So what's in my backpack for a 2,650 mile/4264km hike?

~ ultralight ULA Backpack
~ultralight Thermarest Ridgerest sleeping mat
~ ULA ultralight down sleeping bag
~ waterproof stuff sack for sleeping bag and sleeping clothes
~ smart wool sleeping clothes (thermal top and pants, sleeping socks, sleeping beanie, sleeping underwear)
~ space blanket x2
~ silk sack (to slip into inside the sleeping bag to make it 10 degrees F warmer)
~ 8 days supply of food : x8 dehydrated backpacking meals; x8 bars of various descriptions; large bag of muesli; hot chocolate x8; nut butter sachet's x8; trail mix (yes, I'm going to starve)
~ Big Agnes one (wo)man tent
~ Golite trekking umbrella (for sun and rain)
~ Ultralight trowel for digging toilet holes
~ Toiletry bag
~ Frogg Toggs (rain gear)
~ Clothes stuff sack with 2 pairs of extra socks; underwear; ultralight fleece top; ultralight down jacket; long sleeve running top; insect net; gaiters
~ Jetboil stove and fuel canister
~ water bladder
~ ultralight towel
~ compass
~ Katadyn water filter and water purification tabs
~ First Aide kit
(not pictured are the clothes that I start my hike in : skort and shirt; socks, trail runners; sunhat and glasses, as well as iphone, camera, solar panel charger, small video camera and Black Diamond trekking poles) 

So far this is what I'll be carrying to survive the trail. Laid out on the tarp it seems impossible to fit in, but remarkably it does. Dry weight is 10.2kg/ 22.44 lbs





ENDING 2013 ON A GOOD NOTE

Since completing my series of Prolotherapy injections, my life has improved dramatically. I am no longer in chronic pain and I have been able to go out there and run again, granted not elite fast, but definitely steady.
I ended 2013 with 4 races in 2 months which really makes me feel satisfied with my increasing fitness level again.
HMSA 30k, Val Nolasco 21k, Xterra World Champs trail 21k and the Honolulu Marathon 42k, all on the island of Oahu. I love living here, there are so many fit and dynamic people and there's always a race, fun run or training run somewhere.
 My overall sense of health and well being has skyrocketed, as well as my physical state of fitness and endurance and let's not leave out the calm zen like state of mind one gets from all of the above. I completed the Honolulu Marathon yesterday, came home and immediately signed up for the North Shore Marathon next year. I want to stay marathon fit for my big adventure coming up next year, in combination with a lot of hiking with elevation and increasingly heavier loads in my backpack.
 Bring on 2014!