The Marathon

The marathon was set for a start of 9am, considering the body was in about three different time zones I did not know if that was a late start or early start. A 9am start meant a 6am wake up call, 6:30 breakfast, first trip ashore at 8:15am. To get from the ship we stayed on to the shore on a normal excursion was a interesting enough process with layers and layers topped with wet gear, life jacket and a bumby open ocean ride; add the fun of gathering your runnig gear...made for a fun and frantic morning.

The pic is right before we headed down the gangway to make the trip to shore. Not your usual running attire. oh yeah, that's my sister with me.

So, down the gangway to the zodiacs, across some choppy ocean with a bit of spray in the face to wake you up and onto shore. (the next pic is an overhead shot of loading a zodiac)

Once on shore it was hurry up and take off the wet gear, the knee high boots, put on the running gear, shoes, etc, pack your waist belt or jacket and get ready to run. The temperature was almost warm - about 32 degrees, but the wind was blowing a bit. 3-2-1 go and the race was on. The course was primarily dirt with patches of snow and a couple trips up a glacier. The warm weather was welcome at first as jackets were unzipped and the worst fears of Antarctica were unfounded. The downside of the warmer weather was that where there would normally be frozen ground, there was mud and muck. the kind that rips the shoes from the feet and saps the energy from the legs. And lots of it.

The course was a double out back x 2. Run from one end where the Argentinian research station was, through the Russian station and to the Chinese station - which to our suprise had set up a water stop. they had water, coke and BEER! Don't ever underestimate the Chinese. They stood outside all day welcoming the runners, offering drinks and posing for pictures. After about an hour into the run it was almost to a point of ditching the jacket, thank god I did not. If you think the weather in the midwest changes fast, try it in Antarctica. The nice warm weather was quickly replaced by 30 mph winds and fog/snow that reduced visibility to 50 feet.

Towards the last part of the marathon I started getting a little light headed from lack of any food/gu/etc and graciously accepted a coke at the Chinese station (and some beer of course) The cold was starting to get into me and I was having a hard time keeping the hands warm. I walked the uphills - did I mention there really is no flat part of the entire course? Yeah, failed to mention that - and ruan the downs. Alas the finish, i was closer than I thought but with the visibility i had no idea where I was on the course. Finished in 5:01:43....two minutes slowwer than last time, but I'm six years older, so I'll take it.
I had left my sister about an hour into the run, but had seen her several times and she was doing great. She came in about 43 minutes behind me. Like a good brother I waited. Froze my a..... off, but it was great to see her finish.
Afterwards, no chute to go through, no blanket, no food. Strip off the running gear, put on the other clothes, on with the wet gear, the boots, the life jackets, etc.... take a nice 1/4 stroll to the beach, get in the zodiacs, off the ship, up the gangway (ouch) scrub the boots in case of anything that might have gotten on the boots, off with the boots, wet gear, lifejackets, down the hall, into the shower....