Very tough day today. 5km longer than yesterday, and our first real sand dunes test. The day started ok though, and I was able to run the first 10-12km on harder (by Saharan standards) sand. 

Unlike yesterday, where I was emptying my shoes of sand at every checkpoint (there are 3 checkpoints on each stage), today I didn’t take them off until the end of the stage. My feet felt so swollen that I wasn’t sure I would be able to get my shoes back on again. I brought some great trail running shoes (Salomon S-Lab Sense) but they are a tight fit, and one toenail is half removed. Although I ran the first part of todays stage, my walking pace was slower than most other guys. 

Even after only 2 days, there are not many people who don’t have injuries. Supersize blisters are very common, but even obscure things, like one American competitor with no skin on his back from all the rubbing of his pack. Hydration issues are also very common, and the medical tent looked full earlier with a few guys on IVF. 

I’m glad we are two days down… but tomorrow promises to be even tougher as far as dunes go. It will be the toughest of the shorter 40km stages.

Hugh

I heard someone say last night “The first day is the toughest.” I hadn’t thought of that before, especially as day 5 will be ~86km, but there is definitely an element of truth to it. The first day is something of a reality check for everyone… and it certainly was for me today. My pace was slower than I would have expected, and I was glad to just get the first day out of the way, and our packs will start to get lighter from here.

While most runners seemed to name the heat as the key factor in their lack of pace, it was the sand for me. The day started at 7am in nice 15-20 degree heat, but around midday the desert heat seemed to peak around the mid-high 30s, with oppressive sun. I would have preferred today’s heat over Hong Kong summer heat and humidity though.

Its stating the obvious, but the sand really slowed me down, and was much slower than what I expected. It was impossible to build up any consistent pace, 4WD tracks were surprisingly very soft, and the hardest packed sand was still pretty soft and very slow going. Despite gaiters, sand gets in absolutely everywhere. I struggled with sand building up in the front of my shoes which made my toes feel like the nails were being ripped off with every step, and at every checkpoint I was stopping and emptying a ridiculous amount of sand out of my shoes.

One early observation of the Sahara is that despite the lack of scenery, it is a very beautiful place. The skies, horizons, sunsets and full moons have been amazing so far. The mornings and nights are surprisingly cold. The desert is very disorienting though. Getting your bearings is near impossible, and if one were to deviate from the course, I could see them never finding their way back.

Tomorrow we head into the dunes, which will no doubt be torture.

Hugh