Well I can safely say 50 miles in one go with a rucksack is a long way, a very long way.  The day started off overcast and with the odd spots of rain.  So on the back of this we all started off fairly quickly, trying to get as many miles completed as possible before the heat kicked in.  And it certainly did that.  The terrain at first was scrub desert and cracked clay, baked hard by the sun.  Running along,  geckos would suddenly appear and then scurry off.  We climbed a plateau towards what appeared to be very dark clouds with the promise of some refreshing rain, when we suddenly turned away from them and headed towards the sun.  The Turpan Basin  quickly gave way to extensive salt flats.  It was a crater filled barren landscape, and the temperature quickly rose, reflecting from the salt pools.  With a quick stop at check point 3 I set off for check point 4, 11km along a never ending perfectly straight road, were the temperature hit 50 degrees.  This was hard, very hard.  It felt really hot and trying to keep a good rythm in the heat was very difficult.  We could see for miles, but everything in the distance was shimmering in the heat haze, and the check point just wouldn't appear.  Worse was the feeling that due to the temperature and distance i've run, the dreaded blisters had started to appear.  Eventually the check point came into view, and as it was filled with quite a few people, I decided to have a bit of a tactical pit stop.  Plenty of water and my, by now, big blisters burst, drained and taped by the doc, it was time to set out again.  The temperature had dropped, but only slightly, and the next part of the course was across broken terrain, with sharp thorn bushes and lots of geckos.  Again it was hard work, it felt like a really long stage, and had a water stop half way.  We entered melon fields, with the bemused locals looking at us as if we were crazy, and they're right!  This satge ended at 2000 year old ruins, and a check point with hot water to make food.  However, my feet needed re-taping, and a couple of extra blisters had made a welcome appearance, while the Mediterranean pasta really wasn't going down well.  It was dark by now and I teamed up with Trevor from Australia and we set off for the finish 20 miles away.  With lights on we made goood time first walking / shuffling along roads thru a village were we could hear  murmuring noises.  Shining a light to the side of the road we saw the locals sleeping outside by the road on wooden tables , bemused by 2 mad blokes walking / shuffling along with blistered feet and rucksacks.  We then climbed the Flaming Mountains in the dark, following green glow sticks.  It was sand and rock underfoot, tricky in darkness, and felt like a long way.  Then just as the sun rose and we could see without torches we rounded the corner and entered the campsite.  50 miles done - wow hot hard painful work.  One day to go.   For Melissa today - a camel spider tried to cilmb over me as I sat at a check point.  They're big, bright yellow and eat scorpions!  He moved as quickly as I did - luckily in opposite directions.  Cheers for the emails.  The photos sound great, but we don't get to see them,  so not sure what expressions your getting to see!

23.5 miles in just under 10 hours.  70th place for the stage. Up at 3 am to catch the transport at 0400.  After a quick 3 1/2 hour journey, and just as the sun was rising, there they were.  The biggest sand dunes I have ever seen.  The morning started slightly overcast but became very hot by midday.  We started the race by running straight into the dunes.  It was impossible to keep any momentum as the sand gave way underfoot, and quickly filled my trainers with hot sand, in-spite of wearing gaiters.  I could only run (walk) for so long with toes cramped up and so had to stop several times to empty my shoes.  The dunes stretched into the distance and we  moved up them, down them and along crescent shaped ridges.   Spectacular but energy sapping.  The 6 miles to Check Point 1 seemed to take an age, but we finally descended and having got my water allowance set off hoping not to meet any more dunes. How wrong I was.  These were called dunnettes, and also went on for ages before turning into the salt pans of the Turpan Basin.  The sand under foot was very soft, but crisp on top like a crust, baked by the now up and shining brightly sun.  The heat felt so intense, 42+ degrees, and was reflected from the dunnettes and wadis.  Having to buddy up, (having to run in at least pairs between check points because of the heat), I teamed up with Martin and Alex this time.   We walked the whole course because of the heat and conditions under foot. (as did most of the competitors).  Especially amongst the scrub bushes with huge thorns that were very sharp.   I had to pause for 10 minutes at the last checkpoint, as did most competitors. I was feeling really hot and needed some food. So after a couple of packets of jelly beans and an anti-nausea tablet, (not because of the jelly beans but because I wanted them to stay down), and some water, Martin and I set off over the last 4.5 miles.  Joined this time by Andy we made better time thru the scrub bush and were just discussing how far we had to go when the shout went up 'the campsites over on the left'.  Great but the course swung to the right and we still had a mile to go.  Having crossed the line together, we all agreed that was the toughest part of the course so far.  Hot and tricky underfoot.  Came in 70th don't know were I am over all and looking forward?! to the 50 miler tomorrow.  Several huge scorpions , and they really are big, have caused mayhem in the campsite; they keep trying to get into the tents, and run over your feet with pincers raised! Apparently its the small ones that we should be looking out for.  And one for Ollie,  I saw a real live Gobi Gecko in amongst the dunes.  Cool!  Haven't read any blog comments because they didn't download from the satellite properly, but they will try again.  Cheers all.

The stars were out in force last night.  The sky was crystal clear and  it looked like you could touch some of them!  Today was hot, very hot.  27.5 miles descending into the desert and Turpan basin.  Somehow I managed to finish 35th, in 6 hours and 13 minutes.  We started off following the river bed for 4 ish miles.  We set off at 0800 and crossed the small but fast flowing river several times.  Wet feet all round.  The riverbed was full of boulders and large shingle.  Pretty tiring on the feet.  After climbing out, we then climbed for several miles through steep sided red rock canyons, before descending the other side of the mountain range.  By now the temperature was picking up, and it was tricky to keep your footing amongst the rocks.  It was after check point 2 that Alper, a Turkish lad, and I started to run together and crossed the finish line in what we both thought was a good but mad time.  He egged me on as we rushed down the canyons, which then opened up into dusty desert covered in gravel and small scrub.  We both wanted to finish before the temperature hit the 40s and it was my turn to encourage Alper to keep going.  The final stage saw us running down into, and staggering up several ravines.  Getting to the top of each one we thought we had made it to the end, only to see more ravines and from the top we could see for miles and miles.  The finish line was in sight at last, and was at the entrance to a local village were we are spending a brief night in locals houses.  We are still in groups per tent and I'm not sure the smell from 8 pairs of sweaty dusty trainers is going to be nice.   Up at 0400 to travel to the start of tomorrows day - crossing 23.5 miles of sand dunes .  Melissa and Ollie well done in your school sports day.  And good to hear your party went well Ollie.  And Zac walking more steps - give it a few years and......

Thanks for all of your emails.  I can't reply to them but keep them coming - they're are very appreciated.    Woke up this morning with the plateau covered in cloud.  It was a very wet and chilly start to the second day.  Visibility was so poor we couldn't see the pink flags marking the route and so the start was delayed, resulting in a shortened distance.  Running in distinctly English weather, (maybe Urumqi's version of wimbledon is on), today was easier than yesterday.  The course took us along and through several dry riverbeds, and ended crossing a very wet one.  Everyones kit is soaking from the river and the rain, and drying it is difficult- but as I type this the sun is starting to appear through the clouds and mist.  Again the scenery was amazing, mountains and long valleys.  We mainly followed tracks today, with boulders strewn across the riverbeds making running difficult.  The legs are slightly sore, but I wanted to push along as the weather was kinder to the Brits.  Not sure were I  am in relation to the other runners but finished in 2.10 after a long climb up out of the riverbed to reach the plateau the campsite is on.  Re-hydrated pasta tonight....Yum

That's the first stage completed.  We crossed several large plains at 2000m altitude, all surrounded by snow capped mountains.  The scenery is breath-taking, especially form the top of some very steep hills. Not sure which was  harder; running down or walking up.  (Too steep to run!!).  It was hot on the course but not too bad and is cooler first thing in the morning.  Although it promises to get warmer later on.  In parts there was a fair old wind which took some of the heat off. The stage was difficult, running on loose rocks and shingle,  across dried up river beds, and along steep ridges, but at the moment the legs are fine, just feeling the altitude a bit.  New day and another difficult stage tomorrow, so its re-hydrated chilli con carne tonight.... Nice.

Finally packed my bags and depart in less than 24 hrs for China. I've re-packed, and packed again, and still fiddling with leaving things or taking things - and the nerves have started to kick in. A couple of beers should sort that out. Well at least the blogging works. Off to find the sun - Cheers