LSTV. Southern Storm. Day 5 – 5 stages to becoming …Day 6. – So this is it, the final day has finally come and gone.  All that lay between us and the finish line were the last 5 stages: a 13km dune and beach run, a 35km mountain bike, a 6.8km mole rat run an 11km bike and then the final 5km of train-track and vlei in to the Ebb ‘n Flow camp site.   Al though the spirits are high, I am just holding on.  It feels like this needs a theme song playing in the background.

When it comes to events of this nature I sit safely in the knowledge of distance that I have covered before, cocooned in the first hand experience that says I can get under the skin of it and sit in the vey “present-ness” of it all. This event has not had that. There are no distance markers. No cheering crowds and no place what-so-ever to get into any rhythmic “taliban-like” desert shuffle.  It is you. Continuously picking yourself up, no one else. Just you.  To all my mates I made along the way. Thanks for sharing an incredible journey.

The upside.  I want to shout “I AM A SOUTHERN STORMer” like you would “I am an IRONMAN!” – it doesn’t roll off the tongue. Lu said to me this morning. “you must feel amazing, you can do anything!” – can I really? There is no doubting the sense of achievement. Part of the reason for doing these things is to put ourselves to the test. To challenge our own belief in ourselves and to come out victorious!

The downside. I have experienced for the first time ever. Fondly known as monkey bum – saddle sores. Like a blister you get from shoes, on the bones of your butt from the saddle rubbing. They too though are forgotten when you cross the line!

I certainly hope that I have been able to share that anything is possible if you believe. The only thing you need to do is take the next step forward.   Look within and find what you think it is and tell me, I would love to tell your story. As for me, I have been given the means to make my dream come true. I collected the next step of my adventure on Friday – YZ 250.

Thanks to Magnetic South who certainly put together one amazing logistical event. To NIKE and VOLCAN, I thank you.

Check out the final day on Southern Storm on LSTV

I am going to sleep.  Monday run anyone …?

Stu