And it Begins...

It is March 1st and we are all making our way to Belize. Jacinta left Kauai a couple of weeks ago to work and train in the cold country. Laurel "crack the whip" Archer is probably in Belize as I write this post. Andre and I are in L.A. waiting for our 19 hour layover to pass! 

Nine months have passed since Laurel and Jacinta asked me to join them on their Belize adventure. I remember saying yes before asking all the important questions (like how long is that again?). I'm not sure why I agreed...maybe it was the mind numbing task of putting IKEA furniture together but nonetheless, I committed. Besides I had almost a year to prepare....HAHA!

Fast forward to March 1st. I now have a month of training under my belt and am in the best condition I can be in under the circumstances (circumstances being time for work, sleep, and food). Laurel is an animal and a great inspiration. Amazingly after a month of co-habitation and an obsessive need to paddle I still like her. I especially appreciate her candor. Words of wisdom like "It's going to be absolute torture" make me feel warm and fuzzy (just kidding).. more like sick to my stomach. I guess anything less than torture is good right? Laurel should know. She is an accomplished water woman with several marathon races under her belt. And Jacinta is an ironwoman, paddler, marathon runner, and adventure racer of heroic proportions. Reflecting on my credentials I am reminded of a Sesame Street song I learned as a kid that goes "one of these things is not like the other". No pressure though. Oh.. and did I mention we are going to compete for the title not just participate?

Regardless of the final results we will definitely win the fashion points. How you look is way more important than how you place (my opinion, not necessarily the opinion of my two canadian friends). So with some help from our friends at Merrell, Mion, Kaenon, and Da Life we may just be the best looking crew out there!

Our other sponsors KOOP Geotechnical, Chaa Creek Lodge, and Bear Mountain Boat Shop have all helped with the logistics and overhead for our adventure. A big mahalo to all those who believe in us and are cheering for our success!

Aloha, 

Marleny