It hits us just after midnight, I look out and can just make out the approaching freight train that is a desert sandstorm. I grab my gear and warn the others just before the wind strikes the camp. At some point the tent collapses on us and we sleep like that until about 5am, holding on to what we can until the morning while all about us tents flap and people run around in a flap trying to stop tents and gear flying away.
We wake to find everything covered in sand. Tent mates, Pip and Mahmut are trapped under the tent and can't get out. Pip's in a bit of a panic as she has to be at reception for her ride back to civilisation. It's hard to imagine that things will be running on time today. We dig them out.
Pip, is having to drop out as she developed heart problems, but she is 69. Yes, you read that right, 69! It's a shame we're losing her, this is her second attempt and she's unlikely get the medical OK to return. We'll see her back in Ouazazate once we've finished the event.
Despite the chaos of the night the stage is starting on time. We brush and shake the sand out of everything and struggle into our running gear.
We were told to expect a tough day even though it was only 30km. The jebel we had climbed the day before, we'd do again in reverse, including the enormous sand dune at its foot that was such fun to run down. In fact it was a day of jebels (mini-mountains). The first was a climb to a ridge with spectacular views either side, of dried up river beds framed by similar mountainous ridges.
Following that ridge we dropped through a pass then up another jebel before dropping to another valley floor and a slog to the big jebel. Climbing the sand dune was tough but at the really steep bit at the top a rope was installed to assist; the sand was so soft I can't imagine how else it could be climbed except by going vertical on the rock face.
A couple of welcome signs greeted us at the bottom of one jebel. Alas, they were fake news.... Steve Diederich's little joke, a nice touch!
Amazingly Mahmut manages to finish, albeit wrecked, and he is 72! So you see, it's not so tough, right? In reality, the competitor in you makes it as tough as you want.
We wake to find everything covered in sand. Tent mates, Pip and Mahmut are trapped under the tent and can't get out. Pip's in a bit of a panic as she has to be at reception for her ride back to civilisation. It's hard to imagine that things will be running on time today. We dig them out.
Pip, is having to drop out as she developed heart problems, but she is 69. Yes, you read that right, 69! It's a shame we're losing her, this is her second attempt and she's unlikely get the medical OK to return. We'll see her back in Ouazazate once we've finished the event.
Despite the chaos of the night the stage is starting on time. We brush and shake the sand out of everything and struggle into our running gear.
We were told to expect a tough day even though it was only 30km. The jebel we had climbed the day before, we'd do again in reverse, including the enormous sand dune at its foot that was such fun to run down. In fact it was a day of jebels (mini-mountains). The first was a climb to a ridge with spectacular views either side, of dried up river beds framed by similar mountainous ridges.
Following that ridge we dropped through a pass then up another jebel before dropping to another valley floor and a slog to the big jebel. Climbing the sand dune was tough but at the really steep bit at the top a rope was installed to assist; the sand was so soft I can't imagine how else it could be climbed except by going vertical on the rock face.
A couple of welcome signs greeted us at the bottom of one jebel. Alas, they were fake news.... Steve Diederich's little joke, a nice touch!
Amazingly Mahmut manages to finish, albeit wrecked, and he is 72! So you see, it's not so tough, right? In reality, the competitor in you makes it as tough as you want.
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