So, just like in New England, the weather forecasters in Antarctica are always wrong! Last night at dinner they told us it would be clear and windy. We woke up to see near white-out conditions and about 3-4 inches of fresh snow that stuck to everything. The ship was covered and so was all the ground on the island.
So everyone was very quiet at breakfast, and even quieter when it came time to load onto the zodiacs. We were shuttled about 10 at a time to shore and then walked up the hill about a half mile to a place where there were two wooden benches for you to take off your WetSkin (which is like rubber coated rain gear) and muck boots and get into your running gear and shoes. There was one guy there in shorts and tank top with a cowboy hat…and yes he was from the United States. He has completed 400 marathons in 60 different countries. I assume in shorts, tank top, and cowboy hat.
The race started at 9:00 AM without a National Anthem ( probably good as I think there were runners representing 40 different countries in the race). My worries about the mud were over in the first 100 yards. My shoes were drenched and the snow and mud was on my pants up to about my knees. The best part was that as soon as the marathon started the snow stopped the sun came out and the wind died down a little bit.
The sun coming out was good and bad. For moral, sun is always good. The sun melted the snow and turned the trail to a river or melted the snow and made the mud “slushier”. I had thought about putting the heat packs in my shoes and was now glad I had not – they would have disintegrated by mile three. Instead, my feet became numb and there was no pain.
I wish I could send pictures, and will have to send some explanations when I finally can, but this island has 8 or 9 countries that have “research stations”. They really don’t have much to do here so they are very happy to have the marathon, and both China and Chile both had entered runners. When China found out that Chile had entered 5 runners, China went and recruited 2 more runners to they would have 6. They had about half try the full marathon and I don’t think any finished, however, Chile had a ringer for the ½ marathon that I think won for the men. There were probably 5 runners from the boat that ran the ½ and it was because they were in their 80’s.
The course was really hilly and none of it was paved. It was on the roads that they use on the island to get to the bay from the research stations. Most of them travel on ATV’s and there were two 4 wheel vehicles that showed up to deliver and pick up the Chilean and Chinese runners. No one from their bases hung out to cheer them on.
There were two churches on the island and one looked like a Russian Temple (had a dome with a spire on top) and the other one looked like the church from “Little House on the Prairie”. Both of them we so small that you couldn’t get 12 people in there for a wedding. There were pretty with the snow plastered to the sides this morning. I later found out that both churches were delivered in one piece and set on the island.
The marathon was very uneventful and there was really no wildlife other than a few albatross and about 5 or 6 penguins. The only exception was after I had boarded the zodiac after the marathon and we were pushing off the beach a whole pack of them came swimming in to shore. The water is really clear so you could see how they really do “fly” underwater. Once they waddled up the beach you could see why they prefer to swim instead of walk.
When you first get back on the ship they have a place called the “Mud Room” where you have to wash all of your gear off. What a mess! At that point all you want to do is shower and eat. Cleaning your clothes and shoes is not high on your list of “things to do”. I did manage to get most of the mud off and headed up to the cabin. If you were ever thinking of doing this take my advice and ask for a lower berth. The boat rocks less down low and after the marathon the last thing you want to do is climb stairs to the 6th floor where the last set is a ship’s ladder that goes straight up. With all of the wet stuff you just washed in the mud room, your backpack now feels like 100 pounds.
I finally made it to the shower and got my muddy socks off. I had left them on because they were still numb and wasn’t sure if I had any toenails left. I forgot to tell you about all the rocks I stubbed my toes on that did not hurt when your feet are numb.
The mud was packed between my toes and under my toenails and my feet were a bluish purple color. After about 10 minutes with the hand-held shower my feet were clean and the color was returning. I did my laundry in the shower and went back down to the 3rd floor for food.
Dinner is in 15 minutes and I want to be first in line because the greens are getting hard to come by and this may be the last day with green lettuce. I will try to write more about the race and see if I can get a photo out tonight or tomorrow.
I know Maria is wondering “what next”, and after being on this ship with 150 running nuts all I can say is…
Man…have I got some good ideas!
Until tomorrow………
ralphruns50 