The Stage 3 marathon had done a number on us. By the time Day 4 rolled around, the drop out rate had already equaled the total drop out rate in past years’ races. And the distance was finally taking its toll – either you couldn’t keep any food down or you simply burned a lot of calories; whichever path you took you would have acquired a frighteningly gaunt look (Edward ... Read More »
On Day 3, we rose to the havoc wreaked by a night-long sand storm. Everything in the tent – gear, clothes, bottles – was blanketed in dusty yellow. Simply sitting up in my sleeping bag caused a sheet of sand to cascade down my face. I spat sand from my mouth and tried my best to shake it out of my ears and hair – but it was mostly futile ... Read More »
The slow trek up the massive slope in the early stages If Stage 1 had been a survivor’s trek, then Stage 2 was an epic beauty parade for the Sahara – everything one could have dreamt about of the Great Desert came true today in ways far grander than the imagination could accommodate. I say, this climb looks rather steep. We started on a gentle but never-ending ascent up a ... Read More »
…A desert as vast as the United Sates… so arid that most bacteria cannot survive there… the Sahara remains a desert without compromise, the world in its extreme.” – William Langewiesche, Sahara Unveiled It would have been wonderful to be able to neatly wrap up the events of Stage 1 for everyone in one choice word. But since when did the Sahara Desert give due thought to something so trivial as ... Read More »
To begin a journey into the Sahara, one could hardly go wrong with Cairo. A sprawling Islamic city of mosques and minarets, prayer calls to Allah co-exist with trinkets made in the image of polytheistic gods of ancient Egypt. The bazaars, or souks, live up to their name here, for anything from miniature pyramids to sheesha pipes to mint tea to kisses can be bought, sold, and traded by the dozen. Out ... Read More »
It’s hello to all from good ol’ Singapore again! And lest I forget I’m in the tropics once more, a torrential downpour hit while I was out on the trail for my morning run. And 23km run cut to 2km = heartbreak :( In any case, this forces me to sit down and go through the horde of photos and stories from the blitz desert run. And boy, do I ... Read More »
Greetings from Cairo, Egypt! Have duly completed 250km of the desert and gosh, civilisation seems a bit strange now. I’m still somewhat in a catatonic state of shock, having witnessed some astounding human spirit and majestic natural beauty in the past one week. In comparison, the fact that I just did 250km on foot seems like nothing! Imagine this will take a little while before all this sinks in. I’ll go through the ... Read More »
Hellooooo from the end of the 94km long stage!! Good grief. If all the other days seemed tough they were just child’s play compared to this leg. It took every ounce of willpower to keep going. Though happily none of my worst fears were realised (spraining an ankle in the dark, taking sleeping pills as painkillers, tripping and falling flat on my face just as I get to camp, etc.). ... Read More »
Another 38km bites the dust! Today was mostly about conquering the pain and showing the dunes who was boss. While sorting out blisters at checkpoints, I discovered a whole new range of pain-related noises I am capable of making. (I totally should’ve done a “$10 for every blister developed” option for World Vision fund raising.) But did you know? There’s a strange sense of peace that settles in once you ... Read More »
I’m talking about myself, not the course today, though it comes a close second. But hey hey we got 42km done and dusted! Another stunning day – we ran though dunes and a fossil area (Denvy, you in particular would have loved to be here. Also, we get to see whale fossils in the long stage. Yes, I am rubbing it allll in.) The feet decided to throw a blister ... Read More »
J.J. Pedersen let’s go see the world