Day 82 – I Can See For Miles

23 Jul Day 82 – I Can See For Miles

Here we go…. the big push… this is what I have been waiting for, I have to push myself to breaking point to get to the finish line on time…10 miles behind and only a week to go!

More Miles

To really eat the miles up I have decided to do 45 miles today, in the desert. Not trying to big it up but this is mental. We are going whole hog to make sure I am not late for the finish. The hottest part of the day is between 2-6 so this is where I will start to feel the strain. The extra miles at the end of today were done in the cool. All in it wasn’t too bad. I had some moments when I though I wouldn’t make it but all in we were good. The guys have been great as well, They are behind me all the way and with out that confidence I don’t think I would be as strong mentally.

Water

So even with the best preparation we are starting to run low on water. In the desert I am now having to conserve water, not in a stupid way but I just can’t be wasteful. The support crew have made a plan that if we run out of water we will have to drive ahead to Twentynine Palms and fill up. With the extra cost of the tow truck yesterday this is not an option for me. So on my final leg today I only drank 2.5 litres of water rather than 4. Also a pebble with the word ‘luck’ inscribbed in it has been used to help. Sarah and her three kids gave it to me and with the extra knowledge Maurice gave me this has helped me through. OK so how does a pebble help me reduce water intake…Maurice said If you suck on a pebble it makes you salivate and you mentally don’t think you need to drink, i.e it reduces dry mouth. This helped so much and I save d a lot of water!

A Disagreement

When I got back in the van and we were having dinner, I was insistent on not drinking too much water. I knew I needed it in the heat more. Chris brought up the fact that we might just have to go to twentynine palms. I was confident we could do it. Unfortunately Chris and I see things differently, he is looking out for me so I don’t pass out, I am so stubborn I will make it. Things got a little heated as he felt he was being caring, I felt he was almost scaremongering. All in all, we are in the most desolate place, I am walking, they are stuck in a tin can, the heat is almost unbearable… We are all going a little mad….The result was that I would get up at 3.30AM and walk two legs in the cool and only have one where I had to tackle the heat. A long tough day finished with an argument. Not an ideal situation but we are all in this together and it is challenging for us all.