The 28th Marathon des Sables: Let the journey begin!!!

Happy Spring!! The 28th Marathon des Sables begins tommorrow Sunday morning April 7th, at 9 am Morocco time. MDS is my favorite race for so many reasons but the top reason that stands out is that it is one of the most amazing JOURNEYS of self-discovery.9 liters of water a day and the supplies you have on your back is ALL you have for 6-7 days. You don’t have a crew to give you ice or cold water, a van to get in to sit in the air conditioner. You have YOURSELF to learn how to survive with what is on your back. The 7-8 other people who are sharing your tent with you become part of your family and they will be part of your family for the rest of your life. The friendships, the bonding with perfect strangers is beyond anything I can explain to you. The race was once again sold out and is sold out for 2014. Dreamchasers has 75 runners this year taking part. We are so thrilled to have our 1st American women’s team (Team name is Dreamchasers) with three amazingly talented women. Megahn Hicks race # 1082, Sada Crawford (Cynthia Crawford) race # 1065 and Julie Bryan race # 1046. This is going to be one amazing race to watch! Megahn has a great deal of MDS race experience, this will be Sada and Julies first MDS. I have coached Julie and Sada and can say they are both capable of placing in the top as well as Megahn. The men better watch out for these women. Our Jay Batchen is running his 10th MDS, his race number is 1063. Jay has run a total of 18 miles for his training this year but counts on his 4 days of ice hockey. Amazing how the cross training pays off:) Other coaching students to look out for as Stuart Erskine race # 1072, James Murray race # 1095, Jean Valdez race # 1112, Tommy Evans race # 1073, Samantha Harper race # 1049, Katherine Hay Heddle race # 1079, James Yee race #, 1120 and many more to talk about this week. The web site link is below: http://www.marathondessables.com/en/ To find or check results click below: http://www.marathondessables.co.uk/site/content/race-results To email the runners and to leave messages is now live on the www.marathondessables.com website. Go to “Messages” on the right hand side of the new landing page. You need to scroll down the dropbox to find the race number of the runner. The Verification process so well explained. http://www.marathondessables.com/en/stage-journal/echos-from-the-bivouac.html You can email the runners from 06 to 12 april 2013 Go to the website and follow the instructions. http://www.marathondessables.com section "write to competitors" After 12 april, this email service will no longer be operational. Only messages with surname, first name and race ID number will be transferred. Do not send attachments (e.g. photos). This will cancel the message. Messages will be given to competitors on the bivouac every day. Note: AOI cannot transfer messages posted on Facebook, Twitter,... . To join our Dreamchasers newsletter click on the link below: http://www.dreamchaserevents.com/Newsletter To join our Dreamchasers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dreamchasers?ref=hl IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING 2014 OR 2015 MDS PLEASE EMAIL: lisa@dreamchaserevents.com WE DO HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR 2014 BUT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE YOU MAY GET INTO THE RACE. 2013 Fall Running Camp Get out your calendars—time to plan for camp! This is great training and learning for begginners to old timers! Running MDS, Badwater, Western States, training for your first half marathon this camp is for YOU and it is for anyone who has a DREAM! 2013 Fall Running Camp with: LISA SMITH-BATCHEN, MARSHALL ULRICH, RAY ZAHAB and JULIE BRYAN Whether you’re just starting to run or are an experienced ultrarunner, you’ll get the guidance and advice to help you achieve your goals. Learn from the experience of four of the most accomplished ultrarunners in the world in the majestic setting of the Teton Mountains! For details go to this link: http://www.dreamchaserevents.com/Camps/2013-Fall-Running-Camp For questions email: lisa@dreamchaserevents.com PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE AND PASS THIS INFORMATION ONTO YOUR FRIENDS. Have a beautiful day Lisa Smith-Batchen www.dreamchaserevents.com

What are your thoughts on NSAIDS?

NSAIDS almost killed me 2 years ago, my own fault! It was the perfect storm that landed me for 6 days in the hospital with near kindney failure. It took me over a year to recover. The heat of Badwater, lack of real fitness, salt, dehydration and celebrex. Think twice before you start taking pills what the outcome may be! I would love to know what your thoughts are! Studies have found that NSAID use during long events, such as a marathon or triathlon, actually decreases kidney function, which can lead to very dangerous issues, including a decreased ability to properly regulate your sodium and electrolyte status and your hydration levels. This becomes especially dangerous in the heat, in which there is already a great amount of stress on the kidneys, and this extra stress may create a high risk of long term kidney damage or kidney failure. One of most eye opening studies on ibuprofen use during exercise occurred in research performed during the Western States trail running race, which is a popular and grueling 100 mile race. In this study, runners were split into three groups: a group with no ibuprofen intake, a group taking 600 mg of ibuprofen one day before and on race day, and a group taking 1200 mg of ibuprofen one day before and on race day. This study found that both of the ibuprofen groups had significantly higher levels of muscle damage, and this effect increased with higher amounts of ibuprofen intake. Ironically, fitness performance, post-workout soreness, and the subjects’ ratings of perceived exertion were not affected by taking ibuprofen – which means that A) ibuprofen did not help at all and B) ibuprofen caused greater inflammation and muscle damage. Just saying..