So after Stage 5 - the sandstorm wiped out the camp and we were evacuated to a sheltered location for the rest of the long day. Sand filled the air and it was an incredibly long day. In many respects I'd have preferred to have pushed on and finished the extra 10kms at the end of the long march on stage 5. But when you take the rest day it's a bit like toxic shock syndrome - your body releases the pressure and assumes that it's work is now done and then begins to break down - despite the fact that you still have more to go. For me it's the stopping that's the killer - which is why I hate the rest stops and CPs - I never want to stop for longer than it takes to fill up my water.

So anyway - we started the final stage at 10am this morning. i had a comfortable lead for 21st but was too far away to challenge for 20th so I mostly hobbled / shuffled the final 10km and finished in 21st place overall. So that's another 250km stage race down - Atacama and now Gobi.

Pretty pleased with the result given the issues earlier in the week but could probably have done better with a bit smarter training.

Anyway the most important part of the whole race was the amazing spirit, camaraderie and sense of community. The sportsmanship and support that all competitors gave to one another. The race team, support team and medical team were truly amazing and I wouldn't have been able to get through it without their support and care. Thanks to everyone for their support. It's genuinely inspiring to be amongst these people and supporters and I will value your friendship and support forever,

Remember the donation link if you get a second.

https://www.justgiving.com/Bryan-Murphy4

So we started the 80km stage at 7am this morning - an hour earlier because of the extreme weather. The pace started off very aggressively at the front but I wanted to pace it pretty conservatively. Ran most of the firtst stage and start of the second before dropping down into a fast march pace. People were still running pretty hard at this point so I was being passed by some of the runners.

The temperature was really beginning to pick up - by about 10am it was in the late 30s / early 40s and some people were already coming down with heat issues. I pushed on to CP4 and CP5 and the heat just kept climbing - at one point I checked it was 48C (118F). CP5 was a bit of a war-zone - a lot of people really struggling with heat exhaustion and resting in the overnight tents to try and recover.

At this point I think I'd gone through about 6L of water already - and at least half a dozen electrolytes and half a dozen salt tablets to try to stay hydrated. At CP1 I went through in about 35th, CP2 and 41st but by CP5 I was passing people who had to rest at the CPs. The heat was oppressive but it always felt manageableas long as I had enough water. From CP15 onwards I was going through at least 2.5L per CP plus another top up at the CPs. CP6 was another war-zone with people trying to shelter from the heat. Appartently it hit 51C at one point. I've never experienced anything like that - like being in a dry sauna with a hairdryer in your face.

It was so hot some of the guys were using their drinking water to rehydrate their expedition meals!

I spent a few mins at CP6 but was keen to push on and get it finished. The stage to CP7 was really tough - I went through 2.5L in less than 5kms and got a bit panicky about running out of water before the next CP so slowed down a bit and tried to conserve energy and water. Eventually got to CP7 and Dr Taylor did some running repairs to my feet to get me through the last 7kms.

The sun finally went down after leaving CP7 and that left a final 7kms to the finish line. I crossed in 20th place - which given the heat and ongoing chest issue I was pretty pleased with. My feet are a mess but that comes with the territory.

When the sun went down on the course the wind really picked up and we were all hit by a nasty sandstorm - blowing out some markers, redcucing visibility to a few metres and making it very difficult for the remaining competitors to get to the camp. The race was eventually suspended for those still out on the course and the management team, doctors and volunteeer team did an amazing job of getting everyone back to camp safely.

The camp itself was badly hit by the sandstorm and the tents were mostly blown down. At the moment I'm writing this sitting sheltering behind some rocks in the middle of the desert (minus my sleeping bag - which blew away).

Tomorrow is a rest day and then a final 12km sprint / hobble across the line.

One final lesson - never, ever mistake tiger balm for vaseline...unless you're aiming for a fresher feeling...

Remember the donation link and thanks in advance.

Got up for Stage 4 feeling much better. The antibiotics had helped to loosen my chest and I was breathing more easily. Today's stage was mostly flat, moderately downhill and mostly runnable. My initial plan was to walk / march it but when we started it felt easier on the feet to run it. So I ran almost all of the first and second checkpoints (about 22kms). The second half of the stage was less runnable but still did some running intervals (run for the count of 300 and rest for count of 60).

So that

Tough day out there. So it

Hi

Hi Everyone

Just arrived at Camp 1 after a three hour drive from Hami. We

So today is T-7 and the last minute equipment / training panic is about to set it. I've had a bunch of issues with visas and equipment (which too many people to mention have been very helpful with!).

It turns out getting a visa to restricted areas of China on a UK passport from Bangkok is not that straightforward...who'd have thunk it. But it seems that mostly everything is ready now.

So I'm flying from Bangkok to Kunming on Friday at 3am and get to Urumqi at about 1145am. Then getting the three-hour fast train to Hami (Kumul) at 1630 so expecting to be at base camp early evening. Looks like the region is fairly hotting up at the moment - up to 37 / 38C! Just in time to greet the Gobi March!

Anyway - until Friday and le grand depart!

And most importantly - the justgiving link for Save the Children - https://www.justgiving.com/Bryan-Murphy4

https://www.justgiving.com/Bryan-Murphy4

Just click to donate.

Thanks