Day 5 by Simon Puttock

Well here we are again, it's the rest day after a very tough 76km leg yesterday. Starting at 9am it was already very hot (30 deg) and the organisers through in the additional challenge of 20-25k in the dunes again which sapped a lot of energy. Overall we had 6 checkpoints roughly at 10k intervals and as normal getting 1.5 litres of water at each.

For the first time on the run we went through a village between cp3-4 which was great, all the local kids in the tiny dark streets as we ran through hanging onto our belongings for dear life as a few people had gels, flares taken as they ran through.

MORE...

I reached cp5 at around 7pm as it started to get dark. Head torches and glow sticks on we then had 10k to cp6 once again over the dunes as the sun set. Quite hard to navigate on a compass bearing whilst still trying to avoid going over the top of the dunes if possible. Looking back and forward on the other runners was great seeing this long line of head torches stretching for miles into the distance. I also me up at cp6 with a guy I had met in London on a training run and also had met him towards the end, quite a coincidence. cp6 to the end was 6km, very hard but the company helped and we even manged a 2k push to the end to finish off. Total time 12hrs 55 mins ish. A lot of people stayed at the cp's overnight and resumed at first light and some are still coming in now. Cut off 35hrs.

It's great to have the long leg out of the way with no real damage done. I have a couple of blisters but nothing too bad. Just been to the medical tent and they give you a scalpel, iodine etc. and you can get on with it. Other people are a lot worse.

Out of the 7 in the tent 2 have pulled out now which is a real shame as the tent spirit is very strong. One missed a time cut off with bad blisters as he was going slow and the other had a bad day in the dunes eventually firing off his flare and getting airlifted out. Amazingly after a saline iv followed by a glucose one he was looking fine and back in the tent. Both the guys have decided to stay with the ent rather than leave. Great.

Well nearly there now. Marathon stage tomorrow but no dunes according to the road map and then a "simple" 20k trot to the finsih on sat.

Special hello and thanks to Mary, Claire, Christopher and Callum , long suffering family as I have trained for this event. Miss you all and back soon.

More tomorrow

Simon

Hello it is me Chris. Mummy has just left for aberdeen, Ella and Callum are watching TV (actually not "Intendo") Claire is Asleep (not for long) and i am typing 4 u. I hope you are ok ^_^ and everyone is missing you. Alot of people have posted for you!!!!!!!!!!, But why did you go from Day 2 - Day 5? I got a bit scared :S Well i am comeing off to computer now.... Yeh i no i have been on for long callum.....Yeh I no i shud get my Breakfast now ella..... gtg (that meens got to go) bi bi

Love from,

CR8IS "hey callum dont bump me you made me type a 8

:)


^ ^


__

Hello Dad,
Im awake now, well its still 8:34 and Christopher had to come in and wake me up >=( I miss you alot and I cant wait until you come home. It is good you have done this hard part on Wednesday and have done the dunes. What was harder.. skyscraper dunes or the long Wednesday? Well good luck today too (Friday) and I will try and post on Saturday too. Oh yeah Sheena came for a sleepover and we have done up the garden. It's going to look great =D Well I hope you are ok and the blisters arn't too bad. I laughed when you put the villagers took some peoples belongings did they take any of yours?
Good Luck, ^ ^
Claire xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox __

Simon: finally catching up on your Blog. Sounds like wonderful, yet crazy fun. Good to know you are managing well. Keep it up. . . .
Here in Houston, we are off for the BP MS-150 ride to Austin this weekend. WEather looks good, should be fun . . . B.C.N.U. . . . Rich, Tracey, and Cade.

Glad to hear you're keeping it going. Well done and hopefully by the time you read this you will be down to a 20km run to the finish. Easy peasy 20km - probably not.

I'm impressed and look forward to hearing the details in May especially the feeling of running at night in the desert. Next time you do this though could you put a slightly happier picture on the e-mails.

Great stuff and well done.

Andy

Simon, finally managed to catch up with your progress, it sounds like 'fun', especially the scalpel and iodine bit. Looking forward to hearing all about it later this month over a pint. Hang in there.
Duncan

Hi
Very relieved at this end to get your recent blog - John rang to tell me to say Swing Low to you...... Everyone fine here - having to knock back that red wine on my own tonight . Dont know what Andy means about next time - the kids and I are running out of nervous energy!!!!
Cant wait to see you - we'll put the heating on full blast
Love Maryxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hello it is chris i am just sending a quik message b4 i go 2 bed i love you :) it is 10:40 :) i was watching games:)


<I> __ <I> Chris :D

hello it is chris i am just sending a quik message b4 i go 2 bed i love you :) it is 10:40 :) i was watching games:)


<I> __ <I> Chris :D

Glad to hear you are doing so well. Good luck in the last legs. Will think about you when riding the MS 150 this weekend.