Stage 2
26-Apr-2010 06:51:32 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]
Hi guys
Sorry for not blogging last night, will probably have to keep this brief... Feeling very hot, bothered and these flies are riving me crazy, theres about 10 on the screen as l type..
OK it's final! the consensus by all have ranked this the hardest desert race. The terrain is manageable by the humidity is a killer. I have never seen so many casualties in the first day. We started with 190 now were down to 160..I think approx 20 people dropped out on the first day all suffering from exhaustion. Many runners require IV drip. The deadly humidity proving to be the everyones worse enemy. It has my head in a spin, frequent dizzy spells and extreme fatigued. I have continued to force myself to eat and drink... Be sure to see you at the finish line guys...Below is the schedule over the next few days.
Stage 5 looking very interesting..
Stage 1 = 41.8km
Stage 2 = 38.1km
Stage 3 = 34.3km
Stage 4 = 17.1km
Stage 5 = 99.4km
Stage 6 = 12.2km
Ok guys its 6.30.. dinners is done, blog is done, time for bed..goodnight!
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Stage 3
27-Apr-2010 08:13:16 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]
Hey guys
Yes l am still in the race and beginning to pick up speed and rank. Maybe with the extremely high rate of runners calling it a day, exiting the race for what seems like the most common reason...Heat exhaustion! With the extreme running conditions all it takes is late correction of symptoms and it could be too late.
Not even the elite runners could avoid the fate of severe humidity. The word is 4 out of the 10 top runners are facing dehydration..and for all runners approx (20 to 30%) are not qualified to compete in tomorrows event. Apart from the 100km stage, tomorrows stage will be brutal rated by the course director as extremely difficult.
I hope you guys are enjoying the read.. send me an message if there is something you would like me to note in my next blog..
My rank has improved from yesterday ( not sure what it is) but feeling hydrated and full from my noodle dinners l;m ready to improve further over the next few days... The only problems lm eating too much food and beginning to run low on food, the midnight protien bar snacking needs to stop if l am to have any food left for the long stage.. Will keep you updated of my food situation.
Ok bye from Kimberley
Peter Jong
Comments on This Post
Rachel
Posted: 28-Apr-2010 05:04:28 AM
Look for the food vendors like on the Great wall of china marathon. There really cheap or you could start looking at catching some local wildlife and have a impromptu BBQ on the side of the road.
Stephen
Posted: 27-Apr-2010 10:52:20 PM
Hi Peter, You are doing very good! I am surprised how many people dropped out after the first day. Stephen (we met in the Atacama)
Nelson
Posted: 27-Apr-2010 06:18:37 PM
haha i new i should have thrown a few more packs of noodles in there haha and that pack of chips lmao. take care and run hard mate.
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Stage 4
28-Apr-2010 05:31:34 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]
Wow...what a stage it was today.. As a child you would think a maze as somewhat fun. but the older you the wilder you become, the mazes become more deadly and life threatening. The Maze today through the canyon was nothing less than death defying. rated extremely difficuly by RacingThePlanet. Withing meters of starting a few competitors were turned around and called it a race. Outdone by the sight of the wild Maze and the punishment to the body from previous days work.
Happy to say l;m working up the ranks finishing in 56 place today.. feeling good well fed, prehaps too way l'm beginning to run low of food supplies. Don't be surprise when l start when l start offerring money for protien bars.
Physically and mentally coping, though my feet are beginning to swell up a bit is putting on the runners in the morning is a getting a bit hard...any tips to let me know..
Ok guys tomorrow is long stage 100km, so i;m off to bed..stay tune for some more news from the outback or you can go to their website..
Thanks for the support guys enjoy ready your notes..thanks.
Goodnight
Peter
Comments on This Post
linda dabley
Posted: 30-Apr-2010 06:33:31 AM
awesome work superman. Now that you have made it this far the rest of the race is no feat for your super powers LOL As for the food, I wonder what a goanna would taste like?mmmm Enjoy the rest of the race and celebrate your achievemnts!!!
Anthony Shaw
Posted
: 29-Apr-2010 08:58:56 PM
Pete - an amzing effort so far. A big day today obviously but you have the strength and committment to make it through. Keep up the hydration and food, remember that the worst is behind you and you have that amazing sense of achievement in front of you!!!! Best of luck Anthony
Robert
Posted: 29-Apr-2010 09:58:17 AM
hey cuz good to hear ur doing well in the race i guess all that training is starting to pay off. "When the weather gets rough i get tough" just remember this quote when ur out there running n u feel like ur body is about to give in lol. that quote might keep ur body fighting till the end haha. take care n speak soon
Gary Wagner
Posted: 29-Apr-2010 12:02:37 AM
Pete you are rocking it!! Keep your head about you keep up mobility, compensation, nutrition, hydration and general race tactics we discussed. Knock off tomorrows stage and you'll be laughing brother. Run Unstoppable - Gary@juggernautPT
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Stage 5 : THE LONG STAGE (100KM)
30-Apr-2010 10:22:15 AM [(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi]
It started of with a swim leg through the canyon. Never try swimming with your shoes on it feels like a cement slab strapped to your shoes. Having survived the swim leg, we were then forced to trackle the rocky terrain it was more like an ankle crunching exercise. Not only we're we dealing with the terrain we also had difficulty locating the pink/red markers. As the run went on markers became a problem of the pass, my next issue was dealing with a shortage of food. With limited supply of energy gels i could only run so many km's before having to back off to conserve energy. by Checkpoint 5 l managed had my last packet of noodles, and thankfully there were some good people who offerred me a chocolate bar and a cup of hot chocolate. from there managed to develope a rather quick walk style to minimise energy use. Again gained ground on a few more competitors and at the second last checkpoint l asked the staff for some food and they gave me a piece of bread and 2 biscuits. this was enough for my to run the next 20kms on flat road. I finished in 31st place. very very happy to finish the feet are now well rested and looking forward to finishing tomorrow with a 12km run home...where we can finally fill the hole in my stomach..
Well thats it from me...100km done and dusted!!
Time to grab some more zzz's in the Aussie outback! Peter
What is 'Racing The Planet'?
RacingThePlanet is a unique category of rough country footraces that take place over seven days and some 250 kilometers in remote and culturally rich locations around the world. Competitors must carry all their own equipment and food, are only provided with water and a place in a tent each day but are supported by professional medical and operations teams. RacingThePlanet is international; the events typically involve competitors from over 20 different countries who are able to mingle around the campfires and in their geographically mixed tents. Currently the events consist of the 4 Deserts, a series which encompasses the Gobi Desert in China, the Atacama Desert of Chile, the Sahara Desert in Egypt and Antarctica, and a fifth event which roves to a new location each year. For more information on the race and how to get involved go here
