We set off at slightly slower pace given all of our aches and pains, but managed to stay above the 4km/h minimum that would enable to complete to distance before the end cut-off time.
By CP1 Keren's blisters were painful but she pushed on, with a single pole helping to mitigate the slight limp and me taking her backpack. After CP2 a difficult sandy climb slowed our pace significantly so Sara, still feeling ok, and Jeremie went ahead, while I stayed with Keren to see if we could get to CP2. But an off track toilet stop, with climb into the rocks to find privacy, sapped her remaining reserves. 
We stopped briefly in the shade of a rock face, where two other ladies had also stopped to gather themselves. While there Keren took advantage of a convenient footrest to air her damp socks.
We set off again, ladies in tow, but not long after, it was not possible for Keren to continue so she decided to wait for the event shuttle jeep and hitch a lift to CP2; the other ladies joined her.
Once again, game on! Unfortunately by this time I was so off the pace that I had a lot of catching up to do, but I was confident that I could keep a good walking pace with the aid of the poles and reach the final checkpoint by the 3pm cut-off. The plan was working until the event organiser, Lynsey, pulled up beside me in a jeep and told me that not only was there a cut-off for CP3, but also one for the lunch stop: 1pm. I explained that I had been walking slowly and that I would speed up, but she didn't seem convinced and offered me lift there so that I could definitely continue. But I looked at my watch, 12:25, and kindly declined, cutting the conversation short to get going again. It was about 4km away; I was going to have to shift!
Normally I can keep a comfortable 7-8 km/hour walking pace, but in the desert with this heat and the intermittent sandy track, that would not be possible. So I ran, but kept an eye on my HR, making sure it stayed below 145 beats per minute and then walking if it did. It was difficult but I thought I could still do it. At 12:55, with the checkpoint in sight uphill, but seeming to get no closer with every ticking minute, that looked too optimistic, so I decided to run continuously. At 12:58 the jeep pulled up and I admitted to Lynsey that I was not going to make it. She cut me some slack and said not to "kill myself" to get there and that I should explain to the checkpoint team once I reach it.
I rolled in at 13:05, greeted by Keren and Sara who helped me replenish my liquids and load me with carbs - a plate of plain unappetising overcooked pasta sprinkled with salt was scooped up with my fingers and stuffed into my gob. Just as I was about to leave, still chewing, the organisers were saying we should be realistic about getting to the next checkpoint, offering a lift I think... I skipped that peptalk and just left. But before that I saw Jeremie and gestured that he should join me; he pointed to his removed boot and I took it to mean that he was out. It was 13:18.
So 100mins to do 10km, 6km/h; that should be possible. Target acquired. A few clicks in, target lost when I found myself off-course; where are those damn pink flags? Target reacquired. Good pace, but not good enough. I passed a few others, exchanging a few well wishes. I decided I needed a new strategy, back to running/walking. If I hit the wall after CP3, fine, I could slow down, but I needed to get there before 3pm.
Then in the distance CP3 appeared and it was about at the same level, perhaps even slightly downhill; but 3pm was close. I broke into a run, the running through the meadow brushing the tops of the long grass kind of run - well in my mind at least - poles pushing to maintain the speed. I kept looking at my watch counting down the minutes, but decided to go back to walking for the uphill stretches, then back to full-on Little House on the Prairie mode. I arrived at 14:59! Lynsey was there and said, "you weren't joking about speeding up!" I was too out of breath for a clever retort. A quick refuel and liquid bottle top-up and I was away... only to return a few minutes later as I had forgotten my water bottle.
I could relax, just a bit, but whenever someone appeared in the distance they naturally became a new target to pass. And so it was for the next 8km. At that point I looked back and saw it was me who had been acquired as a target! The pace upped just a little. I managed to stay ahead and crossed the line in style , but without showing off by breaking into a run for the last few hundred metres. Line crossed, greeted by a medal and Keren. Target reached! A few photos, a cold water shower and a debrief by the medic. All good, fit as a fiddle. Just after 5pm.
Not long afterwards the spec behind me turned out to be Jeremie; he hadn't stopped and had set off from CP3 about ten minutes after I left. That was a good pace from him in the final few Kms. More team photos.
Great event, harder than I imagined, but made more difficult by the heat and the snow pace in the early stages of both days.
Thanks to Action Challenge for organising the event, their first one here and pretty much right first time.
Now to relax, I already feel much better than I did yesterday. Tomorrow we visit Petra, on my 'must see' list for as long as I can remember. That also involved a lot of walking 10km and much of it steep uphill.
