I did it! I completed the long 50 ml stage in 15 hours, finishing at 2300. I’m sat here crying my eyes out as I read your messages (E&R). thanks so much.

I’m spent, emotionally and physically, but a very pleased man. Proud to have endured what I have this week, and to overcome the physical and mental challenges. There’s been times this week when I’ve really questioned what I’m doing here, but I realise that is prt of the journey, and that there’s something deeply rewarding & life-enhancing & nourishing from being here.

Yesterday completed stage 5 which was 50miles. As usual the terrain was tough. We started on salt flats which are vast areas that are mainly really hard salty rock, so it’s awful to run on. Then onto the swamp, then onto mile upon mile of desert. Much of it was hard to run on, and as the heat got into the 40Cs, walking fast was the only viable option.

There were several things that worked really really well for me, which meant I actually had a good day (relatively!). There’s three key things to get right… drinking constantly, ingesting salt tablets to replace the salts you lose through sweating, and eating for fuel. For the first day yesterday and on the most important day, I got it right. So other than feeling hideously exhausted, I never felt ill or lacking energy or having cramps. I was strong.

Actually doing the three basics (water, salt, food) is not easy. It means drinking and eating when you don’t want to, when you’re body already feels totally bloated and almost as if you’re going to be sick. But keep doing it really worked.

There were some beautiful sights along the way… sand dunes, canyons and moon-like craters, but most of it is hour after hour of the same vast area. So the key is positive mindset, keeping going, keeping doing the 3 basics.

I adopted a buddy after about 20 miles yesterday, and we stayed together until the end. Ian from California. It was great for both of us, keeping our minds off of every step, and providing good entertainment. With 11 miles to go, we bounded into Checkpoint 5 in great spirits, and ended up bringing others along with us, who at the time had lost it mentally. We ended up with 5 of us all working together which was lovely camaraderie. Having said all that I missed Stuart yesterday a lot. Looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.

So now we’re on rest day, the day when we recover from the long day. Everyone is chilling out, limping around camp like wounded soldiers in a horrific war. It’s actually a wonderful time to share stories, check up on friends made along the way. This time there’s been quite a lot of dropouts, 30-40 I think.

I’ve been so lucky not to get blisters. I got one small one with 5k to go, but that was it. Most people have severe feet problems. One of my tent mates had to pull out yesterday, both of his heels have fallen off, literally.

So onto tomorrow, the last run of about 10k into the town of San Pedro de Atacama in the morning, and the finish line. I’ll be in my Robin outfit again. It will be an emotional day, I know I’ll be in tears at the end (the build up of emotion is huge). And then to wash for the first time in a week before the Awards Banquet tomorrow night.

See you very soon.
Love to all. Esp Ella, Rachel and Mx. xx

Hi all

Day 4 complete. We started the day with lots of sand and lots of climbing, that

Sending this direct to you rach, as well as the blog. Just found out I

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Hello blog I

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