Marathon Des Sables 2004 race diary entry
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Day 5 by Daniel Brockhurst
I woke a little nervous yesterday. More dunes to start with, then stones, then the village, then the hard slog through the dunes in the dark. Vic & I both felt good. Legs holding up well. Feet blister free. Yesterdays cloud cover had gone so the sun was out in force. 31 degrees by the time we had got to CP1. It got hotter from there on.
We moved well over the first 20km, keeping up our usual pace. Full of energy. Funny how quickly things can change. I looked at my watch at 2:09. I'm at a low point and was struggling to find energy. Dehydration set in & I tried to rectify it as quickly as possible with diorylite, salt tablets & all the water I had. I've already had my first Peronin and was ready for the 2nd. Great stuff by the way. Really does boost you when you need it. Vic was just ahead of me for most of the stage. I was struggling to match her pace. She was feeling it too. "I just feel a little detatched from myself" she tells me as we journey to CP3.
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My feet are starting to hurt. I know that one of my toes has blown up & I'm sure both heels are blistered too but I need to carry on. I fear that if I take my shoes off they wont go back on. Vic is getting sand in her shoes and is dealing with this at each CP. Possitivity is dropping, tiredness growing.
6 hours into the stage & the lead pair pass us. They started 2.5 hrs later than us & I'm pleased that I've got as far as I did before seeing them. We applaud as they go past. Moving quickly, hardly noticing the sand storm that is now driving straight into our faces.
We slip back into out run walk system and make CP4 in good time. She's just too quick for me over this distance & I soon return to my steady walk. The village after CP4 was incredible & thankfully the sun was still up. The children cheer and clap us through. Another boost to slipping spirits. Night falls as we hit CP 5. Nearly home now. Struggling to keep going but marching on. Through CP6. Vic is struggling & need to get in soon so we split. 6km to go and its dunes. I march through the darkness singing. The finish it a fantastic sight. 13hrs30mins by my watch. AND DAMN HAPPY WITH THAT. Rest day today. Left heel badly blistered. Toes ok. All set for tomorrows marathon. As I write this one of our tent is still out there. We are willing you on to the finish.
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