Good start, crappy middle, OK ending. Don't know why but I really struggle on flatter, long expanses and there was a 12K one today. Met my tentmate at CP2 and he came flying in with a smile on his face so that got me going again. Then a long crunch through salt flats which I managed to get through quite well as I could just put my head down and plod onwards...I am not a very good runner but I plod pretty well!

Tomorrow is the big day--aprox 75K so possibly into the night. Everyone in camp is excited to have gotten this far but somewhat nervous about tomorrow as you never know what to expect. But then we are essentially done as the final day is aprox 10-15K back into San Pedro so we will all get through that one.

Came into camp today for a suprise as there are 2 giant sink holes beside camp with nice cool water...we all jumped in, washed clothes, and enjoyed a rare bath. The rain has not reappeared for the past few days but it has been hot.

D and Flo, did a quick video of your messages on my gaitors today which they might upload tonight so check it out. They took this when I had just finished a stage and I think I was babbling incoherently but hopely you can see it! Will probably not be blogging tomorrow as will be too late when I arrive back to camp but will be blogging on Friday.

Enjoy hearing your news and thanks for the messages.

Love to all.

Dad/Pete

Thanks to all who have sent messages. It is really nice to receive your support and it really helps to keep us all going.

But first and foremost, congrats to Team Canada for winning Div 2!!! That is awesome and reinforces the strategy that it is best that I am out of town for Nations Cup! Really excited for all of you. Way to go, Beavers!!!

It is almost 7:30pm and the last competitors can be seen in the distance making their way over some nasty sand dunes then down into a river, then up another sand dune then down another hill and finally up a very steep hill and into camp. It is a brutal finish and it will be almost 12 hours since the start for those who are just finishing.

Tough stage today. Soft ground, crunchy mounds of earth that your feet sunk into, brittle shale, sand dunes, and quite hot. Needless to say there was a lot of walking but even the leaders had to stop running for a change. They still finished in ridiculous times. I hooked up for about 15K of walking, jogging, and scrambling with an American, an Argentian, a South African and a Swiss guy. Helped to keep going and we basically all finished together. So it was a difficult but fun day.

Tomorrow is the infamous salt marches. Sun is about to set in front of our camp which is nestled below the Andes. Early nights and earlier mornings as it takes about 2 hours to get your gear ready, repacked, and have some breakfast. We get a course briefing at 7:30am and then race start is 8:00am.

Thanks again to all for your support as it makes a world of difference. Miss you Flo and D and have been listening to your playlists on the course to keep me motivated. Keep looking after Mom. Thinking of you, S, and proud of your weekend victory! Special hello to Mom and Dad. Hope you are feeling better, Dad.

L,

Dad/Pete

The blog tent is closing in 3 minutes so excuse the rushed message! Highlight of the day was racing down a huge sand dune. Fantastic trails and ridge running. All is well. Had a good race but struggled at the end again--just slow...but my starts are good  (:  My Gobi tentmates can continue to chuckle as the blisters keep popping up. Yes, I deserve it.

In a burst of energy at the very end of the race I tried to overtake the oldest funner in the competition at 62 but I just couldn't catch him. He is part of a team attempting the Grand Slam of the 4 Deserts which is all 4 events in one calendar year. I think they are going to do it also as they are a good team.

Our campsite tonight is beside a salt lagoon with flamingos and much to our surprise a tarantula who crawled right through the middle of camp. The Andes are in the background and the sun has just set. Love to all and more tomorrow.

Pete

Hi All! Finished day one today in this driest of all deserts--well, it rained last night and we were given a lightning briefing which was basically head towards the yonder plain without metal cups or poles in hand and crouch down in the field! Added an element of drama to our first night but eventually the storm passed and we had a spectacular sunset and then a moon and stars at night.

Cool and sunny for our 8:00am start. Lots of rolling hills and fortunately quite a bit of downhill as we started at 10,000 ft and are now at aprox 8,000 ft

in Camp 2. Still some challenges along the way though with an endless uphill to get us to 30K. Retribution for a basically blister free Sahara has already struck and I can hear the muffled laughter from Neal and Todd. Yes, guys, I got a big blister which needed Todd's fluid extraction skills after day one--hey I deserved it but clearly working in my shoes ahead of time was a mistake!

Had a pretty good start as I tried to take some of my own advice. Felt good until around 25K and then struggled up the long hill (think golf course hill x 3 plus heat and too much weight on my back--I think I must packed my food when I was hungry...)and finally to the finish. Very happy to get there.

As always during these races the scenery was spectacular--through canyons, across sweeping planes with views of the volcanoes, and dirt paths through the mars like landscape. Tomorrow will get tougher with water crossings and longer distances.

Sihui, hope the Nations Cup went well. Dman and Flo, I kept looking at the messages you wrote on my gaiters and it kept my feet moving in front of me. I am sure these messages will come in handy along the way as things get a bit more challenging. Love and miss you all!!!

We have a great tent--all very nice people and enjoying getting to know them. I chased an Australian lady from our tent who is in her 50's for about half the course today and then she pulled away (way away!) and thoroughly kicked my butt. Quite humbling but she ended up second place of the women. She is a great runner with half the weight that I am carrying so that is my excuse and I am sticking to it!!! There are some great runners here as you can see from some of the times. Also very humbling.

The rain is staying away tonight but is all around us in the hills. Windy also. And rainbows. Very strange but does change my perception of a desert. Off to get some sleep. Goodnight.

Pete/Dad