 Volunteers come forward. Yay! We only need two more. Come on down!

I am so hungry these days.There are no rules as to what is acceptable. I even accidentaly ate half a meatball last night and I haven’t eaten ground meat in 12 years. I am also eating when people tell you NOT to eat. I’m eating right before runs, right before yoga and I’m eating day old cake. Sometimes it doesn’t agree with me entirely, it’s true.

Tonight before our hill run I’ve promised Donald I wont eat fish and chips immediately before the run. Now where is the fun in that ? The Gobi needs an iron stomach I tell you!

I also have a surprise. I’ve lined up my next activity for when we’re done the Gobi. If you decide to volunteer to help us with our Silent Auction I will tell you what it is and take you somewhere with it.

0304/ Volunteers Needed

by Donna Carrigan

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Calling all Volunteers!

We are preparing for our Silent Auction in May and could use your help. We are looking for volunteers to help us organize and execute the event. We have nearly secured our location and have been collecting items (Gift certificate’s to Ocean River Kayak, Cactus Club, Crystal Pool, a weekend at Mount Washington and many others). We anticipate the time commitment to be two or three 1 hr group meetings before the event (depending on schedules) and possibly attending the event (likely a Sunday) to help it run seamlessly.

We would be very grateful if you could help us! Please email us directly teamgobi (at) chaosweb (dot) ca

Training

I ate a piece of day old cheesecake this morning. My legs feel great and I’m cross training on my road bike tonight.

0204/ Long run 38km 5:03

by Donna Carrigan

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Sunday was happy long run day. The weather was so nice and sunny but the wind was quite cold. I ran with a change of clothes in my pack and other bits (orange juice, groceries, extra bottles of water) to get it up to weight. I was carrying about 12 -13 pounds in my pack. I am not a stickler on weighing it each time as I think it is a mental game about how heavy it is. When I’m in the middle of the desert it’s probably going to feel like it weighs 50 pounds anyways.

I ran 38 km around town from my house to gordon head down beach drive to oak bay and back again. I walked the last while (maybe 6 km or so). A red volvo stopped on the street and offered me a ride, it was sister. It would have been nice to have a ride but I told her I needed to finish the distance even if it was walking.

My legs feel good today - tired but no injury, no soreness and no cemet. I feel really capable.

3103/ Donald’s Blog has pictures

by Donna Carrigan

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Hello Gobi March 2007! Check out Donald’s Blog for some pictures of the region. I’m in love with the white fluffy camel. He’s so cute.

I’m busy today with a 2 hour 10 min run, yoga and a look at a sailboat. Cool!

3003/ The answer is 2

by Donna Carrigan

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We have booked our tickets to Bejing, China! Now we just need to find flights to Kashgar….

Mood: Tired

Fact about the Gobi March: The sweep camels will have two humps as they are Bactrian camels.

I emailed the race organizers to ask “exactly what type of camel will be sent out after us”. I did this so that I could do some pre-race mental visualization. Rob tells me that the camels smell but I’m going to hug one anyways. (unless it’s really cranky!)

Fact about camels: Unlike many other animals, camels move both legs on one side of the body at the same time.

A ’cool’ desert ultra to check out: The Rock and Ice Ultra in Yellowknife

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