wow...what a day. Managed to run the first 45km but had to give up afetr that. The heat was too bad...up to 49 degrees in the shade!  Fair bit of carnage last night with the finishing up of the dunes.  IV drips hanging from tent poles trying to rehydrate the depleted. If you get a chance to check the dunes out please do...amazing..but difficult to run in.  I only brought a pair of construction workers boot covers as gaiters...which didnt work under these extreme conditions.  Trainers continuously filled with sand as i ran down the side of the dunes...toes pushing forward into a compacted sand mass at the end...needless to say - a few black toes as a result. As for the 80 odd km today...the flaming mountains...what a suited name...true by colour, heat and our attitude towards them.  The day started out well...overcast with a bit of rain for the first 3hrs...but then became really humid and steaming hot.  No wonder they call it the 'oven'. Reached the lowest point today -160m below sea level i think it was. Got lost again today...heat started to affect us all with concentration becoming an issue and complacency in following the guy in front taking precidence...silly move. Paird up with another competitor today - Mike...from the 45km mark...getting lost in pairs feels a lot safer then by yourself.  We were overtaken by a korean runner and started to follow him through the hot scrub...after a while we realised that he had no idea where he was going. As we stopped another competitor feeling lonely and scared in the heat ran up to us before we swept the landscape looking for the flags again.  When we finally spotted the flags it was like a dream come true...I got to use my whistle to grab the attention of the Korean who was running in front and get him back on the right track...then we hit the smallest water station...but well worth the stop.  A good 10mins there...time for refuelling and water pick up before heading on...now in a team of 3. Through some villages...taunted by local children...laughing at us as we walk through.  Some even used their school english on us with comments like...'good morning teacher'...made us crack a smile when morale was down. Check point 5 - an alternative overnight stop if you wanted to was in some ruins...watermelon sitting in the beating sun. My hands were starting to swell...not enough electrolytes/salt...slight hyponatremia. Pushed through the heat of the day - the next 10.8km from check point 5 took a good 2 and a half hours i think...with a stop in a tunnel where we all sat down and questioned why we were doing this...the heat was just exhausting.  i could feel my calves burning from the sun.  Our water was over 30 degrees to drink. finally we made it into camp by about 10pm...great feeling.  Now a day off and foot fix-up before the last 13km tomorrow to the finish line.  I did an interview with some korean tv show today who are following a korean team here.  Nothing to write home about...just funny. Cant wait to get back to urumqi now and shower...feeling pretty dirty and looking it im sure.  Clothes can stand up on their own without me in them...look forward to meeting up with everyone on my return to show you some photos and share the experience.  Thanks for all the support and lovely comments.  They really did help to get me through the tough times.  Dont forget...come celebrate at paddo bowls on saturday 9th July... join me for a drink, bowl and chat.  I might be able to convince you to sign up for next year!  Im not joining you though...this is my first and last...ive ticked the box...its now done and dusted. X

Wow...what a day...over 50 degree heat and dunes as far as you can see them.  Started off with a 3am wake up call to get on a bus to endure a 3hr bus ride out to the foot of the dunes. Minor delay in getting out there - one of the buses got a flat so the start was delayed by another 30mins...not great when the heat has already kicked in.  Another slight glitch in the day - my water bladder decided to pop a leak...so out goes that and in comes the 550ml wateer bottles the event supplies. Small issue because we have been told there is a mandatory 2.5L + requirement at every check point due to the heat - try fitting 5 bottles of that in an already busting at the seams pack! with time penalties for dropping litter!!!! Started off slow and steady...slight jump in my stride till the soft sand began...and kept going...dunes that were 3 x the size of kurnel dunes...and not just one...they continued for 10km...relentless.  So taking a good 2 hrs to complete that - we moved on to salt flats...deceivingly hard under foot...crusty surface...soft sand underneath...like quick sand. This went on for another 10km...followed by the worst heat and scrubland you have ever seen...not conducive to a pair of nike runners. I was in the middle of no-where with no-one in sight.  Not the safest feeling in the world.  Water running low...and morale beginning to drop...wondering how far the next checkpoint actually was.  Then finally...the flags appear!  picked up my walk to a slight jog to enter the check point...saw the lead girl - Jody from canada...resting..having come in only a few minutes ago.  Decided to buddy up and do the last 7km together...no running....just a walk.  As we leave the check point we're told that some locals have driven over the flags about a km down the track and to get your compass out to locate the bearing provided and head in that direction...hmmm...if you know me...navigation isnt a strong point.  So off we head...find the road...cant see the flags...find a lost chilean bloke and get the compass out.  No help...thankfully i did a hard sweep of the area and manage to find a pink flag in the distance.  Woohoo!!! head for that and we were back on track.  Shoulders begin to hurt from the pack...but we manage to keep the conversation alive...talking girly stuff...getting to know each other...anything to pull us through this torturous ordeal.  No shade, not a tree in sight.  Stopping is not an issue.  We arrive in camp about an hour and 15 later...seeing the flags was like seeing a child in a candy store.  We run to towards the pink flags to find...a barbed wire fence...yes...that was intellegent of the organisers wasnt it.  All 3 of us at the fence heaved our packs over and squeezed ourselves through trying not to get cut.  Then with what ever energy we had left...50m away from the finish line we crossed together.  Straight into the medical tent...stripped of clothes and sprayed with water to help cool us down.  I ended up being dehydrated...suffered cramps in my hands and feet later on in the day.  Lots of electrolytes and water followed...with the pee test now in good shape. Unfortunately a whole group of people got pulled off the course...didnt make the time cut offs or found in too bad a state to continue.  A buddy system was employed at check point 2 at about 2pm in the day...no-one could leave without another competitor for safety reasons.  They are all trickling into camp now...either in the 4WD that pulled them off the course...or walking over the camp line.  Not a happy day for many.  If you get pulled from the course...you dont get acknowledgement for the dessert event...meaning for those who want to do the rest of desert runs...they either have to re-do Gobi or finish another 2 to get the invitation to the 4th - antarctica. Only 2 stages to go...tomorrow is the 82km stint...dont know how that will go. No strategy except to try and stay alive!  Sitting in the tent this afternoon while resting...i felt something like a branch ou had blown in and had landed on my leg...when i got up to check - it was the most massive spider i have ever seen!!!!  beige in colour....hairy...like a triantula!!!   And yes...i have tent mates who saw it to confirm...the only comment were...glad you were the one it happened to...screaming like a girl isnt something i like to do in public...from Alex...the USA adventure racer...absolute cack.  My other fellow australians in the tent arent doing so well. Gian has taken a turn for the worst.  Nausea setting in..untreated from yesterday.  Unfortunately he didnt make it make on foot and was driven in for medical attention.  Doesnt look like he will be continuing on tomorrow. Laird is fighting fit...long day but managed to come home strong. So thats it for me today -unfortunately the signal isnt so great out here and I havent been able to see any blog responses...just emails.  So thank you if you have posted something and hopefully tomorrow i might get a chance to read them.

F@#K me!  Yes…I will admit im crazy now.  One of the songs on my playlist that continually put a smile on my face during this stage was Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy…the words resonated well…chorus goes something like….’I think im crazy…yeah I think im crazy…I think im crazy…probably’…

The Tian Shan Mountains – a 34.6km day that was reportedly ‘easy’ to ‘moderate’…what a farce! From leaving the start line with an anticipated 4hr day ahead…it actually took 5 hrs and 13mins…but, in saying that – I was the first female to cross the line!  Ian Bell- that’s WIP invitation worthy thank you…Kate – book me in!  Temps are up at 36+ degrees just to add salt to the wound… A lot more walking then I had expected – the altitude just hit me!  Starting off at 1500m we had a 750m climb to get to 2250m by the end of the course. Sam- no comparison to the 2.1km heart break hill climb you do at training… maybe your coach can take the team on some altitude training in the Gobi!!  Michael – I am trying not to tread in all the animal poo…but it’s a tough one!  Feeling good – bit of cramping and a few problems with my water bladder that seems to be leaking which isn’t great. ipod solar power recharger is working a treat…Jason – the solar power bikini would have worked well…not a cloud in the sky..and it would have given me a more even tan instead of returning with a ¾ shirt sleeve and band at my ankles! 
Crampy – nice work with the concrete…reminds me of the run we did down the leichhardt canal in the dark when I fell and ended up running home with bloody knees…being asked by numerous drivers past if I was alright…scars to prove it.  Kelly –pick a marathon!!!  Ill run it with you…you’ve put it off long enough girl…how about September in Sydney??

Time to sign off and put the legs up…

PS – Dad… the sun sets at about 10pm…ish…and rises at 6am…after todays re-evaluation in times for each stage, given the terrain…I doubt the double on day 4 and 5 will be completed in daylight.  But…you never know. And Mum – I am being safe…as can be.

X

Well well well...after a hard day 1, day 2 wasnt so bad. Weather prevented the original course from going ahead -  seems like all the Aussies here have brought the winter weather...in a place where there is an average rain fall of 3mm...we ended up starting the race with floods and rain for the most of yesterday for stage 2.  Had a good start today...at the last check point I took a wrong turn off that cost me a good 15mins...over 1km off the turning point...painful. I was listening to the Hill Top Hoods- 'Down the Hard Road'...got into a zone and forgot about following the blooming pink flags...On a day that was one of the longests stints - 44km...and heat into the high 30ths...not happy jan... People have been dropping like flies...3 down with hamy issues...a couple with gastro already...blisters running rampant...happy not to have any additional ones at this stage although do have some battle scrs on my collar bones where the bag is rubbing due to the sheer weight. Into a village for tonight - staying in peoples houses.  The views are spectacular!  I have to remind myself to stop and take a look around and just take it all in.  Breathtaking. Could hardly walk as i came into camp...but never fear...a cold stream appeared!!  15mins sitting in that and now im looking right as rain...well...better then when i first crawled in. Hope the photos on the site look good - the photographer keeps clicking away so theres bound to be a few good ones on there.  There will be a 3am wake up call tomorrow for the comencement of the sand dunes...i love the way they describe the sections of the course and give them a rating...tomorrow starts with Dunes - difficult to extremely difficult...then on to 'dunettes'...which are rated easy...somehow i have never seen a dune that was easy..regardless of it being a 'dunette'.  Thanks for the cheers everyone...i think im still in first place which is amazing...think i may have upset the applecart in female adventure racing...not expecting to be first after tomorrow though. Having to still wear the fluro yellow bib doesnt help with trying to enjoy the course  instead of turning it into a competition. Thankfully i dont have a strong competitive streak so im managing to take things in my stride...take in the scenery and still do o.k. Today has left me spent though!  I was told by a few of the competitors here that i run 'gracefully'...not sure wheather to be slightly offended by that or take it as a compliment...but at least it seems to be working for me thus far.  Geoff - you have to sign up toone of these...youd love it!!!  Mitch - what ever you do...dont do the sahara...ive been told if boredom is your vice..then thats the worst one to pick. Gobi and atacama might be on the cards for you...3 more long torturous days ahead...the heat is now going to be a killer! Sigining out till tomorrow...thanks again to all who have donated and are following my progress. Hope to catch up in a weeks time for a couple of bevys...X

Wow...less then two weeks to go, one run left tomorrow and training preparation is complete. Well... as much as can be. Its all a  mind game from here on in. Im filled with both fear and excitement...looking forward to regaining my weekends back to enjoy other things apart from just running...and im thinking its going to start with some good food!  All this training food is driving me mental...gels, bars, powders...lollies,chocolate and nuts. Over it! Dont forget im trying to help out Healthy Kids through a spot of fundraising so please donate through the sponsor me section on the following website: www.rancilio.tumblr.com

Thought now was as good a time then ever to get organised for the trip.  All equipment now purchased pending food supplies....and blog now set-up to allow for communications while out on the field...this is beginning to feel like a full time job!  The reality of what i have now signed up for is beginning to hit home.  Emotions are slowly trickling in and im complimenting people on characteristics of them that I have and or do appreciate.  Very unlike me...well...not this frequently anyway. I may have peaked a little early - all i want to do now is get out there and run for dear life...but there are still 3 weeks till departure.  Hoping the time will fly. 4 more 'big' runs to go till rest time...cant wait!