Day 6 - Amboy to Fenner - 39.7 miles - Straightforward
Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 5:01AM As we started today Alex said to me “James you are from London and so you should run like a penguin but instead you run like a Kenyan”. I am confident that this is the first and last time my running will be compared to a Kenyan, I am also confident that it’s not the last time it will be compared to a Penguin.
Alex’s point and one made by many others in the organisation and race was that no one quite understood why the British guy from rainy London seemed to be resistant to the heat. This certainly is not true as I suffer the heat just like anyone else but my finish times recently have not reflected that. 
Today was almost “back to work”, 40 miles is less than we should cover in an average day but the 40C+ temperatures would make up for that. Most people finished yesterday in good time to have a good rest, a proper meal and banter around the motel before bedtime.
I slept terribly, maybe because yesterday was easy. I never felt like nodding off. I could easily sleep halfway through any day of running, every time I pass some shady area I think about getting the sleep mat out and curling up for a few hours. Once the battle is over however I seem to be wide awake, as I am now writing this at 9pm when I have to be up at 4am for a drive to tomorrows start.
I think everyone was a bit stronger today for the relative rest of yesterday. We all looked like we could move along fine for the first few miles again. I settled into my “new” group of being a little behind Patrick and a little ahead of Serge who always catches me near the end anyway. Rainer was back on form and disappeared into the distance.
Today was another straight road bore, about 15 miles along, a curve, another 20 miles then a turning. Finish at a gas station. 
Shoe Grave
There was some early excitement though. A long climb which I walked and then a vulture (or do they call them buzzards here?) started circling above me. I don’t think I was the most likely to drop dead but I suspect I am the meatiest.
This was the first day in the desert where I felt like we got some “easy miles” in at the start. The sun didn’t seem to want to bother today and I was halfway before I got into the run-overheat-walk-spray-run routine. I said it’s not to warm to Alex’s crew and they shouted at me for saying it out loud. It still did get up to 40 but higher up there was a gentle breeze which helped.
Laurie was amazing again, stopping every 2 miles to make sure I had water and was cool. She commented that I never run off without say “thank you”. She spoke on the phone to Lesley today who will be taking over crewing for the next two days with Dave.
It did eventually get hot though not until I had broken the back of the stage. Patrick and Italo were way in front and I had no intention of keeping up with them. There wa was a lot more traffic on the road which meant I could not just jog in the middle like I had been doing yesterday.
All in all today has been quite unremarkable in terms of running. Does not make for great blogging (sorry) but I am quite happy with a day of steady paced running (I got to half way just over 4 hours and finished in 8.33 with some walking at the end). I am starting to feel adjusted to this now. I can’t imagine getting more than 5 hours sleep in the next 2 months on any night. I think I am locked in now.
Today however did end with a really sad farewell to Laurie. The organisers, other runners and crew have loved having her around as she is awesome company. She helps translate my English-English to American-English so that all those who speak German-English, French-English and Italian-English can understand.
I met Laurie last year when she agreed to crew me for Badwater. She took all of the worry away from me and lets me just concentrate on the running. I don’t even know how she does what she does but for 6 days and about 250 miles she must have made over 100 stops to give me exactly what I needed even when I didn’t know what I wanted. I am going to miss her dearly for the rest of the desert and the rest of this race. Thanks Laurie. You are AWESOME J
Boring Stuff
Weight Before 82.5kg after 81.5kg.
Food – During – coffee and chicken sandwich, 6l Gatorade, 2 cans monster, 6l water, 4 hammer gels, cliff bar, ham and cheese sandwich, AFTER – Chinese beef, 3 beers, coke, 2 cans iced tea, large bag of Cheetos
Kit – Newtons, NF Long top, Kathmandu Shorts, koga undershorts, shades, nf hat, camelpack
Injuries – left achillies ached a bit near the end but otherwise none.
Orange update – 3rd email sent, no calls back. Phone still not unlocked. Twats.
Reader Comments (22)
Love the blog. Awesome achievement. I have decided I will be using a selected quote from your blog as my fb status each day - along with a link to your blog. More people should be aware of what you guys are doing "for fun"
your blog makes me laugh in the morning. I just thought I'd let you know that.
I have always been a great believer in the power of positive thought, not letting negativity get a look in.
All of us in our household are following your progress with total respect. We admire your attitude.
Keep it up mate.
Not being funny, James, but I'm not setting my alarm every morning to read "ran 40 miles in 40c and drank 40l of gatorade".
Its not enough. You're going to have to spice it up a bit.
You know, "vulture swooped down and ripped chese and ham sandwich from me", "fought off band of gun toting desperadoes", "found my self running through alcohol-free state" etc etc (Actually have you considered that last one? Horror!).
Brilliant stuff.
Loving the blogs James, we've just had a heatwave warning over here for tomorrow, it's going to hit a whole 32C ;-)
Kenyan indeed......
In other news, yes Orange is shit!!!
James Adams you are a legend.
MMMMM food ,sun and beer sounds like your on your holidays mate .
Enjoying the blogs, even as a non runner. Still think you're nuts and remember there is only 1 penguin!
Nice style - amusing and self depreciating. Brilliant.
I've been following your blog from the start of the race. I am equally green with envy and absolutely gob-smacked at your achievement. I haven't made it past 50 miles a day yet, while you're doing this day-after-day through the desert. Wow.
How do you find the energy to keep the blog going after running for a whole day?
Sounds like you're doing great, keep it going. Will follow you with great interest.
Thomas
I love the blog too ! Much more funny than french runners' ones (and I'm French). Now you are my favorite with Rainer who I met a few times.
Have fun, James !
Ok, I don't get the penguin thing. There are no penguins in the UK, nor would they run if there were. Nevertheless, enjoying the blog immensely... currently reading Marshall Ulrich's book and I can assure you the tone is quite different. One question: can you explain what a shoe grave is??
Is your starting weight decreasing by about 1kg per day? You'll soon be blown along with the breeze, or is the race strategy? Cunning.
Just caught up on your last few days, great work. I now won't whine as I lace up my Newtons for a 12 miler in the early morning 'heat' in Denver. It's only around 35C during the day, so I obviously have nothing to complain about. (When I got to Phoenix next week, and it's 45C, may be a different story)
Keep up the great running and blogging. If you don't sort out your phone by the time you get my way (you'll be a few hours south when you're in the middle of New Mexico), I'll bring you down one to use.
Great stuff James, enjoying the daily updates. Amazed that you're able to keep the blog going every day, let alone the enormity of the challenge itself! You have huge support here in the UK, and beyond. Draw on that when you need to. Just finished reading Meditations from the Breakdown Lane, about James Shapiro's TransCon in the 1980s. I think I'm envious of you being out there, er, I think. Here's a quote for you today in return; "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane". Enjoy!
Firstly can I just say thank God you're okay, I was a bit worried when you didn't update for a couple of days! Aside from that, loving your posts as always, keep going and good luck :)
This is the best bit of running literature I have read in a long time. Dude, you need to write a book or two. Keep going, this is brilliant to read.
Of course James your not able to sleep proper, you need to double your beer intake in your after run replentishment! ;-)
Your doing great...
John
I must be going through withdrawal -- last night driving home I had the urge to pull over to the side of the road every two miles! I hate to tell you that it's 50 degrees cooler here in L.A. than when I left you in Fenner. Thanks for letting me share in your amazing adventure James, it's been truly inspiring. I miss everyone already and will be eagerly following your progress every day. Speaking of which, where's today's blog.....
I got into trouble with Gemma with an ill-advised comment about oysters and their aphrodisiac properties. So no way am I going to suggest that American Serpettes try to p-p-pick up a penguin! :-P
Caught up on all the blog posts this afternoon. It sounds like you're doing great. I'm looking forward to the next 64 posts!
The blog is fantastic so far Badger, I get quite teary eyed in places it's a wonderful read. You're doing briliiantly and your spirit is inspiring I'm immensely proud of you. Keep up the good work, looking forward to tomorrow's read x
Just catching up mate after a drunken and hectic few days. Bloody fantastic work. I think one reason you're doing so well is that you are able to draw on so much knowledge because of the way you always learn from those around you in the ultra world, putting it into practice. Just the simple things like saying thanks to the supporters each time - makes you feel better as well as them.
I've got some serious work to do on counting up what everyone has bet on!