Desert Winds from a female perspective

I am not much of a writer, but as the weeks have passed since our Desert Winds race, I keep thinking of my favorite segments and why the race was so fun.

Here are my top ten:

1. Jumping in the water for the first time. We just jumped in - fully dressed and with our packs on. It was such an odd feeling swimming with a pack. It was bouying me up like a big balloon.
2. Running through the desert. It was so incredibly beautiful. The cactus was blooming and the desert kept changing. I loved that.
3. How much Miles loved hearing from the race directors that we "scrotched" the first segment of the race.
4. Spotting the Bobcat.
5. Knowing we were almost 2 hours ahead of the next team after the first footloop off the bikes.
6. When Peteris rode up behind me while we were on mountain bikes around midnight, (and after I had fallen over at least 6 times) and told me that I was doing great. It gave me so much confidence and energy and was just what I needed, at just the right moment.
7. Caffiene tablets at 1am. Thanks Miles!
8. Seeing the sun come up over the desert.
9. Having items in my pack that helped the team: tums and string cheese.
10. Winning! What a complete and total surprise.