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Chris Marks

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Namib Race (2008) blog posts from Chris Marks

02 November 2008 10:47 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

We're sitting by the swimming pool at the Movenpick hotel and it's finally starting to sink in that the race is over. It seems an age since our last blog during the rest day on Friday. Saturday begin with a 3am start for a seven hour bus ride back to Cairo for stage 6, a 5km sprint to the finish by the pyramids. The journey was pretty uneventful, everyone was very lighthearted, looking forward to the beer and pizza at the finish line. We started the stage at about 11.30, it started with a crazy dash through some sidestreets with both of us nearly running headlong into people, horses and camels before climbing through sand towards the pyramids. In traditional fashion the first 20 or 30 runners managed to miss a flag and tacked on an additional 1.5km; it made us regret our decision not to carry any water! Finally crossing the finish line and being given our medal was a fantastic feeling, one which was almost topped by our first beer in well over a week! Once everyone had crossed the line and all of the beer and pizza had been consumed we headed back to our hotel for a very, very welcome shower and more beers. We had a great time at the awards banquet, some truely awesome competitors achievements were toasted and we watched a screening of some amazing photographs and videos which we hope you folks have managed to see on the website during the race. It really reminded us of what a unique event we'd just completed in the most stunning of settings. The proper food was a godsend, we struggled with the beer and wine; it was like drinking fruit juice, it seemed to have no effect; we've put it down to silly metabolisms. Or it could be that we have new found superhuman powers. We'll keep you posted on that one. We're flying back to the UK on Tuesday, planning on taking it as easy as possible until then. We're both contactable now if anyone wants to catch up. We'll post final blogs when we get back and also send some emails and photos around. It's a bit to early to give you the full "how we feel about the race" but promise that we will very soon. Suffice it to say that neither of us wants to call it a day with this race. We can't thank you enough for your support before, during and after the race. Thank you. Chris and Lee

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 03 Nov 2008 10:00 am

Wicked!!!!!!!!! Congratulations - you both must have been so glad to have that shower (and everyone else around you). Fruit juice when you get back then?!

Posted On: 03 Nov 2008 09:52 am

Guys - absolutely amazing - followed every stage - look forward to a welcome home beer / fruit juice - whatever you call it these days...

01 November 2008 09:56 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

We made it. The 100km day is over.  It was everything it said it was going to be on the tin. The day kicked off for us at 8am, the top 25 started two hours later. Our strategy for the day before the start was pretty simple - go as hard as possible during the cooler morning and afternoon to allow for heat of the day and the night slowing us down. All started as planned, we sat between about 5th and 8th and managed a slow run for the bulk of the first 60 kms, before nightfall; temperatures were again in the 40's. The terrain was mixed with lots of soft sand which really sapped our energy but fortunately it was relatively flat across a plateau in the Black Desert. The day quickly assumed a routine of checking off checkpoints which came around about every 10km, eating regularly and drinking all of our water allotment. We also consumed both paracetemol and ibuprofen like smarties due to the state of our feet, knees, hips etc etc. We managed to get to the checkpoint where some of the slower runners were planning to grab a few hours sleep just at night fell. We didn't stop, just grabbed some hot water for a packet of dehydrated food and kept on going. The final 40kms in the dark were really hard going, the terrain was very mixed, especially the 14kms after the last checkpoint which consisted of lots of icing sugar sand. We finally made it back into camp at 23.34, 15 hours 34 minutes after starting. We are incredibly pleased with our time, we managed to go quicker than a number of the top 25. The time is now 9am on Friday morning and there are still plenty of people out on the trail but everyone should be in during the next few hours. We barely managed to sleep last night as our entire bodies hurt too much, probably grabbed a couple of hours. Today is a rest day prior to a long bus journey and then a short (5-10km) sprint into the finish line by the pyramids at about 12pm on Saturday. We're going to do a lot of resting today. We also have our dehydrated wine to look forward to, which we've lugged through 150 miles in the Sahara. There's a great atmosphere in the camp - a kind of elated exhaustion - plus everyone's walking like a zombie!  Anyway folks, this will be our final blog from the field, we will post more when we get back to Cairo and then in Blighty. Another absolutely huge thank you to you all for all for your support during the race - we really appreciate it. It's been an awesome, brutal adventure.  See you soon.  Chris and Lee

Comments: Total (4) comments

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 01:12 pm

Congratulations!!! Absolutely Fantastic Hats off to you both!!! Whilst I'll never really understand what drives people to do these sorts of endurance challenges (my cousin skied to the South Pole last year) I do find these accomplishments truly amazing and am really impressed how you two stuck with each other and helped each other reach your goal. And, congratulations on how much you raised for your charities! Now, get home to your families and give them great big hugs!

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 11:59 am

I love you Daddy - From Jemima xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx9

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 11:50 am

I hope you ran fast Daddy lost of love Imogen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I love you Daddy.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 10:41 am

what can i say, you have done brilliantly, can't wait for you to call later today. was looking through the pictures and saw one of you at the briefing , you look skinny, i need to feed you up. Anyway speak to you later and enjoy the couple of days to relax before you come home love you hels

30 October 2008 04:00 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Stage 4 is over. What a stage it has been. It's truly crazy out here - today was really hard. Total distance was about 23 miles, the temperature was 42C when we finally got into camp! The day kicked off at 7am; we managed to run most of the 24km from the start to check point 3 but then encountered the soft uphill sand right at the point where it started to get properly hot! Nevertheless we're still really pleased with our time, the field is incredibly strong  - we now only have the 60+ mile long stage to contend with tomorrow. Lee is now firing on all cylinders, Chris is still feeling a bit crook but not half as bad as some of the other competitors. Various shoe modifications have stopped our shoes inflating with sand, as a result our feet didn't get any worse today although they're far from pretty! We're both really tired but looking forward to the long day, we're going to eat as much as possible tonight and will probably get a decent night's sleep.  We won't be able to update the blog until Friday morning but please keep all of the emails and blog comments coming, they're all very much appreciated. Missing everyone back home but great that you're thinking of us. Next blog, it'll all be over.  Chris and Lee

Comments: Total (13) comments

Posted On: 01 Nov 2008 09:44 am

You a both well 'ard. No superlative could adequately represent your effort and achievement ......

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 02:57 pm

Chaps. A truly, truly magnificent effort and a really fast time - well done! Just a short burst on the last day now (I say short burst, but it's sill further than I have ever run!). Enjoy your first beer at the end - I am picturing the end of the film "Ice Cold in Alex". Barry

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 02:38 pm

I was never any good at filling in forms so I've posted our comments in the first blog as this was the only day I could see the security code in until I realised that today's page went off the screen.

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 01:45 pm

Sounds like it was a monster of dtage. Well done. Amazing effort even to complete it let alone do so well. I was a bit worried that Chris seemed to have fallen off the results list this morning but glad to see that you are back. Hang in there!

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 09:48 am

OMG I couldn't even imagine standing in that heat, let alone running in it! You are both very very strong...and very very crazy. The best of luck with the final stage (which you are probably battling as I type) - what will be your finishing pose at the end?!

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 09:35 am

Hi Lee and Chris well done to you both .What a great time for stage 5.Now you can relax and enjoy the red powdered wine looking forward to seeing you soon

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 12:55 am

Hi Lee and Chris, Your performance is extermely impressive, fantastic job 37/148 at this stage of the game. Good luck on the long leg hope you move up through the fileld. Lee, Bet you can't wait for a ruby and a stella in 2 days!! Good luck to you both and be safe.

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 09:54 pm

By the time you read this the long day will be over. Hope you toughed it out and did well. Can't believe it is almost over. Oh my god i'll have my husband back, no more training for a bit and only 8 weeks left now!!! I'm really proud of you but your not doing it again next year (maybe 2010)

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 08:10 pm

Breaking news placed you guys 8th and 9th at checkpoint 17 at 10am today (Thurs). WOW! I hope by now you are resting (10pm). Take care of each other. Do you plan to be trick or treating on fri eve? I can\'t wait to see you, Chris. Unlike Matt, I won\'t be looking at your feet. Em x

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 06:30 pm

what a performance! I now feel guilty for contemplating not going for a cycle as it's a little on the chilly side! Enjoy the long day. Can't wait to see the toenails, or lack thereof

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 02:12 pm

Hi Lee and Chris. staggered by how well you are doing. Some sporting news for you Lee, best north london derby ever last night with Tottenham scoring 2 goals at the death to draw 4-4 at emirates. 4 points for Harrry Houdine already. Wenger's face was priceless. Keep up the pace. Cheers

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 09:12 am

Daddy I hope you are felling well.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx love Imogen.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted On: 30 Oct 2008 09:04 am

I llove you Daddy. I think you will be the best runner today.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx love Jemima.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

29 October 2008 09:37 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

It's 2.30pm, we finished stage 3 at 1pm. Apologies for not posting a blog last night - we were both pretty tired after stage 2 and hit the sack before we could get into the cyber tent.  It's been a really hard two days, we were both feeling under the weather on a hilly stage 2; Lee with a stomach upset, Chris with nausia. The day was spectacular, the rocks formed into amazing shapes by the wind. Most of the stage was run over sand which was hard going - we were extremely pleased to see the end of day camp. We've also been struggling with our running shoes, which, whilst designed for desert running, fill with dust between the various layers of material; effectively reducing the shoe by about 3 sizes. As a result Chris has so far lost all of the toe nails on his right foot, Lee's close behind!  Today started with a relatively flat sandy 20km which we were able to run. After check point 2 things started to get more lumpy, culmunating in 3km of sand dunes leading to check point 3. The dunes were both beautiful and brutal after which it was 6km into camp. All-in-all a much better day today than yesterday; Lee's stomach has been fixed with some antibiotics, Chris is still feeling sick but it's not getting any worse. Tomorrow's stage is set to be pretty tough, over sandy terrain - then the 60 mile stage 5....! ps, it's currently 44C - it's seriously hot out here. back tomorrow. Chris and Lee

Comments: Total (5) comments

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 09:08 pm

Nurse Lulu says that you should kill a snake, wee into it and tie a knot in the end for emergency hydration and amputation is the only solution for the toes. Nick and Jo, are more supportive and really wishing that we were there too. Actually, until reading your blog I was feeling quite tempted. Seriously, good effort. We are all very proud of you and well impressed! Dig in! P.S. Eliza is very worried that you are not wearing enough suncream on your wings

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 07:23 pm

sounds really bad but can't believe you are still keeping steady pace. Really wishing you luck for tomorrow, not that you need it, mind over matter good luck and enjoy the wine

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 06:36 pm

Congratulations Daddy. I hope you are feeling well. love Imogen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 02:48 pm

Chaps - I can't believe I am reading this and I still wish I was there. You are both doing fantastically well. Keep toughing it out, only one more day then it is powder wine time…..

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 09:59 am

Guys - you are doing superbly - it sound vicious. I am gazing at my toenails with a new-found fondness. Keep it up for the last two stages - I am sure you will. Fiona and Pip send their love Barry

27 October 2008 04:21 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Well, we've finished day one. We're really pleased with our time - it's been a hell of a first day. The race started at 8.30; todays stage consisted of 4 stages and totalled 22.5 miles. It started quickly over relatively hard packed terrain which lasted until check point 2. CP 2 to 3 gave us our first taste of uphill sand in the heat of the mid-day sun. It was really hard work. We managed to hang in there, finishing in approx 30th place in a time of about 4.45. Now planning to rest, eat and rehydrate ahead of a tomorrow's 24 mile stage.

Comments: Total (8) comments

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 09:16 am

Hi Lee what a fantastic time for stage 5 we are all so proud of you now you can relax and enjoy the powdered red wine look forward to seeing you. love mum dad and Paul

Posted On: 29 Oct 2008 02:06 am

Hi Lee and Chris, watching your progress from New York (in the snow), fantastic effort so far, good luck and be safe. Lee have you got your bucket and spade to pass the time?

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 06:02 pm

Well done so far. Good luck to both of you. Thinking of you and the pink flags. Em x

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 02:19 pm

Hey guys, fantastic effort well done. Fingers crossed the next few days go well for you both. Lee - yes I am checking the blog during work hours...ha ha.

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 09:59 am

Lee, superb effort from you both, you are clearly insane but keep up the pace. Feeling quite bad about driving to the station now having read your blog. Mind you bloody cold in Farnham. Good luck for the rest!!

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 08:57 am

Good luck to you both. You are doing so well... keep the good work up, not long to go!! Am, Graham & Nyah

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 08:40 pm

Fantastic effort to you Lee, and your running mate, Chris! Take care of your feet and please let us know of a link to donate in your name. Best of luck!

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 06:21 pm

well done to you both, really good first day, you just need to keep it going, i'll be dissapointed if you don't finish in the top 40!! Glad to see your sticking together as well. Lee you were joking about having a fag weren't you!!

24 October 2008 05:00 am (GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

Well, all's gone well so far pehaps with the exception of the insane taxi journey to the hotel at 1.30 this morning. I guess that indicators, road markings, speed limits and other cars have a different significance here. After a healthy lie-in and a not so healthy breakfast we've spent most of the day packing our rucksacks. After a brief thunderstorm this morning the weather's been mixed. It's definately not in the 40's yet! We have a race briefing tomorrow at 8am, a kit-check at 11 and then a 7 hour bus trip to the first campsite. The fun and games will start at 8am on Sunday! Thanks to Mike Strange for his helpful advice in his blog comments re Lee and lager. Unfortunately I read it a little too late. We'll try to post an update tomorrow or Sunday. Thank you again for all of your support. Please don't forget to email us during the race. Chris and Lee

Comments: Total (3) comments

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 11:14 am

Good work on stage 1 chaps that's a pretty good showing. Looks like it was a close one. You're going to have to do something about that Ryan Sandes if you're going to have a hope. And Phil Adams is putting you to shame.

Posted On: 24 Oct 2008 08:35 pm

chris how are the ribs?

Posted On: 24 Oct 2008 05:36 pm

Chris is lee planning on doing any communication or are you designated social secretary? enjoy the 7 hour trip tomorrow and good luck sunday

22 October 2008 03:47 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

We're leaving for Egypt tomorrow afternoon; very much looking forward to the race.  We'll post more exciting blogs when we arrive in Cairo and during the race!

Comments: Total (8) comments

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 08:50 pm

Amazing stage5! Well done to you both, we cannot imagine how hard it must have been,but are really delighted it went so well for you . Hope your not in too much pain in the foot dept; only the last short!! lap to go. Cheers, Pete.

Posted On: 31 Oct 2008 02:34 pm

Just seen the results for Stage 5. Fantastic effort boys; you've obviously been saving yourselves, if not your feet. Hope the tanning goes well today and good luck on the relative sprint in tomorrow as the field looks pretty close around you guys.

Posted On: 28 Oct 2008 08:35 pm

well done Chris, Great job so far! Hope the rations are as good as you claim they are. At least it s hot there,It s freezing here! Keep up the good work and all the best.

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 07:58 pm

Hi Lee/Chris, Well done to you both after completing 2 days. Get tomorrow out of the way and then you are well over half way there! Take care in the heat and see you soon - good luck.

Posted On: 27 Oct 2008 09:07 am

Every time we raise a glass we toast you guys and wish you luck. We are continuing to send you many good wishes. Today is our last full day in Marrakech so if you need a rescue party, now is the time to raise the alert. We will be on camel back today and in a renault 4 tomorrow before flying. With lots of love. Emma Imogen Jemima Carolyne Harry Amelia. PS Note to Lee - please stroke Chris' feet every night before bed in a clockwise direction. Its just part of his routine and helps aid digestion. Ex

Posted On: 26 Oct 2008 03:16 pm

Lee - good luck fella, word of advice don't be finding any dodgy curry houses on route could play havock next day. Look forward to your return and a few beers.

Posted On: 24 Oct 2008 01:00 pm

Good luck guys. Chris - Don't let Lee fill up his water bottle with stella and try to start a fight with a camel. it is freezing here....so at least you'll be somewhere nice and warm. Oh....did I mention that Barclays and NAB have both gone bust today? No need for you both to come back. Enjoy. Mike

Posted On: 22 Oct 2008 03:52 pm

Good luck chaps, I hope all the hard training bears fruit, will be following with interest !!