I"m glad I'm alive and completed our final long stage 5 with such satisfaction.

That was 75.6km distance and we started at 10 am.

For some peple, it would take more than a day to finish, and actually Tomiyama-san was one of them.

When he came to the finished line, most of people were welcoming him so warmly and it looked like

I saw the moment people here connected to one family.

Some were crying, other were just applauzing.

For every single one of us, this long stage was something to remember.

Speaking of my race, I did what I could do the most.

Shinya-san pushed me a lot to make top 10 finish before starting the race,

but I just started how I have been doing since last several days. Of course, I thought it would be nice

if I could come in earlier, but keeping my pace was my important and only strategy for this race.

It was shower raining, lightning, strong wind, and sandstorm during the race.

Not only hard time, but clear sky and wide-opened view.

I enjoyed a lot this stage 5 as well, because I think I could manage myself very well.

I went easy on first 50km, and a rest of 20km was just mental thing.

My body was totally tired and almost out of gas.

but, when it comes to the end, something always comes up in my mind.

That is the image of Ono-san runnning Sahara stage 5 passing by us like wind and

the word of Kurosawa-san or Shinya -san( I forgot who mentioned) saying " Zenbu dashi kirou!!", which means

use it up for strong finish!, at a race in Hagi.

These stuff helped me a lot to push myself and finished well.

I also gotta say thank you for all the stuff and volunteers.

They are always awesome and lovely.

I was talking with Alina I might wanna to some volunteer work at near race.

I can't belive our race is about the end. I'm happy and a bit sad to finish.

Let's finish it tomorrow with stong run!!

Hiro

Stage 4 was totally brutal!! It was the hardest among the stages I did in the races of RPT.

I even felt the danger of life when I was running on the canyon. I mean the risk of  falling down to the bottom of the canyon somehow.

But instead the scenery was unbelievable! I can’t describe how it was by  words or pictures, but it was just awesome.

Fortunately my body is still okay, knee has no pain yet.

I hope I can go like this tomorrow as well.

I should say our team Japan is doing really well, too.

They know how to take care of themselves under any circumstance, so I’m comfortable to wait them at Camp 5.

I wanted to write more details, but I’m totally tired today and get ready for tomorrow’s big day!!

Cheers!

Hiro

Yeeeesss! I did finish my stage 3 as I was planning before start!

That was pretty much straight –up to 2600m above the ocean.

Actually the course was brutal even though the distance was comparatively shorter, 35km.

A lot hills and Canyon things were going on and it was hell hot!!

But I think I managed myself pretty well this time, too.

I enjoyed running with top lady runners this time, and they were really good shape!!

Surprisingly my knee holds still okay, a little muscle sore on shoulders.

I hope this will stay until I finish my goal line.

Cheers!!

Oh, by the way, thanks for all the comments and emails!!

I got everything from you, and these are really cheering me up!!

Thanks, Ross, Roberto, Kurosawa-san, Imamurasan, Sandysan, Ono san, Sumie, Kanamori-san!

Sandy san, I got your inquiry and I will let him know what is going on.

Imamurasan, Australian team, especially Roger, misses you a lot!!

Ross, I knew you weren’t here, I was just talking about you with Alina!

Roberto, You should be here, man! See you in Iceland??

Ono-san, I just told what you said now to him!

Kanamori-san, you may try Atacama??

Well, sorry gatta go now!

Love you guys!

Hiro

I just finished my second stage of Gobi March. It went well as I planed.

This was still first harf of the race, so I didn't push myself so hard.

5 hours and 30 minitues were taken to finish my 39 km, which isn't bad at all.

At this time as well, I found some runnning buddies enjoying great view together.

As we were getting closer to the finish line to about 5 km, this guy had thrown up everything on the course.

That made me scary and I felt sorry for making him pushed hard.

So, we decided to walk the rest, and I actually am satisfied what we did.

There is always something unexpected coming up on the dessert race, and that's why we like it.

There are also, on stage 2, great view that takes breath away.

Someone said life isn't about how much breath you take, it's about the moments take breath away.

And I felt that!!

I love people here on dessert!

Keep my fingers crossed with our rest of the race!

Cheers,

Hiro

Our first course was changed to shorter because the water level of river has been risen.

so, that was nice warming up 32km+ for all of us.

It was not hot at all and even humid.

Quite windy to run against, feeling great to enjoy awesome view of canyons.

I finished the first stage with Kamei-san, who completed many crazy races around the world, for about 4hours and 7minitues.

Now we are welcoming from local people and we will stay their villege, which is sooooo cozy and cool.

I wish I could post some pics of our place. It is not even tent at all, actually it is very nice house we are going to stay.

Gobi race is again quite different from other two races I joined.

I super-enjoy this race with new exciting people.

I will post more later,

Cheers

Hiro

Arrived at the start line of Gobi March 2012!!

We just arrived at our first campsite with warm welcome of hundreds of local people!

So impressive and exciting time.

I saw many known friends from last couple races like a few nice Korean guys and inspiring Austlarian runners!

Of course, great great experienced Japanese runners, too.

Here in Gobi it seems sun stays up forever!

It is a quater to 6, but it seems noon to me.

A little bit worry about falling asleep with this blightness.

Gobi March will be strated tomorrow, and definetly it will be awesome mark on my life