|
Distance: 38km
/ 23.8m
Camp Salt and Pepper to Camp Rolling Sands
Camp Rolling Sands, 8pm - Make sure you
read today's blogs for the inside scoop on the
dunes day. Also check out the guest
bloggers, Jacob Nielson and Susanne Hastrup have
written one representing the Danish contingent.
Doreen Hoffman has also written on her agony of
the day.
Camp Rolling Sands, 7pm - Everyone has
made it back to camp. The winds have died
down a little. Andrew Chalmers and Paul
Mac Johnston were the last to cross the line
just before 5pm to great applause. At one
point there were up to 50mph winds here at camp
and even stronger up on the dunes that the camp
is nestled against. The sun is setting and some
competitors are up on the ridgeline watching the
sun set or attempting to slide down the sand on
cardboard boxes. The mood is good.
The medical tent has been busy all afternoon
with people and their injured feet. The
rumor is tomorrow is another 37km of sand.
Several competitors have dropped today.
The award for most conscientious competitor goes
to Doreen Hoffman who ran into CP1 carrying a 5
gallon water jug that she found on the course.
Stage 3, 12:30pm - Sand and wind pretty
much describes today. Competitors started
out at 7am to give them a good lead before the
sun got too high. The first 10km/6m was through
a desert plain with rolling soft sand. From CP1
it was 11km/6.9m through more of the same but
ended up at CP2 on a dune ridge overlooking a
vast expanse of flat sand, just what one might
expect from the Sahara. By 10am, the wind
had picked up considerably, battering the
checkpoint tents and the competitors.
After CP2, the course through the vast plain,
with nothing to be seen in any direction except
more sand...and the occasional pink course
flags. The course then turned and led
right to a ridge of dunes, the first ascent
being the toughest. Competitors had to traverse
the ridge in the high winds and biting sand to
the next CP and on to the finish.
No surprises at the front of the pack today.
Dane Jimmi Olsen and Italian Francesco Galanzino
came in first. Korean Ahn Byeung Sik crossed
shortly behind. The three stuck side-by-side
throughout most of the race. Nicola Benetti of
Italy crossed third. Claire Price, UK,
held back at the start, running far from the
front of the pack, but by the end of the day,
held her position and came in 5th overall and
first for women. Francesco commented this
was the best sand dune run of his life.
Two runners have dropped so far. Michael
Jones, Canada and James Pethigal, USA.
Others are holding in and still on course.
Camp Salt and Pepper - An early 7am start
expected today for Stage 3. Two long
arduous sections of sand dunes expected to test
even the fittest athletes of the field....
|
