Namib Race Blogs 2024

Simon Munro

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Namib Race (2024) blog posts from Simon Munro

03 May 2024 01:56 pm (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia

I finished the long march last night a bit after 7.30pm, after 11 hours and 36 minutes. It had just got dark, so I ran in with my head torch on for around the last 40 minutes, so I could see the reflective flags on posts to guide  the way. I came over the last of the high sand dunes just in time to see an amazing sunset over the ocean in the distance as we are now pretty close to the coast again. 
 
It was a really long, windy, hot day, and I was pretty pleased to get to the finish. Earlier in the day the wind was blowing so hard it was difficult to keeping running into it. Drafting in unusual in running, but it was definitely useful if you could find anyone in close enough proximity to share the load of the wind. It was a wind from the East, coming across Africa and soaking up the heat as it went. Despite my predictions that it was going to be a cooler day as we were heading towards the coast, that really didn’t work out, as the temperature just kept climbing as the wind blasted us. I don’t think it got as hot as the day before, but we were running for so much longer. I was splashing lots of water over my head, and t-shirt and arms, which helped but in the wind it dried very fast. And there was always a tension of using up water that you might need to drink. In that heat, and with the wind, even the maximum 2.5 litres from each checkpoint was sometimes not enough to get to the next one.
 
After a few hours of the stage I was in 5th place, but some of the flags had been blown away and so three of us went off course and ended up running an extra couple of kilometres and wasting about 40 minutes or so before we got back on track. Maigua and I called for help (as the guy from Khazahkstan doesn’t speak English) and were told to set off the SOS on our GPS and they would come and find us. (I think that mucked up the tracking for me for the rest of the race, so apologies to anyone that was trying to follow me!) Before any help arrived we had tracked our way back and worked out where to go. That moved me back to 13th place as others had got lost too, but hadn’t gone as far off track as we did. 
 
At checkpoint three, having run out of water and taken extra time and distance on that section, there was a very welcome surprise - a can of (quite warm) coke. It lasted less than 20 seconds! From there we got to scoot down a rocky narrow gully filled with sand in places and requiring a bit of climbing in others. The wind was howling through there, but it was so much fun. I passed a few people in there, including a German woman who had hurt her ankle climbing down. (Her husband assured me they were okay, and ultimately she did struggle through to the finish all bandaged up.) 
 
About an hour or so later, the Khazahk guy and I came across a few people who had got ahead of us while we were lost, and we could see them down on a flat part of the desert searching for the pink flags, as we ran along a ridge line where the course was meant to me. We called and waved them back up our way and even from a distance their relief was obvious.
 
The wind dropped a little and the terrain flattened out a bit and it became a battle with the heat and trying to find hard terrain to run on. Most of the time you are studying the terrain, looking at the footprints of anyone ahead of you, just trying to identify the most efficient ground. There were more parts of the course where finding the flags was tough - it was a bit like a game of eye spy… something that is the colour pink. Or not. But I managed to avoid going too far off track again.
 
Coming into checkpoint 5, after 52km or so (50km of which were intended) I was back in 5th or so I think, but really starting to feel it. A few people arrived while I was still at the check point, mixing my race fuel for the last 25km. I left about the same time as the woman’s leader, Deb, who I know from Atacama, and we ran/walked together (or within a hundred metres or so of each) for maybe an hour or so. 
 
The last couple of hours were really hard, as I felt like I didn’t have much energy left in my legs, and it was still pretty hot. I was walking for a bit and then running when I could. The top four women were all fighting for podium spots and were pushing right to the end, and they all came past me in the last part of the day. I was trying not to push myself too hard as I had been “pissing blood” (which I had always just thought was a turn of phrase) and I knew I had enough time in the bank from the first four stages to keep 6th place overall. Right at the end I could see someone’s headlight coming up behind me so I thought I better push through to the finish, and at least finish the Long March in the top 10. 
 
The drum was beating and people were cheering for me as I finished, and I got a welcome hug from Deb. As people kept rolling to the finish through the night, I slowly got myself through the post-stage routine - Pringles again! - and hydrated enough to get my kidneys back on track. Eventually I rolled into bed about 11:30pm, and slept pretty well despite the drum announcing all the arrivals, and I was even up this morning to see the last eight people come in. The last group, as you would expect, got the biggest cheer, with everyone in camp coming out to welcome them.
 
We have a short 10-12km stage tomorrow (after a rest day today - as some people took more than 24 hours to finish the long march), but that will be a nice relaxed cruise to finish at the Tiger Reef bar, which is on the beach in Swakopmund. I am really looking forward to pizza and a beer!
 
And a shower. It will be really nice to have a shower and put on some clean clothes. I am also really looking forward to sleeping in a bed. Actually, pretty much everything. Which is not to say I haven’t enjoyed the week here - as challenging as it has been, it has also been amazing. Namibia is a fabulous country and the crazy people that run and volunteer at these races make it an incredible experience. 
 

Comments: Total (6) comments

Paul Stewart

Posted On: 04 May 2024 01:21 pm

An amazing read and an incredible effort Si! Sounds like an awesome event and so so hot!

Paul Stewart

Posted On: 04 May 2024 01:21 pm

An amazing read and an incredible effort Si! Sounds like an awesome event and so so hot!

Morgan Galbraith

Posted On: 04 May 2024 07:52 am

Outstanding Simon. Smashing it! On the home straight. Go well.

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 04 May 2024 03:49 am

Hi Si, Your blogs continue to amaze us with your ability to put words to your feelings as you endure the highs and lows of competing in such an event. Then there is the way you describe your surroundings and the views you are able to enjoy, if but momentarily. You also share the pain and suffering you are enduring, together with those moments of joy when a stage is completed and you go through your post stage routine to best prepare for the next day. All of this is only possible because of the planning in advance, the months of long hours in training and then the plan executed daily once the event started. The long march identified the importance of this planning as the day presented unexpected issues like the windy conditions, the heat, the flags blown away and you were able to cope with all of this because you were prepared for whatever may happen. The long march is probably the biggest personal challenge you have faced in your life and you nailed it! What a fantastic effort! In just a couple of hours you will be preparing for the final stage with a 10-12 km run to the finish. In many ways, this will be the reward for what you had to do so you could do what you are doing and soon to become what you have done. Enjoy the run today, enjoy the pizza and a few beers and enjoy the fellowship with those other crazy people around you. Safe travels home and we are looking forward to meeting you at the airport on Tuesday evening.

Irene Paton

Posted On: 03 May 2024 07:38 pm

What an incredible achievement nephew! You are truely an inspiration. I’m having lunch with your Mum today, she will be hugely relieved to know you are almost finished and will be home with your family soon. Ok forward to seeing you soon. Safe travels. Love

Little Sis

Posted On: 03 May 2024 07:36 pm

Si you are amazing - most people wouldn’t even get to the start line, let alone have the determination, perseverance and grit to achieve what you did in under 12 hours. Simply phenomenal, What an EPiC day you had. A video RTP posted showed the wind - it looked like another challenge that you just didn’t need in the heat. We were so relieved to see your arrival at camp, even if it was a very long night here watching your tracker stationary in weird places while other athletes moved past you. We now understand why! We knew you had it in you and trusted you knew what you were doing….and we were right! Not sure about your kidney's screaming at you though. Keep up the hydration. Enjoy your rest day and the last run to the finish line. That beer and pizza will taste so good! You definitely will have a calorie deficit to make up for. All the best from your NZ fans. See you when you get home💙

01 May 2024 08:00 pm (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia

Thanks again for the messages and comments!
 
I am writing from Camp 5, which is in the bed of the Khan River (which actually flooded in January apparently), towards the bottom of a big canyon that we ran down for most of the day. There are low rocky mountains on each side, but the camp is in the widest part of the canyon, surrounded by lots of bushes and trees. 
 
Today was all about heat. I should probably use caps for that - HEAT. Even in camp for the last 5 hours everyone has been huddling in the limited shade available, hoping for some breeze. I have been soaking myself regularly as that seems to be the only way to cool down. Yesterday it felt like it couldn’t get any hotter - it was 47 degrees in the sun, but today hit 54 degrees! (Which is around 44-45 degrees in the shade). It is just not possible to describe how hot it was trying to run in that. The rocks on either side of the canyon seem to provide unwanted shelter from the breeze, and radiate heat inwards. All while the baking clay underfoot, presumably once nice and flat, but now like a broken terracotta mosaic due to lack of moisture, is radiating even more heat up at you from beneath. And then there’s the sun.
 
Some people eat heat like this for breakfast, clearly, but not me. I like maybe a teaspoon or so, mixed with a large glass of cold water, once or twice a year while on holiday. So I really had to manage it today - lots of water and lots of electrolytes. 
 
The stage was probably the most fun of all them so far, (if you took away the heat). It started with a big climb up to the ridge line in the Moon Valley, lots of scrambling up rocks and blowing hard, even though it hadn’t really warmed up at that stage. I nearly killed Malcolm (the Canstralian) pulling a bunch of rocks down behind me that I thought were sufficiently secure to help pull me up, but he was far enough back that he managed to avoid them. 
 
After the big climb we ran along the ridge line at the top for a bit with amazing views all around - more mountains and valleys, reaching out to the distant desert beyond. The descent was really technical and rocky - I loved the run down after all of the endless flat yesterday. Super fast (at least comparatively - still carrying around 7.5kg) and bouncing down, making the most of gravity and the random rocks on either side of the narrow single track. Then another long climb up the valley, and another ridge run, and I was absolutely buzzing into checkpoint 1, which had the most amazing views. 
 
The heat had started by then, and just ramped up slowly but surely for the next several hours. Most of that we were running up and over low rocky mountains and then into the canyon formed by the Swakopmund River, that merged with the Kahn River at some point. I say running - and there was some running - but there was also a lot of walking. I was trying to run for two pink flags (that show us the way to go) and then recover while I walk for one, drinking, having a salt pill, stretching my back, putting on more sunscreen… then back to running again. But that didn’t always happen - especially as it got hotter and hotter. 
 
The stage was shortened a little today to take out a really hot section with no vehicle access that was going to be too dangerous, so it was almost a surprise to catch sight of the flags in front of camp (one for each country competing - 47 this year) in the distance. That was enough motivation to get a bit more running in and finish relatively strong.
 
I had saved a special treat for today after I finished - half a tube of crushed up Pringles (the other half for the end of the Long March tomorrow). They were so good - it is amazing how the little things can make such a difference. On top of my 450 and well-named Ultrafuel Hot Chocolate breakfast, my 200 calorie recovery shake, and 400 calorie rehydrated beef hotpot for lunch and I was feeling pretty good. One more 400 calorie meal, I think maybe bolognese, tonight before bed. Oh, and I think around 600-700 calories in my Racefuel and electrolyte drinks while I run. Hopefully enough to set me up for a big day tomorrow with approximately double the distance in the Long March. A number of people only brought the minimum 14,000 calories (and possibly the odd person may’ve even dumped calories after the check-in to save weight) but I went with 16,000, and have not regretted it. The backpack is getting a bit lighter now, and I haven’t really felt short of food (although the heat has a lot to do with that, probably). Some people are really struggling to get food and electrolytes in with the heat, which might make tomorrow a tough day. No such issues for me - I have been enjoying every calorie. I think at least another two people have dropped out today to make it at least 13 in total.
 
While tomorrow will be long, we are heading back towards the coast, so as we progress through the day it should be getting cooler and cooler. I can’t tell you how welcome that will be!

Comments: Total (7) comments

Vivienne Munro

Posted On: 03 May 2024 08:12 am

You have done so well Simon. It has been great reading your blogs. You are a true Superman. Keep looking after your self.

Christopher Headey

Posted On: 02 May 2024 11:17 pm

Go Simon!! Amazing stuff- you're smashing it!

Lisa Paton

Posted On: 02 May 2024 09:46 pm

Gez Si - absolutely incredible, you are such a legend! 54 degrees is just nuts - I cant imagine that heat in general let alone racing in it! We have loved reading your updates and tracking you along the way. All the best for the finish! From Lisa and Irene Paton

Little Sis

Posted On: 02 May 2024 07:05 pm

Legend! Your Long March is over! Congratulations - what an huge accomplishment. Enjoy the rest now - you’ve earned it 👍 Rather stressful watching from NZ (ha ha)…saw you go off track, then recover….then no recorded times through subsequent checkpoints until you arrive at camp 😅 Rest up and all the best for the last leg to the finish line!!

Missy Hammer

Posted On: 02 May 2024 06:42 pm

Simon - so impressed with how you are going!! An absolute machine. The photos and videos are fantastic that they are posting and you sound in good spirits!! All the best to the end! Missy

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 02 May 2024 04:42 am

Hey Si, It is now getting closer to the start of the long march. Hope you had a good rest overnight and are physically and mentally “ ready to go.” We enjoyed reading your latest blog and totally endorse Rachel’s comments which we find inspiring and sure they will help in your drive to succeed. Hopefully the temperatures will be more favourable and despite the personal torture, you are able to enjoy what you love doing. We are full of admiration for your commitment to complete this extremely challenging event and take much pride in following you do just that. Go well!

Little Sis

Posted On: 02 May 2024 01:06 am

I have no idea how you cope in that heat, let alone run. You are a machine! You cook fillet steak, albeit rare, in lower temperatures than what you are running in, which is just crazy. Another fantastic achievement - you are doing what seems impossible, and having fun along the way. Truly inspirational. We love how you’re focusing on the positives and thinking that the closer to the coast, the cooler it will get. George will be stoked to hear you’re not short of food. Wise decision to carry more than the bare minimum. Who would have thought that Pringle crumbs could be so good! Enjoy the Long March. Will be following your progress all through the night NZ time. Keep up the great work - we are in awe of the journey you are on and what you are achieving. Go well and can’t wait to see you arrive safely at Camp #6 🏃‍♂️ 👏

30 April 2024 08:01 pm (GMT) Casablanca, Monrovia

Thanks for the messages and comments on the blog!


I have finished stage three, and we are at our camp for the night which is based at an old ostrich farm. We are surrounded by low rocky mountains and the sun is still beating down. Today was even hotter than the previous two days, but I ran slow and steady and managed to finished 7th= after I caught up with Fred (from Belgium) right at the end and told him to stop walking and run to the finish with me. That has left me 5th overall as there were a few different people who did well today, as it was a bit of a “runners” stage, so I should probably have skipped it.
 
Ostrich Farm is also the name given to our tent - each of the 18 tents have 6 or 7 occupants (or they did at the start of the race). I am sharing with four Kiwis (one from Japan, who I did Atacama with in 2019), an Australian (who turned 59 today) and an English guy.  We each seem to have found our usual spots in the tent now. I was in the middle the first night as I was last to arrive at Camp 0, but the benefit of coming in ahead of my tent mates in each stage so far is that I get to choose my spot, so I have been by the door since then, which is nice on the hot nights, getting a little bit of breeze and being able to look at at the stars. They are a really nice bunch of guys, as is everyone in camp.
 
The first part of the stage today was running out of the dunes, and then into a massive open flat desert. It was so huge, it seemed to go on forever. Absolutely desolate. Far off in the distance you could see the silhouette of some mountains or hills, but it seemed like you would have to run all day to get to them. Luckily, that was not where we were heading, as we came across a highway through the desert (which is really just a bit of desert that has been flattened out in a straight line for the cars and trucks and buses). Everyone has said how boring that section of the run was - it was a real mental test to just keep on running down the never-ending road. It was so hot that we had extra little checkpoints making water available to us, which was definitely necessary, and the highlight at checkpoint three was a bottle of coke! I walked off with mine and drank it over the next few kilometres, by which time it was hotter than I was, and flat, but still a good sugar and caffeine boost. I managed to get a bus to give me a toot, and a couple of vehicles would wave and even move over so as not to envelop you in a dust cloud, but not all!
 
Finally the road came to and end (at least for us) with about 5-6km to go, where we got to a viewing point that overlooks the Moon Valley. There was an extra checkpoint there too, with the medical team checking everyone before they were allowed to go into the valley as there was no vehicle access in there and it was the hottest part of the course. It was a beautiful downhill valley, clearly where water sometimes runs, but hasn’t for some time. There were some bushes, the occasional tree, and these flat little dead-looking plants called Welwitschias, which are amazing plants that love the desert, some of which are over a thousand years old. The sun was radiating off the rock on either side of the narrow valley and there was generally no wind at all down there, so I think it was probably the hottest place I have ever been in my life. The one saving grace was that it was downhill, so I could “run” (or shuffle along, anyway), and that it was not too far from the finish so it didn’t last too long. Actually, that’s two saving graces. The last little bit along the edge of another “river” that is no longer in use was like trying to run in really deep dust, so involved a fair bit of walking until the finish was in sight.
 
My routine at the end of each stage seems to be settling in now, and involves cooling off with some water and a good “spritz” from one of the volunteers, and sitting in the shade for a bit until I have the energy to move. I put my pack in the tent (which always seems to be like an oven), and then try to find some shade to enjoy my recovery shake and then a warm rehydrated lunch. Shade is like gold out here, and there was not much initially, but the camp has slowly been reconstructed so there are a few different spots to hide from the worst of the heat. Then I like to head to the “spa”, which offers tubs we can clean our feet with in a couple of centimetres of water. The last couple of days have then also required some blister popping (with safety pin or needle) and taping on my toes. Luckily the same two places for me today, so no new ones. 
 
It is after 5pm now and still roasting hot, but will hopefully be cooling down soon, especially for the people who are still coming in. There is probably about 90 minutes left before the sun sets - spectacular sunsets in the desert - but less than an hour before cut-off for those coming in. Tomorrow is meant to be EVEN hotter - I know I keep saying that, and struggle to believe it is possible - but apparently that is the plan. The stage is going to involve more Moon Valley and then another “river”, and it has the most elevation gain and loss of all the stages so should be a good test, and helpfully maybe a little slower than today.
 
 

Comments: Total (9) comments

Sammy Deavoll

Posted On: 01 May 2024 10:47 pm

Amazing effort Simon - Really enjoying the blog posts. Big contrast to rainy and cold Christchurch! Keep smashing it tomorrow and enjoy (where you can)!

Anna Davidson

Posted On: 01 May 2024 09:46 pm

You are going so well Simon! What a massive effort. I am loving reading your blogs! Keep it up.

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 01 May 2024 11:07 am

Hi Si, You are AMAZING! Your poor body must be suffering ( your mother speaking). We have tracked you to the finish today and a very good time as well. We loved reading yesterday’s blog and great to see the support you are getting from many people. Paul and Ella are running the half marathon in Wanaka this weekend. It will be a walk in the park for them compared with what you are enduring. The long March tomorrow beckons and good luck with that. Pace your self, keep hydrated and keep the food intake up too. Enjoy!

Little Sis

Posted On: 01 May 2024 10:50 am

Awesome work on Stage 3 Si and as I write this, you’re on the home stretch into camp at the end of Stage 4. Looking at all the photos, and reading all the blogs, I’m starting to get a glimpse into why you (and other super-humans like you) enter these races. Memories of a lifetime! Your amazing efforts have motivated and inspired Jack. He was in his pyjamas (flannelettes, as it isn’t 50 degrees here in Christchurch!) getting ready for bed tonight and next thing he was putting on his socks and lacing up his vaporflys. He proceeded to run 4km on the treadmill (had already been for a run earlier in the day as he’s still on holiday!) and came back out dripping with sweat. He said it wasn’t quite as hot as Uncle Si running in the desert, but pretty close! All the best for the Long March tomorrow. One CP at a time and keep your eyes (hopefully not blurred) on the pink flags. I might have to break my rule and go to bed before I know you’ve arrived safely at camp for the night….either that, or it’s going to be a long night tracking #81 on my phone. Keep being your crazy (and incredibly determined) self! Have fun, enjoy it and listen for the drums….i bet that’s the best feeling in the world crossing the finish line. Go well, drinks lots and enjoy the COKE! We are all cheering for you from NZ 👍

Charlotte Webber

Posted On: 01 May 2024 10:35 am

You’re absolutely smashing Si! Thank you for taking us along with you with your blogs - between those and the incredible footage and photos we get a wee taste of what I can only imagine your true experience is. We are so proud of you back here in the office. Keep up the good work and best wishes for the Long March tomorrow .

Dunc E

Posted On: 01 May 2024 10:17 am

Hi Si. I am loving your blogs and getting the full description of your days (and night). The photos and videos are brilliant too. Such amazing scenery. You are nailing it as well and am very impressed with your times. Keep up the strategy- the faster you run, the less time in the sun!

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 01 May 2024 09:38 am

Thinking of your poor feet. Ouch ! Good travelling today under very difficult conditions. Love that you enjoy starry nights. One of my fav things. Roy and I used to go for late night walks if the stars were out. Magic. I’ll ask the wind gods to send you a cool breeze.

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 01 May 2024 09:38 am

Thinking of your poor feet. Ouch ! Good travelling today under very difficult conditions. Love that you enjoy starry nights. One of my fav things. Roy and I used to go for late night walks if the stars were out. Magic. I’ll ask the wind gods to send you a cool breeze.

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 01 May 2024 09:38 am

Thinking of your poor feet. Ouch ! Good travelling today under very difficult conditions. Love that you enjoy starry nights. One of my fav things. Roy and I used to go for late night walks if the stars were out. Magic. I’ll ask the wind gods to send you a cool breeze.

29 April 2024 05:48 pm (GMT-12:00) International Date Line West

Stage Two - Dunes Heaven
 
Thanks for all your messages and comments on the blog!
 
Today’s stage was called Dunes Heaven, and it did not disappoint. It was also meant to be even hotter than yesterday, when it reached 39 degrees, and, again, it delivered, hitting 43 degrees today. We knew it was going to be hot when we got up at 5am to have breakfast and didn’t need more than a tshirt.
 
Luckily there was a bit of a breeze for most of the day, which meant it wasn’t quite as bad as 43 degrees would imply. But it was still damn hot. I think at least five people dropped out today (a couple needing IVs) and even more were feeling pretty ill. 
 
In contrast, though, I had a great day. I managed my hydrations and electrolytes so much better today, and had no brain fog all day, and my eyes were working perfectly the whole time, unlike the periods of blurry vision yesterday. I also paced things a bit better, possibly helped by a bunch of us on the left-hand side of the start line not being able to see that the course took a very quick right-hand turn, so we had to turn around and then run through everyone who went the right way. One day I will learn. Maybe. That meant I had no idea how many people were ahead of me, so I just took it easy and settled into a pace I thought I could handle in the heat. And made myself drink regularly and often.
 
Today we were running for a while along a river, or what is called a river, but I am not sure it should really be using that name when water has not flowed for over five years. The lack of water showed. There were not many plants to see today, just sand, sand and more sand. Sometimes largely smoothed out by the wind, but often in massive sand dunes, some of which we had to run (or walk) up. This was real desert running! It was super fun running down the dunes, which a Belgian guy (Fred) and I managed to get videos of each other doing.
 
The dunes are amazing - even more so when you are running through them on your own and can’t see anyone or any sign of civilisation anywhere. I made it into camp in 5 hours, 39 minutes, and it turned out I was 6th, so one place better than yesterday.
 
Our camp is surrounded by dunes now, and the sun has just gone down and it is finally a really nice temperature again. Apparently the steepest and tallest dune behind the camp is where we go at the start of tomorrow’s run, which is going to be a difficult way to get started! We are being seranaded right now by the Namibian locals who set up and run the camp for us - it really feels like we’re in Africa!
 
Fingers crossed for another good day tomorrow - it’s going to be another hot one!

Comments: Total (4) comments

Andrew Orme

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 06:58 pm

Great work Simon. What a fantastic event, am sure it’s a challenge but an amazing experience. Keep up the fluids and hope you get plenty of rest in between runs.

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 02:25 pm

You are amazing Simon. So glad u are actually enjoying the terrain not just slogging away hour after hour. Talk about making memories.

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 02:25 pm

You are amazing Simon. So glad u are actually enjoying the terrain not just slogging away hour after hour. Talk about making memories.

Little Sis

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 10:30 am

Way to go Si - you’re going great! Your Mum will be thankful you only mention the blurry vision the day afterwards and in a sentence following the fact you had a great day! I love that you’re taking it all in and having fun running down the sand dunes. The pics that RTP posted were amazing, and I’m sure they don’t do the scenery justice. Look forward to seeing your videos when you’re home. Keep up the great work - we are all proud of your efforts, even if we question why you want to spend your holidays running! 🇳🇿

28 April 2024 04:19 pm (GMT-12:00) International Date Line West

Thanks to everyone who sent messages!
 
Yesterday we made it into Camp 1 for our first night in the desert. There was way too much packing and repacking of my bag, and I still struggled to find things, but at least I arranged it so it was comfortable on my back - or as comfortable as 9.6kg can be.
 
After eating a big dinner and all the treats that came into the desert (but didn’t have to go into my pack) everyone was off to bed early. It was an interrupted sleep with trips to pee from all the hydrating and a symphony of snoring, both from our tent and around the camp. We got up about 5am to start getting ready and have breakfast in the dark.

The first part of the run today was nice and cool, and there was a bit of a breeze as well, so very pleasant conditions as we ran through the salt pans with loads of flamingos enjoying the shallows. Then we made it down to the beach, where we had to try to find the harder sand to run on, which was not always possible. There were animal tracks around from the wild animals who had walked on the sand last night - paw prints - some smaller and some much larger (maybe hyenas) - and also lots from birds, including a lone flamingo leg, a seal skeleton and other skulls, and dead snake. 
 
Then it got harder - both the terrain and the temperature. If it wasn’t soft sand, it was running through and over desert grasses and prickly bushes that make gorse seem friendly. The hardest part, though was the heat. It was brutal as the breeze disappeared and the sun radiated up off the sand. I got a bit behind on my hydration and electrolytes, which didn’t help, but did a bit better in the last hour or so once i popped some slat pills and got a bit of extra water. 
 
Anyone who knows me well won’t be surprised to learn that I managed to go the wrong way at one stage, along with two other guys behind me (only one of which was following me). That meant I ran an extra 800m or so - which means I am at least winning on distance covered (although probably more accurate to say I was losing on that front!)
 
In the last section of the stage it was really hot and I resorted to a walk/run strategy, with numerous races with scarab beetles, which scurried away across the sand constantly, and made little trees I ran past sound like maracas as they scattered, running scared. I could hear the drum beating at the finish line, but there was still 4-5 km to go! 
 
Finally, I caught sight of the finish and plodded across the line I think in around 7th or 8th place - in around 5 hours (I forgot to stop my watch) - very pleased to get into some shade.
 
Tomorrow is going to be even hotter, apparently, with lots of sand dunes and really soft sand, so running is going to be a challenge.

Comments: Total (14) comments

Vivienne Munro

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 07:43 am

Really interesting reading about you day. Keep up the good work. take care of yourself

Schu NZ

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 07:06 am

Keep going Si. Tried to sign up to the website as your mate the other day and next thing I know I’m asked to pay $600. Hopefully this post doesn’t come with that sort of fee! Go well!!!

Sammy Deavoll

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 05:23 am

Go Simon - Love your work! Kia kaha for the next stage!

Anna Priaulx

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 01:54 am

Simon, this is epic! My message to go well on your journey would have been too late for you to catch so messaging now. Sounds like an amazing (not to mention gruelling) experience and you’re doing so well! Your blog post was so vivid - really gave an idea of what it’s like for you out there. I will keep following your progress. Kick ass!

Josh Williams

Posted On: 30 Apr 2024 01:26 am

Great work Simon! You got dis

Paul Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 06:14 pm

Great stuff bro !! Almost makes it sound like an event I’d want to do !!?? (Nah - just kidding !!). Keep hydrating !!!!

Karen Neubrandt

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 11:40 am

Hi Simon - I hope you don't mind me chipping in here, but I am an avid couch potato follower of RTP - especially Namibia. I live in Tauranga, and noticed that you are based in CHCH - so I just have to support a fellow Kiwi, right? Your description of the terrain is on point! I wish you a swift - hydrated race! Much respect Karen

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:39 am

Go Si! It’s just another day at the office!

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:39 am

Go Si! It’s just another day at the office!

David and Helen Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:39 am

Go Si! It’s just another day at the office!

Little Sis

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:28 am

You have always been the most descriptive of writers - Mr Fowler would be proud! Great work on Day 1 and you’re going great on Stage 2. Sleep well and keep up the hydration. One day closer to the beer 🍺 Go well 👍

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:25 am

Love the blog Simon. Really paints a picture for us couch potatoes.

Patricia Munro

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 10:25 am

Love the blog Simon. Really paints a picture for us couch potatoes.

Anna Davidson

Posted On: 29 Apr 2024 09:51 am

Amazing work Simon, you are smashing it!