Today, the "rest" day, was probably the hardest of the week. I've named it the Never Ending Story, since it was soooooo incredibly long, and much like the Nothing in the story that threatened to engulf Fantastica, the sheer boredom of sitting in my own filth threatened to destroy the little sanity that I seemed to hanging onto :) Woke up early, I think Chris arrived back at the tent just after midnight last night, and Jennie came in at about 09:00 this morning, I think it's a super achievement to have completed the long day for her, am very happy that she did it! By this time the sun was so hot and there was absolutely no breeze in the camp and I knew that the day would be a tough one! I had a strange breakfast of rehydrated chilli con carne (don't ask) that Chris gave me, and the minutes started crawling by as people started crossing the finish line, having navigated down the steep descent off the plateau and down along the awful stretch along the lake that we were camping next to. The sand/shore of the lake stank quite badly which is why I think no one was tempted to bathe in it, since I can tell you the only exercise I got on the rest day was literally stewing in my own filth. WIth no breeze, it was impossible to sit inside the tent and for the most part of the day the sun shone directly inside, so everyone huddled in the sliver of shade outside the tent and sort of moved around the tent as the sun literally inched its way across the sky during the day, the conversation revolving mainly around: a) what a waste of time this day was b) what a waste of time the final stage would be c) what we were going to eat first d) what we were going to drink first The physical and mental stress of the long day began to take its toll on me towards the end of the day, and I started getting a very real headachy feeling again, much like I did that night back at the first camp. It seems like a million years ago now! The moment of the day for me was going to visit the "toilets" at sunset. After finishing off what seemed like no.1 for the number 184th time of the day, I got caught by the sunset and it dawned on me that I have actually done it, that I made the distance, and as the day finally ended and the sand started to slowly lose its retained heat, Dr Feelgood popped the last half a sleeping pill and fell fast asleep and knew that tomorrow would promise pizza and a medal.

Much like its movie title, Stage five proved to be beautiful to look at, but totally and unnecessarily long and leaves one feeling very, very empty.
I sit here this morning in the cybertent and I feel like a war survivor, yesterday was a day that I truly will never forget.
It would be difficult to relate 95km across the Sahara and to be honest, I guess even the greatest wordsmith would not be able to do it justice.
From camp we hit small dunes and then a hot burning plain 25km long and flat and consisting of a mixture of soft and hard sand. I felt good and started off running with Lee from tent 8 who I've kind of befriended here and Michelle who spit into a second group later on.
It was hard going, we went through the infamous Valley Of The Whales, and to be honest I really didn’t care, I didn’t stop to look at anything, the only bones I am interested in now is a T-bone! The flags were confusing in the valley as it went in circles for a while.
The group split after the third check point with Lee and I in front and I just tried to force GU and droe wors down. Andy Sheppard gave me an extra bag of wors which I was very grateful for. The sun really began to beat down by the time we got to CP4 and it was mid way up one of the biggest dunes I've ever seen - after the checkpoint we had to continue along the spine of dune which I will admit is a moment that will always stay with me.
 
Dropping down, we hit another valley of sand and the wheels began to fall off, first I had to tell Lee that I needed to walk which he was very cool about and then the unthinkable started happening, the waves of nausea started to hit and my vision started blurring.
I've been scared and uncertain before but I started panicking that if I got sick not even half through the stage I wouldn’t have enough reserves left to finish. With a very heavy heart, I told the guys to go on and watching the group get further away was so disheartening!
I ran out of water three quarters of the way to check point 5 which was perched atop a mountain the jeep got stuck on trying to get up.
 
At the checkpoint I sat for fifteen minutes and forced a whole GU brew down and ate some solids.
 
When I got up I continued walking, and slowly I felt myself coming back and started running.
 
Now I wont ever question it and please don’t ask me for explanations but to be honest, considering the state I was in, I ran the shit of the rest of it!
I caught the group at CP6 as they were leaving, forced some smash a Rehidrat down and caught Michelle, determined to run with her because I knew she was consistant. The problem was that her toe nails were started to pull off and she was in a lot of pain.
 
We hit darkness at CP8 and it was time for the headlights. Idont know how I managed to do it but I ran and ran and ran, the last stretch was pure hell along a lake (believe it or not) and when you sink in, it'd mud pulling your feet down, not sand.
 
After 14 hours and 22 minutes we pulled in under the finish banner.

No, its not a movie title like the other blogs, (because this movie was a truly awful) but rather the series of books.
The story goes that Percy, being the half blood son of Poseidon, gathers strength when close to or touching water which eventually allows him to defeat the villian, Kronos.
 
Today, I encountered some rock - not much mind you, but rock none the less and being a mountain boy I made the most of it.
I think I had the run of my life today, and certainly one of the hottest.
 
We left camp and heading back into the dunes. I was nervous because my knee started acting up a little last night, and everytime I turned over in my sleep I could feel the jolt of pain shoot straight up my leg. I've been running with my strapping on, as Chris showed me, but as I descended the plateau yesterday my leg twisted slightly as I ran down and I think it was enough to just start it off.
 
Also let me explain straight off the bat that that Saharan wind was no where to be seen, and by 7:30 this morning, I felt like I was baking, the sweat was just dripping off me and to be honest, I am pee'ing espresso, but at least I am able to do number one - so like how much more personal can this get???? - which means that I am not dehydrated yet.
 
The field seemed to bolt off today and I was nervous to try and keep up - strange because everyone yesterday was like "no, no I'm saving my legs for the long stage, blah blah blah" - lying fuckers, they chased out of the gates like Julius Malema after a last shred of dignity.
 
I hooked up with Lee - a super strong Brit whose buddy had to pull out on day 2 and Michelle from Oz.
 
I decided, and voiced my opinion as usual, that basically we pay money and RTP goes, "OK we are going to try and fuck you up as badly as we can, thank you, here's your receipt" just after the first checkpoint they put this GIGANTIC climb up a dune with lose sand, and the thought kept going through my mind that I should just tell them to go, but truthfully I was also desperate for the company, so I hung in there...and hung in there...and hung in there - I felt quite tired but eventually it became a head thing - these people are super, super strong.
 
I find I burn through GU much quicker here, I think the sand - and the sucking effect it has when you put your foot down, and try to push off just requires slightly more energy and by end of 45 minutes, I risk total shut down if I don't replenish. By 32km I made the decision to tell Lee to go on, and I stopped and shoved a bar down and walked for two minutes just to recover, and then started up again, a bit slower but running none the less towards a small outcropping of rocks.
 
Of course, they never put camp on a nice downhill, but made us climb the hill, and I kept thinking "OK, the camp has to be over the hill" - only to get there and find no camp, and had to run completely around the little "koppie" to get into camp.
 
Day four done.
 
Anyway, the stats so far is that our tent has two drop outs. Fergus, who's girlfriend is also in the tent, stayed on as a volunteer. Jennie pulled out yesterday, but is continuing the course.
Tomorrow is the long stage, so guys all your happy thoughts and prayers are welcome, although I think every time someone claps their hands, one of annoying frikkin' flies out here gets another set of wings  not sure if they will be doing a staggered start yet, waiting to hear.
Besides the distance, the obvious worry is running through the heat of the day. We've also been told there is a dune section at about 60km so my plan is just to concentrate on eating and drinking - I am forcing the Rehirat own quite religiously.
 
Anyway, chat later everyone, an once again a HUGE thank you to everyone sending emails and comments you will never know how much it means and the difference it makes!!!!!
 
Me

An infamous David Lynch movie based on a crappy book that I could never really get into. Also used to describe a mound or embankment of sand found typically at a beach, or in a desert.
Term can also be used to describe what will cause me to absolutely soil myself if I have to climb up one more of those f(&&(*^&*^&*^%&^$ things.
So stage three is now officially out of the way.
 
Bad news travels fast, and you know you cannot keep a good story down. Arriving in camp yesterday in the middle of a sand storm of note, the main story was that today, stage three, was going to be longest stage yet, just a little over 42km AND would be the most difficult.
I was not in a good head space yesterday at all, I was frustrated by my inability to run the dunes and I was feeling very alone, small and isolated.
My mood starting improving as the rest of tent started arriving, and I made the decision to chill and just concentrate on getting the proper recovery in.
I drink my recovery drink as soon as I get in and pop an anti-inflammatory as soon as I have some food in my stomach and then just keep sipping at my water with Rehidrat or my new favourite drink, GU Brew.
 
Also I brought the little sache's of instant coffee that I find drinking after the race is the best ever, OMG I miss coffee soooooooo much!
 
Anyway, woke up at 4:30 this morning, and I must admit that the arrogant p$^s that lives deep inside of me (he doesn’t come out often, but clear the floor when he does) popped out and I just thought to hell with everyone, I am going to do my own run.
And I seemed to actually have a pair of legs on me today, not fast mind you, but enough to just keep doing the shuffle.
I negiotated the dunes ok, I still struggled on the flat sand, but didn’t let it get to me. At about 28km, the dreaded 10;15 curse set in
Every day so far, I have found myself thinking, 'I wonder what time it is, the sun is burning down on me so badly like its two o'clock in the afternoon' and without fail when I look at my watch it is only 10:15 - I have done this since Sunday. Anyway at 10:15 I just simply ran out of energy.
I really am battling to keep my energy levels up here, I am chewing GU and Mule bars like there's no tomorrow but I just seem to keep running flat.
 
Disaster struck right in the middle of the longest frikking valley of loose sand you can imagine, and all the sudden like four or five people passed me.
I managed to keep my shit together, but lost my sense of humor when they made us climb a 200m dune to get to the last checkpoint and then just for shits and giggles send us back down for the final leg to camp. I twisted my bad knee a little descending the dune, but after the stop at the checkpoint - where I sat for a minute, chugged back a 500ml bottle of Rehidrat and a GU I was able to run where I could until I got to the mid way and the ground just turned to shit, and by shit I mean lose, unmanageable sand, and I had to do a fair bit of walking to get back to camp.
Not stressing too much, at least I am in - I just so need a bath and to burn the clothes I am in.
Besides the layer of sand that’s been ground into my skin and clothes, the clothes themselves have taken on a distinctly meaty smell, I feel so disgusting.
 
I also had to fashion a makeshift shade for my hat by cutting up one of my buffs and attaching it to my cap, it kind of looks like a veil now, maybe I can be my own surprise witness when I get committed.....
 
Anyway, thanks guys for all the emails (yes Poodle, I am getting them all  I just can't email out) but I was sitting in the cybertent all teary-eyed yesterday reading them and it DOES make a big difference.
 
So lots of love from the burning plains of Hades
 
Me

The reality finally sets in now and this is going to be hard.
We left camp 2 today and heading straight into the dunes. Very few people will truly understand what it is to run a marathon across the sand dunes of the Sahara and to be honest I reached a point today where even I didn’t really want to know.
The scenery was a bit better than yesterday but pretty much just an ocean of sand as far as the eye can see, and its burning hot. I touched a dropof water to my arm and it just disappeared. My fingers are swelling up pretty badly during the run (I use the word "run" very liberally) that it hurts to make a fist.
I had a bad day today - part frustration that I simply cannot run on sand, and partly due to the fact that the heat is becoming unbearable now. Its quite windy here, yesterday we had a head wind, today is just seemed to come from everywhere and it whips the sand into a fine dust.
I lost a good couple of positions today, but I am not worried, after today it shifts into survival.
People are dropping like flies already, although the flies themselves don’t seem to be going anywhere, I have to constantly flick them away - not great at all!
We've just heard that the one guy from our tent pulled out at the first check point - and this after placing ninth yesterday. There's this guy who was the oldest contestant AND this year's Badwater champ who they found collapsed yesterday and had to get him back to Cairo.
One of the testmates, Chris, spent the day throwing up yesterday and it seems have hit Fergus as well (the guy that pulled out) Mika, the Finnish dude still hasn't come in yet, and its getting late now and its getting hotter.
 
The course itself today took us across the burning plains, and then we had to climb up this mothertrucker of a dune to get onto a plateau. I was so happy because the surface was slightly rockier, but to be honest I felt fucked at the time, so I ran three flags, walked one, not because I wanted to just simply because I needed to get the check point three for water and get into some shade. After check point three it was one of toughest five km ever,down the plateau dune, and then two dunes roughly the size of Signal Hill to get back to camp. In true Racing The Planet fashion, the campwas peched at the top of the second one, I was joined by two Irish guys climbing into camp, I was so happy to talk to someone, I tried conversing with a Korean guy but a) he didn’t speak English and b) I think he was in the midst of death throes on the plateau.
 
Unfortunately tomorrow is going to be more of the same sand, and I do not know how I am going to get through it. My back and shoulders took a real pounding today, I had to take an antiflammatory as soon as I got back into camp. Anyway, gonna go lay back down now, trying to get as much rest as I can now, there's still so very far to go now.

Made to camp 2 which is along the edge of the Northern Lake, last night we camped at the edge of the Southern Lake and the course basically ran around the two lakes.
Now this made seem simple enough, but not when the two Lakes are in hell and Satan has an upset stomach.
There was little to no sleep last night, it was so hot in our tent of nine, and the pre-requisite snorer was on full alert. I went to the tent early because by the time I got off the three hour bus ride I had one of the very few migraines of my life, I could barely see straight it was so bad, so popped a neurofen and tried to dose while they had a belly dancing thing by the camp fire. Honestly, Shakira could have been doing naughty things with a donkey and I still would have rolled over and tried to sleep. I woke up feeling slightly better but with a sheen of sweat already on my brow but ready to race.
I have made a mistake bringing Future Life,  I could barely get 50g down so supplemented with some of the snacks I brought last night.
 
We kicked off and I started at the back and just ran way within myself because the first leg (9. something) was soft sand with medium dunes.
I fucking hate sand. I have it everywhere now  but took it in my stride and all the sudden by checkpoint one I sitting in sixth position.
Ordinarily I would have been whoo-hoo but I knew this wasn’t good news, I wasn’t pushing but I didn’t want to be in sixth on the first leg of day one.
Not to worry, got through checkpoint two and everything was still okay-ish and suddenly someone cranked the heat up to max.
I was worried because I just simply couldn’t run, my energy levels where nowhere. I tried to force an extra Gu down but realised that it was going to come straight back up and I could not afford to get sick here, I would never never replace the food enough.
I was a long, hard slog to the end of 38km - at least in Namibia there was always a view, but there's nothing to look at - but sand far into the distance.
I could see the camp seven kilometers away and I had to dig so very deep to keep on keeping on - the one good point was that even though I started getting passed by people, they were all walking as well, not one person that I could see up ahead was actually running, so I think the end positions were all relative  I think I finished in 14th place overall in 5:10 - with a lot of walking.
 
The people in my tent all seem nice, I bunked with the Finnish guy Mika at the hotel, and there are a couple of people here (well almost all) who know Ryan, so the more people ask if I know him, he's suddenly gone from a good friend to his naming his first born after me. Sorry Ryan, we'll negiotate when I am back! Knob, I thought a lot about you, you would have kicked ass here! I thought a lot about Princess Cupcake over the last couple of days, it helped today.
 
They reckon today's stage was moderate - please, someone needs a good smack and a thesaurus - and tomorrow and the following day is supposed to be difficult - I remember that these people do not have a solid grasp of moderate and difficult. Hold thumbs, I forced some two minute noodles and a cup of instant coffee - yes I may be in the desert but I am not a heathen down and hopefully that is going to kick me back to shape for tomorrow.
Really nervous, I am not so good with the sand.
 
Luckily there doesn’t seem to be much here. Not.

One week to go now - still drinking a really good cup of coffee and thinking this time next week I will be breakfasted, lubed, prepped, gaitered and waiting for the start, and you know what? The coffee didn't really taste that good any more. Funny that! Did my last serious run yesterday, it went from an informal trail race into a 600m climb over 4 kilometres with the needle buried deep in the red. Spent the rest of the day attempting to stick velcro to my new Salomons - and ended up with one shoe done and ALOT a glue on my hands hahahahahaha! Did some last minute medical type shopping, so I may end up being the painkiller drug kingpin of the dunes. Going to be good to remove the usual garbage that is in my pack to full it with race stuff, no more wetsuits, rice, cans of all sorts of you name it and the plethora of miscellaneous crap that I've loaded that poor bag with over the last couple of months. Doing a final revue of kit this morning, and may attempt to do a short run, but will most likely just head out to gym and do a light free weights session. Besides I should probably be getting as MUCH televison and iTunes in as what I can :)

So the time is getting very short now and I have gotten off my ass, and started thinking about shopping lists. It seems for a race where there is precious little space for luxury, there seems to be an awful lot of stuff to buy. I'd rather sacrifice the extra change of clothes, or rather the one change of clothes for something else to eat - I dread the delightful taste of smash and soya mince more than the gag inducing aroma of the Future Life breakfast cereal six days in hahahaha So I am taking a leaf out of Ryan's book (why do books have leaves?) and taking the ABSOLUTE minimum, since I've had s a couple of setbacks, so my pack training is not as great as what I'd like I want to try and eliminate as much weight as possible!!! Picking up some Mule bars in the week!