Long stage 5 done! 74km in 10 hours 42minutes, and was in camp before dark. That was a bonus indeed, compared to 4am inGobi.

I cant explain what has happened, why I have so much energy, and can run and run like this. Anyway, it was a very nice day, lots of sand and salt and hug sand dunes to climb and run down. Endless desert views in every direction, hot hot hot and dry and arid and moon like. Running through all of this with sand blowing hard and the burning sun, with music playing was quite surreal. Really enjoyed it! And coming in 11^th is just getting silly.

Dave

Good evening from the salt flats. Stage 4 done, 6 hours for 44km so am happy with that but also pretty tired now. No major feet issues still and no leg strains or pulls. Just need a good sleep and take on the monster tomorrow 70 something km. Not sure anyone is ready for tomorrow.

The salt flats were much fun, long and very bright but I was out in the middle of them alone for the whole time. Quite a nice feeling to be here doing this. And hot. Really felt like a desert, and am now well tanned

Well hello there everyone! Very nice to read your comments, thanks a lot. As you know it means a lot.

So today, Stage 3, done. Pretty hot! Phewf, now that was desert running. Amazing feelingg to be out there alone, seein mirages and heat waves, blazing sun, no noise. And really Awful terrain, unrunnable again in places, however it seems I like that more than most. Apparently I came in 9^th? Crazy. I did give it a lot in the second half though, being too careful on the rock like coral and sinking sand stone from mars I was not. Possibly could have fallen or twisted an ankle, but I didn

Hello again,

Shall make this shorter as today was longer and harder and hotter! 41oC at 3.30pm in camp. As it was, 44.5km done, no blisters, and somewhat surprisingly came in at 17^th... wasn't feeling too strong, but seems no one else was either!

No.65 is too good, can't catch him. Shall look for another.

The course was very varied this morning, 10 or 12 river / stream crossings first thing in the canyons, freezing cold water. Nice scenery though. Then up to a huge sand dune, running down was much fun, very steep, and long. Best fun of the day. The last two 11km sections were very desert like, hot, dry, nasty terrain. Unrunnable by everyone which is actually quite nice, you have to walk! But that meant 4 hours in the heat, heavy pack, hungry, tired, thirsty. But done! And no blisters. Don't know how that works. I expect I'll get some awful leg muscle strain soon, as always.

Thanks for your messages, Dave Ed lloydie Heather; nice reading and muchos appreciated. And correct Heather /Kelly, very little training for this. the opposite really. Cant believe the rugby Dave, what on earth. Very depressing.

Indeed Ed, dropping off the map would be very easy! But as it is, and assuming I get through this, will be back in HK towards end of Oct.. That feels like a long way away from here; desert, salt plains,volcanoes.

Shall try again tomorrow, apparently it's a very hard and long day..hmmm

PT

Hola from Atacama Desert Stage 1.

The first day has passed smoothly, despite the very chilly night last night, and crazily cold start; leaving the camp fire and stripping to shorts and t-shirt. Brrr. It took about 3 hours to get warm! Also of interest, I was the very last to leave the start line...160 people ahead of me...I couldn't fit all the warm clothes into the pack. This because all my food is locally procured, not a freeze dried meal in sight (whoop), but means it's all heavy and bulky. The pack was 10.5kg, so not ideal when the water is added. It does mean I have bread, soup, salami and cheese for lunch though.

It being 'lunch'means the 35km today was quite quick; around 5 hours. 21^stplace. Pretty happy with that but perhaps have gone off too fast? I ache but that's normal, and no blisters amazingly since the shoes I have are a pair of trainers bought in Panama City airport. Not much cushioning, so perhaps knees will suffer.

So today, it was major desert, rocky, nasty ground which I like and gentle sloping uphills (people didn't seem to like them but they were rather tiny compared to Ecuador). Lots of cool canyons and dry river bed running, vast open plains with volcanoes in the background. At times it was hard, the dead cow smell was pretty bad, but mainly a nice start.

Nemesis is number 65...(not an Aussie - what was that rugby, didn't see it but heard), though he might just beat me as he looked tough...I only caught him on the difficult downhills. Maybe he's gone off too fast, we shall see. Ash from Ecuador race is 10^thbeing his 8^thconsecutive Atacama race. No sure I'll be seeing much of him on the course, just in the tent. Our tent has Mo, who won in 3.5 hours and 3 others (John, Ash, Aaron) coming in before me...fast tent!

Righto, time to cook on the open fire and get ready for tomorrow. Lucky I have 5 hours in the sun to rest!

Fingers crossed for tomorrow

Paul

Testing testing.

I'm not Ronnie Pickering.