Go Big Goal Morocco

They called it a once in 20-year event. A lake has formed in the desert. It was the last thing I expected when The Life List brought me here – a Go Big Goal destined to challenge me and my adventurous spirit. The fact that I am at the starting line comes down to a lot of planning, a lot of self-belief and working with Kate Christie on her The Life List Group program.

With the help of the Life List’s mind mapping, I plotted my way around the world to trek 120kms over several days through the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Planning took 1 year, training on and off for 6 months, taking up space in my brain for 7 years after seeing a video on YouTube of the race which looked like so much fun. The comradery of strangers felt inviting.

Training didn’t go as planned, the busy’ness of life took over and I was a little worried that I may not make it all the way. My body generally overheats most days, so temperatures were going to be a concern. I have been in tough physical situations before and have always made it through, so I knew I had form. One goes into these things knowing they are going to hurt, but there is always the unknown.

Prior to the desert, I spent 5 days in Paris and some time in Corsica. Paris is one of my favourite cities to visit so I lived the dream of coffee, creativity and culture every day. In case you were wondering, Paris is always a good idea. Corsica was my calm by the ocean sands before the desert sands.

In October the Sahara is heading into winter. Our trek days were between 35c to 40c, yet the nights were cool. It’s manageable (with much water and electrolytes!) and nothing like the 50c summer temps. The days with cloud cover were welcomed, in full sun there’s nowhere to seek shelter. The experience of slippery, soft red sand as far as the eye can see, the constant clickity clack of hiking poles, occasional rock formations in the distance, a sense of dread and excitement as we started our first day of trekking in the Sahara Desert, was more than I ever imagined it could be.

As glamorous as all that sounds, due to some nasty blistering on the first day and a bout of food poisoning, I made it approx. 70kms of the 120kms. But that actually doesn’t matter, sharing the entire experience with like-minded similarly crazy people, and creating those moments of immersing ourselves in the desert silence and committing to something bigger than ourselves was truly worth it.

I’m now working on more Go Now Goals because spontaneity is a little more outside of my comfort zone. But that’s where my growth and learning is. The Life List has given me the
opportunity and confidence to spend time working out what is important to me and planning a way to achieve those dreams. Creating a life filled with possibilities and the power to
implement them.

I encourage you to develop your Life List and see where it takes you.