Take 300 well-seasoned runners from +50 countries, equip them with packs weighing between 7 and 13kg, each containing -5ºC
sleeping bags, sleeping mats, medical kit, mandatory gear, and enough
freeze-dried food, powders, bars and gels to live off for one very hungry week.
Spice with generous scoops of enthusiasm,
determination, guts, perseverance and adventurous spirit.
Drive to western centre of Iceland, and
place in freezer at extremely cold temperatures varying between -2ºC and 14ºC.
Turn up wind to maximum strength, and
sprinkle liberally with icy rain at regular intervals.
|
Geothermal pools at 80-100ºC |
|
Langjokull glacier with glacial lake & flag |
Freeze in 6 phases over 250km for 7 days,
watching carefully and adjusting placement in freezer when temperature and
moisture conditions drop too low.
Sprinkle with generous handfuls of glaciers
and geysers, lava fields and lakes, volcanic craters, dust clouds, shifting
land plates, faults and fissures.
Stir regularly to reduce strains, twists
and tears, treating and strapping whenever necessary to avoid swelling or
seepage. Take out runners who fall off freezer tray.
Warm temporarily on 6th day by
removing from wet freezer, then return on 7th day for short final
blast of icy wind and rain.
Once fully refrozen, immerse in world
famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, smear with deep cleansing silica paste and
hydrate generously with cool Icelandic lager.
Laugh at fat feet, forget all pain of past
week, and enjoy lavish buffet at awards banquet, while planning next
self-sufficient 7-day stage race in remote region.
|
John & Caryn Kennedy, Andrew Espin, me |
|
The South African contingent was strong! |
|
at the top of a long lava field climb on Day 4 |
|
food + kit for a week |
|
Our tent clearly had good taste in trail shoes |
|
finishing the final stage with Lia Farley and Andrew Espin |
Winner: Mo Foustok 23:04:08 Ladies winner: Lia Farley 27:12:26
2nd place: Justus Meyer 23:26:56 2nd place: Linda Doke 30:07:23
3rd place: Tom Flummerfelt 25:31:20 3rd place: Virginie Goethals 31:38:25
4th place: Ville Tuominen 25:35:57 4th place: Caryn Kennedy 31:39:13
5th place: Ralph Crowley 25:40:19 5th place: Donna Nice 34:57:41
Labels: Justus Meyer, Lia Farley, Mo Foustok, Racing the Planet