Toughest day yet!

So it looks like a sprained my ankle (minor) sliding down a steep rock wall with about 15km to go in stage 3.  I could barely walk on it last night, but after waking up (think I was already awake) every 3 hours last night  and gulping down some anti-inflammatories I woke up ready to RACE!

For the first two checkpoints today we ran across wide open hilly pastures with the snow-capped Altai mountains towering over us, breathtaking.  All the local farmers and military were all out along the course cheering us on.  l was going well until we hit a big downhill section that took us through a town.  This downhill section was also about the time my painkillers had worn off and my ankle really started giving me grief.  I had some ibuprofen at  the last checkpoint and once that kicked in, I was able to run hard again and was able to grab 4^th place back.

Tomorrow is the big bopper!  76km through the mountains.  Tomorrow’s stage will also involve running over to the top of a mountain over a half a km higher than Mount Kosciuszko. Good thing I’ve been training hard at the Sydney altitude centre.

Anyway I’m going to rest up in the tent, with my tent mates and get some last minute laughs in before tomorrow’s tough stage.

I just got everyone’s emails and blog comments (spreadsheet wasn’t available yesterday) and big thanks to everyone, it’s just what the doctor ordered before tomorrow’s stage!

Although my body is in pieces, mentally I’m feeling strong and regardless of how the injuries hold-up, tomorrow I’m going to give it everything I have… and then some!

Today’s stage was probably the most picturesque run I’ve ever been on.  In saying that though, the scenery was more Swiss Alps than dusty desert. 

The stage started off through some nice rolling mountains, along some goat trails.  We then made a way into the mountains through amazing forest trails running alongside a rushing river which we crossed numerous times across suspended bridges. 

I’m sure most blogs today will mention the massive climb between checkpoint two and three.  The climb started off through a thick, muddy, mossy forest and slowly climbed up the side of the exposed mountain face .  Getting up did involve using all fours at time.

I actually loved the climbs throughout today’s stage.  It allowed me to make up so much ground on the machines leading the pack and I was even coming 2^nd place for a time.  I put this down to the countless afternoons spent running up and down my 20 floor office block stairwell.

Again it was a tough slog out there today, a bit of pain but thankfully no massaging of any protrusions as of yet, touch wood.    I’m absolutely loving the duals out there with the other guys in the top 10.  I’m in awe of how good these guys run but at the same,  I’m going to make them earn every inch.

Looking forward to lacing up the boots and battling it out again tomorrow.

First contact…

Well after 3planes and 32 plus hours in transit I finally arrived in the wild West of China late Wed night!

for those of you who know the news I received last Thursday, should also know difficulty I had in deciding whether or not to continue on with the race…

Although the last week has been extremely tough both mentally and physically, but I’ve backed myself, and couldn’t be happier to be lining up at the start line tomorrow.

I see this as a massive victory in itself.

It’s 8pm here, 30 degrees and still broad daylight.  The sun sets at about 10:30pm, so much for an early night.  the atmosphere here is great and have already been lucky enough to meet a heap of legends from all over the world, plenty of laughs.

Thanks everyone for the support.  Big thanks to nay for relaying all the support.