The Bucket List Genie Completes the Petra Desert Marathon | 2014
I distinctly remember, four years ago, when I looked down at my fingers and watched as the sands of time slipped through them. That moment was a 360 degree turning point for me, an epiphany and I haven’t looked back since. With every adventure I’ve tackled since, the pre nerves, anxiety and suspense do not dissipate. The challenges are very often far easier than what I put myself through before taking the plunge. I’ve come to realise that fear and guilt are our greatest enemy as is this constant need to be & feel safe & comfortable, which numbs and stunts our growth. Intentionally placing oneself in controlled moments of discomfort can accelerate emotional and mental fitness at an alarming rate. I look forward to making fear my BFF.
The Petra Desert Marathon takes place in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the heart of The Middle East and leaves from the Ancient City of Petra. The course is grueling and takes runners through the arid desert and lunar-like landscape surrounding the city. This was indeed an adventure desert race of a lifetime.
The day after our desert adventure, we were given special access into Little Petra at night and were entertained like Kings and Queens of the desert. We walked along a candlelit path through the Siqu to the Mausoleum where the Bedouins performed a traditional love song for us prior to our banquet dinner.
I’m still not sure which experience offered me more ‘character-building’ … running my business using Instant Messaging during my time in China (due to no internet access which I hadn’t planned for) or the Great Wall Marathon! What I do know is that life definitely begins at the end of your comfort zone and the Great Wall in itself, offers a wonderful synergy for how one can live a joyous, successful life. Each step to me presents taking one day at a time, taking baby steps or big steps slowly and consistently every day until you achieve your dreams. Each brick that forms the mammoth Great Wall is an example to lay one or two bricks of progressive tasks completed onto your foundation daily so that eventually you have built a solid structure that is indestructible. Having suffered with chronic back problems for much of my adulthood until 5 years ago, this challenge was a celebration of exceptional health because when we are healthy an entire world of possibilities opens up to us and we have the strength to deal with whatever crosses our path. I also realised how important it is to face and embrace what is considered difficult, treacherous and a challenge. The more you tackle it, the less intimidating the obstacle becomes. Regardless of what everyone else is doing, run your own race, at your own pace and eventually you will be where you want to be smiling.
Ice cleats, gaiters, off-road snow running boots, balaclava and three layers from head to toe makes for a vacuum packed transformation from sun-baby to ice baby. These adventures are teaching me not to waste time overthinking them, because on race day nature decides which spontaneous curve balls she’ll throw my way. Wind chill on the ice-sheet reached -37 degrees to the extent that even my eyeballs froze (yes it’s possible). I did not take any no makeup selfies because my camera froze and so would my hands had I exposed them. I’ve realised how most of us give very little acknowledgement to the extreme adulting challenges that we all face daily and so perceived out of reach experiences are allot more doable and tangible than we may think. #IcicleOB
