I’m a very happy camper today having completed the “Long March” 50 miler, despite it taking 23 hrs!

Not really sure how to describe it, I think you had to be there, definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever inflicted on myself. We had more of the dreaded salt flats (not flat), sandstorms, dunes and the most extreme temperatures. We saw the sun rise before we left, then set at the half way mark, then rise again as we finished. It was pretty epic. A lot of the night section was in the “lunar valley”. We occasionally stopped, turned off all our lamps and look up at the night sky for a bit. Any excuse for a break! It was one of those days where you spend the whole time thinking “never again”, but you kind of forget that as you cross the finish. Don’t think I’ll be signing back up in a hurry though.

Wouldn’t have made it on my own so there were a few us, equally broken, but motivating each other to keep going to the finish, mainly by laughing hysterically at our own stupidity and trying to break the course down into numbers that sounded more achievable. “Only 8 more hours to go” doesn’t sound too motivating so we found other ways.

There may be a video of us crossing the finish line, me in my “survival bivvy bag”, which was the last layer left in my bag as the temp dropped below freezing overnight.

Thanks for all the comments! Tomorrow is a final 12k into the main town where a hot bath and cold beers await, not in that order though! Will also reconnect with the real world again.

The Long March – Made it!

Day 4 – Picking Up the Pieces

Yesterday basically broke me and today I had to try and put the pieces back together

Most of them fit nicely but my feet remain in tatters

Was awake most of the night in pain but the morning finally came and I hobbled out for my coffee.

I honestly didn’t think I would make it through today but I did, I was right at the back taking it easy, just meeting the cut off times

Turns out there are a lot of other broken people too, everybody here is in some way, so I wasn’t alone

I got a personal worst marathon time today of 10.5 hrs and then had a couple of extra miles to do after that. The heat in the middle of the day was intense, the terrain was awful, but the last miles were fantastic as the sunset.

Too tired to write much more, tomorrow is the 50 miler, we have 24 hrs to complete it. I think it will take me the full time. Not sure if I’ll make it to be fair, will try my hardest.

I think that’s the common bond everyone here shares. We will all keep trying relentlessly, despite the suffering, just to get to the finish line!

Stage 1 – “Navigation by Rock” – complete

Plan was to take it easy. Mission accomplished. About six and a half hrs later, I crossed the finish line. Last half of the pack today.

Hopefully, as Bob Dylan said, the slow one now will later be fast!

Was below freezing overnight so was a very chilly start, but warmed up pretty quick. Going for a pee in the night was rough. Breakfast around the campfire was awesome.

Route today took us though some huge red rock canyons, wide open spaces with crazy volcano views and finally down an ancient Inca road. Fantastic.

A local famer apparently took away some of the route markings and a bunch of people nearly got lost. Thankfully not me, as my (horrific) navigation skills would not have helped!

Hardest thing about this whole thing is my pack. 10kg is heavy and feels it all the more in the midday sun. The lightest from the other racers is 6kg and the average is 8-9. Anyway, will only get lighter.

No issues today though, legs are good and no blisters. Feeling fresh.

Tomorrow’s route is called the “slot canyons”. It’s a tougher day with river crossings and a trip through the “valley of death”. I’m sure I’ll survive, will let you know how deadly it is tomorrow!

Super quick update…

We made it to base camp, race starts tomorrow at 8am. Nerves are high!

My pack weighed in at 10kg, that’s on the heavy side. Def not trained with anything like that so will see how it goes. Gonna take tomorrow easy. It can only get lighter and it’s the easiest day I’m told.

Scenery is as awesome as remembered, we are camped in a valley surrounded by huge red rock. Its 10k feet of altitude here, the sun just set, temp is dropping, so I gotta go get some layers and find the camp fire.

Not much else to add for now. Oh, someone was eating cold baked beans from a tin for dinner. A true Northerner. Legend J

Anyway, I’m told you can send messages of support either from blog comments or straight from the results page…

Hasta Luego!