Friday 'rest day'......at final campsite in the Kun Lun mountains.

It'snow 4pm and have spent most of the day admiring the beautiful campsite and magnificent mountains surrounding us. I was unable to sleep all night, which must have been the adrenalin so I sat from 4am to 7am in front of the camp fire adding blocks of wood every 10 minutes. The stars were so clear and the sky so huge.

I've drained my callouses / blisters a couple of times but my suspected fractured toe is very painful. I, like all those who I have spoken to, agree that a walk or non-competitive final stage could be a more fitting end to the race. A lot of people look very sore and are hobbling gingerly around camp....the weather is getting hotter and is now 32c and very dry.

It's so peaceful here. No wind, no pollution and very clear light.

Sarah Lloyd in our tent was the last person back, completing the stage in about 23 hours!! Her feet are a mess.

Thanks everyone once again for your support, it has been amazing.

Thanks for reading. Cheers Ryan

THE LONG DAY - DONE! Good news for Hand in Hand for Haiti!!
75km done in just over 11 hours......I could've done it faster but my feet are not in good shape. The engine and legs are working fine but the 2 bits which hit the ground don't seem to like my shoes very much. In any case I'm totally chuffed (can't believe it hhhaaaaaa) with my time and once again Nick and I (the one from Australia) stormed it from about the half way point to finish around 29th equal. THe funny thing was his ankle was giving him gip and both my feet had blisters, making every step excrutiating. However, rather than stop and attend to it, the only thing to do on this crucial stage is to run through the pain until it doesn't hurt anymore........well that's the idea anyway!

Apparently' the onsite medics think I may have also broken my right toe, the one next to the pinkie.....it doesn't look happy at all and is swollen and blue.....niiiiceee.

Walking was actually more tortuous than running so we basically 'tabbed' the last 40km and were doing up 10km an hour on some sections.......brilliant.

The day started really early. We had to be bussed to the start which was 2hours away, which meant the race started at 10am....we passed vrey close to the Kyrgistan border on the way up to around 2400m......the tension on the start line was palpable as everyone had had a tough day at the office on Stage 4 and some people had been out 12 hours - I felt their pain and reminded me of what I went through in the Sahara.

The top 2 runners both looked totally relaxed and in great shape, even clean! Whereas pretty much everyone else now smells the same - salty with a hint of BO...

tHE first section to Check Point 1 was a 7.5km climb up a mountain valley over the morraine ground which again was hard going and I could tell that my feet were going to take another bashing. I was with Youseff (top guy from Saudi) and David again. At the top it was a hard left back down and across the glacial morraine fields, dry river beds and more damned canyons......absolute killer punishment again... but my speed on the downhills was good and I was starting to get ahead and waiting and walking was hurting my feet....then I spotted Nick on approach and from there we just got a good pace going..I felt guilty leaving the guys but the adrenalin had kicked in and all I wanted to do was finish.

The scenery up here is unbelievable.....we were going across a massive expanse which had sheer snow capped mountains jutting up from the gound. Around CP4 an enormous cloud cover was building in the snowy mountains and there was dust being whipped up all over the place and we were heading straight for it.....luckily we only got a few drops of rain, no lightening but the wind was incredible. the temperature dropped to 25c from above 30c for an hour or so and we had cloud cover so it made a big difference to the conditions.

At every CP we stopped briefly just to fill up with water and refuel....I'm really getting fed up with Perpetuem, but it I find it really works for me. I was also taking the odd painkiller to try and quell the 'running on  broken glass feeling' but not sure it made much difference to be honest. The best bit was breaking into the beef jerky stash, which tasted fantastic.....I can't wait to murder a cheese burger when I get back to Hong Kong (homemade hopefully!).

Again the scenery was dramatic for the finsh, huge skies, vast expanses and beautiful mountains.......I'd love to tour the region one day in the future in a very comfortable airconditioned 4x4. We went though the CP7, the last one and had 8.4km to go. We took the foot off the brakes a bit to enjoy the scenery more as it was so stunning.

We could see a clump of trees on the horizon and sure enough it was the finish line. We crossed together both of us relieved and elated.

It's been a couple of hours now and I had my feet inspected, ankles wrapped in compression bandages and blisters drained....I can feel my legs seizing up so need to get up and get to bed. The campsite is beautiful and we're looking forward to the rest day tomorrow, Friday, and the final 15km on Saturday.

Thanks for your awesome emails. I've picked up a few from Stage 4 and have read most of stage 3..........

thanks for reading. cheers Ryan

What an incredible day. I think I came in joint 25th or so, walking the last 12km with Nick from Australia and Nicholas, French geezer from Beijing?

Can’t believe my pace.

Thanks for all the emails and blogs……wish I could answer them all but we’re on 15min time limit. So cheers to Tara, Simon, John, Ed, Jennie, Jude, Dan, Matt N, Campbell, Bridgette for all the support.

So today was 4 separate ‘difficult’ sections. Really tough start up to Heaven’s gate – a huge elevation climb for the first 3.5km of 300m to around 2800m to Skipton’s Arch, a natural rock phenomenon where at the top you are faced with the most incredible view of desert, mountains and snow capped peaks…….from there my race changed  and I flew down the climb overtaking about 10 people at least on the way down to Checkpoint 1. I did however put my foot through one of the bamboo ladders and copped one in the family jewels…………That burst of energy kept me high on adrenalin and again proved to be a decent strategy of getting in early kms.

Stage 2 was even more brutal. It was deep canyons and then up high ridges,Totally whacking me out, I could hardly breath at some points. I could feel a blister forming on my big right toe but got my head down – the terrain was like razors so it took my mind off the feet. Going up the canyon sides and walking the ridges for about 7km was killing me, but my forte seems to be going down hill and letting gravity take over! People using poles going up had the advantage but I seemed to catch people up on the way down……must be the training on the Maclehose……however, I rolled both ankles several times just to remind me to slow down…

The ridges were knife edges and a few really steep sides that had sheer drops so you had to be very careful with your footing. The last canyon was unbelievable and the ridge down was very technical and all loose soil and rocks. It dropped onto a river bed which must have descended gently for about 5km…..it was very tricky running and I had no one in front of me and spotting the pink flags and ribbons which mark the course in the hot daylight was a nightmare…….if you’re colour-blind like me then it’s not easy!! The descent was painful, pebble, rocks, gravel, thorn bushes all stabbing into the soles of the feet. I rolled the ankles again….checkpoint 3 appeared. Finally

The last section was a 14k stretch, mainly flat but we had to go across a 400m wide river which in sections was up to the knees!! I tried my best to keep my  feet dry but it wasn’t going to happen. In all there were about 10 mini streams which got my feet wet. I didn’t change my shoes and by this time I walked in with the ‘Nicks’ for the last 10km……it was flat and beautiful countryside…..all farming land. The locals were out all looking at us as if we were aliens……very perplexing for them. Occasionally we’d get the local cops passing us just to say hi……

The finish line appeared and it was a massive relief as I was wrecked. We got bussed in from the finishing line to campsite and I came straight to the computer to write this while there’s the chance. I can feel my legs seizing up and I should go and eat and rest up before tomorrow’s massive day…….….LOVE TO ALL and thanks for reading.

Stage 3 done! Just under 6 hours and came in joint 32nd with Dave B.

My ankle rolled couple of times and my middle toenail got a mighty whack and later found out there was a huge blood blister. Nice.

The stage started off in the village for a few kms gentle upward trot in fact the whole stage was uphill for the full 35km starting at about 1800m and finishing at 2500m…

My legs are getting heavier by the day and trying to get as many km in the first 2 hours seems to be helping. Today was no different. The second section was brutal and included about 4-5km along a stony, gravel and brush slope to the right start which was really tough to do anything more than a jog. Feet took a pounding once again and energy was draining from me. By thistime David was miles ahead and I teamed up with Yousef for a while (he’s done SAS training in Wales don’t you know!), well about an hour or so. The end of section 1 and start of 2 were canyons again – dry, unforgiving, stony ground –totally punishing.

Section 2 was equally as forbidding and one section saw us descend down a steep slippery ravine into a dry river bed about 200m below.

From there I caught David up who’d taken a tumble down the ravine and we basically walked it into the end of the stage which seemed to go on forever and I mean forever…..it was a good 14km hike to camp. The end couldn’t have come sooner and I am stoked that we made it in under 6 hours. We’re camped at 2500m and it’s noticeably chilly and is bound to be cold tonight.

Stage 4 is going to be brutal. Every bit of it is ‘difficult’ whereas today was all ‘moderate’……….need to rest up. Thanksfor reading!

Thanks for all the amazing emails guys....so cool reading them and making me laugh and bringing me to tears too. Thanks Jude, Simon, John (Donna) from CWB and Sai Kung!

Wow tough day today.....in 'MARS IN THE GOBI' as today's stage has been called.... could'.ve been called quite a few things take my word for it!..maybe went too hard yesterday' but still came in 20th OMG!!! I really mean OMG!!!! Parr and Ryan watch your backs!

The ground was brutal again on the feet. one section up and down canyons, up and down canyons, up and down canyons was totally feet busting........my strategy was to hurl myself down the 'downs' to make up some time as the flats and ups were 'rock hard'.....running on the maclehose has made a big difference.

got the right foot wet about 4km into the race which was a pain but miraculously dried out by the time I finished the race...the whole day we were jumping over streams and rivers, in mud, clay, pebbles and dry brush - damned spikey and tough brush which had a habit of connecting itself to the velcro on the outside of my shoes. yes I am wearing the same shoes as in the Sahara but with no gaiters - that has been a gamble to be honest. not sure it was 100 per cent the right one.....

A couple of times today I had to stop and empty my shoes as the grit and thorns from bushes had worked their way into my shoes.

I ran with David again today, but he was on a mission and I just couldn't keep up with him so we parted around half way....but the first half of the race was important as it was 'cooler' deespite the strong wind......I just had to stop and take 5 mins, my legs were super heavy and the canyons had sapped my energy and my left calf is not happy either. pretty much throughtout the whole stage my calf was tight / in pain......I took off the knee brace to  see if would relieve some tension around the top of the calf and it seemed to work....well a bit anyway!

Just before the last checkpoint I tripped, legs feeling heavy and banged the front of my shoe - I knew it was a toe nail. I later found out I was right. About 10 mins later I jumped down a small trough 10cm away from what I thought was a stick, then the bloody thing moved and it was a 2 foot snake! I swore loudly only for it to wind off in the opposite direction.

For the final 11km, 9km was on a brand new bitumen road and by now the sun was at its highest....from the last checkpoint the road climbed endlessly for about 4km and was punishing. I walked most of it with Nicholas from Beijing and we passed one guy who was lying in the shade who looked totally spent. at the top, it was downhill for the last 6km......it seemed to go on forever and felt even harder then the ascent.....by this time I was now worrying about a blister I thought my be forming in the middle of my right foot........eventually we turned ff the tarmac and the last 2km was a dry and very dusty track and again onto marscape terrain.....I could see the camp and 3 competitors were closing fast......I dug in and managed to hold them off....just......couldn't help it.......I just had to finish ahead of them...

the camp is on a newly cut wheat field. the stems are sharp and the sun is beating down....my watch is saying it's 35c in the shade. the sky is a beautiful blue and theres a breeze coming through now.

off to rest now.....need to sleep as I am totally knackered.

thanks for reading and keep cheering please!

Ryan

Whoooooooaaaaaaaaaaa!

I came in the top 20, I think 18th and under 4 hours!!!!??? I,m totally amazed however it was a shorter stage of about 32km because a river we were supposed to cross had risen over night. I buddy,d up with David Barnard from Sth Africa for most of the race and we ran, walked, ran walked and kept up around just over 8 to 9km/hr.

there was a very strong headwind for most of the way right from the start and although the elevation was not too much the terrain was brutal on the feet.  we;re at about 1800m now so climbed 200m in total. it was very rocky and much of it across a flat plain and a sometime river bed with very sharp edges which just cut into the shoes and soles of the feet.

carrying a lighter pack is definitely making a big difference and those spin classes (thanks Jude Ryan) seem to be proving the effort.

the nights are long here and it doesnt go dark until 11pm because we;re on Beijing time and should probably be at least 2 to 3 hours in front.

the morning as a result is dark sowaking at 5am was a challenge.

luckily feet are blister free and legs seem to be going ok for now. a girl in front of me had run out of water and was about 3km from the end and not feeling to great so i did the honourable thing and gave her my water........i headed off then realised that i had run out myself. the last 3 km were tough and it was head down and eye of the tiger time ............about 10 local kids came out onto the road and ran the last 300m with me which was brilliant as we all crossed the line together to the sound of the drummer.......an amazing finish to the race.

we;re now bunking down in local houses/huts and being hosted the indigenous muslim community. it;s a fascinating place with many russian sounding languages mixed with chinese and arabic......a beautiful mix.

must dash as lots of people waiting to type away

cheersRyan

Hello everyone! We’re at camp 1, the evening before the start of the first stage around 50km outside of Kashgar far west China….

The mood is building nicely, lots of camaraderie and pleased to say I have some great tent mates.

Watch out for George Chmiel, looking for a top 5 spot…….he’s looking pretty confident and focused.

The camp is around 2 and half hours out of Kashgar. It didn’t take long before we passed into a very remote area. The landscape changed rapidly and is very different to the Sahara. The scenery is dramatic, dry river beds, rugged cliffs and sharp edges with explosions of greenery – trees, scrub and lush pockets of farmland.

But it’s dry and very windy. The ground is rocky and I’m the only one who hasn’t brought their sleeping mat -  oh well, it’ll be like having a really tough sports massage……kind of!! The weather is pretty cool well below 30c which is awesome news as we were expecting it to be into the 30s at least. There has even been rain recently, which we don’t want.

The drive in was precarious….5 coachloads of people and 14 jeeps passing through canyons and hairpin bends, reminded me of the hair-raising journeys in Nepal!

On arrival there must have been 200 locals, families and farmers and police who came out of nowhere to welcome us all clapping and singing. It was very cool and I imagine the pictures on the website will show the colour and flavour of this place.

Feeling good but paranoid about getting injured again. I could really do without the groin and hip problems this time. The waistclip on my rucksack has cracked which could be a potential nightmare if it breaks completely as it will weigh heavily down on my shoulders otherwise.

Got to also look after the feet……moisten them up with the hydropel and do some pretape…….fingers crossed I’ll be writing in a confident mood tomorrow. Thanks for all your support and reading…..please send me emails via the blog if you get time

Louise please post to my facebook xxx I love you and please give the boys a hug from me.

Here’s to raising more money for www.handinhandforhaiti.com