Note: On day 4, after the day I wrote about in the labrynth of dunes, which I really loved, many many people had trouble with the heat. Aside from several drop-outs, a few IVs were administered, several people escorted out and one man who had no detectable pulse needed a camel to come and get him out to the ambulance. He is in Urmqi hospital in stable condition.
 
People were freaking out, furious, complaining, etc. but as this is my third race I know that these races are tough, and not everyone is meant to finish them. I also know that people can get sick or injured anywhere, anytime, even at home. It made me realise how important it is that we look after ourselves, just s the race organisers say... hydrate, eectrolytes, sleep, food. I think that the people who stuggled the most were making the most noise.... it is scary being alone in a canyon and feeling like you cannot go on.
 
NOW..... onto the LONG MARCH.....
 
I slept very well, thanks to some melatonin from Damien and a move to the outside terrace for sleeping. The stars were beautiful and my apprehension about tomorrow was eased. I work up at 5am and felt great. Best sleep thus far.... a great way to start a long, long 100km day. Ten they told us the course had to be changed due to the changing geography so we would start at 8am... great... caught another 60mins sleep and even had dreams... my childhood neighbour Chrissy was the local high school cheerleading coach and my other neighbour Gina opened an Indian restaurant called The Elephant on our old block... HOW WEIRD IS THAT?
 
I got totally organised, trying to emulate the retentive Damien... who is doing amazing on this race... and I was all set in plenty of time. Planned to wqlk the whole race with Phil and Mal.... but I was always a bit nervous about how I could ever keep up with Mal`s 5 foot legs. And Phil is so determined I was not sure what would happen.
 
Soon enough we were off and racing, down into 11km of river crossings... through mud and streams, reeds that were 10 feet high and long swampy grass, rocky riverbeds and it was fun to navigate, holding hands with my escorts to prevent my being washed downstream. My body felt great and I was confident....
 
We headed into vineyards that were lovely and well manicured, and before we knew it... CP 1 (checkpoint 1). YES! A swift pace along a road through town and the streets are filled with dozens of kids, most naked or without trousers. This was great and they all knew one English word.. HELLO!  So of course we all say Hello back.... then this continued for 12km.... tarmac road, kids naked, saying hello... I was like... HELLO!!!!!!! How unfriendly I can become.... I was like... these are the same kids... whhat are people doing all day but having sex and kids? Millions of kids everywhere! Soon we got punchy... I was satying that the boys have no pants on so they can play with themselves all day. It was that UNamusing.... and I really, really had to pee... but everyone hangs outside, even the beds are outdoors in summer so I could not exactly pull over to their bedside and squat!
 
Ahhh.... a pee down an alley and then lo and behold... CP2!  William is there and he is a sight for me! Kisses and we are off. At this point I am bored now and I am walking through the flags, keeping close but finding a good route. Then I started getting bored and Mal was saying I was creative about the route, I was techy at this moment and told him he is pissing me off and I pout my head-phones on.... whats that cat sound. Reeeeerrrrrr! I am CATTY.... I know it was rude but whatever I am on the edge. Mal is like so serious!
 
I had to keep my own pace and so we started to split up at CP3. I wanted to stop and stretch... I did not want my knees to go. Our time was good but I was getting very mentally challenged.... So I put on the Madonna and rocked it on my own. Passed several people, ran a bit and BOOM... hit CP4 behing on old village house. Saw Dr. DJ, who was in Sahara and remarked again how amazing I am doing compared to that trainwreck.... it was what I needed to hear and I headed out to find the mid-way checkpoint where they promised a stream of cool water. By now my muscles were ACHING, my hips were sore from walking so damn fast, but my energy was great!
 
The Gobii salt flats are basically a man-made rubbish dump with some diggers making holes for salt to form. It was a stinky and desolate road to nowhere. Every now and then a man appeared and he would be covered in filth and working hard in dirt.... I could not understand this place, bgut was thankful for the road... easy to follow.
 
Finally I hit CP5... HALFWAY! 55km DOWN.... woo hoo! It was about 5pm and I felt great. Made myself some bolognase...Phil and Mal were there as wasDr. Steve from our tent. He was crashed out....Phil was ready to go and wanted to leave, Mal needed more rest. I went to the spring. Ahhh, cold water on my aching calves and knees. It was basically a disgusting pool of mud with a water spicket... beggqrs and racers can`tbe choosers!
 
I left after a good stretch and headed to CP6 with Rob a guy from England living in Tokyo and with Mal.... a very, very long road to nowhere. Mal was complaining again about how he didnt very well come to the Gobi to walk a road without scenery. He is so funny... he is craving the hills. The sun has now come out, it was overcast all day... thank goodness. I would not have been doing so well otherwise.... now the afternoon sun appears and we three are struggling a bit. Playing some of Mals mental olympics... name 9 countries with only 4-letters.... name the first 20 elementsof the periodic table, etc. My mind was mush and I tried to keep my eyes on the horizon to help my aching shoulders nd back. All the aches and pains were flooding in.... this is it I thought. My breakingpoint iscoming. Finally we hit CP6.... amazing. Judy is there, and so are two guys on IVs, and another vomiting up water. LOVELY. People roll in and we are all doing well it appears, about 50-60 out of 150 people. Mal kept on walking and I stayed for a stretch. Rob needed a real rest, soin a bit I headed out on my own. It was about 8pm and the word was this 11km was actually 13.5..... NO JOKE... it took ages so I ran about half of it...its true... I  felt so great, had the energy and just wanted to get towards the hot water stop at CP7 before dark.
 
No luck, even running the distance got me and the sun went down about 2.5km before the checkpoint... but could not see any glo sticks or flags... it was scary. I had to find the flags in the trees and navigated ok, but hated every minute.... along in the dark in a village. Too spooky. After some keen navigation and help from some locals I found CP 7! YES!!!!!!
 
Phil, Mal and Jim from my tent were all there, getting ready to go. They had a big rest and Jim was there for hours sleeping. Phil had a rough time that stage but wanted to just get going, so they left and I said I would find a buddy. After a hot chocolate (thanks Dr Steve) and a chin wag with the volunteers, I hooked up with David from NZ and Takashi from Japan. We set off... no glo sticks anywhere. This was AWFUL... apparently the locals were stealing the sticks and it was such a problem no one could find the route. They stole the flags too! SONS OF B..... we were so tired, aching, struggling and had to crane our necks with headlamps in deepest darkness to find some tree markers.
 
I thought we would be at  CP8 by 3:30am... when that did not happen I started to freak out. I started to run... running and running, and getting more and more frustrated, distraught, tired and scared. I began to think wild thoghts, like what if a local kidnapped me and locked me in their basement... I could never be found? I sound like a lunatic in my own mind.
 
Still running, finally pick up the glo sticks... running, running, I start crying... they are going on forever... I am crying loudly now and gasping, and running and a totaol mess, then a car comes. GREAT JOB javcqueline I hear... Its Mary fixing for the third time the glo sticks the locals ar stealing. She sees I am crying and hops out, gives me good hug and calms me down, explains very, very specifically where the CP8 is and I am now OK. Thank goodness she came along. Dave the course director was not far behind, also remarking the course to help us, and I followed his vehicle into CP8. I ran my buns off.
 
Who is there? Phil, Mal and Jim! I must have been fast! Mal was not doing well, and so after a while Jim and Phil left. I was not interested in doing the last stage along in the dark looking for the damn flags. Those locals are rotten! So even though I wanted to make goood time and go, I decided to rest and go just before sun up so I could see. I left at nearly 6am, and headed out just after Dave who caught up at CP8.
 
We headed out through the vineyards and then crossed the road toward some very scary looking sand dunes. Sun just up and getting warm, but not hot yet. I just started booking it through those dunes, I wanted to get back and sleep! I passd David and headed over one dune after another, soft sand, hard sand, tall peaks and big trouhghs.... I kept hoping to spot camp... no luck.
 
Finally at 8:20am I see someone, I sense it is my honey! I run and run and it is William, I start to cry a bit, I am so happy and feel so proud of my personal achievement. I did it in 24hrs 30mins.. 110km was the final tally.I cannot believe it..... WHEW! man am I sore!
 
This place is really the oven.... the temps are still rising, 50 degrees celcius now 122 degrees farenheight.... it is awful. The tent is hot but I pass out and get some rest.... people are still out there, how is it possible? The human spirit triumphs.
 
Tomorrow is only 10km to the finish, and I am excited. This race has been amazing, so beautiful, great team from RTP, amazing volunteers and amazing supportive tentmates. In the end we all made it, tent 8 is victorious. We ROCK.
 
I am sweating like a big fat piece of cattle in the field... gross... and I am watering down my body and drinking gallons. I cannot imagine why I do this right now, but ask me tomorrow.....
 
xox and thanks to everyone for their love and support in every way.
Jacqueline

Wake up call at 3am means a lot of unhappy people who have paid to be this miserable. Ha! We are a sorry bunch of self-inflicting idiots. In the dark I made my porridge, thanks to Liza I have a good home made brew, but I must admit the rest of my snacks are paltry, I have been begging off strangers I am so hungry. Sam F shared the most delicious beef jerkey with me yesterday and I think that was the lease on life I needed a major protein boost... I think dried up cow is the best thing ever right now. Yummmm
 
So we ate in the dark and I had a major bottle rolling session and onto the bus. I actually slept ok in that Uigher hut,which I hope makes the difference today, but who knows... we start at 6am.
 
I landed on my feet about 90mins later with everyone near some river and a vineyard. What I would have given to drop this race stuff and have a bottle of cold white or rose. I hope Chantal gets a table ready for me at Pane Vino when I get back to HK. So we are off and racing... the sun just starting to lighten the sky and its road, road, road. UGH, I am wiggling my buns as fast as these TINY legs will take me. Mal come up behing me about 30 mins into it, takes his feet wuite a while to get going... this guy has the most awfuol feet you have ever laid eyes on, but his legs are as long as I am tall and he is just rambling as I am pushging it hard core. How depressing! Can we even be in the same race? Phil is behing Mal nd looking concerned... not sure why, he has been very strong the whole race, from a year ago his fitness has gone up about 200%! Amazing.
 
A few more people pass me and it hurts... I know I should not be worried about what anyone else is doing, but this rod is a BORE and I am not in good spirits. Madonna is not channelling any energy my way... what the hell?? My feet hurt even though its not blisters. I am tired. The kind of tired that makes you sad and the day is just beginning.
 
I feel like I am about halfway to checkpoint 1.. about HE DANCE OF JOY you could have seen me do.... how amazing to know that CRAP was behind me, and I am 1/3 done. That must have booned my spirits because I( did some bottle rolls for good measure and walked off at a clip. I started passing a few people and again, rotten to admit that feels very good. So sick what boosts yur confidence out here.... passing someone else? How terrible is it that I feel more powerful for it.
 
Then I start chatting with some guys who I always see, they have to pee so I keep on and catch another guy we chat a while and then he moves ahead quite fast but he usually runs so I don`t feel so bad. Next come the hills.... soft dirt/clay hills... up nd down, STEEP and the sun is up and I am listening to music and pumping... concentrating so hard to keep my pace no matter what the terrain happens to be. Whatever they throw at me I am determined.
 
The hills are never ending, and soon I see someone standing at the top of one of the hills.... its William!  Then I notice he is not wearing his hat.... I scolded him for that from 2-dunes away.... apparrently everyone thought it was sweet and funny so gald I can be a source of amusement for all.... he is pink as a watermelon and I kiss him, pose for a photo and also curse at the same time why the Frig are we so far away from the checkpoint... and then of course it appears!!!
 
So happy was I once again, the sun getting higher in the sky and me sweating which is rare. I get my water filled up, have been doing well with hydration and head out. The road was up and down and the energy was flowing so I ran... it was great. I had the juice so I did it and it empowered me. Then...You cannot believe it... more hills.... enormous mountainous hills of red clay and we are being led up and down the face of them, vertical ups and downs I am worried my knee will go anytime, BUT I feel so good!
 
The mountains of clay end and I am inside a labrynth within the hills, a very narrow gulley where you can only go one foot in front of the other. It was so exciting at first... I ran through that too. Then lead out of the gulley over more hills, then back in the labrynth. I decided to imagine I was in the lovely English garden maze of my friend Emma Wells.... and I imagined a breeze and let the positivity I had on my side take me swiftly.
 
But it carried on for AGES.... about 10km of this, it was almost threatening to play with my mind but then I felt the deep descent of the clay and knew I must be near camp. Not quite so... I caught up to Phil and Lucy T, I was running and just kept going. Something came over me, AJ calls it The Flow... first time I ever had it, wish I could channel that every day!
 
I saw amn amazing walled village of domed buildings ahead and knew camp must be there, I ran it in, and made it.... WOO HOO! Feel very sore, nothing serious, and tired and elated. The best day ever. And damn hot.
 
Phil came in soon after and after he had a sit down we headed dwn to a bearby river. This was the best feeling in life, I was so dirty from the clay, my skin looked three shades darker with a layer of clay on it everywhere. I dunked my whole body in the river and thought how this day was a milestone for me. But I am not sure how it happened.
 
The threat of 100km tomorrow is very dark. We are staying in a Uigher Museum... it is beautiful with exhibits all around and buddhist temples covered in hand painted motifs. I wish I wasnt so damn tired that I could qpprecdiate it a bit more. Turpan is friggin HOT and dusty and barren. I do not want to hike 100km outta here.
 
Off to stretch and sew up Phils feet. It has been a hot day and I am feeling so sore in the buttocks.... Not sure how my body will hold up tomorrow but it should be a hot mess... 15 hours of sunlight here. I am not pleased. Can you imagine cooking yourself in an oven for a whole day?
 
My stench is about as bad as a dead carcass that has been in the desert alongside me. Absolutely reaking of odur.... Can you ever wash this kind of smell off?
 
Much love and thanks for everyones support. I am off to mooch food.....
xoxox Jacqueline
 
 

Do you know what the human symphony is? No? Come into tent #8... yes, we have every kind of sound thee human body can possibly make under one roof. Burps, farts, wet windy gas, coughs, sniffles, snores, wheezes, whoops, laughs, snorts, gasps, cringes of pain, moans of aches, and more.
 
It has been a major windy, gqassy, burping mess in our tent, all thanks to the freeze dried gourmet medly in our diets. Add on top every kind of gel, goo, powder, pill, snack, jerkey, bar, tea and soup. We are a noisy bunch.
 
The day started fine except that the start time was moved up to 8am, but that got me organised quickly. No match for Damien.... how can this frenchman appear so cool, unaffected and still be so anal in his own way? He is the speedy one of our tent, I come back and he is napping and stretching, looking so well and very chill. I hate it! But I also love it becqause he is kind and helps me with my recovery drink and reminds us to stay organised and drink lots.
 
So anyway, I am up and at-em.... the big announcement...more water crossings ahead. I don;t care. Just walk through in the shoes and let them dry... so 3-2-1... Go! I am off as fast as my little legs can take me and we head back down into the massive silty riverbed. We are winding through the woods... it looked like I woke up in Upstate New York! These were proper woods, with various greenery and lovely trees. The temps were cool and aside from some swamps it was amazing... then back into the riverbeds... winding around and through the river about 6 times, freezing! And fast moving, I grabbed the hand of the nearest man to help me since the rushing waters were carrying my little legs away!
 
We came out of the riverbed into an amazinglandscape of rock and it looked like Santa Fe.... but ahead was a very long and flat road. A true test of ones will. I wanted to slow down every step... The road went on forever. Then I wanted to run, but had to resist for fear of the knee. I carried on.
 
People who could jog passed me and that always feels awful.... why can;t I run? I have some energy? Why does my body fail me when I try to up the ante? I was getting down and though about popping one of my zoloft sleeping pills! ha ha
 
The checkpoint came quickly after thhat, thank goodness, I was about to start slagging the powers that be.... how excited was I when that second checkpoint appeared around a bend. Wooo hoo! I cheered and cheered. Then of course I stopped cheering when the massive rows upon rows of hills appeared.
 
It was great to get over the boredom... the hills were amusing, but hard work too. I was sweating under my hat and under my shirt and hoping that the next 11.5km would feel like 8.... no luck.
 
When the hills were done there was another long stretch of road. I decided to power on and ignore the fact that my feet felt swollen and puffy. I cannot believe how hard and fast I was walking. I have spent three days mainly alone and I am getting tired of it. I wish I could just lay down right here.
 
Somehow I thought of the people who are behind me, my family and friends, the tri-babes and all the friends I have made on other races... those emails came in handy to keep me on track. And it turned out that it was not 11km... it was about 15.... what a nightmare. When I saw the flags I ran. I cheered, another dqy down and it was a monster effort.
 
Our camp is in a local ugher (spelled wrong, said wee-gher) village and we are staying in local homes. They are mud and stne huts and I could sleep anywhere right now. I am dizzy and feel weak... not well at all. I take off my shoes and see the my feet are doing well... the toe-nail-ectomy was great... worked out perfectly and no majot additions to the feet... whew.
 
There is a freezing river and I took myself down there and splashed water on myself. Amazing, but I feel ill.... everyone is exhausted and the sun is coming out. The day was ok, lots of clouds and a bit of rain drops... but now it is a roaster, and I am worried for tomorrow.
 
We hadd a stretching contest and Phil lost miserabely, I am tied with Damien for best... nice to see a 6 foot man throw his legs over his head... how insane is that? I am going to pass out and hope I wake up... we start at 3am....
 
Love to all... and as for ocean park, I forgot to leave the tickets... so plese just buy them there.
xoxox Jacqueline

Last night was another freeze, so I pulled out the emergency blanket which sounds like a packet of crisps being opened about a million times. My tent mates all kept their sense of humour about it, and jealous me... some were quite toasty. I was fine for a few hours in the evening then my bodyheat made for sweat in the sleeping bag which then turned freezing cold and I was up and down, going to the toilet ten times and readjusting my bag. Nightmare. Huddled by the new fire at 6am, shivering but smiling until 8am.
 
It is amazing how poorly one can sleep on a full sleeping pill! Yes, Phil and I took the sleeping pils I bought and the thing didn;t work for either of us.  Wait for it... here comes the punchline....
 
I thought the name of the pill I wanted, recommended by a friend, started with a Z.... so the dispencery (no prescriptions req. in HK) gave me ZOLOFT. Yes... Phil and I are now on anti-depressents!!! Everyone nearly fell over with hysterics, since he and I were both down a night;s sleep but feeling UP about it.
 
PS- the docs said someone without a chemical imbalance is unaffected...hmmmm
 
So I got up and started my bottle rolls on the IT band.... followed by stretches and more rolls. And then a voltaren, with ibuprofen and peracetamol at the ready. And the start was 14km of hills.... ugh!
 
I did not give in to the urge to run at the go because of the enormous climb in front of me. It was unbelievable, one after the other, and down the other sides just as steep. My legs and knees were fine, I kept up my fast walk. I wanted to make the most of my lack of pain and get some distance covered. I was fine on the hills, kept my swift pace and just tried to think positively.... easy to do on anti depressants! ha!
 
The landscape was so beautiful, even more breathtaking than the day before. I had to concentrate though, always in my head, music blaring, coaching myself along, dont slow down, you need to get there fast, walk faster. I channeled the walking powers of Simon Robertson and my hikes following his swift pace.
 
Then, just as I was coming around a bend in a gulley, still pain free but no guarantees with the day only half done. ... was William! Taking photos and looking very handsome like a better looking Indiana Jones. Kiss and a hug then onto checkpoint 1. YES! I did it and drank so much water I was proud of myself... 3 litres in 14km.
 
The next stages were to be very flat but the terrain was roacks of many kinds. Even when there was a road there were so many rocks. Then we corssed into a river bed, green grass on the banks of a winding river that was 90% dry, a lot of gret silt, and so beautiful amongst the hills. I thought of how Tim Welch helped me through the riverbeds of Namibia, and felt grateful for my ability to keep such a good pace.
 
YES... I was like a bulldozer today! Whatever the terrain, however big the rocks, I hept it up, don;t slow down i kept telling muyself, get to camp and start the muscle recovery aand stretching. It was like having Coach AJ or Fen or AM inside my head.
 
The music kept me moving, and I though in parts about how much I rely on people for encouragement when one wants to slow down. It has been such a boon being in a tent with such great people, always suporting one another.... that got m through to the river crossing, and on home... I ran through, knowing that the sun would dry my shoes... I made it back in such good time, fought my urge to jog and never a pain was had.
 
People tell me this is a mental battle, and never did it feel more so. It is almost easier to continue in great adversity than to press on, give it 200 percent when things are fine. I could have strolled, been out there for ages and had little recovery time. But I focused my mind on pushing it, but not too far. Hard for me.... a personal victory today.
 
When I got back it was all fun and storeies and blister checks. Mal is probably tied with Phil... and of course being the disgusting person I am, I threaded phils feet... and then went to work on my one blister.
 
A real doosey... just behind the second toenail. I used a syringe to pop it and a lot of brown clear fluid appeared, the nail was eventually going to come off... perhaps with an infection. SO... I ripped my toenail off. It was AWESOME!
 
Now my skin is healing brilliantly and I am ready for dinner. There is a light drizzle which makes me very nervous... my hereditary joints do not work well in the damp rain.... fingers crossed for a warm night and blue skies?!
 
NOTE: I had such a great day today, the best of any race I am wondering if I should not mess with the system and take the zoloft for the entire race??
 
xoxox Jacqueline
PS- I look at my photos of Beatrice adn Wyn everyday, send you many kisses.

The pre race camp was a welcome sight after the bus ride that nearly ended with at least a few of us in a ravine. Yes, coach busses on make-shift bridges is a bit techy, but the driver was extremely cautious... oh not for our sakes, for the sake of his bus! Guys gotta make a living!
 
Anyway, the campsite was in a lovely green clearing with grass and trees, but it wasnt long before the temperatures dropped... A LOT. Everyone was in a shiver and in their sleeping bags by 9pm. The night proved tough. I specifically stopped drinking water at 8pm to avoid multiple trips to the bush behind my tent... alas 5 times I had to unzip my bag and make way to the outdoors for a wee. Not pleasant. The only upside was that activity created some body heat that kept me warm for a few minutes upon my return. So cold was I that I planned to unwrap the emergency blanket but thought the noise in the middle of the night quite unfriendly for the first night.
 
I woke up, to pee of course, at just before 6am, and was so cold I made my way to the fire. Met a great cast of characters from all over, including Lebanon. A father who was missing his kids... I could relate! Cannot believe how cold everyone was, no one was prepared... we were promised THE OVEN, and after about an hour of warming the campsite was a bit more chipper.
 
My throat is not getting better, worse in fact and Damien gave me some syrup, muchas gracias. I also taped Phil`s back to help prevent rubbing and watched Mal tape all of his toes, they look like alien feet! I got dressed and headed toward the start like with the tent mates, planning to take it fast but not run. William was there for a kiss (yea!) and a photo, then... 3...2...1... GO!
 
Needless to say I RAN. UGH, JACQUELINE! I followed Phil so it has to be his fault, but he proved a speed demon, a plug for his running coach Peter. I ran most of the first stage, 9km and a lot of the undulating second stage 8km, felt amazing the whole way but my throat a real menace. The landscape was breathtaking. Huge mountain ranges on both sides, with snow caps! Blue skies, minimal heat, puffy clouds and the occassional herd of cows. It was bliss and I was alone with Madonna and Lady Gaga, and my meger helping of low-fat snacks and powders.
 
AFter checkpoint 2 the course headed up a steep hill.... a tough climb but a great change to the mainly flat landscape. Everything was green at that point. I slogged it up no problem and who was at the top? WILLIAM!! My love! What a pleasant sight! I cannot tell you how fun it was, he sang to me and I finished the climb into a kiss.
 
Quick to keep my pace I descended a very steep climb covered in skree. It took a lot of concentration. Then another up and down hill.... BAM..... the right knee went to jelly. NO!!!! How can this be happening! Immense pain, my leg felt as though it was suspended by a rubberband. And it was... my IT band, mf, can you believe this? It is Sahara all over again I thought. NO, I started coaching myself into  a better place but the pain on those downhills was sapping all of my energy, I had to focus and keep going as quick as possible, I do not want to be out hre all day.
 
A few people passed me and that bruised my ego, I had been going so well! Is this because I ran at the start? My pack weighed in at 7kilos, but 9kilos with the water when I started. How could I be SO STUPID. My mind was reeling and the pain not getting any better.
 
The rest of the 15km were undulating, a few steep ups and down in there and my energy was low and water low too. But I put on the music, some bad disco, and just focused. The flats were ok, and I stretched and massaged my kneecap a few times. I started worrying about my race, about the long day. But again had to talk myself into a better space.
 
Lucy T came up behind me, she was keeping a steady pace all day which is of course the best plan. When I told her about the knee, she immediately handed over 2 fast-acting Ibuprofen and within 30 mins the pain abated quite a lot. I owe this day to her.
 
Just before the next ridge I had to go to the nearest bush, that took a while, and when I made my way to the top I saw camp!!!! Wooo hoo! It would be a steep downhill of pain to get there but it would come. I walked the rest with Takeshi, he is also from HK and we chatted the rest of those few km.
 
Who should be approaching us from the finish line... WILLIAM! What a great way to end my day.
It was great and the high distracted me plenty from the knee with a kiss. He is working so hard but feel so grateful to have a few little moments with him.
 
All is well when my tentmates greet me with their hugs and stories of the day. Damien kept me sane, making sure I took my recovery powder asap, phil  could not hide his exuberence of coming in so fast, he is top 30. I took my voltaren, powders and had  big old roll of the band on the water bottle. OUUCH. On balance I could not deny it was a beautiful day, and Dave Annendale set an incredible and fun course. (not his fault I blew out my knee!)
 
This injury is going to slow me down and I am trying to stay positive in spite of it all. Not sure what another 30km will do to my knee tomorrow.... let`s see....
 
Much love to Beatrice and Wyn whom I miss terribly, and big thanks to Granny for her efforts at home. I need some emails, I need your encouragement. Hazel any ideas??? xx jacqueline

It was hard leaving the kids but with every leg of the trip toward the land Guiness book of records calls "the middle of nowhere", the longing for cuddles from the kids decreased as my anticipation for the race ahead increased. I am grateful for that... how I wish they were all at the finish line everyday. 

The journey began with my waking up at 4:30am, flying to Beijing and then onto Urmqi. And the farther I flew from Hong Kong the less I stressed about work, kids and even my own performance for the race. It was cathartic and also fun to see competitors on the same flights, getting my mind focused on what really counts--- pack weight and race strategy... ha ha.

When you are expecting a desert race but arrive to torrential rain, the mind says... WHAT the? It's true... I am freezing and now second guessing my clothing allotment for the race. Captain Binns says that temps will heat up again, but ask anyone who has done this before and the cold is no minor enemy. I am still undecided if my scrunched up tech-puffer makes it in the pack.

My roomate for the night is a Japanese woman named Kumi, on the verge of becomming a Granny, she ceremoniously bowed and handed me a packet of earplugs..." I-o, many-ou snore-ou, ou-present-ou for your-ou sleep. Hai!" It was a very thoughtful gesture, and in fact I slept without hearing a thing.

At 6am I woke and began to roll my freeze dried dinners into cling-film and ziplocs. Packed it all up in my Day 1 thru 6 baggies, and feel well sorted. How simple it all becomes our existence when you pack a week into a small bag. And I mean pack everything.... no hotel soaps and loo-roll awaiting me at the camp sites! This aspect of the race I love, the reminder of just how little we need. (read: jacq will return home and do another big clean-out of the house excesses).

Heading out to pre-race campsite later today. First finish-line posting comes tomorrow. Much love to my kids and thanks to Granny for coming to HK and giving me the peace of mind that is priceless. xx jacqueline

This is my third race with RTP and I am having those mixed emotions like a 10 year old gets when they are excited for their first day of camp and also terrified because of what the worst could be. The team at RTP have made no secret of the fact that the terrain and the heat for this Gobi race will be one of, if not the toughest ever staged. I have been battling my own demons here in Hong Kong. My training was all going wel, a lot of cross training with the Tritons/IHP crew and plenty of hours and km logged on the trails of Hong Kong, but my left hip seems to be screaming for a replacement and my right IT band is a menace. Off to see Hazel my ace physio this afternoon for a final torture massage. The packing is hilarious this time around, the shoes are new for a start, no more desert go-lites as they are rubbish on the rocks, so it's a Salomon try for this race and some glued and sewed gaitors from RTP care of Mr. Groom cobblers. As for the food, my very strict and very clever nutritionist (makes me sound sooooo Hollywood....) Liza G. ripped through the labes on my packeted meals and did her majic on the calculator and essentialy changed my whole format for eating in abot 30 mins. Going high carbs, enough protein and least fat possible so I can burn some of the many inches of fat I have already stored up on my ass and thighs! More to come tomorrow as I am ready to depart..... just writing this blog is getting my blood pumping.... as my toddler says.... KA-Chow! x Jacq