Where does one begin after completing 80km in 23.5 hours with no sleep??  Well I can start with my utter breakdown within the first 10km when streams of tears just came out of my eyes as all the pain and stress from all the days came full force and the realization that I was facing a FULL day of walking just hit me.  I did recover, however, and kept moving forward...it's really hard to think of the stages & the events of the day which all seem a blur at the moment.
Humour seems to be escaping me at the moment and I feel like I'm not going to do my blog justice....but I tell you I still can't believe I finished today....although mostly flat terrain, my hipflexor started acting up Wednesday night after the day of dunes, no sorry hell, to the point where I couldn't actually lift the leg....so you can imagine my annoyance at the starting line of 80km with a f-cked up leg that just didn't want to listen to me....doctors have been advising against IBProfen due to high chance of Renal failure with the heat so I only took one every 6 hours during the heat of the day (recorded 48 degrees celius, roughly 115 Farenheit) which sadly didn't even numb the pain - my body was like no bitch you're going to feel every step you take if you want to be this stupid. It was so bad that at every checkpoint I would lie down for 30 minutes and massage anti-inflamatory gel into my hip - I looked and sounded llike I was masturbating my way through the race.  However, at checkpoint 4, Eva got a treat...Mr. Chuck Wilson (the course director) made an appearance and I was able to give him a nice piece of my mind, especially about that damn barbed wired from Wednesday.....but as it turns out, Chuck enjoyed my rant and ended up walking with us for a bit after that checkpoint...
It seems my blog is getting popular and it's making me think I might be in the wrong line of work....I got quite a few messages and would like to address everyone:
Andy from the UK - YES, I was a bit confused at first and was like who the hell is Andy??? But Inny is LOVELY and we spent ALL of the long day together (well, from checkpoint 3 on)...she is a tough cookie and despite her agonising feet from all her blisters she toughed it out and made it....although I reckon she should have brought some sort of flip flops...might have made her life a bit easier...but I doubt she will do this again to learn from it...haha
Cathy - I love the updates...YES, I am crazy and YES, tell Coops that I realized my stupidity around day 3 in the heat yelling at the wind....We definitely need to meet for drinks and YES, you will make your walk...the cold weather will be lovely and you will have the company of your father....trust me, you will enjoy it.  If it was hot as hades in this joint, I probably would enjoy this more..
Dora - I've tried to compare Kilimanjaro with this and realized that it has NOTHING on the Gobi...the dunes didn't remind me of the top it was the sh*tty sand crap AFTER the dunes that reminded me of that day...but I tell you, I should have probably started off with a marathon before going right into this.
Helen & Joerg - I love it that you're followig me from Bali....please have a cold one for me and keep supporting me all the way...we will have a great catch up and drink when I get back! xxx
Don & Eric - again, thank you sooo much for the continued support...it means a lot that you both are keeping tabs on me....However, Don, as a volunteer you get credit yourself...it's not easy either...
Shamus - YES, the Oprah quotes are perfect and I'm loving each update..I hope you enjoy this blog just as much as the others...
Tiff & Kim - you girls are great!!  I will tell you all the stories when I get back :)
DAD - Finally some form of life!!!  Don't worry, you and mom created a tough cookie and I will definitely finish this race. Please update mom and Sarah for me and tell everyone that although I'm suffering it is an amazing experieence.
My Tarzan...why did you not sleep for 65 hours? I'm glad to see you figured out how to get me a message, I was beginning to get angry!!  I miss you too and will update you separately!

It seems we got up this morning at 3am to be bused to f-ing Hades....today was by far the worst day of the week...began with a 10.3km walk through "rightous" sand dunes followed by 9.6km through Dunnettes and "underfoot" which was sinking sand no matter where you walked in 45 degree heat.  Then 10.5 of just horrible sand and brush by a final 7km of the worst mindphuck (to avoid filtering) ever...right before reaching camp they had us walk around a barbed wire fence...who the F puts up a barbed wire fence in the desert???  And it fences in nothing but bushes and dirt...with a road in the middle of course!  I did manage to finish which says alot as not many did today....between the heat and never-ending sand and bush it was hard...people were throwing up and passing out...I was actually very surprised I made it through!  Tomorrow is the long day and I'm quite nervous...I was going to plan to go straight through it, but I think I will have to rest half way through and then start up in the middle of the night to take advantage of the "cool" night. 
My knee - funny enough is fine....a little sore this morning and as these are the first stitches I've ever had I'm so afraid of popping them despite the many reassurances from all the medic staff...so on their advice I've been adding a bit more movement and it's working...except on those damn sand dunes, I couldn't fly down the sand like everyone else....gutted...oh well...next time.  Although with that said....next race - I'm a volunteer...f this running crap..I'm taking this medal and adding it to things accomplished...next type of race is strictly a one day affair...this getting in at 8pm to get up at 6am to do it all again on even sorer feet than the day before is outrageous...I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up..oh yes I do..a challenge that I can lose weight from...so stupid! 
I can't remember if I commented on our night in the village in yesterday's blog...but we came to this tiny village last night with all these locals where we actually slept in their houses....it was interesting but I did feel like we were intruding in their homes...so I asked one of the locals who is volunteering and he tells me that they don't mind us there as our guests, but what they do mind is you in so little clothes!! ha..and I was in a tank top and long leggings!!!  He should have seen me earlier when I was parading in my panties and sports bra!  Well, it was a muslim village.....they probably don't see so much skin all year...
 
Unfortunately the blog comments weren't able to upload and I was only able to see the emails....so if you posted something, I'm sorry I couldn't read it.
However, Mr LaHaie!!!  Thank you soo much for the email...I'm glad to see you're enjoying my blogs and that others are reading them besides my friends who have to...hahaha'.  I have to say that I did think of you today, funny enough..in the middle of the heat and sand wondering who the F did you run this...crazy crazy man!  but I give you serious props!!  We will have to compare notes when I get back...let's make sure to meet up :)
Kaimin my love...I miss you too! Can't wait until I'm back....however, we will need to wait until my feet recover because they are looking pretty f-cked! 
DAD...although I keep adding you onto these emails despite the radio silence from your end, I just want to point out the considerate daughter you have who makes sure she keeps her father abreast of her antics...however, after this we might have to re-evalute this relationship... Can you please make sure Sarah is aware of my progress too...thanks!

So it seems the news of my fall hit the internet before I was able to update everyone....due to the rain and clouds, we weren't able to reach the satellite to receive comments or emails yesterday...therefore, I waited before updating everyone so that I can respond to all new cooments....
 
So as some may have seen, stage 2 was delayed and the shortened due to the crazy fog that met us when we all woke up....it was so thick you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you let alone the pink flags you're meant to follow through the race....therefore, at noon when the fog lifted we were off at a shortened and considerably easier trail which was mostly flat....therefore, I decided to run...as I was getting into my pace I realized I was getting too close to the person in front of me and as I was easing off to ensure I could see the rocks one got me...and got me good...I didn't even stumble, I straight fell on my face and literally ate dirt.  A bit shocked I didn't realize anything was wrong until I a sharp pain hit my knee..pulled up the pants and saw a massive gash where I swore I saw bone....and then it started to bleed...luckily I was close enough to the beginning of the race that all the other runners saw my tumble and some stayed back to help with one going back to get the medics....although the gash was deep and needed stitches, they taped me up and I was able to finnish the race...then went directly to the medic tent to get 3 stitches...never had any before, and it takes a desert run to get my first!  As I got back to camp it seemed everyone already knew of my tumble and those who didn't know me before yesterday definitely knew me by the end of the day...as most of you know already, I love being known by everyone; but it's a bit hard being a celebrity for being the only dumbass who actually managed to fall on the rocks and then have to get stitches from it....
 
Stage 3 today....so much harder than stage 1 - 44.5 km and my body just hurts....hurts so much that I forgot I had stitches....but due to the stitches I started very slowly today to ensure that I didn't do too much damage, but by checkpoint 3 I realized that I do have full movement in my knee and not to worry about the stitches that stopped hurting 15km back....I took about 9 hours to walk/run this stage....not pretty!  Between my disgusting shirt tan I'm developing and the heat that comes between 2 and 5pm, I  need to find a faster way of getting to camp than what I'm currently doing.
 
Don & Eric - thank you so much for all the warm wishes....I'm very touched you're both following my antics and rooting hard!!!
Sonia, Shamus, & Stevo - we are DEFINITELY doing a day of pampering when I get back...Cathy you are invited as well!!!  Yes I am losing weight, but I'm in more pain than I've ever been getting here...I just hope it stays off during JUNK SEASON!!! hahaha. Shamus...that Oprah quote was very apt...thanks!! 
Cathy....you never look bad!  But I know how those diets are, I've been on a "few" myself before this race...hahaha. I hope the walk this Friday is good...and think about me and how I will be ending my 80km hike on Friday....most likely in tears!
Dora my lovely!!  How was Germany??  You have to send me an update of your "conference" you attended and what is going on with your brazilian lover!!  I need something to read while I'm out here!!!!  BTW - you would LOVE it out here, but HATE the race...I highly suggest volunteering...you would get beautiful pictures and still be "in the race" without actually doing it;)
Kaimin - I can't remember if you're email is with or without an x....but I hope you're seeing these...how's the flat??
Dad - I'm loving your emails and comments!!!  ARE YOU EVEN GETTING THESE EMAILS???  What happened to being a concerned father??? I hope everything is okay.....
 
Other than that....I'm well, powering through...and just looking to finish...I've stopped looking at my time, because it will just upset me....at this point it's just getting my medal!
night night all.....

Day one down and I'm in serious pain....this is definitely harder than it looks and I'm not only feeling the pain from the distance, but in addition we are up at 2,000 meters and the altitude is playing some havoc on most of us.  I've added some more people to the email chain...so please foward this along to everyone (Caroline to Kaimin & the girls; dad please send to the family; and Dora to Amie (I'm unsure if I wrote it right)) Shamus - I'm loving the Oprah quotes...keep them coming - can you give gentle nudges to everyone else ;).  Don Kelliher - thank you so much for the warm wishes...it's definitely challenging!!
 
All hopes of running half this race has transformed into hopes of just finishing it any way possible. Through the entire course I kept thinking about the differnt things I have to update everyone on....so I'm going to do this as best as possible:
Things I have to thank:
1.  The walking poles I bought last minute - honest life savour
2.  The salomon shirt - although tight as ever, I have not had any chaffing under my arms..result!
3.  My lovely Tarzan for teaching me how to canyon...there were some serious canyons we had to go down - babe you have loved them and I can only imagine how they look with water in them.
 
Things I'm still unsure about:
1.  my fanny pack (bum bag for you brits)- although it's fitting all I couldn't fit in my backpack, it is a pain to run in...but it is helping my shoulders not get too sore!!
2.  the long day - that I'm scared of, but I will just keep going and hope for the best
3.  this blog & email....is anyone getting them?? (besides Shamus!)  I have had NO emails (except for Don Kelliher!)  PEOPLE what happened to my support?? Mr Vovard?????
 
On that note, I'm off - need to stretch and eat and rest....ta ta

At the last minute I decided to buy the cyber package which allows you to send 6 emails the entire race to either your blog or to an individual or even both if you send one email to everyone...therefore, I'm using one email to post my blogs and send updates to family, friends, and Tarzan....therefore, if you see this - send me responses via the 4deserts website so I can answer any questions....or you can comment on this blog and I will get those too!!!
 
Soooo, It's the night before the race and it's still daylight at 9pm....reminds me of the late summers of England when you know you should go to sleep but just don't want to miss any daylight opportunities.... the journey to the site was amazing and extremely picturesque....we stopped in a town next to the camp where they were doing a "trekking" festival for all the locals who go through the town to walk the mountains...that was very interesting...the region here is native to the uigher (pronounced Wiggas) who are Asian but with very strong Western features...very pretty people, at least the women are.....they did some native dancing that reminded you of the Russian part of the Nutcracker and Middle Eastern belly dancing without the belly dancing...but it was great and it was nice to have some culture to remind you the other reason why you're here. 
 
The campsite is exactly how I pictured it - tents around a fire....the staff and support team are great and very friendly....I'm very pleased with the medical team, they are extremely helpful.  I've just had my first freeze dry dinner for the week and am very chuffed with myself that I went the Mountain Home route as everyone with the Expedition meals have been force feeding themselves....only down point is the meals are less calories which I may feel later on in the race, but to be honest I have enough caolries stored in pockets of my body that I'm sure I won't have to worry too much....
I'm not too nervous yet....I think it's because I'm still in denial that I'm about to run 250 km...well, run is a strong word, more like do an overweight shuffle through a desert starting in less than 12 hours....I will try to continously blog and email on a daily basis for those actually interested to read...well, it will be good for me when I look back on it after the race. It's late now and I'm going to beddy by..night night all!!

I've found myself in a position where procrastination and pure denial has hit me in the face and I'm at the two month mark before I'm running through a desert for 7 days. To be honest, I'm a bit scared....my training has been patchy at best and every weekend I find myself dying on a mountain..... I signed up for the race very spontaneously and although I had been training in general for the past year I don't think I've quite gotten my head around the level of training I really should be doing to complete this race.....nice treks through the various Hong Kong trails is a good start, but I probably should be at the point of running a lot of it...so I tried this weekend....a mere 6 weeks before the race! If I was scared before, I'm petrified now.... The plan: MacLehose stage 4, 3, and half of 2 to camp in Tai Long Wan to do the next half of stage 2 and 1 on Sunday. What really happened.....went to dinner on Friday night with my friend and her boyfriend which I hadn't seen in months...the tantalizing bottle of wine stared at me all evening until I touched it and poured myself a nice glass which obviously turned into 3.....didn't leave my friend's place until about 2am slightly drunk and decided to say good-bye to one of my colleagues from Mumbai who has been here for 6 weeks (plus the boyfriend wanted a drink)...so although didn't drink again for the night, I AM in the middle of Lang Kwai Fung at 3am the night before a 30km run in Sai Kung....so as you can imagine getting up at 8am when going to bed at 4am didn't happen. Departed the house at 1pm, we get out of the cab on Fei Ngo Shan Road at 2:30....right before the road turns one way....and for those who have been this way to get to MacLehose knows that it is WAY TOO FAR DOWN THE HILL. Finally get ON TO the damn MacLehose trail at 4pm.....to try to do 30kms...yeah sure! So we start running...did well, until I fell! yes, I got slightly ambitious going down the wet rocks with my Salomons....slip on the rock and landed right on my ass....it is times like this where I'm glad I have some cushion for the pushin! Nice bruise, but unhurt....however, as a consequence my running quickly turned to run for 6 seconds to walk up and down hills for the next 15 minutes and then the cycle again. Right before hitting Ngong Ping we run into this local family out for a stroll on the trail (I love how they wander the trails in every day clothes without an ounce of sweat on their body...how does that work I stil haven't figured it out!) who spent about 5 minutes talking about the absurdity of our attempt to trek to Tai Long Wan at 5pm from Ngong Ping IN CHINESE. In the end they tell us not to trust them, but their facial expressions alone made us re-think our strategy at the next map. Small diversion down the country trail to Sai Kung.....bus to Sai Kung village...cab to Sai Kung Country Park where it has already turned dark....consulting the map, we decided to take one of the Country trails which would get us to Tai Long Wan fastest and set off with our head torch.....reaching the camp site at 10pm, we quickly bioled water for our dinner and rested our feet from our interesting day. yes folks...the beginning....the part where you learn and just keep learning.....

Most have probably or about to begin the taste testing schedule for the freeze dry food you're going to take with you to Gobi... I have tried 5 different types so far and here is my conclusion: Expedition Foods....hmmm...not a fan, although when I tried it in the store, it wasn't that bad.... not sure how that works Spaghetti with Bolognese...bland Chicken Tikka with rice....I might have too much water in it, but still....flavour just wasn't tasty. Mountain House...there hasn't been one where I haven't liked it. The only one I haven't tried thus far is the Beef Stew, but I doubt it's much different to the others and I will like...so I will be stocking up on these for the race as they will not be re-stocking their collection in the store. I will still give the expedition foods a bit for a chance on my future hikes...but so far they get a 3 out of 10....shame!