The Long March is finally over.  Yes, I have completed the gruesome 87km and I supposed I clocked a fantastic timing for myself which will etch a good memory for me...a total of 16hours ++ spent racing in the desert in one single day.  It was rewarding though with fantastic views and running experience.   First, an Orange Fizzy drink and mango juice....yes...cold ones in a sheltered Cafe in the hot and might desert.  Then, there was the valley of the desert whale...a world renowned conservatory site....where one captured beautiful pictures of the "lost world"...of course, when you stopped to take pictures..you caught more breath to run longer and further eventually.  A climb up almost a 200metres ridge...just like the one I longed to go (Island Peak in Nepal) with stunning view of the horizon and wind howling.  A little less careful, you may just be off one face of the ridge...no, no...it;s soft sand so you won't fall off that easily but my concern was more for my equipment....for should it every drop, it would mean I have to go all the way down to retrieve it....a long way, i mean.  The night run was yet another experience.  It's not like any run you do back at home...it's not a back home evening run where it's brightly lit.  The environment continued to be harsh with head-on wind and vanishing skylight.   It took only a short while for darkness to descend and cold engulfing you as the perspiration was trapped under the windbreaker.  The distance seemed even further because by now all energy would have been depleted despite the constant intake of caloric gels and electrolytes.  I came in delighted, took the remaining half pack of spaghetti (consumed the first half at Checkpoint 5) and slept like a....  only to wake up not long ago for a Miso Soup (yes Japanese soup!!) which I realised it was my last packet of comfort food (the gels and gums though expensive are not desired at all now...)
 
The desert race is coming to an end with just a little section to cover tomorrow.  It should be beautiful too as we will end the race in the Pyramid areas. 
 
I wish to believe that partaking in this race has made me stronger in many aspects.   Maybe...while others are showered in the comfort of...say a comfortable bed...warm food, air con...I have challenged myself to brave through the punishing elements, especially in the penultimate stage 5 over 87km because i aim to move on and in order to do so, I must and have taken every unwavering step towards every finishing point.  This is how life's challenges are overcome and the human spirit is triumphant.
 
Just like to thank all ...Suan Lam (hi bro...didn't know u have been tracking me..), Trish (haha, i too wrote to you when you were in Sahara), Sandy (so nice to receive a message...a good support), ESNN (for all the encouragement and belief), Choon Poh (yeap, i raced well, so have you...hope to meet.. PJ is ok, he finished the race too), Arlene (interested in the Gobi March...June 2012 before you fly off...???) Sally (u put me in trouble liao...guess Caroxxx will get me to share...see lah, more work!!!) and many more for the support.  Wonderful to receive news from the deserted desert.

Maybe the body has become more accustomed to the heat and distance running.

I never had such bad sunburn.

Beautiful scenery...sand dunes, huge rock formations, deep desert valley and what the Chinese termed "Hai Shi Sheng Luo".

The race started at 7am sharp.

Had just taken my first dinner under the stars (yes, stars cos it's already very darkA.  But dinner wasn't that fantastic.  Mild Curried Beef Rice did not taste as good.  It was tasteless.   And simply disappointing for the price of US12.  Ok, Ok, just don;t complain cos it;s expedition dried food.
 
The journey to this campsite was awesome.  We travelled far for about 4 hours over vast land...barren land (true desert).  On our way, we had one stop for a toilet break but there wasnt a toilet at all.  The men formed a line orderly to clear away our excessive body fluid...all because earlier at the race briefing, the medical director urged us to complete a 1.5 litre of water before boarding the bus.  That was slightly 2 hours ago so you can imagine how much water we have stored in our body.  Well, it's for our own good...safety.
 
Arriving at campsite - so proud to see our national flag flying high among the many other nations at the start line.  Will definitely be proud when I pass by it again at tomorrow's start scheduled to be at 7am.
 
Ok...so much for now cos need to prepare for tomorrow's race (it's really dark right now though it;s only 6.54pm)(for your info, day break is as early as 4.45am when the whole place is lit up).

U may think that the lOng wait is over...that the race is here...well, not so when u have to catch a transfer flight and have to wait for at least 7 hours. Bearing in mInd the time zone difference, it is even harder to pass this time. How I wish I am in Egypt now! It's only 9am, Doha time, 2pm Singapore time! Can't wait any longer :(

Pack, pack & pack. This is the last week to decide on what to bring. Too much or too little.

I'm simply confused. Am I supposed to focus my attention on race preparation? Just bought myself an iPad. Guess I will spend a considerable amount of time on it. Or should I just put it aside for a while!!!! Temptations!!! Confusions!!!!

Just not sure how to begin.   Is it still at inertia?    Many ways to run.  But I just wish to run beautifully.

I need to find my spark plug!