Howdy,

Sitting here on the rest day … everyone is in good spirits knowing the beast has been slain and tomorrow is just a short day into San Pedro where apparently the town comes out to welcome us home in the central square next to the ancient mud-brick church.

As per other days I have just read blog comments and your emails. They are soooo fantastic thanks!! I love that they have given you & I an opportunity to touch base and connect in a way that we probably wouldn’t ordinarily so for that I am very grateful.

Where to start for yesterday? We experienced such a wide variety of terrain from a marshy bog thingo, to salt flats that were like roughly ploughed fields, monster climb on a sand dune, steep technical descents requiring rapid foot agility, seemingly never ending soft river bed, to incredible moonscape formations.

I took ore photos yesterday than on any other day this week. Words absolutely would not do the landscape justice. I see from several comments & emails that the photos on the 4-Deserts website sound pretty incredible!!!!

For the first couple of hours Rob & I did our 5-min run/1-min walk but he found himself having a few problems so we agreed to split up. For the first time for the week I was feeling strong so kicked it up and found a pretty solid rhythm. My goal was to come in to camp in the light and fingers crossed under 12-hours.

Throughout the day I teamed up with various people before moving ahead. Step-by-step was able to pick out someone ahead of me and pass them. As the day dragged on spent over 3-hours with a Danish fella called Asger who is in 16th place overall. He is also doing the Grand Slam so it was fantastic to spend the time together and draw off each other’s strengths. We found ourselves well matched. In the hour before CP5 the aching in my legs was insane and I wondered how on earth I was going to push through for another 3+hours.

There was a young Canadian guy breathing down our backs for ages and whilst we stopped momentarily at CP5 he continued through putting in a few hundred metres on us.

Asger and I kept our momentum and slowly reined Simon in passing him on the climb into CP6 (about 8.75k’s later). As we motored past I offered for him to stick with us. He gave chase for most of the final 9.75k’s into camp. With about 1km to the finish I asked Asger if he minded if I ran ahead. Simon lifted too hot on my heels. The final 500m or so to the finish line was a fair sprint ….

Crossing the line and into 15th place was an “AWESOME” feeling (11hrs 54min 54sec). And, just as the last rays of light faded too!! Woohoo!!!

Volunteers, crew and other runners came over and hugged me. Simon crossed shortly after and we had a photo together. Asger arrived just after and we managed a photo too.

Trying to settle in bed was pretty tricky with that familiar deep ache in the muscles and bones … an ache that you cannot get away from no matter where you put yourself. As each of our tentmates arrived we welcomed them home, made sure they were settled. By 4:30am (20.5hrs) the last tentmate was home …. Another race with all my tentmates making it!!!!

So with 3 deserts down and just the Last Desert - Antarctica to come I think it fair to say that my desert racing career is coming to a close. Strangely enough I feel very emotional writing this but I think I have accomplished whatever it was that has driven me to take on the challenge. As I wrote after day 3 (which many have agreed was the toughest day ever) until now I have not really appreciated the task at hand.

It has been, is right now, and will be shortly a WILD ride that has been a rollercoaster and emotions, physical highs & lows. I am grateful for my family’s unwavering support and the opportunity to chase a DREAM as crazy as it may have seemed.

I am looking forward to getting home on Tuesday and the coming couple of weeks where little insights will slowly percolate to the surface.

(Rosemary, just leave the flights as they currently are thanks)

Thanks again

Over & Out

Bretty x

Howdy,

Have just read the emails and blog comments

Howdy,

Firstly I need to put in a disclaimer on yesterday

Howdy,

So who would have thought that I

Howdy,

Day 1 - 36km done & dusted