Don’t you know promises were never meant to keep?
Just like the night, they dissolve off in sleep
I’ll be your savior, steadfast and true
I’ll come to your emotional rescue

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ~ the Rolling Stones

“The Endurance”

Wait, wait – GO GO GO!

Extreme travel takes extreme patience.  My Canada bestie worked in Nunavut Territory for several years.  Blogged a lotta shots of empty open airports.  Travel delays, flight cancellations, re-routed itineraries.  Overnight stays in non-destination towns.

No air traffic controllers on Antarctica.  Visual landing on a tundra-scrapped runway.  Xtreme weather possibilities.  For the White Continent Team just waiting on clear skies.  Antarctica summer.  Cloud cover on King George Island determines our fly window.

Another breakfast, another lunch.

Eat big or sleep.  Run long, not run.  Not your typical pre-marathon routine.  Not sure when I’m marathoning – what day, even what time of day.  Crazy life adventure.

What it does give you?  Time.  Time to read those prep instructions emailed October past.  Truly not a procrastinator, really.  Super goal oriented.  But…I’m a solo runner.  Living by yourself, super sensitive to the inner,

constant danger, safe return doubtful

strengths/limitations – where you can push, areas there’s ‘no positive’ – mental constraints, complications, long lists of details.  Can overwhelm, spiral confidence.  Soooo…ya nip the details, rip off the toe nail, don’t overthink & blindly  move forward.  No wallowing in what one can’t do.  Repackage, redirect, move forward.  Anything is POSSIBLE – 62 of us will run Antarctica.  Different countries, ages, run backgrounds.  Proof: diverse paths can reach the same unique destination.

Hurry, hurry, wait.  Hill-climbed past the cemetery, UP to Cerro de la Cruz — the Lookout.  Scenic panorama of this coastal outpost: Punta Arenas (aka Sandy Point).  Mercado-shopped for more coconut water.  Spanish struggle, communication fail.  HOWEVER, successfully used an ATM first time.  More Monopoly money.  VICTORY!

Two ladies speaking English – they’ve gotta be part of our group.  We’re leaving at midnight.  Have you heard?  There’s a sign in the hotel lobby.  Prep talk at 6pm.

Adrenaline RUSH.  What? What? WHaT?  Emotional ROLLER COASTER.  OMG – I should’va done this/this/this, I still need to pack.  OMG – it’s happening.  It’s really happening.  ANTARCTICA!

ZERO Impact (Pre-Flight Briefing)