Challenge Expected

A month ago I was asked by the superhuman Mr Ken if I would like to take on a 50km hike here in Luxor.

Of course, I said yes even though I'm not in top condition I gave myself a month to prepare, and on a plus, the weather was going to be a lot cooler, or so we thought!

We headed out at 3:30 am in the morning so we were guaranteed 3 hours of no sun so we could get a head start. Now you would think the day before a challenge I would be well rested but due to unforeseen circumstances, I ended up only getting 3 hours of sleep! Not the best way to start a challenge!

So off we went making good time with a pace of 1km every 10 minutes which was great if we could keep this up we would be round the 50km in no time! It was all good until we hit the first desert stage with it being pitch black we had to slow down to ensure we didn't fall on the uneven ground. Making our way the 7km in the dark past wild dogs and goodness knows what else, I did feel that actually it was better that I couldn't see!!

We made it through with no problems now it was on to the monotony of the tarmac roads!

We reached the Nile shortly after sun up and had a glorious view as we crossed the bridge heading for the road to Esna at this point we had broken the back of 20km and were only just over 4 hours in so we were happy with the constant speed we were keeping up.

It was on the next stretch that things started to slide, with the heat starting to bear down the road was starting to warm up and there was no shade for miles apart from the odd tree here and there.

The next 6.5km seemed to take forever and although we had said we would walk the 50km to Esna we made a decision that as we had already gone 25km if we turned back now we would get back to our start position bang on the 50km mark.

So at the next checkpoint that had a bridge, we decided to take the little dirt track on the other side of a canal are it would give us better footing and fewer people!

We stopped for an early lunch (most people's breakfast time!) in the sade of a little mosque it was nice just to sit and take 20 minutes as we had been pushing quite hard all morning.

Ken being a bionic man steamed ahead but my little legs were starting to slow slipping the 1km every 10 minutes to 12 minutes. I felt horrid as I was letting my walking partner down but you see we all have our own pace and mine was just a bit slower than Mr. Ken's so I had to accept it and push on.

After a while, I got caught short! Not the best thing in Egypt but then I had been out since 3:30 am and it was heading to past mid!! Spying a place next to the railway line it was protected from the road so I went for it only to find myself face planting as a train went past!! luckily I had not started the job in hand otherwise I could have had a whole train of people getting an eyeful!!!!

Halfway down the dirt track, we came into some long grass which on a normal hike in the UK I would have been happy with but here I was 'Oh Lord' mainly because snakes just love to hide in the long grass!!!

So slowing a bit we tentatively made our way through praying as we went that nothing was going to jump out! Over 3km this went on for and my nerves were shot by the time we had finished!!!

Taking the next little bridge to cross the canal we met up with the road we had previously walked down retracing our steps it was here I had to stop as I could feel blisters starting to form on my toes so knew it was time to tape up otherwise I would not get much further!

The heat was really starting to bite but I k

ept drinking and had even doubled up on headwear to try and ensure I didn't get too much sun.

On we went again taking the bridge over the Nile before the next long straight boring road!

Even though I had slowed I was still making progress superman Ken just kept on going with little to no complaint throwing back words of encouragement every so often.

We head back towards the desert stopping in a Blue Lotus farm to take a short breather before heading out into the scorching heat of the desert where we would get no rest from the heat or sun.

On we walked, I tried calling friends and family for distraction listened to some music but the negative voice in my head was getting louder and louder.

It didn't help with the gap between me and Mr. Ken growing by the minute every time he would stop I would keep walking so as not to keep him held up which would cost me in the end!

We got out of the desert and realized we looked to be e little short on our distance so had to add in an extra loop to make it up!!! I think that's when I started to go inside myself a bit not wanting to talk or even think too much.

We only had 3km to go but at that moment it may as well of been 300km! It was then that MR. Ken morphed into one of the DS from SAS Who Dares Wins and started barking orders to keep moving! it seemed to have the desired effect as my feet were indeed still moving!

Each step was now painful but oddly it was more psychological than it was physical! my body seemed to be seizing up the more I went on but I knew I had to push on because if I didn't my mind would win and god knows that wasn't going to happen!!

That last turn into Mr. Ken's road was one of the sweetest and knowing in only a few more steps I could sit down was worth more than gold.

But we had done it 50km on the nose!!!! the feeling was like nothing else I have done 50km challenges before but this one seemed 100% harder than anything I had done before.

After sitting and letting go of the stress of the last 12hrs I had a funny turn and felt incredibly sick and sweaty!! I had never had this before it was then I realize all that time in the direct sun and not taking a break more often had really caused me a problem healthwise.

I got home and loaded up on electrolytes and started to feel more normal and after a good night's sleep, I was ready to go again!

What did I take from this experience?

• Make sure you have electrolytes with you and drink them alongside your normal water!!

• Take a change of underwear as there is nothing worse than chaffing

• Make yourself eat even if you don't want to!

• Do not beat yourself up over not being able to keep up with your hiking companion at the end of the day we all have different paces!

Would I do this again OF COURSE!! lol but maybe in cooler weather!

What is next? well I'm thinking the mountains may be calling so keep an eye out for the big adventure in November

Well, it is my birthday month so..............

Until Next time

Happy Hiking

L x