Pain is evitable, suffering is optional. This was the mantra that got me through the long stage. Started the day off easy and I am glad I did as temperatures soared to around 45 degrees Celsius. After checking on a heat rash / reaction and a nose bleed (due to the dry conditions) at checkpoint 5 (50km into the day), I was feeling a little battered and tired and then had a bit of a situation with a fly that wouldn

Stage 4 now completed. Easier day for 42km and proper desert conditions.. hot! First half of the day, lots of downhill action so took advantage of that and changed from the standard 'ultra shuffle'to actual running. Second half of the day was when it started to heat up and I was still wearing long sleeves so was nice and toasty when I finished. There were some long stretches which seemed to go on forever but hey that's the desert.

It was nice to get into camp and not need to change into warm, dry clothes immediately and get some hot water bottle action happening (hot water in empty water bottles). Tonight's camp is tents but located in an abandoned village. It's still quite hot so everyone is seeking shade wherever they can find it. Last competitors today will probably get in around 8pm or so which means a long day for them especially with the long stage tomorrow.

Again thanks for comments and emails - unfortunately I am unable to see any of the photos as we write in draft and all comments get loaded at the same time when the team connects to the internet via satellite phone - but looking forward to checking out the photos when I have proper internet access. Also ill aim for a Jetstar photo but my legs currently do not lift very high so shall see what I can manage.

So tomorrow's long stage, I will team up with Marisa for moral support / buddy system to ensure we both remain hydrated and plenty of electrolytes are consumed to make sure we both finish the long stage. Also for sanity reasons too! So I will not post again until some time Friday but will fill you in on all the joys of the 80km! xx

First thanks for everyone comments and emails - it is much appreciated and something I look forward to at the end of each day.

Next item on the agenda, my sleeping bag turned up.. one of the course sweepers picked it up so no dramas there.

So stage 3 now done. I want to say for a desert which supposedly doesn't get much rain, it definitely received its fair share today. Felt a lot better today - bit more road running today and of course some show tunes to keep me entertained in the last 15km - despite it raining for most of the day (FREE SHOWER) and ended up at camp like everyone else absolutely saturated so a quick change of clothes and into the sleeping bag to warm up. It may seem like another cold night on the cards unless we get moved somewhere else which is possible if conditions don't improve. Personally I would love the village we slept in last night as it was nice and toasty but lets see what happens.

Camp is an entertaining place - as you enter, you are greeted with a welcome drum and given some of your allocated water. Then everyone is hobbling around with sore muscles clutching recovery drinks or freeze dried meals..also bedtime is super early - and I thought mine was - but its totally acceptable to be in bed by 7pm!

So now halfway through the stages - a 40km tomorrow then the long 80km stage, recovery day then 15km on the last day. Tomorrow planning on taking it easy in preparation for the long stage and hopefully it will be warmer as well.

Hope everyone is well xx

Day 2 now completed. Briefing started at 730 just in time for a flurry of snow to start.

The first 10km was uphill...and more uphill, climbing up a snow covered mountain which was difficult and took time to ensure you had good footing otherwise a fall would have been inevitable. At the top which was the highest elevation of the course, we were greeted with a beautiful temple and gorgeous views overlooking what we had just climbed and further afield to the course we covered on day 1.

After reaching the top, we had a lovely section of downhill and a few river crossing with locals happy to assist in exchange for a photo or two. Since arriving, I have made many locals

Following a cold evening where our tents were battered by strong winds and heavy rain, today was a challenging day - while the distance wasn't too bad, the conditions were tough...altitude hit climbing up the first hill then post checkpoint 2, the sleet then a snow storm hit. It was freezing and miserable but pushed through to CP3 where I finally pulled out my gloves. The one bonus of the snow storm was that we didn't have a 1km ascent up sand dune due to lack of visibility at the top so we went around. at camp 2 - still cold (still at altitude -

After much anticipation and preparation, I will be making my way to the start line of the Gobi March today. I arrived in Hami yesterday afternoon from Urumqi via a bullet train with some new pals I met en route. Checked in, grabbed some dinner and met my hotel roommate, Marisa, who is awesome

Home to many different animals like the black-tailed gazelle, Bactrian camel, marbled polecats, Asia