The Way I Like to Spend a Marathon
This weekend, we had a marathon in McMurdo. The full 26 miles 385 yards, people! Did I run it? HELL NO. But I did my part and read the times. And it did mean I got to spend a beautiful day out on the ice.
Here’s a view of the finish line. That’s Samina, who is sitting out so she can read numbers as people come in. Mount Erebus is in the background.
This is Kim, Samina and myself, the finish line crew! We’re sitting by the apple, where people could go take shelter, but it was so beautiful I don’t think many people went in. It was about 40 degrees F, with hardly any wind.
Daniel, our stalwart race organizer, passed out at the end. Today he had to file a bunch of spill reports, since people didn’t pee where they were supposed to, and instead peed all over the place. He had to get GPS coordinates of each patch of yellow snow.
And remember, don’t eat the yellow snow.
I’m with you, let the crazy people run! Cold + running, hot + running, perfect temperature + running? Not for me…
It’s been on and off cold for the past week. We hit negative temps a few times during the period, 42 a couple of days ago and yesterday back to a slow, lazy snow…
Hah! That’s awesome… “pee reports”!
Looks warmer in Antarctica than it is in Denver… we are at about 9 degrees here this morning! Bbbbrrrrr…
Indeed … Oswego’s got 30 inches of snow over the weekend, so it looks a lot like the Ice, only we don’t have a volcano. Pity. This town could use a good volcano.
Note to self: apply for patent on GPS-equipped fly zippers, which automatically file spill reports by radio. I figure I can turn a hefty little profit contracting it out to NSF, don’t you?
Has anyone ever run the marathon in the apple, hamster-wheel style? That could be fun!
— Dave
Hi from Canada Laura,
Just got caught up on your amazing blog. We are really enjoying all we are learning. Love love love your photos! Your camera seems pretty fine to me.
I like the idea of basking outside the red apple.
That would be my style of marathon. Couldn’t beleive the crazy rocker chicks in T- shirts!
Are you really done at the end of the month? Wow the time has flown! From our point of view anyway.
You might be ready for some warmth. Hope you keep your blog going on your “after” journey so we can see some of the Land-Down-Under too!
PS I like the colours of the Oden.
Hehe, you know it’s a hot day in Antarctica when folks are sitting outside with their jackets unzipped! 40 degree scorcher.
Lisa