Stage 1....30.7km....Ascent +1263m....Descent -729m

Sunday May 31st

Being awoken by your alarm at 4am after a restless sleep isn't a welcoming start to the morning but the brain was already mentally focused on the challenge ahead and there was no time to complain about the lack of sleep.

The rustling activity of athletes beginning to rise could be heard across the camp site and so begins the ritual.  Within 2 hours gear must be packed, breakfast had, legs and back taped up, several toilet stops had, running pack repacked and checked and constant wonderings whether we had prepared well enough for the event.

As I eventually poked my head out of my head my weary eyes were soon glancing upon glorious mist hovering above the river and dancing amongst the mountains in the distance.  It was a glorious sight and only the beginning of the natural jewels of Bhutan that we would bear witness to.

Soon we headed back to the Punakha Dzong for the official opening ceremony and what an emotional start to the day it was.
As we arrived at the Dzong we were greeted by the smiling faces and cheers of about 200 local students dressed in their sports attire. As we made our way across the bridge, students created a tunnel for us and the cheering and entrance was like being at an Olympic ceremony. You could feel the buzz in the air, the energy and the enthusiasm of the students wash over you and fill your body with an exhilaration and delirium. Am I really here experiencing this?

The students proceeded to sing the Bhutanese Anthem for us in voices that rose to the skies and filled our ears and hearts with a subdued eeriness. It was magical and unique and of course tears were brimming at my eyes. I took a deep breath and a moment to reflect on the privilege of being here to experience such a special gift from a very kind group of people.

We were also honored to have been blessed by the Lama of the monastery. Clad in his red robes, head down he chanted a blessing for us all.......I could only imagine it was to keep us safe, to journey with happiness in one's heart and to be one with the nature.

At 8am stop watches were started and feet began pounding the road.....we were off and the first stage of the race had began. We were all smiling and joyous to get started, the legs felt a little foreign but it wasn't long before they warmed up and we realised what we were in for.

During this stage we would cross the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan and yes it was long and a little shaky under foot. But it was beautiful, especially as we ran toward it, we could see the bridge adorned with colourful prayer flags, whispering their good fortune to us as the wind blew amongst them. Prayer flags were to be seen as we ran every where in Bhutan but particularly near a monastery. Seeing these flags sprawled across bridges, mountains cliffs and valleys was like spotting a rainbow after the rain and each time they brought smiles to our faces and  refocused our mental and spiritual energies within.

It wasn't long before we were climbing the mountain sides and thrust amongst the towering vegetation and the gasping breaths that escaped our chests were evidence of the rapid gain in altitude.
I was beginning to feel light headed and my heart rate was much higher than it should have been and it wasn't due to over exertion.......I was beginning to feel the affects of the altitude. Having suffered from altitude sickness, I knew this would be my demon in this race. I had to climb it slow and easy......

We were mesmerised by the hovering mist and the ancient religious monuments that adorned the landscape and the local fair of horses, cattle and locals that shared the trails with us.

The 600m vertical climb up to the  Chorten Nyingpo Monastry was a challenge and it forced me to go at a pace that was slow and easy. But on arrival to the top, the views were magnificent.

We enjoyed staying at the monastery for the night, a privilege very few people have the honor to experience. As we hang our clothes to dry, stretched and rehydrated in the grounds of the monastery, monks clad in red robes wandered about doing their daily rituals and marveled at the sight they saw of athletes of all walks of life sprawled across the lawns around them. Again the meal was prepared by the attentive and courteous locals, we also had the privilege of attending the evening chanting ceremony with the monks. As we sat crossed leg for 45 minutes we witnessed the bellow tones and chants of monks from the ages of 6 and above. The beating of the drums evoked an awareness within and we were soon engulfed in the sea of meditation and chanting, a moving and unforgetable experience.

This adventure wasn't just about the running, it was about being immersed within the culture on so many levels and having the honor and privilege to participate in special events that very few people have the opportunity to so so.

Stage one was definitely a challenge and it was time to try and get some sleep for another early start. As I closed my eyes, I could feel the magic of Bhutan and it's aspirations of happiness begin to fill every pore of my body...........

What is to be feared is not the long distance to our goals, but rather, not moving forward even one step.......

Friday May 29th.

Twelve months ago, I stumbled upon an adventure run in a place called Bhutan, a country unknown to me at that time, and without hesitation (and after looking it up on the world map) I signed up to what would be a unique and extraordinary experience in a place that measures its gross revenue on happiness.

After months of anticipation, the day finally arrived to catch my flight to Bhutan to participate in the Global Limits 6 day, 2ookm adventure run. I was both nervous and excited......and what an arrival it was.

We were suddenly flying between mountain ranges that soared towards the sky and towards a very small airstrip nestled between the breath taking mountains. Our flight waded and smoothly steered through the valley and clear blue skies to make a quick and efficient landing on the lone air strip. I knew right away that this adventure was going to be special.

We were greeted by polite and friendly locals dressed in traditional attire called 'Gho' and soon we were packed in buses and headed to the capital city, Thimpu where we would spend our first evening at the Hotel and becoming acquainted with our fellow runners and the Global Limits team.
I was very excited to see many familiar faces who were just as crazy as me and although smiling with enthusiasm we all knew what lay ahead, but we never spoke of it. To remain in the moment and positive was a weapon to stay focused and strong...there is no room for doubt when taking on a challenge such as this.

The first day/evening of any race is filled with excited anticipation, giddy reunions, nervous equipment checks and making new acquaintances. Your mind is filled with certain doubts but anxious excitement and your belly has a fire ready to burn for 6 days of non stop running/hiking and the knowledge that anything could happen out there.

We slept well that night  knowing that it would be a week until we saw a shower, sat on a toilet or slept in a comfortable bed again. Participating in these adventures always identifies how fortunate we are and how grateful we are for these daily commodities.

On Saturday we set off. But not before we did some sight seeing. We visited what is now the highest standing Buddha in Asia and the we drove to the stunning Punakha Dzong, which would b where the race would start. I was constantly left breathless.

After touring the intricate architecture and fine artistic details of the Dzong, we headed to our first evening of camping. We were to stay in tents by the Thimpu river.
What an amazing location to start the journey...........although very little sleep was had due to unleveled ground and barking dogs.

By 8:00pm, we had eaten a delicious meal of local rice and vegetables cooked by our local team on camp fires, we had listened to the race briefing and already our minds were contemplating the enormity of the journey ahead and final Gear was packed and ready for the 4am wake up call on Sunday....day 1 of the race.