Jubiiiiiii, we made it through the horrible 100K nightmare run! Without any doubt the toughest challenge for Mr and Mrs Thorsen to date.....The 5 stage started at 08.00 with a facinating 12K run in "wet conditions" crossing  a River 7 times before we made our way to the Turpan Basin Desert, the 2nd lowest point on earth. All in all we had to get through 9 check points where we could reload with water and rest when needed. We pretty much took at 10-15 min break at all check points except for check point 7 which we hit a 02.00 in the morning, the only place we could get hot water to a meal. At check point 7 we decided to rest for a couple of hours before we continued the last 30k. The last 6K was in horrible sand dynes and the sun was really tough but when we made the finish line we were incredible happy! All through the race we saw many runners in trouble due to the heat, lack of water and salt etc. The doctors were working full time and many runners received IV treatment but we felt fine all the time and kept a high spirit and continuously took the time to drink and eat the salt tablets etc every hour! Our feets are in pretty poor condition with many blisters but again compared to other runners we are pretty well off and we will be ready for the final stage tomorrow. We know we didn't finish with the front pack but we made it and we are incredible proud today! 

Jeanette:

Well, what can I say - that was a tough little hike out there in the heat and every bone and muscle in our body hurts - feets are holding up so so despite a race with so much water, sand, rocks, salt rocks, rolling stones etc. I guess that's a part of the game out here and I wish you all could be here and see all these wonderful competitor plastered up walking like an elderly home around the camp. Speaking about the camp. Its now 8pm friday night and we are in a beautiful location in the middle of the sand dunes - very hot but stunning. As lars mentioned after 93km we were leed into the sand dunes for the last 6 km which was very painful & extremly hot but what a relieve and fantastic feeling came up when we heard the drums and clapping hands to cheer us into the finish line.

The atmospehere in camp and amongst the competitor is just fab. From day one everybody have just been so frindly, welcoming and very helpful - everybody is helping everybody and cheering you on.when things are tough "out there" and in camp!

Well last day tomorrow - we will "suck it up" and get trough it........we heard there will be pizza and cold coca cola/beer at the finish line.......that can make me sprint :)

It has been a long day/night with only 2 hrs sleep so will finish here and will enjoy the stunning sunset out here and have an early sleep! This is our last blog message from the race.....will be back at the hotel tomorrow night. Thanks a again for all your comments and smiles....that had help up staying tough all the way!

Good night from both of us with happy hearts but tired feed. - see you all soon back in HK and DK!!!!! yiiiihaaaa

Status: few ups and downs along the night runs but still very happy and very much married :)

Pain scale: (1-10 toe nails): 37+ ha ha (can not be described!!!!!)

Amanda and Andreas: Thanks for all your cheering and happy mgs - you guys were in our minds all the time and we miss you so much. I know you miss us too.....NOT:)

Lovely to here you are haveing an awesome time with the bundgies and cant wait to see you all in DK on Tuesday. Will call you tomorrow night (sat night)

Cheers Lars & Jeanette

Jubiiiii we made it through this incredible tough 4th day. We were both struggling but kept the spirit high. Now we really understand why they call this place "The Oven".... it was brutal and the sun was relentless but we made it through the amazing sand canyons and once again the scenery is stunning! The 36 km in the heat felt like the 100K scheduled for tomorrow.... We can't even imagine that we have to conquer the 100K tomorrow! We had an early start, with a wake up call at 02.30 in the morning and 03.45 we all sat in the bus for the 2 hours drive to race start. The early start helped for the first couple of hours but when the sun got up and there was no escape! A lot of runners are struggling and at this moment many runners are still out there and no doubt the medical teams will have a busy afternoon and evening! For the next few hours we will try to get our sore legs back in shape and attend a few nasty blisters but WE ARE STILL IN THE RACE AND WE ARE ENJOYING THE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!!! brgds Lars
Jeanette:
Once again thanks so much for the emails and blogs - you can not imagine how much your "go go" & warm greetings means to us actually I have to admit I had tears running down the chin (here we go again....). Stage 4 should actually be called the mental stage. Everybody is sore, tired, dropping out or getting medical attention "out there". Its 4pm here and we are still missing 10 people who is having medical help out on the route.....just to be able to finish the stage!
The tough part is that we now have the 100Km waiting on us tomorrow. With so many dropping out today because of heat, vomiting and dehydration I hate to think of what will happen tomorrow. Apart from this - our spirit is high and have to play a clever game tomorrow. The scenery is indescribably beautiful. Being in the middle of the oven looking over the flaming mountain and actually were able to walk, walk, walk.....on part of it was just amazing........though after 4 hrs in sand, rock, sand, sand, rock, rolling sand, hills and sand I just about had it.....when we finally heard the drums (always nice as this means finish line + water)
That's it for today! we will be back Friday with hopefully good news from the stage 5 finish line!!!! (God I wish I was there now!!!)
Status: Tired but still smiling, sore feet, sand in our teeth and Lars got a new hairstyle....same as Andreas but he doesn't need gel to make it stand up!!!! and most important still married.
Pain scale (1-10): 10+
Amanda & Andreas: Did you get lost in "cotton on" Amanda?! ha ha - and the boys in the tech department? Great to hear you had a chance to see some photo of us.....we cant see any of them here. Thinking of you all the time and cant wait to see you very soon. Kiss to you all also to the bungies :)
Dad: Happy Birthday.....I hope you saw our b'day greeting and song we made for you and had Racing the Planet post it on their website> Hope it got through as we cant see any from here!

Jubiiiii, we made it through stage 3!!! Today's stage was ideel for all the super runners, a category we don't belong to but we made it! The stage started with 10 nasty km of rock/stone running at the River side and it was awful.... The good news was that the weather was perfect for running and it was cloudy and really not too hot! We then had approx 10 km of running on a dusty road before we hit the hills for the last 13 km which is something we both enjoyed. It sounds crazy but we feel pretty strong after the first three stages and although it was a real running stage today we are confident that we are ready for the horrible Flaming Mountains we will hit tomorrow. Then of course we have the 100KM 5 day to look forward to also....
In terms of injuries no real issue except for a few minor blisters and some sore legs but otherwise we are feeling optimal everything considered! The scenery is amazing and we keep getting surprised about new facets of the Gobi nature! Tonight we will be staying a tiny Chinese village (Peach Village). Unfortunately, the rules from the organizers are quite firm and we can't eat or buy anything from the city including the amazing fruit and peaches we see everywhere.... However, we were allowed to take a dive in the local stream/River and it was amazing!!!! Today we will sleep in the local village houses and then tomorrow morning we will be ready again for a very exciting stage 4!!!
Jeanette:
First of all, thank you all so much for all your sweet emails and blog comments with happy smiles and rude comments ;) (remember we know where you live!!!!).......I tell you its like xmas every time we get in and open our blog - thanks sooo much :D
We were just told that our blog was not sent last night as there were no signal at the camp in the mountains....I guess that means that stage 2 and 3 will go out tonight.
Okay stage 3 done and we woke up to a rainy day at 6am which again was very surprising to all of us as we are placed on the driest place on earth. hmmmm
No rain jacket but the 2 t-shirts came to a good use again, again, again....hmmmm. The brifing was at 7.30am and the medical team once again had good news that diarrea is spreading around (fantastic...just what u need our there). That leads me to the black tents!!!! (so called toilets). Thank you for warning us on this Peter.....and after this race I will NEVER buy a black tent!!! I cant discribe how bad this is but I guess when you have to go you have to go!!! :)
Yes, we had the natural spa treatment this morning which consist of 10Km of rolling rocks into riverbeds out into the sand, back into the riverbeds, out into the rocks etc etc etc (it felt like forever!) but what a wake up call for the poor feet but the good thing we finished off in pure sand....a very good mix for sore feet! Poor Lars, even though I felt the whole world was mean to me at the "never ending" river - I had to get it out of my system and he was the only one "out there"  -Poor guy :). I guess he is used to it after 22 yrs.
We are now in camp. had a local swim in the running river brrrrrrrrr cold as it is melted snow from the mountains - but it was very much needed and you feel so good and so fresh and ready for stage 4 back in the mountains!
Status: still smilling, now smell nice again, still married even though I told Lars off ......I guess more to come of this on the 100km coming up. ha ha
Pain scale (1-10 toe nails): 9 toe nails :)
Amanda & Andreas: Got ur great mgs about your fab trip yesterday......sounds fantastic!!! which we were there!!! We miss you guys big time but are so pleased that you are having a ball with the Bundgies. - say hi okay! Big sore kisses from Papa and Mum