The Battling Bastards of Bataan - Course

I have done hills and I have done mountains and I have done dry desert but this course will present a unique challenge.  It combines the hills with sand/dust in the desert.  There will be no shade and there are not horses without names.

On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

A Horse With No Name - America

I think the sand/dust will be the hardest to deal with.  At least the wind is only forecast to be 14 mph.  There is nothing to break that wind though so any dust kicked up will be challenge.  I will cover my face with a bandanna if needed.  Here is the elevation profile.  The distance is in meters so the climb starts at 10K to 22K, so about 7 miles.  The profile doesn't look awful but as I said in the beginning, it is combination of everything that makes this a challenge.  Of course, once I start running, I'll feel differently - meaning more of a challenge.

Here is the route.  The circle portion goes around a mountain and I guess some of the stronger winds can slide down this portion.

There are many YouTube videos and race reports for Bataan.  Some of the videos are of the survivors of the real Bataan and worth watching.  How does the human spirit survive such an ordeal like they did in 1942.  The thing is, it wasn't just the 65 mile march, horrendous enough, but then the time in POW camps.  Thousands of men died.  How does one survive?  How does one endure and persevere?

Today Day 77: 2 miles: 2014: 413 miles

P.S. 413 miles -Team 413 - Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."