As it turns out, I was sadly accurate with my prediction that I would be in no fit state to blog during the race, so I hope you were able to follow via a mix of Race Updates and other peoples blogs. I am back in Cairo now with both the Sahara Crossing and the 4 Deserts series completed - and what a journey it has been. However, before I come over all misty-eyed about the joy of the last few years, it would be remiss of me to gloss over the last few days without trying to give you some insight as to just what it was like out there....so here goes...

Saying that the Sahara Desert is "hot" sounds a bit trite and obvious, but I really cant think of any other way to describe it. Coming from Australia, and living in Singapore, I am no stranger to hot weather - both the stifling heat of Australian summers and the strength-sapping humid heat of Singapore - but I was still woefully unprepared for what the Sahara offered up.

The first signs of trouble came on Day One !!! The first stage of the first day was actually quite fun, and I found myself at Check Point 1 in high spirits and in good time. From there, the day was a gradual decline - emotionally, not geographically - as CheckPoint 2 became a forced march, and Check Point 3 felt like it would never appear amongst the heat-haze of the sand dunes. I actually ran out of water heading home to Check Point 4, so the last 500 metres (doesnt sound far, does it?) really hurt.

With a few minor variations, the next 4 days followed this theme...felt good for the first stage and gradually deteriroated throughout the day to slug it out and fall across the Finish Line around sunset. Each day I was burning around 7000 calories and with a daily consumption of aprox. 2100 I was in significant calorie deficit for most of the week (hopefully that will benefit me when I get on the scales back home in Singapore :))

Just as the Sahara was "hot", the Long Day was, well, "long". I took 26 1/2 hours to cover 87km with most of the last half being done in the company of Alex Baer - thanks for the company mate, and the inane chatter that kept up our spirits in both the heat of the day and the wee small hours of the night.

Have to rush to the airport now to head home. Thanks very much to everyone for the blog comments and their emails too...I didnt get a chance to read them until the rest day, but I was very glad to see them (I may have shed a small tear or two).

Bye for now

Peter B

Hi Folks

Well, it would be fair to say that the last few days have been fun - catching up with old friends, meeting some cool new folks, and even being able to head out and see the Pyramids and Sphinx on camel-back (that was way cool)...but today I awake with a sense of forboding that the serious stuff is about to commence (well, not too serious, but you get my meaning).

This time tomorrow (Sunday morning) the flag will be dropping on the start of the 2009 Sahara Crossing. Beyween now and then are the important - but time-consuming -  logisitical elements of the race, starting with Check-in at 8am. 

It's vitally important to ensure that everyone has the fundamental equipment and food to survive in the desert - remember, this is a self-supported race...outside of water and tents, we have to carry all of our own provisions for the week. The temptation for some would be to skimp on some things (eg. food !!!) to lighten their backpack weight, but this could mean compromising their own safety. So, to ensure that doesnt occur, there is a rigorous check-in process where the race organisers go through everybodys backpack and check off that everyone has brought the mandatory food, clothing and medical supplies for the race.

Following check-in, we will board several buses and head out of Cairo and travel to the site of tomorrow's race start. Current estimates are that the trip will take 7-8 hours !!! To ward of boredom, I will be thinking of countries without the letter "a" in their name (thanks Alasdair - I have started with "Egypt")

One last bit of good news - James Elson has arrived and it feels as if our band of brothers is now complete. There are five of us in this race who started the adventure together back in the Gobi Desert in 2007  - me, James, Willo, Hully and of course, Frank -  and it will be a great feeling to cross that Finish Line together in 7 days time (well, maybe not together...I will be a fair bit behind the other lads)

This may be my last blog entry for a while, as from here on in, I will be facing the reality of blogging after a day in the desert, and my guess is that the cybertent will be closed by the time I finish. So, just in case, you can check out race progress at James Elson's blog site - no doubt he will have more time on his hands :)

Cheers folks

Peter B

Hi Folks

For your consideration.....

A lot of thought and preparation goes into the nutrition plan for these races...XXX calories per day; dehydrated foods; gels; carb-drinks etc....one thing that doesnt get so much coverage is how to prepare, what I call, the Mental Nutrition Plan. In other words, what can you do to maintain the mental toughness required to triumph over the elements in the Sahara

iPods play a part for many people, but batteries run flat after a day or so...so...I am looking for your help in suggesting topics for consideration during those long slow days. ie. what would you recommend I think about as I am slugging it out between check-points.

At the moment, some topics include:
1. Who would play you in the movie of your life?
2. Songs with the word "Desert" in it?
3. Name 5 countries with the word "land" in their name?

As you can see, I need your assistance, so...little help?

Cheers

Pete
PS. As far as the race goes, we leave tomorrow morning, so today is re-checking race gear and perhaps some last minute purchases in case anything has been forgotten.

In scenes reminiscient (sp?) of the great 80's flick "The Highlander" athletes are now starting to arrive at the race hotel, and it truly resembles "the Gathering" from that movie...nervous anticipation abounds in the foyer as the race approaches, but there is still time for meeting of old friends and making of new acquaintances. 

Last night I was very happy to meet Jack Denness and his friend Karen Dockwray and they look in fine form (Jack was featured in the movie "Running On The Sun" and is a legend); we have also met up with Thaddeus (Singapore) and John (New Zealand) so I am sure that by the time race-start arrives we will have a good sense of camaraderie as we head out into the ocean of sand together (makes it sound quite pleasant, doesn't it !!)

Erik and I tested the legs yesterday with a short session in the hotel gym. I know that sounds weird (ie. training indoors) but I didnt really trust the Cairo air. Hully, Willo and Mick had no such concerns and they headed out for a 1 hour run and came back reports of "Sheez - that is HOT".

Thanks to Glenn and Jamo for your comments on my last blog...does this mean you are signing up for RTP Oz? Alasdair, I will look after things until you arrive, but I doubt you will see any of my footsteps in the Desert...au contraire !!

Today looks like being a bit of a touristy day, with some thoughts of heading off to the Sphinx.

Bye for now
Pete

Hi folks, landed in Cairo after good flight from Singapore. 

During their transit time in Singapore, Hully and Willo were able to come into town and we had a mini-reunion with Lizzie Crichton (of Gobi Desert fame) which was a nice surprise. Erik and Mick (debutante Scot, latest member of Willo's crew)) arrived from Australia just in time to join us on the Cairo flight, so now we are checked into the very nice Dusit Thani and about to go and grab some brekky before the inevitable jetlag kicks in.

One big thought occurred to me on the flight...how strong a connection I feel with this band of brothers with whom I have shared these adventures - given that we have only met each other in person a handful of times, these guys have made a massive impact on my life in recent years. I have no idea what the future holds in terms of work, races or life in general, but I do hope that these guys figure it in somehow, in whatever shape or form.

OK, enough sentimentality for now...off to breakfast.

Ciao

Pete

Hi Folks

This is my first blog entry for the upcoming Sahara Crossing starting this Sunday in Egypt...and hence the title of my first blog...Never Too Late. The idea behind this is that it is never too late to try something new (like this blog)...never too late to challenge yourself with some scary adventures (like Racing The Planet)...and never too late to open yourself up to meeting new friends and new experiences (shout out to my great friends I have made since the Gobi Crossing - Jimmy, Lizzie, Dougie, Kah Shin, Alex the Photographer, the Bishop crew from South Africa, Paulie the MD from Darwin...not to mention my brothers that am going to see in Sahara this week - Willo, Hully, Frank, James, and Erik.

So, it's Monday night and I have just finished packing and the first tingling of nervous energy have been felt. Fair to say that this hasn't been the ideal build-up for me, with precious few long runds under my belt...contrary to the rest of the boys who have been rumoured to undertake consecutive marathons in recent weekends.

Im not sure how profuse my writing will be in the Desert - my guess is that by the time I finish each day it will be lights-out and the rest of the competitors will be asleep. Maybe on the Rest Day (Day 6) I will be able to stumble over the to Media Tent to share my thoughts/feelings about the race-so-far.

Either way, I am looking forward to the Race - both to see my mates and to face another challenge head-on, and see how I go.

Bye for now
PeterB