Hi all,

Its Friday morning and DONE IT- not of course the whole race there is one more stage tmrw but that’s a short (11k, lots of hills and will be hot!) walk in the park. What I have done is completed the 80k challenge- YESSSSSSSSS

What can I say about today? Tough tough tough really tough! Started with dunettes (sand in other words and soft!) of 11k, amazingly and thankfully we had cloud cover and rain! Next two stages were trails through the salt flats (hideous ugly desolate area) and here the heat kicked in huge time- another thing I have learned about myself, I don’t cope with this dry heat. Got to CP3 with new running partners Dean and Iny and really thought that was the end of my race- overheated, feeling sick and knowing the real heat was still to come (funny things these Chinese Time zones- means that 2 is heat of the day!!). Choices!!!!!!

Easy, camp down at CP3 with Dean (Iny decided to push on) to 6.30 and hope the heat dropped. What this meant was no chance of a 24 hour finish (unless my running improved dramatically) and also we would be up against cut off times (7.30 was the CP3 one) and the pressure of chasing those through the night.

Pleased to say the plan (!) worked and Dean and I walked (danced actually) across the line at 10 am this morning, 26 hours after the start. So what was it like? Hell if honest, not great scenery, hard work limping through rough terrain with headlamps, long endless roads and pressure. As we went through the course the fall out from other competitors who opted for different approaches hit us- front runners being pulled from the course, others on IVF, one passed out under a bush and helped home by others- have to say guys this race is brutal, it hurts mentally and physically and I will not be doing another.

Huge sense of achievement of crossing that line and look forward to the final line tmrw and a cold beer, steak, chips and loads of salt- of course I'm not counting tmrw as done yet and need to fix my feet tonight, rehydrate and eat- trouble is cant move for the first, feed up of hot water and food pretty much run out!!!

Thank you all for the responses to my blogs over the past few days, they have helped hugely.

Reflection? Yes, I know better who I am (funny its not someone who wants to push himself like this again) which is stupid at my age, so my message to all of you is find something that allows you to reflect and work out who and what you are- not suggesting this challenge but there will be something that allows you time out to do just that.

Ps, its 12.30, 28 hours and 30 mins since the start and still competitors are coming back in- guts, determination and downright stupidty!

Pps one update on Paul for Henley staff- he has done brilliantly, days in front of my times and looking strong.

Hi all,

This needs to be quick as they are shutting the tent and that’s an indication of what a bad day I had.

Actually it was a day of two halves- the first 30k was great felt strong heat not too bad and ran with Shalen fairly comfortably. CP4 and an easy 6.7k to the end and the wheels fell off- made it, crossed the line and have felt +++++__)) since!

Anyway eaten, drunk and slept so sure will be ok later. Trouble is we have a 4am start tmrw bus ride to start at 7am.Big day tmrw as its dunes day and will be hot (44today on that last stage!!). Change of tactic for tmrw which will be sloooooooowwww and probably find a partner to walk with.

Anyway that’s the not so good news the great news is we are staying in a local village tonight- fantastic, must get energy to take some photos.

Anyway thanks for the messages they are keeping me going.

WILY

Love you all

Ps, sharing tent with a father and three sons- had thought that was nice and be great to do with Alex, Greg and Georgie- good luck guys this is a one off for me so you don’t need to worry!