Hey Gang. Thanks for your responses. We are, finally, starting to get updates ... Do Not Let Up on the e-mails! The more support we show the more will get back to the runners AND we will make others aware of the charitable side of their efforts - H2O Africa, a Clean Water initiative.
National Geographic carries the following -
"Welcome, one and all,
to Day 13 of "Running the Sahara." This morning, we are in the city of Kiffa, Mauritania, and I'm taking advantage of an internet cafe to jot this off to you.
Sorry to have not written sooner, but things have been a bit, uh, hectic. There have been slow border crossings conducted at sundown along the swampy, Senegal River no-man's-land at Diama, located between Senegal and Mauritania (where billions of mosquitoes tapped our collective blood); plus midnight showdowns with everything from angry female warthogs to confused and pissed-off scorpions to--in the case of masseur Chuck Dale and me--a huge sand crab that woke us up at 2 AM by crawling between our mosquito nets and over or past our heads; a really odd, rattling experience. The other night, while resting comfortably in his tent, Kevin Lin was nipped by the tiniest of yellow bugs...which made his whole hand go numb for a few minutes. Needless to say, there's been something new every hour or two, and, still, we're having one heck of a time.
When there hasn't been some form of wildlife to contend with, the runners have been battling the season's unusually late heat and sun-torched pavement. One afternoon recently at 4 PM, the temperature was still 104 in the shade and nearly 125 in the sun...with other days recently not being much cooler. Still, the runners have been managing to knock out first 50 KM a day and now 70 KM a day. We're now up every morning at 4 AM, and, after coffee and a little breakfast, off at 5 AM: by noon, we've put big hunks of road or two-track behind. Then we rest for a few hours, and, once the heat breaks, about 4 to 5 PM, we hit it again for another 20 or 30 KM.
Acclimitisation for the runners took the predicted 10 frustrating days, but after a few days of cramps from dehydration (ably attended to by Doc Jeff Peterson and Chuck Dale), we're now fighting fit, feeling good, and see nothing but improving prospects and potential kilometers/day for the team. Pretty darned cool, really. It feels good just to be knocking down big sections of map every few days.
Also, at the Mauritanian towns of Maghta Lagher and Aschram, we also stopped by and visited several UNDP (United Nations Develoment Programme) projects, which did everything from impound rainwater that would otherwise escape (lifting the water table for area human and livestock wells) to de-silting closed irrigation canals, to stopping dune encroachment on cultivational areas through the planting of trees to stabilize the sand. All together, these projects have helped nearly 1,000 families to improve the quality of their lives, contribute to the larger society in terms of selling goods and animials, and improve their futures...and all for about $150 a family. It's amazing what a bit of well directed funding can do. Thanks also to Mr. Samba Thaim, Mauritanian coordinator for the UNDP, who not only hosted us at these projects...but also feted us not once (but twice!) with goat and mutton banquets, the first taking place in a Berber-style tent where runner Charlie Engle was also given a camel ride in grand style. Fantastic.
Well, that's about it for now. Gotta catch up with Charlie, Kevin, and Ray, who should be at about the 35 km mark already for this morning.
For any of you reading this and wanting to contribute, please go to RunnngtheSahara.com and pledge what you can per kilometer or mile, it'll go toward helping these folks with their huge problem of getting enough daily water for themselves and their livestock. You'd be surprised how much more economically effective a person can be if he/she doesn't have to spend two or three hours each day just gathering enough water to survive."
Participant Ray Zhab's brother John wrote the following ...
"Ray called from satellite phone yesterday, from the Sahara Desert. They have arrived in Mali, and have put down around 2000km of running so far. The first big chunk of mileage had to be done on roads, but recently they have been able to get more off-road, which has been a relief, but it also has its challenges (sand in shoes, etc.). Everyday is physically and mentally tough – but the team is doing amazing at keeping pace of between 70 and 80k per day."
Again, thanks and keep those e-mails to National Geographic going! (see other postings)
