Another scenic tough day. I’ve never descended 9k feet in a day before. Happily it wasn’t technical.  I struggled following the flagging for some reason today. A couple of the people I’ve been running/leapfrogging with thought I had gotten lost and made sure I had checked in at the next checkpoint.  Runners are a great community. 

At the high point today there were amazing views of the Himalaya. I just stood there and took it in.

Oh we lost the soccer game but I did at least block one goal. It was so fun playing with the monks. Note in the photo that they are all wearing one shoe and one flipflop. And they still won.  I blame the altitude.

Today’s highlight was a hot stone bath. Before you can get in, a local woman scrubs you down.  Let’s just say she got every nook and cranny. 

In the photo with me, the high point in the background is where we started.  The photo was taken at about the halfway point today. 

We’re staying tonight in a farmhouse. I have to say I’m looking forward to sleeping in y own bed without 20 of my closest friends around. It’s a good thing we’re all too tired to really care. 

We have reached the halfway point of the race. Because the last day is so short, most consider tomorrow with the 50k running the last day. It’s still about 6k climbing but it’s rolling hills.

First, thanks for all the notes. It’s so nice to get them. Camp 4 is at 12k. In addition to 30k and 4k of climbing, we are playing soccer with the monks this evening. Everyone is required to play at least two minutes. Apparently in eight years, the foreigners have only won once. We’re going to start with all women in hopes of intimidating them. As our coach (Delores from Argentina) said, no kicking the monks. 

It always amazes me how the minutes crawl by but the days fly. How is it already day 3?

Today was mentally tough. Day 3 for me always is.  It was another mostly uphill day which was good for me. We are staying at a monastery tonight. It’s already chilly but I think we have a heater in our room. Today was full of prayer flags on the way up. We can really see the Himalaya from here. It’s a fun group of people and I’m really enjoying learning about other countries and life experiences.

Today is why I signed up for this craziness. Beautiful jungle trails, remote, tons of climbing, scenery that defies description. But I did not read about the leaches or the black flies in the brochure. Happily I think I only got one leach bite, yay Dirty Girl gaiters. The black flies, however….

With 6k climbing and ridiculously technical trails, Stefan said it was the most difficult stage of any of his races.  I believe it. Fortunately most of the technical was on the uphill and there was less downhill. But I do love the up.  Oliver, the German runner, called me “so fast”.  I’m pretty sure he was mistaken me for someone else, but I’ll still take it. 

Last night, we stayed at a monastery and were invited to a Buddhist evening ceremony.  That was pretty special.  It’s not often westerners, particularly women, are allowed to attend.