Searching for Zabolee: Jebel Et Otfal

MdS Stage 2 - Oued Tijekht / Jebel El Otfal: 31.1KM

06April 2015

The winds blew a little hard throughout the night and I didn't sleep that well. I decided that carrying a sleeping pad was going to be heavy and my hips took a beating all night long. The ground we slept on was quite possibly the hardest ground I've ever slept on...concrete! Everyone this morning seemed to be moving a bit slower than usual and then the Berbers came to tear down the bivouac. Almost utter chaos!

Felicia Wilkerson prepping for stage 2. Berbers in the background.

Members of Tent 177 - (Left to Right): Anthony Rodale (Yellow shirt), Meghan Hicks (white suit), Sasha Grey (Blue), Marissa Harris (Orange), Liza Howard (Green)

Roadbook for Stage 2

The route for stage 2 started out flat with several small sand dunes that gradually rose into the first hill. We'll experience our first climb (Hered Asfer Jebel) of the day around 8km. We'll run the ridge for a little while and then descend into the valley toward checkpoint 1. After the checkpoint, we'll run the narrow valley for a few kilometers and then cross the river Oued. After the river crossing, we'll start up a very steep technical climb and run the knife ridge into a larger valley. After the valley, we'll hit checkpoint 2 and begin to climb El Otfal Jebel which will average a 25% slope to summit. Once on the summit, we'll have a technical descent using the Oued riverbed. As we come out of the descent we'll run across a very rocky flat, through some medium size dunes to Bivouac 2 (B2).

The Start for Stage 2

For some reason this morning I'm running behind. The call to once again toe the line has been communicated throughout the bivouac and I'm doing the last minute scramble to get my kit packed and prepare my breakfast shake. I should've drank this hours before the start of the race but I lost track of time and felt getting a few minutes of sleep would do the body good. As like everyday of my life, I am walking to the starting line with my breakfast in hand. LOL.

Oh yes, that's right, I need to line up near the front so I can get to a good start. Due to my lack of time management this morning, I'm once again hustling to try and get toward the front. I think to myself that maybe I can get near the announcement vehicle I would be able to slip into the middle of crowd and be all good. Wrong! I end up standing there for about two minutes before I can squeeze pass the inflatable rail that then cross the starting line. Oh well...I'm psyched to be here! This stage is the stage that I've been looking forward too and I can't wait to get on the mountains and run.

Overall, the running was a little frustrating because we were running on single track once we got into the first mountain section. I was capable of running much faster but got caught behind lot's of other runners who were equally trying to do their best. The only way to pass was to very quickly try to scramble over rocks and get back on the trail when you saw a gap. You could rest a little and then go for it again. This process was fairly difficult and hard on the feet.

I kept a steady pace and tried to manage everything you need to stay healthy. I've set two timers with different alarms that let me know when to take salt tablets, and another to remind me to eat/drink. For each stage, I'm using liquid nutrition which makes things a little easier as long as I continue to drink. As I approach CP-1, I get ready to make the transition. I'm making really good time and I'm feeling really good. Based on my timing, I still have a water left and decide that I'm only going to take another 1.5 liter of water versus two of them. I know there are still two major mountain sections left so I continue to push at a moderate pace toward the first climb.

Crossing the Rheris (River) Oued just before the climb up Joua Baba Ali Jebel

After crossing the river, I was slightly pleased to see very little folks around me. I figured that I might have busted through the large group of runners at CP1 and now I just need to try and focus on getting back to running again. My hopes are diminished as soon as I start to climb into the second mountain section. In front of me, I see a huge line of runners going up the slope and there is a group of runners at the bottom waiting to go up Joua Baba Ali Jebel. I stop and walk as I try to figure what I'm going to do. After a few minutes, I decide that I'm going to hike along side of the line and when I get to a technical section, I'll just wait until I can pass and then do my best to keep moving forward.

Cruising up the second mountain section of stage 2 - Joua Baba Ali Jebel

Running on the ridge of Joua Baba Ali Jebel was a nice technical descent into the valley. I was able to finally get back to a solid running pace once on the flat valley floor. After the second mountain stage, I'm feeling this sense of urgency that I need to pick the pace. I can see the third mountain climb (El Otfal Jebel) and the large sand dune that goes all the way up to the summit. I'm roughly 7KM away and the mountain climb looks pretty intimidating. I put my head down and continue running into CP2. I've been tapped for water for almost a kilometer and I've never been more happier to arrive at a check point. I quickly move through the checkpoint after doing a quick happy dance for my water ration.

I start to ascend El Otfal Jebel almost immediately after the checkpoint. Since I didn't waste any time at the checkpoint, there are only a few groups of runners in front of me maybe 80-100 in total. Using my climbing experience, I pick a line and begin to aggressively attack with solid traversing. My body remembers what this feels like and the climbing goes very quickly. Before I know it, I am at the fixed ropes working to the summit. I take no break once at the top and head down into the drainage. My toes are serious pain and I'm pretty sure that they are badly blistered. Once out of the riverbed, I cruise across the sand dunes and into Bivouac-2.

Crossing the finish line was pretty surreal for me. I didn't get to run like I had hoped for but I am also happy that I was able to complete the stage in a relatively good time. I am thankful for not being injured and my ability to manage the day and my health properly. I'm a little behind on water and I have salt stains all over the cloths. Almost immediately, the sweat on my clothes began to dry and crust nice and hard.

At the tents, I'm greeted by Dave, Liza, Meghan, Garth, and Mark Lattanzi. Mark had an awesome day of running and put together a really good performance. The first day didn't go so well for him and it seems like he is now back on track. As I sit there, I get to hear the stories of what it was like at the front of the pack and it sounded awesome. Dave, Liza, and Meghan were still doing pretty well. Knowing that I'm first in for my tent, I head next door and begin to get our tent situated.

As the day before, I get the sleeping area squared away, take my recovery drink and food, and then take a quick nap.

Since I'm first in, I use the time to take a quick hobo bath and wash my salty crusty clothes. I'm a little behind on water and I try to drink as much of my water ration as possible leaving just enough for dinner tonight.

Runners from our tent came in the following order: Martin, Felicia, Mosi, Alissa, Dean, Patrick and Rachel came in late that night. She was having a rough MdS and was still suffering from some injuries from a race prior to MdS. At the summit of El Otfal Jebel, she would ultimately be pulled from the course. She spent the last night with us and was then transported back to Ouarzazate.