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Published: January 12th 2011
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Day 1
After an absurdly long drive to the Laos border....sort of the original starting point but not really when looking at our schedule, we finally arrive at the gates, pour out of the vehicle and scurry to get ready...
A couple of quick pictures and off and running...One the of the first sights we come across is a small boy carrying the jug of water you see in the picture. His home could be the one shown. Point is, this is why you have helped and donated. Your help could possibly keep kids in school instead of carrying water. THANK YOU!
Further along the run, Nathalie thinks she is either having her first hot flash, of epic proportion, or has her core body temperature gauge on overdrive, as sweat seems to be literally pouring down her back. Nope, its the first instance of gear breakdown. A busted water bladder in her pack. A brief prayer is made to the female hormone gods and we flag our rescue vehicle and get hand carry bottles out of the emergency bin.
The heat and tarmac takes its toll and we decide to break for lunch, but no shade in sight.
So we get our first true lesson in Cambodian hospitality and get to experience for the first of many to come instances of folks welcoming us into their homes to share whatever little is is they have, with a huge heart and great smiles. Lunch is had in the one room, ten by sixteen foot dwelling of the girl employed to guard the cell phone tower. The room contains a platform to sleep in, a shelve and two planks serving as workbench, table or cutting board, whichever it is that require a flat work surface on that day. Chickens and a dog battle for spilled food, and before long its time to get back to the business of running.
So we run, it feels like a convection oven at this point, 37 degrees on tarmac Cambo humidity, who's idea was this anyways. For two people who swore they would never attempt running the Badwater marathon, this is pure paradox. I know, we are wusses but we were training in the snow … So Nat gets a full on quad cramp, just to mark the moment and we decide to get some shade. Of road to another roadside dwelling, this one
with only one roof, one wall and a plank platform. Two little boys are there and we are soon joined by auntie, uncle, mom, other kidlets, the whole commune really. Uncle decides to show us his catch du jour... two lavender head conures... we ooohhh and awwww on how pretty they are just to be told they are on the menu that night... Our driver Bunna manages to have one gifted to him and we now have a run mascot which we have affectionately named “Mr. BBQ”. A long first day but rich in new experiences and lessons learned in heat management.
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James G
non-member comment
Commitment
Nat/ Jeff, In the past, when I did a great deal of running, my running mates and I had a saying, "Go Pig!". It is a quick reference to commitment relating to bacon and eggs. The chicken may be involved, however the Pig, the Pig is Committed. So "Go Pig!" to the you both and to your cause. LOL later James and Anney