After what we've been through, a desert marathon is not fazing us at all. But the wind is strong and is blowing against us. Normally that would be welcome in the heat, but today feels a bit cooler so it's just an annoyance.
In reality this is the last proper day, so most people are 'going for it'. Even I run. I see Chris just after the start, he's had a bad night throwing up and is running on empty. I give him a couple of my energy glucose tabs as they are easily absorbed. For him this day will be about survival and reaching the finish. I push on and will see him later.
The first CP arrives sooner than I expected. The wind doesn't let up and really starts to bug me and I end up cursing it. At CP2 the marshal says "no wind from here", he's wrong.
The course is said to be relative flat, but that's all relative and there are several large dunes and plenty of small ones, which if you add up, make many large hills. After CP3 we enter a rocky area with an abandoned fort overlooking the terrain below; further on is the associated settlement, also abandoned. Then cresting the hill we see the finish in the distance.
Distances in the desert are always deceiving and I resist the urge to get excited. Plodding on, walking uphill and mostly running down and on the flat, the finish gets nearer until I can contain it no more and increase the pace; only to start walking again, because it's not that close!
Running again and finally it's there. Yes. Crossing the line with Arthur the chicken flying in hand, medal from Patrick Bauer, who gives Arthur a big kiss!
I wait at the line for Chris, who's still nursing his stomach upset and he arrives looking very weary, but is pleased it's over.
Official pictures and we head back to the tent to rest. There's an absolutely amazing sunset.
Online stalker, Steve, posts: "Looks like Dominic is over the line and Christopher has a little ways to go yet. Fantastic effort by both. I'm thinking feet will be sore for the 12km 'fun run' tomorrow!!"
It's dark and a jeep pulls up outside our tent and out comes Mahmut. Damn. He missed one of the CP cut off times and the officials viewed that he wouldn't get back within the closing time by some margin. With only 8.5km to go, he's out. Gutting. We console him as he explains what happened; we're all really proud of him but it must be heartbreaking to not complete the event so close to home. In our minds he has not failed, his success is being here and that was underlined by him completing the 86km. If I'm doing events such as the MDS at his age I'll be very pleased.
For the rest of us, it's not so bad, 6hr 20mins for me, and Colin my tent mate finally let's rip and comes in 5hr 40mins and gets #311 placing: excellent! His brother Keith follows not far behind me.
It's over and there's a celebratory mood in the camp, songs, cheers and chat. I'm zonked and collapsed in my tent: what a killjoy. The evening finishes with the prize giving and media videos of the event.
Fast Brit, Gemma, who passed me on the long day with a cheering word, secures 3rd place in the women's category. Just the charity run tomorrow and it's really over. The 'Highway to Hell' will have been well and truly traveled.
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| Windy start (photo: Paul Colledge) |
The first CP arrives sooner than I expected. The wind doesn't let up and really starts to bug me and I end up cursing it. At CP2 the marshal says "no wind from here", he's wrong.
The course is said to be relative flat, but that's all relative and there are several large dunes and plenty of small ones, which if you add up, make many large hills. After CP3 we enter a rocky area with an abandoned fort overlooking the terrain below; further on is the associated settlement, also abandoned. Then cresting the hill we see the finish in the distance.
 |
| The last climb before the Marathon finish (photo: Paul Colledge) |
Running again and finally it's there. Yes. Crossing the line with Arthur the chicken flying in hand, medal from Patrick Bauer, who gives Arthur a big kiss!
Official pictures and we head back to the tent to rest. There's an absolutely amazing sunset.
Online stalker, Steve, posts: "Looks like Dominic is over the line and Christopher has a little ways to go yet. Fantastic effort by both. I'm thinking feet will be sore for the 12km 'fun run' tomorrow!!"
It's dark and a jeep pulls up outside our tent and out comes Mahmut. Damn. He missed one of the CP cut off times and the officials viewed that he wouldn't get back within the closing time by some margin. With only 8.5km to go, he's out. Gutting. We console him as he explains what happened; we're all really proud of him but it must be heartbreaking to not complete the event so close to home. In our minds he has not failed, his success is being here and that was underlined by him completing the 86km. If I'm doing events such as the MDS at his age I'll be very pleased.
For the rest of us, it's not so bad, 6hr 20mins for me, and Colin my tent mate finally let's rip and comes in 5hr 40mins and gets #311 placing: excellent! His brother Keith follows not far behind me.
It's over and there's a celebratory mood in the camp, songs, cheers and chat. I'm zonked and collapsed in my tent: what a killjoy. The evening finishes with the prize giving and media videos of the event.
Fast Brit, Gemma, who passed me on the long day with a cheering word, secures 3rd place in the women's category. Just the charity run tomorrow and it's really over. The 'Highway to Hell' will have been well and truly traveled.
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