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Relentless forward progress: My 250km Namib Desert Challenge

  • Promise Kept - 250km for Zach!

      16 October 2026
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    Kia ora Team!

    We did it! To honour my promise to you all and to keep Zach’s incredible spirit alive, I have officially donated $250 ($1 for every single kilometre covered in the Namib Desert) to Brain Tumour Support NZ.

    Zach taught me that anything is possible, and your generosity made this entire journey a reality. This donation will go directly toward funding "Brain Boxes" and support navigators for Kiwi families facing a glioblastoma diagnosis.

    Thank you all for believing in me, supporting the page, and helping me carry Zach across that finish line.

    Karen

    See the receipt attached below! 🇳🇿❤️

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  • We Did It!!

      24 August 2026
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    We did it! 250km across the Namib Desert completed!To every single one of you who supported me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.I am incredibly proud to share that I have officially crossed the finish line. Over 7 grueling days, I spent more than 65 hours on my feet, powerhiking 250km across the brutal but beautiful Namib Desert.It was easily one of the hardest things I have ever done. There were moments of extreme physical and mental exhaustion. I learned the hard way that having a hydration plan means nothing if you don't actually stick to it! But above all, I learned the power of "Relentless Forward Progress." By taking it one step at a time, I managed to clock roughly 40km every single day.I could not have done this without you. Your generosity, messages of encouragement, and belief in me were the ultimate fuel when my feet wanted to quit. Every dollar raised and every kind word kept me moving forward.Your support helped me conquer the desert, and I am forever grateful to have you in my corner.

    With all my love and appreciation,

    And a full heart

    (And very puffy feet(

    Love

    Karen

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  • Oops I missed an update - shakeout run in Windhoek

      13 August 2026
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    The gifts are neverending. My sister invited me to join her at her most unusual outdoor gym on a farm, just our of town. She worked with her trainer and I headed up a dry riverbed to wake my legs up after all the sitting in planes. Thanks Sus.

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  • Swakopmund - at last!

      13 August 2026
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    I am lying in bed this morning with a coffee listening to the pounding ocean. I cant see the horizon for the mist - i guess a bit like my race in the desert - one cant see the finish line for the dunes. However, I am so curious and intrigued about what lays waiting for me on this exciting and slightly scary journey.

    Next stop is the Check in at the hotel where all the athletes meet up, and get their gear checked.

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  • Welcome to Namibia

      9 August 2026
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    Landing in Namibia is always so.special and truly profound. My crazy sister met me at the airport with the usual shenanigans.

    I so grateful that she has provided a calm space to chill, acclimatete and take over her kitchen for a day straight to repack my food. In a few days we will make our way to the coastal town Swakopmund, where the race activities begin in earnest on Friday. I am still excited - so hopefully thats a good sign. I just wish I could shave a kg or so off my pack, but since I am not a fast runner, I need to have more fuel on hand for more hours on feet. Oh. Well.

    Thanks again for everyone who has supported me one way or another. I am i debtes to you. Much love. Karen.

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  • THE FINAL TILE

      6 August 2026
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    In ultra-running, people focus on the big "10-point" plays like massive peak training weeks. But right now, before the Namib Desert, my focus is on the humble 1-point tile.

    On its own, a 1-point letter isn't glamorous. Right now, that tile is the quiet discipline of tapering, dialing in electrolytes, and forcing myself to rest. It feels small compared to the heavy training miles behind me.

    But strategy is about placement. Drop that 1-point tile onto a Triple Word Score square, and it becomes the anchor. It connects intersecting words, multiplying the score of the entire board.Tapering and hydrating aren't standalone tasks. They are the strategic placements that unlock the value of every single mile I’ve run.

    I couldn't have placed this final tile without my coach, Kristina Huffman. Thank you for keeping me on track and desert-ready.To everyone else—whether you donated, shared my link, or got my story into Bay of Plenty Times—thank you. Your support is my fuel.

    The race kicks off on 16 August. Track my live progress here: Namib Race Live Tracker.

    Bib#80

    The board is set. Time to play the final tile.📲

    LIVE - Namib Race | RacingThePlanet https://share.google/EMcbcJY3yqMgYJZyF

    The Course:

    https://youtu.be/WYv2c2Ec5_M?si=g6yCjZCqnTFSTX6h

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  • The countdown begins

      17 July 2026
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    It has been a year today since Zach's Glioblastoma had the final say. I have been reflecting on those year and everything I have achieved - thanks to a little push here, a nudge there and then the final plea almost. "You have got to do it". And I have been doing it. My training has consumed almost every waking moment - and some of me dreams.

    It is now just a matter.of weeks - just shy of a month that I stand on that starting line in the Namib with new friendships waiting to be forged. I think he will be happy that I get to experience the whole Racing the Planet experience. That was what he wanted for me, or for anyone for that matter.

    I am now entering a new type of training - passive heat training in the sauna - every day - pretty much until the race.

    As of today, I will have done 10 sessions and they are hot! It is quite a weird experience sitting in a hotbox staring at the walls, trying to imagine being this hot in the desert for hours, never mind 30 minutes. To say the least, an interesting mental activity.

    As of today, it is less than a month to the race. In fact, I fly out in two weeks. It is getting so real now. Thankfully, my dreadful blisters are healing - just not fast enough.

    I was blwon away when I noticed my Activity tracking:

    Time spent exercising: 237 hrs 14 mins

    Total distance covered: 961.9 km - that's almost 1000km!

    Thank you again to everyone for your amazing support - for making a dream come true. I truly appreciate it.

    Arohanui

    Karen

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  • 8 WEEKS TO GO: I NEED MY VILLAGE . . . to get me to the startline!

      26 May 2026
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    Kia ora!

    I am so excited! 8 weeks to go!!! But here's sn updat:

    BODY SHINANIGANS

    SO, I have been a good girl, doing my Physio exercises and listening to my body, whether it whispers or screams at me. I am happy to report that my psoas and hamstring are finally behaving!

    THE COBBLER SAGA:

    I took a leap of faith; instead of shipping my shoes to the UK, I entrusted them to a brave cobbler right here in town who was keen to give this unique job a go. Kudos to Shane's Shoe Repairs Tauranga for a phenomenal job sewing on the velcro for my sand gaiters. I feel like I won the lottery.

    The shoes are now broken in and feeling amazing.

    TRAINING ON TRACK:

    Training with a loaded pack is helping me iron out the niggles that come with steadily increasing my pack weight - now at 10kg.

    I am finally getting the hang of RPE 3–5 aka “moving, but not suffering” and I am learning to lose my death grip on my poles.

    NEXT UP: 27-29 JUNE:

    A mini training camp featuring long, back-to-back power-hikes with poles and my 10kg race pack. Fuel, hydration, and routes are all locked in, so watch this space for the report—hopefully with zero body-part plot twists this time!

    56 DAYS TO GO:

    If you’d like to support my journey but aren't in a position to donate right now, please consider sharing my link on your social media. Every single share makes a massive difference, and every dollar counts!

    Thanks for sticking with me on this wild ride.

    Aroha nui

    Karen

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  • AN OVERDUE UPDATE - PAIN, PSOAS, BUT PROGRESS!!

      27 April 2026
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    An Overdue Update: Pain, Psoas, and Progress!

    Gratitude: A massive thank you for your generous donations and a special thanks to those mentioning Zach— the heart of this adventure and my biggest motivator.

    TRAINING has hit a speed bump called hamstring tendinopathy. It’s forcing me to slow down—even slower than my usual "slow"! It feels counterintuitive, but my coach and PTs say it’s the only way to reach the start line in one piece.

    The ED Drama: I recently ended up in the ED with suspected appendicitis. The pain felt like contractions! Luckily, scans were clear. The truth? A very distressed psoas muscle - A humbling reminder that I’m 62, not 26! It means more recovery and fewer hill repeats, but I’m moving forward.

    To save on fuel, I’m training locally. It’s no "sentence" in this beautiful scenery! I’ve even tackled some soft-sand beach runs to mimic the desert. EISH! Sand running is no joke.

    Inspiration: So proud of my son for crushing his first 21km despite foot pain, and my friend Herr Putman for completing a 21km in the UK in the 70+ age group. Age is no barrier!

    GEAR WEEK was expensive. My new wide-fit shoes are currently being shipped to the UK just to get Velcro gaiters sewn on—a service I couldn't find in NZ! Between that and stocking up on Real Meals, I’m hoping there’s enough left for rent!

    SHARE THE JOURNEY: My friend Ane made a lovely video on YouTube (link below). Please share it, or this link if you can. As they say, “every little bit counts!

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  • Further than Before- a video

      15 March 2026
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    Another shoutout to a friend who spent time and her unique skillset to help raise awareness for my Givealittle page by creating a beautiful video that touches on my WHY. Please feel free to repost on your social media. It would mean the world (or the desert) to me. Thank you again to every donor, every donation counts. As Givealittle says "every little bit helps".

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  • Flags and Racing the Planet Logos on tops - DONE!

      15 March 2026
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    I am so aware that there are crazy unspeakable things going on in our world right now and my my journey is not a priority, and yet people around me are donating their time, and niche skills to sustain my relentless forward traction.

    Special shoutout to Teresa, the sister of a colleague, aka a stranger who did an amazing job with the logos and flags on my tops. Thank you

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  • Donation to Charity Update

      5 January 2026

    Kia Ora friends

    First off, thanks for your amazing support.

    Please be advised that at this point I am proceeding without a chosen charity However, I will post a Page Update once the charity has been confirmed.

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