Making Lemonade

Most people have been surprised that Grace, Deanna and I were able to spend 7 days in the desert without showers, bathing, changes of clothing, sleeping on the floor under canvas.

They were even more surprised to find that this was actually one of the easiest parts of the trip and that it was fun.

It seems petty given the fact that 300 people died, to whine about the inconveniences we suffered. The problem was that these difficulties were beyond our ability to handle them.

We work quite long hours as lawyers. And while I love my job I treasure my annual leave. To spend almost a week of that leave hanging on the telephone, sitting at a desk in an office or negotiating to protect my contractual entitlements feels a lot more like work and less like holiday. At one point I was wishing I was back at work because at least I know I can make a difference there. I am more than competent. In Chile without a translator I felt like a chocolate teapot.

We had expected to spend a week in a luxury resort resting after the stresses of work, restoring ourselves and preparing mentally and physically for the race through the desert. Instead we found ourselves living in a virtual brothel, unable to go outside at night without having to run the gauntlet of brawling prostitutes in the red light district outside and all without the linguistic ability to negotiate our way out of the predicament or to carry on with our journey.

In contrast, in the desert we knew what we were in for. We were prepared for everything the desert could throw at us. And when it did throw those, we were able to say “Bring it!” We knew what to do. We knew we could get where we were going. And everyone spoke our language. To be honest once we got over the whole not bathing thing - which took a couple of days - it was a piece of cake!

Beyond that though, the race gave us experiences to treasure.

We saw landscapes that few people ever get to see. And we met the most fascinating people and shared their stories. And for Grace and me particularly we did something we had never done before. (We like new challenges)

Our fellow volunteers were almost without exception humorous, warm, engaging individuals. The medics were astonishing. To devote your annual leave to draining blisters, drilling toe nails and inserting IVs takes the hippocratic oath to extremes. With some of them we have exchanged emails already; some we hope to see again soon or on our travels.

To any of our fellow volunteers and medics, there is a spare bedroom en-suite waiting for you in Admiralty if ever you are passing through Hong Kong.

As for the racers - they are an amazing bunch. I was inspired less by the front runners than by the people in the middle and rear of the pack. People like Ryan and Eric and even Joanna Zsomething are a different breed. They come from a different world to which I could never belong. The vast majority of the people competing however appear normal. They are fit - but not in a way that I cannot aspire to be. What is extraordinary about them is their achievement. Some of them I really don´t know how they completed the race. Some didn´t but their achievement was monumental nonetheless.

Paolo Giannerini completed the race in 120th place despite having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year. One of the most popular characters in the race among the volunteers was tiny Chizuko Kida, a 58 year old Japanese lady who crossed the entire desert in 118th place with her entire weekś food carried in a shopping bag over her arm, as though she were heading out for a picnic. Laurie Brophy - the 78 year old Welsh hero who walked 200km carrying his national flag proudly on his backpack - so close to getting his 3rd 4 deserts medal.

I hope to see some of these people again in Nepal.

I have decided after my pathetic performance sweeping in Chile that I have unfinished business to attend to - so I will sign on for Racing the Planet Nepal 2011. Grace has amazingly got the volunteer bug (not the same one I got) and she will join me. I’ve already heard from Tony and Bev Brammer that we will see them there. Now we just have to work on Deanna!