My last blog was unfinished as the laptop shut down on me and I did not get a chance to finish. This is the second attempt as the one i just posted did not register so I have to start all over again! The plateau on day 5, after the 50km mark, was very similar to the Sahara with endless soft sand to traverse over he last 20km. It was baking hot and very tedious. We arrived at the 60km checkpoint ready for a quick hot meal to give us a boost for the final two stages. We were then told we had to stay for a mandatory two hour rest which was eventually shortened and we left after about 95 minutes as soon as we could. There was no hot water so we did not eat anything apart from a few snacks. The final 20km was tackled in the dark and Jaqueline from our tent and a Japanese lady joined us. We decided not to use our headtorches and use the light of the moon and the beautiful starry sky. This also helped us see the glow sticks easier. I still fell on my arse down a slippery bank when we drifted off the road! As always the course was designed to test us to the full and the final few kms found us climbing and scrabbling down a long steep canyon into the campsite. We were very happy to have finished in under 17 hours and I felt very strong and just wanted a beer to celebrate. The next day was very hot and spent awaiting the arrival of the final racers. We left for Kashgar at 3am for a 6 hour drive ready for the final stage. The coaches had arrived the previous evening and three had got stuck in the sand and had to be dug out. Our bus was obviously one of those and had damaged its axle as we spent the entire journey trying to sleep bouncing along like nodding dogs. The coaches dropped us off in a small market place, thankfully with a toilet, ready for the 10km last stage. We had been divided into three groups with the slowest starting at 9am, the middle group including me at 10am and the top 30 at 11am. Harold and I ran together through the wonderful streets of the old city, past the massive statue of Chairman Mao and into the square infront of the mosque for the finish line. We had proved that consistency of pace was the key to finishing well and we claimed 67th and 68th places and were ecstatic. The evening was spent drinking beer, eating and celebrating at the awards banquet prior to our long journey home on Sunday. Harold we are a great team - see you in Atacama next year. To my tent mates: Harold, Claire, Tamarra, Greg, Jan, Andrew, Jaqueline, Mark and Cindy thank you for making this such a remarkable experience. To Mary Gadams and her team and the fantastic volunteers thank you for making this all possible. To all of you who have supported my adopted charity, Camp Quality, thank you for making a difference to so many brave and wonderful children. To all my family and friends I could not have done this without your tremendous love and support. Only two more to go (not counting Vietnam and the annual fifth race)!!! In closing I have been privileged to spend time amongst such warm and friendly local people in such a stunning part of the world and I will never forget my 50th birthday. M.

Martyn Sawyer Blog Stage 5

Thank you everyone for the emails which I eventually received. I believe my other blogs only got posted last night so apologies for that. Anyway yesterday was the monster known as the long day and it was a very long day. Since day 3 I think this has been harder than the Sahara. The long day consisted of a huge 500m climb right from the campsite which once again the old men powered to the top and got a good start on the day. This was followed by an interminable following of the mainly dry river bed constantly climbing up and down its crumbling banks. It was roastingly hot with temperatures in the shade of 35C so probably in the mid 40

Martyn

Martyn Sawyer Day Two Blog
Sorry yesterdys blog was so poor but I had to type it on excel and the media team are very stressed as they are struggling with the weather and overall logistics but doing a great job.
Yesterday was a 38 km hike and today was 37 km and was much harder. The scenery is magnificent with towering bare peaks up to 4000m and we are racing along the river, fed by meltwater, at about 2000m.
The terrain is mainly on a track with sections along the boulder strewn riverbank which is slow going. It is amazing that it rains at night which the locals say has not happened for years but it warmed up to 33C today. The valley floor has crops being grown by the local Tajiks who come out to cheer us on and the children all want to touch us as we go past.
Tomorrow, my birthday, is going to be a monster with a climb up and over the mountains to 4000m where snow is reported. I have not prepared for such cold!!! I think we will have an early start so no time to celebrate my birthday. But just getting through tomorrow will be reward enough. The injuries usually start on day three but so far I am fine with only sore stiff legs. No blisters yet!
Nicola, my velcro has come off every day and is a pain but not too much sand so far so hopefully that will be okay
Thank you for my Fathers Day cards which were great fun and emotional.
We have a great tent group which is full of laughs.
Thank you everyone for yesterdays emails (none today yet as they have not printed them) it really helps.Nic, I hope the website is better but I do not suppose there are any phots of me as there does not seem to be many photographers.
The first two days of the Sahara were harder but I think the rest of this race is going to be a massive challenge.
Mum/Brenda is doing a briliant job and is working very hard but really enjoying it.
I should sign off now as the queue is building
I hope I can blog on my 50th if I survive the climb (reportedly between 40 to 50km)
Love to everyone
Martyn

Should I have gone a day earlier to get over the horrendous journey? Brenda left for her volunteer adventure on Wednesday morning at 5.15am with Nicola and I waving her off bleary eyed. She arrived in Kashgar after 11.30pm or 18 hours door to door! She rang me to tell me about the journey and to remind me not to get wound up with the time it will take and the long hours of waiting in Urumqui. I just cannot wait! My preparation is complete and my backpack is full and weighs just over my target weight of 10kgs. This is now in the suitcase with extra food for Saturday morning (Brenda told me about the hotel breakfast) and the long coach journey to our first campsite. I am very nervous and excited and long to be on the Silk Road. Thank you all for the tremendous messages of encouragement and fantastic donations to the children of Camp Quality. Connie thank you for all your help with the fund raising and good luck with the other thing. Ben have a safe journey home from Switzerland and Emma from UK. Nic thank you for all your help. Talk to you all from Kashgar. Martyn

Well, the tent mates are allocated and the course is set so all we have to do is get there on time. It will be great to catch up with previous Sahara competitors and particularly old tent mates; Harold, George and Frank. I finished serious training this week and will now just do a few short runs to keep loose. I have started packing the daily food bags and memories of preparing for the Sahara come flooding back. The excitement and nervousness are building and I cannot wait to get started. Brenda is going as a volunteer this time and she leaves on Wednesday for her own special adventure. I leave Hong Kong on Friday via Shenzen, Urumqui and then Kashgar. On Saturday we head along the Karokorum highway to our first campsite and the start of what I am sure will be a magnificent but huge challenge. To everyone who has supported me and Camp Quality my sincerest thanks and I hope I am able to keep you updated through this blog during the race. If I am too knackered I trust you will understand! Martyn