En route to Amsterdam

I need not have worried. We left Cairo earlier than expected and have plenty of time in Rome to get on the flight to Amsterdam. Now I just need to worry about racing it. 

I have crashed heavily on the flight as my mind and body is in need of rest. We did for a lot in today, and did run four marathons I suppose. 

Cairo

So that was an amazing experience. I felt like my running hero, Eliud Kipchoge, when he ran sub two hours. There were pacers with me for both half’s of the race; the only difference was that they weren’t there for wind resistance but to shield from stray dogs and traffic!

They were incredibly inspiring people with great stories, and one of them was a girl from Ireland who ran with me for about four or five miles, and grew up close to where I’m from. 

It was incredible to run in the streets of Cairo and then along the Nile. I feel strong, and finished in about 3:54 or so. I just reached the half way point and over the races I was worried about. The next big concern in tonight with a very short connection in Rome to Amsterdam. That’s pretty much out of my control though, so I’m not going to stress about it. Que sera, sera. 

4am and barking dogs

It’s an early start in Cairo where we are about to run the streets on the fourth race. Apparently there are lots of stray dogs out there, so hopefully they aren’t there to make us run faster. 

The chaos of the airport in Cairo was an eye opener. We basically got two hours of sleep at the hotel and now the race. 

Wish me luck. 

Singapore- race three

I felt pretty good just before the start of the race at 5am this morning, despite the just two hours of sleep. Once the horn went for the start of the race, I just said, “oh oh,” as the pain in my quads let itself be known. However, I managed to power through that and then just had the heat and humidity to deal with. 

Thankfully we started the race before sunrise to escape the worst of the heat. This was the toughest of the races so far, but I managed to come in just a second or so under four hours. 

Now to the airport for the next trip. This one will be long as we go to Dubai and then onto Cairo. Hopefully I don’t cramp up on the airplane. I knew that was part of the challenge of this adventure though, so I’m ready to deal with it. 

Singapore sleep

We got to the hotel at close to midnight last night and now I’m up at 3:30am to run the next race in Singapore. 

Feeling good but tired and enjoying some muscle soreness, particularly in my quads. This race is going to be humid and hot even though we start at 5am, so I have to really watch the fluid intake. 

Got this notification on my watch. Think I have it covered. 

Thank you!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It really keeps me smiling through the pain. 

The Perth course was beautiful. Was great to connect with some Aussies on the course. You can’t help but feel the emotional impact of the devastating fires out here though. Keeps things in perspective. 

Perth

Just finished the second marathon of the eight. Feeling pretty good all things considered. I have some muscle soreness, but that’s to be expected after two marathons. I know there’s more pain ahead of me though. But that’s the whole point of this. 

Was great to check in with the family after the race. Sianna has been tracking my flights on the globe. The good thing is that unlike Phileas Fogg in Around The World In Eighty Days, we gain some time by going east to west.

Part of the challenge of this is the travel and dealing with tired and sore legs in coach and navigating airports. So far so good though, even if it’s hard to sleep. 

Tomorrow in Singapore will be tough though. It will be hot and humid, and that night comes the biggest travel challenge of getting to Amsterdam via Rome with a 55 minute connection. Let’s see how it goes.