Hey guys!  FanTASTIC to log on and read so many emails and comments - thank you, thank you, thank you!

Well, we did it...in just over 12 hours and just before dark - result!  The morale was low in the team at the start, despite big efforts to raise them.  People were in their own hurt and head space, and it was tough trying to keep the team together.  Worrying who was ahead, who was behind, and being the ogre asking people to hold up a bit or catch up.  I reflected on this challenge of being a part of a team, and did have a pine for running free without thoughts of others towards the beautiful snow capped mountain range that led us most of the way.  (There was no construction site in sight yesterday - wahoo!)

People then all seemed to get out of their head spaces, and we regrouped and banded together again.  I giggled my way with Roger for a good 30km playing games such as "guess the historic event" from humourous descriptions without mentioning any key names or words, or creating quotes with the phrase "all of it/that/those" in it that a famous person might say, and guessing the person.... I guess you just had to be there right??  :)  It was awesome though, chatting to some South African guy saying how he was in a complete low, but how our chuckles picked him up.  Testament to how important it is to be around positive people when you run. 

Another highlight that all my British chums who send me tubs of marmite might appreciate....saved for the long day....TWIGLETS!!  :)

For the last 30kms we followed Matt's lead, shuffling when he could, and walking when he requested. The sense of team was AWESOME. Matt gave everything he had...and more! I also had the Go Pro - a handheld of camera, so I had lotsa fun playing with that, and it gave me good reason to run ahead, or sprint to catch up...so I got my little jogs in Sam!  :) 

Everyone flopped into bed pretty much when we finished, but I stayed up chatting and laughing around the campfire with James, the cameraman, till about 1am.  I haven't felt like I have connected with people as much here as we did in Atacama (no-one like the Saturo family, wahoo) and other people agree who have been to both that the atmosphere is not quite the same, thus it was nice just to have a good conversation with someone.  I really like James, and am starting to feel more comfortable in front of the camera...to the effect that there may be quite a bit of me in this part of the doco for you mum! Definitely me doing some, I quote, "hilarious", dancing - whoops! :)

It's awesome that you can see the photos that accompany this blog - word cannot do it justice...or well, maybe Roger;s might!  :)  My spotty socks are dog print gaiters to keep the scree out mum - tehe- glad you like them - (another!) gift from Roger!

Today is the "rest day", aka, the boring day for me!  Roger seems a lot better,so I might be able to entice him for a little walk.  I have a magazine too.  One advantage of Roger's sickness (whoops!), is that we have a bit of food leftover - nothing like Atacama when we sat and tried to make a sachet of peanut butter last one hour!!  :)  There are lots of funny walks going around the camp today too.

I am soo excited to be returning to the UK soon.  Steve can you and Vicky make it to our house? I'd love to see you both; and Kel, watch out, I am soo going to be trying to convince you to meet us in Sahara.  It is tough, but the cut-off is soo generous, you so could do it! And Sam and Nathan...???  :) Mum,I'll let you off!  :)  Pauline, Roger and I definitely having you over for dinner to share tales of outback and Gobi!  :)

I will log on again one more time tonight, I anticipate around 6pm China time.   One thing I haven't mentioned is that because China only has one time zone it gets dark really late here about 10.30pm which is a bit strange, and light again at 7.30am. 

I will be back in Oz on Tues straight to work, eek, but then will be up for catchups soon after. 

Lots of love,

Jess

I LOVED it today - 8 and 3/4 hours, but it went soo much quicker.  Shipton's arch was spectacular, and was followed by 15kms of awesome steep up and downs.  It was so exciting to scramble up and down the scree (everyone took some kind of stack); to get the heart rate going and that buzz and adrenaline again - something that has been lacking the last couple of days.  I've decided that running along windy mountain ridge lines is totally my favourite kind of running.  Matt is making a miraculous recovery (we were joking that people might think it is a fix in the doco)! With that concern gone, cheery spirits could be liberated again, and I was totally in my happy place again running towards, and away from stunning mountain range vistas that fade as far as you can see into the horizon.

Meeting some more awesome people, e.g. a guy whose wife has written him an inspirational quote for each day - how cool!

Tonight we are effectively camping in a poo field...or the smell testifies to such. 

Tomorrow is an early start with a 2hour bus ride to the start of the looong 75km day.  Hence the next email will likely be the day after (Matt is still not feeling THAT strong).

Thank you soo much for all your emails.  Yes Sam, you got your Chinese right.  Someone today asked if I was Roger's mai mai!!  Indeed, a few people keep mistaking Matt and I as sister and brother!!

I do miss running, and I am teased that my frequent phrase is "little jog?? Little jog?",but I guess the challenge for this desert is just to complete, and Sahara we can pick up the game again.

We had another awesome encounter in a village - with Roger exchanging with a young tot his first ever handshake, and me playing tickles with a kid with the cutest incessant giggle.

Love you mum, miss you too.

Thanks soo much everyone for your emails and comments (I can see the blog comments now), soo fab to get. 

Jess

X

We made it! Top hats off to Matt today.  Imagine feeling nauseous, weak, and fatigued. What do you want to do? Just curl up in bed and sleep.  Well matt felt like that but got up and hiked 37km across the desert with 11kg on his back.  It was really touch and go today. James, the cameraman, got great footage; trying to build suspense he asked me whether or not matt would make it, and I genuinely didn’t know.  It is so different to Atacama, from running across the finish line each day in high spirits  to stumbling over the  line with sighs of relief in Gobi. It is hard to be upbeat and jokey when you can see one of your team members struggling so much.   We distributed some of his pack out to try to lighten the load.

As an aside,  it was fascinating to experience how the back of the pack roll, on your feet all day out in the heat, with no relief from the heavy pack.  Respect.  Imagine the pace at which you meander through a market - that is the pace at which we were going at for most of the day.  It was hard to be uplifted by the scenery too, some parts were stunning, but the last 10kms for example, we were trawling through a construction site with trucks driving past and leaving you to choke in a wake of dust.  Gobi feels much less remote than Atacama, with a road often in view.  tomorrow is promised to be tough …er!! . .  but I am really excited about seeing Shipton’s arch.  A natural arch the height of the empire state building.  I think we scale dodgy ladders and it is not for the faint hearted. 

Apologies for the writing. I have a dodgy computer, with people talking in my ear hole. 

Thanks for your support.  Let’s see how we go.

xxx

Thanks so much Mum, Dad, Sam, Clare and Steve for my emails - always lovely to log in and see.  I can't see any blog comments for me- is that right? Glad you liked the grad photo mum - arrrived so quick.  Well, a lot slower, subdued day today.  We effectively hiked our way in.  Matt is really struggling with his stomach, knee and back.  He queried whether he should feel proud or disappointed.  I confidently asserted he should feel proud; he is clearly in a lot of pain and is battling on.  Ron was lagging a lot today too.  The slower pace is great to take in the scenery - red Mars like rock was one section, and the second opened out onto what I imagine to be like African plains, with lots of mini Table Mountains to scale up and down.  The adrenaline of the team is lacking however, roger is not back to form yet, and I'm missing my fun play partner!  The female and male individual competition is quite exciting.  It feels like watching a footy game from the sideline with your football boots on.  I contemplate what it would be like to run individually; I wonder how one would pace themselves - I'd love to try it sometime.

    I am still enjoying the international nature of the event, and meeting people of all different nationalities.  A 55 year old Korean who has donated 418 pints of blood.  A man from Kuwait who ran 600km across Australia, and a French lady who ran 555km across Northern Africa.  I am getting lots of ideas for future runs - sorry mum!  :)

    It is cooler than Atacama, but the longer we are out on the trail clearly means more sun exposure in the heat of the day.  I feel completely satiated on my food, but might not have packed enough trail food - as opposed to eating back at the camp food - if we are to be a lot slower as I anticipate.  It is awesome to wake up every day and just run.  I am sleeping well, eating well, stretching much more than I EVER would normally, and just relaxing.  I am having a great holiday. 

Love to you all XXX

What a cultural adventure! Running today was awesome, but experiencing Kashgar and the villages is the standout so far.  It has been fantastic returning to China - the familar sights, sounds... and nasty smells (Sam!).  The team has been great at embracing the culture, and my terrible Chinese has been put to good use in the markets, street stalls and basic restaurants.  Yet, the Muslim population and close borders with Krykzstan (excuse spelling!) offers wonderful new faces, fancy headwear and food.

We arrived at the first camp to a spectacular surprise welcome from the neighbouring village - who had all hiked in to meet us.  They put on an awesome display of dancing, singing, miming (!) and musical performances.  The finale was a horse game - think polo cross with rugby...maybe!  Two teams, no sticks, no ball, but a dead goat that they throw between team players and play tug of war with.  The aim is to drop the goat in a "goal".  Bets are taken, and the attire was suits!  :)  Oh, and how could I forget that I was interviewed by KZTV! :)

The stage was cut short to 32km - which was fortunate.  Both Roger and Matt are suffering from gastro, with diarrhoea and nausea.  The team banded together really well, and we still finished in the top quarter of the field I think.  The scenery was not AS spectacular today - dirt roads with big trucks honking past, but I am not disheartened, the next days promise much more.  Tonight we are staying within a village, and are being met with fantastic curiosity from the local children.  One kid on his bike rode the last 3km with us, and as we ran through the village we accumulated a band of children who all ran to the finish with us - it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.  It was a good 1km, and some of the tiny tots were puffing.  I was like "cmon, cmon, you can do it", and we all exchanged excited high-fives at the end. 

Personally,  I am pleased with my pack.  My upgrade from feminine hygiene products(!) to sheepskin seat belt covers on the bag straps (thanks for the tip Margaret) are great.  My pack is nearly 1km lighter than Atacama - but yet contains more calories (fist pump)! :)  Mash and cup of soup are an excited highlight.  The bottles are still bruising my ribs, but hey, you can't have everything.   My butt is still getting a lot of exposure  - these deserts and their lack of structures to pee behind!  :)

Roger is recovering, so for those following his blog, I doubt he will write today, but hopefully tomorrow night.

Love to you all,

Jess