What a great event. There were so many times during the course that I felt like throwing in the towel, even although I knew that would never be possible for me to do...

I managed the last 15 km with ease and finished within a 1:30 minutes. What a wonderful feeling it was to run across the finishing line. Our race briefing that morning had described the course as mostly flat (which for the first time was mostly true), leading down a path along a flat dust road, into a river bed for 4km, and then back onto another dust road through a village with the course ending in a school yard. We were advised that the school was in recess (it was a Saturday) and that there would be plenty of shade and beer - which conclusion to the briefing elicited and enormous cheer from the competitors.

We counted down the final seconds to the start of the race, and I pushed ahead strongly. I soon found myself ahead of my pack, not near the front by any means, but far enough behind the next runners not to see them. Unfortunately, I made a wrong turn, and ended up following some pink markers that had marked the originally intended course for that morning but which have erroneously not been removed. Since I was only one of two competitors who made this mistake, I cannot complain! In any event the course took me onto the riverbed about 700m before I should have reached the river, and as a result, ended up making some water crossings that otherwise I would have avoided. I also lost some time, but as I was well on my way to the finishing line, I pushed on…

I was running strongly through a local village when in the distance I heard some faint roars, something like you hear coming from a soccer stadium at a distance. It was foolish of me not to realize that that was the finish line, but since I had remembered the briefing that morning, when we were told the schoolyard would be empty but for some shade and beers, it did not occur to me that I was so close to the end.

I was chasing another competitor who I wanted to overtake, but planned to do to with the end in sight. I felt sure I had enough left to catch and pass him. As I turned another corner everything became clear. The school was in sight; a right turn into the front gate about 100m ahead of me. Another competitor was sprinting to overtake me. I realised that not only was I not able to catch the man ahead, but also was now being challenged from behind. I put my foot to the floor, changed down a gear, and opened the gap as I entered the school grounds.

The source of the distant roar now became apparent as the cheers erupted. The road leading up to the front of the local school was lined with its young students, cheering me as I rand down the corridor of little people.

I felt an incredible feeling of accomplishment – a hero for the next 15 seconds it took to cross the finishing line.

I would like to thank everyone who emailed and blogged me, in particular those of you who I did not thank in my last blog – I only got to see your blog comment today.

But most of all I want to thank my wonderful wife, Chai-Ling who has been so supportive (and patient) throughout all of my training and preparation. Everyone who has prepared for such an event will know just how much family time the training eats into.

Daring, you are and will always be my most important supporter! Thank you.

What a Great Day!

I had a great day yesterday! My feet held out, and besides the expected foot fatigue and pain, I had an excellent day. It was the first day I can say I enjoyed. 16H53m - non stop. The last 20 km were mind bending, filled with thoughts of what I would do to Pierre when I say him! When I did, this morning, I gave him a hug, had a picture taken with him and had a long chat... Top bloke... What a tough course....

I am very appreciative of all the messages everyone has sent me. Mom,& Dad, James (Her Winkelstien wud be so proud) & Erma, Stephen, Roger W (inspiring words as always - many thanks).

Andrea, Gep (millions of points for you!), Brooksie, Agent J, Vincent (looking forward to hearing the news) -thanks for all you encouraging messages.

Mad Cows Mark T and Joany - Mad Cow Fred and I decided this morning we going to do - you going to join us? - MC Bish setting the course - it's going to be a blast! Thanks so much for your moral and practical support and the Goop - we miss you guys!

Mad Cow 2 Bish we are still missing you and talk about you every day - Liebenberg - top bloke deserving of MC status sitting here next to me sends his love - wants to form a SA Team with Ryan for Namibia.Obviously I only qualify team manager... (You will understand when I say I initiated a new Mad Cow by having a team # on Stage 2 yesterday!)

Ray - you sent me an email - you are redeemed! Don, let Murphy I wish she were here with me, but I fear her little paws would hurt too much. Great to receive your email.

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Linda please tell Dunkie that even a smelly dog would be scared of sniffing me now! I smell so bad I don't need to put on insect repellant. Two of the people in our tent were successful bidders for the shower and returned to the tent smelling like girls - we now call them this 'Sisters'! Michaela, I seem to have recovered very well thank you, and if it's possible my blisters have actually healed a little.

Nathan - Happy Birthday my boy! Thank you so much for your email. It made me very happy to hear from you and all I could think about when I received you email was that a Lamborghini would arrive to pick me up and race me to the finish line!!!

Brooksie let me know that I also have a ton of blog entries from you all - I'm so sorry I cannot see these from the desert, but it will give me something to look forward to when I get back. Many thanks for all your support!

Well it the home run tomorrow. We still don't know how far it will be but probably something between 12-15km. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm going to dump all non essential mandatory kit from my bag and charge for the line. Perhaps I can make back a place or two.

I look forward to getting back home and catching up with everyone in Hong Kong . I'm going to dine out on the stories from this adventure for some time.

There are many things I could name my short missive covering today, for example:

Where is Pierre

I'd like to jump on Pierre

And who the hell is Pierre anyway!

Or I could have titled today's march:Little Stones, Big stones, Enormous Stones  and all sizes between.

I could have called it "Meeting the Gods", "Heavens Window" or "A Long Walk Up!!!"

But I'll settle for all and none....

Pierre is the gentleman who sets the course. Today we started by ascending a 2750 m mountain to Heaven's Window, the highest natural arch in the world. It was a tough walk up the mountain, through little valleys, up wooden ladders and over enormous boulders. But it was well worth the achievement. The view was spectacular, so I stayed and took a few shots with the guys. I can now say with some honesty, that I've taken then to heaven and through hell!

Stage 2 was just as magnificent. We meandered over the crest of numerous hills and down along the summit of a valley from top to bottom where we entered a river bed. Walking on river beds is no fun. Your feet twist from side to side, maliciously mashing your already mashed feet. On and on and on....

I was both pleased and surprised that my Achilles held out. Nurse Carly had done an excellent job binding my ankle. I managed today with almost negligible pain, although I cannot say the same for my feet which took another beating.

I progressed at a snails pace finishing the 40 km is 9h30m - a tortuous epic of a day. I can say with some conviction that this was the longest 40 km of my life! It was a day and a half, but I need to keep reminding myself that tomorrow holds double the challenge...

Back to Pierre . At checkpoint 3 - the last of the day - we were informed that there remained one river crossing' a flat road through a local village, a short hill up to the finish. An easy 13 km.... Since I've learned not to 'trust' what I hear about 'easy', I pushed on. It was not easy. Towards the end we encountered more rivers and many many more rocky shale river beds. 

I've got to sign off now - day's story incomplete - someone else is in line and my time is out.