People are capable of unbeleivable things when faced with adversity. That is something I have learned in spades over the last 2 days. I am not sure where to start – stage 4 and the long stage 5 have been hell. Temperatures on both days have topped over 50 degrees and a very large number of people have been forced to pull out (N.B. out of the 146 that started the race 116 managed to complete every stage / the entire course). Those reamining are exhausted beyond description and glad not to have gotten into more trouble. Absolute carnage is what I would describe the last 2 days.

Stage 4 was brutal. 20km of sand dunes, 20km of salt flats. Unfortunately we were woken at 3 am for a 3 hour bus ride to the start so none of us were able to get the food or sleep we wanted or needed for this stage. The first sand hill was at the start and so it went for well over 4 hours. Then the salt flats which in 45 – 50 degrees heat up like a barbeque grill. A number of thermotres on the course clocked 57 degrees! I cant describe the heat other than to say its not very pleasant. Most stages on a day are about 10km and by checkpoint 3 on day 4 people were in trouble with heat exhaustion and dehydration. I completed the stage with a fellow Australian, Mark Calvert and Californian Mellisa Racoulait. Our strategy that day was to get out in the front group early while the temperature was lower, stay hydrated, take plenty of salt tablets, dont push too hard and just survive the day. As it happens, it was a good strategy and one we used on stage 5. I spent a couple of hours in the medical tent after stage 4 battling nausea from the electrolytes which dont seem to agree with me in the heat. I spent the last 3 hours of the day trying to hold off vomitting which made getting water down very difficult. A can of pepsi and some anti nausea medication and all was good. Not sure of the exact numbers as we dont get much info on race progress out here, but I believe over 20 people retired hurt on stage 4.

Day 5 – The long Day. Insufficiently recovered from stage 4 and with not much sleep (Camel spiders, scorpions and 30 degrees at night means a really bad sleep!) The long day got underway in slightly cooler conditions. Mark, Melissa and I stuck together from the start and got off at a good pace to try and get milage under our belts before the heat set in.The temperatures again were around 50 degress and with 80km to do set the scene for a day I wish never to repeat. In this environment, one slip in hydration discipline, fueling or electrolyte intake and your race is over. Likewise, race leaders and until now healthy people were dropping like flies. Not sure of the chop rate yestreday, but it will have been many. The three of us made it to checkpoint 5 in one peice (just) and Mark and I stopped for something to eat (amongst 2000 year old ruins) while Melissa decided to keep going. The next 3 stages of 22km are not easily described. I had developed 4 blisters on my right heal which made life a bit uncomfortable for the first stage and downright excruciating for the last 15km. 16 hours on the course was taking its toll and all I could do in the end was put one leg in front of the other, forget about my time and just get home. At about 2 am I crossed the line feeling pretty shattered but at least in one peice.

The mood around camp today is something akin to an army after a hard battle. It is 50 degrees again and we are all in our tents nursing our wounds and contemplating the day past and the last day tomorrow. While only 13 km to the finish, in the condition we are all in today it is likely to be a tough run but the end of an exceptional journey. We are all looking forward to some real food and a cold drink. A shower will be welcome too.

Rest day and Stage 6 (by David Grosse) 

Day 6 – After completing the 80km long day you have a days rest in camp before the final push to the line. That is the theory anyway. What actually happened is that the skies cleared and the temperatures rose and rose. The camp was positioned on a sandy slope in the flaming mountains – and the clue is in the name. By mid afternoon the temperature had climbed to 50 degrees and it was too hot to do anything other than sit under an awning and squirt each other with water. Only the brave tried to sleep in their tents which had become saunas – the heat was such that there was one person on an IV (some rest day…). Night bought welcome relief – but not for long. The camp was then hit by a ferocious sandstorm which raged for a couple of hours – blowing dust and sand into all tents and caking the kit. By the next morning, as the competitors climbed out of their tents bleary eyed and covered in red dust they looked like a warrior tribe. Saturday – Stage 6. – Mercifully the day started cloudy with a breeze. The final run to the finish is usually more of a social “fun” hike to the tape. Not today – as a 14km hike over the top of the mountain and down through gullies and gorges. It went OK once the initial blister pain subsided. A final turn down one gulley and there before an ancient walled Buddhist village with the red RTP finish line clearly visible. At that point the adrenalin kicked in and I started to run, and I didn’t stop until through the line. It was a great atmosphere and the usual mix of beers and tears.