Conquering “The Last Marathon” — Race Reflections from Antarctica

Hello again from the NF Endurance “Extreme” Team.  We are presently cruising down towards the Antarctic Peninsula.  We stopped and walked around Half Moon Island this morning and saw many fur seals and chinstrap penguins.  Before we went ashore I stood out on the bow of the ship for a few moments by myself.  The scene was surreal. About 10 or 12 different schools of penguins swam within a mile or two of the ship and in the distance a whale blew a spout of water into the air. Behind that backdrop was Half Moon Island and other land masses of the Shetland Island chain we’ve been sailing around. Huge glaciers ran down from the mountains into the water and icebergs were floating all around us.  An albatross flew a graceful, slow seemingly effortless path around the boat – I never saw him flap his wings, and he looked like an eloquent glider of sorts.  I started college with a major in aeronautical engineering — I’d have to say that we humans have a long way to go to refine our ability to fly.

Below are some reflections from George Haddad, and Carl and Kathy Price on their day yesterday…

George Haddad
This was a very difficult race.  The course was very hard and very challenging, covered with mud and hilly.  Several hills on the course were covered with a mix of snow, ice and mud.  I must say that it is one of the hardest marathons I have ever done – even harder than the Pikes Peak marathon that I completed last summer and that climbs 14, 110 feet.  On the course  (which allows runners to see each other many times) I saw our team endure all the difficulties encountered on the course. I had a minor back pain (due to a slip on the boat) and was not even sure that I would be able
to complete the marathon.  We had to lap the course four times.  At lap three I was ready to quit but I remembered GiGi and the NF cause that brought me here. Gigi gave me the strength to continue and finish this marathon. I am humbled and honored to be part of this team and I congratulate our NF runners who endured to complete the marathon and the half marathon.

Carl and Kathy Price
One of the hardest things we’ve ever done, but we would do it again in a second! It was amazing. The difficulty of the course made us concentrate on the three feet in front of us but then to look up at the glaciers, the sea and the hills was inspiring. To see the other team members struggle and overcome the course gave us the strength to continue and finish. Inspiration also came from our reason for being here, to help find a cure for Eric and all those struggling with NF. This made the struggle of the race much less difficult. We congratulate all the NF runners and send our condolences to
Eric’s dad, Jose, who finished behind John S.

More from Steve – We just cruised around the inside of Deception Island.  It’s a huge semi-active volcano with the center being flooded and deep enough to sail a ship inside.  We were supposed to go ashore for a polar plunge in the 34 degree water inside the volcano, but the winds picked up significantly and it started sleeting so we had to cancel the plunge. . .for now.  Apparently there is a certificate offered for this plunge – if you put your head under water.  That along with the peer pressure involved will make it difficult to bow out of. Certainly a once in a life time opportunity.

Sixty-nine people completed the marathon yesterday. . .bringing the total up to near 1,300 in history.  More soon.  Thanks for reading.

Cheers,

Steve