Well Stage 2 was supposed to be easier albeit 6km longer.... Ha.

OK time for my first blog for this adventure. Arrived at our campsite by the sea at Kardamyli village after a 5 hr bus ride from our hotel in Marathon.  Very picturesque through villages and olive trees and rocks everywhere.  Arrived to 2 local musicians and guitar and sitar(?) singing - very cool. Literally right by the ocean. 3 Englishmen sharing our tent from Manchester - have done various multi stage events and a ton of ironman - think Paul has done 29 and Steve 22…!!

First freeze dried meal - yummy yummy.  Bed early as it started raining pretty heavy.  Slept really well despite the hard ground and thin sleep mat. Quite mild.  Up around 6am for leisurely freeze dried brekkie, race briefing and away at 8am.

First stage started through the village and then quickly got very tough with 785m elevation gain on technical single track in just 9.7km.  Heat rate was high.  Was happy to have poles which is a first for me - meant for sorer shoulders but that was just as likely my full pack - weighed in at 8.9kg plus 1.5L of water and poles.  Quite pretty view back over the coast line then it started raining lightly and very humid.

Second stage was 7.4km and ‘only’ 203m elevation so finally got some running in for the first time.  Passed sheep and goats and their barking dogs in the villages we passed through.  Locals looking on with bemused expressions.  Quite a lot of the dwellings are abandoned which makes for an eerie landscape.  Churches everywhere.  Still quite slow going.

Third stage was 9.8km and a hefty 619m elevation.  I was in a very unhappy place in this stage - slightly light headed; heavy legs; slow slog on single tracks and dirt roads up the mountain.  Through a second canyon with spectacular views back over the coast and surrounding mountains as we‘re now quite high. Very happy to see the checkpoint and sat down briefly to refill my electrolytes.

Fourth stage was 11.1km and 406m elevation mainly on dirt roads and through some high villages.  Lots of fog had set in so not much visibility. Thankfully I was feeling better so got a move on along the flats and downhill.  Started spinkling with rain again. Couple of locals drove past in beat-up cars clapping us while shaking their heads.  Cramped up a bit with 2km to go so had my first 2 x salt tablets for the day and the cramping passed pretty quick.

So it was 38km with 2013m elevation.  Took me about 6h10m and think I came in around 21st (21 21 21 - that‘s for Ashlee & Darcy).  Suprised to be staying in huts rather than tents although three tents in each hut so 18 peeps.  Lucky I’ve got ear plugs :-)

Adam finished ahead of me and Joe is still out there with Sean (the other Englishman).

A great day for scenery and very challenging.  Glad to have it behind me and move onto a new day.  Focussing on recovery and staying warm.

Thanks for the messages from home

Cheers!

Darren