The stage was split up by eight checkpoints, averaging 10km between each. Again we were challenged with the extreme heat and torturous terrain. Despite the spectacular scenery on offer, I think the highlight of this stage would have to be spotting a man selling cold soft drinks out of an esky at Checkpoint 2. After such a tough week dealing with stomach issues and overbearing heat, it felt amazing to treat myself with a few cold cans. Thankfully, Pete Wilson, a previous 4 Deserts legend had suggested I carry some money – best tip in the world, thanks mate!

I took full advantage of the checkpoints today, knowing that it was important to get some rest and take advantage of the shade. The next two stages were really tough in the heat, and I continued to have nutrition issues. It just seemed impossible to eat the required amount of food to keep going. However, the scenery at the Valley of the Kings was fantastic, and although there really wasn’t time to be playing tourist, I managed to take a few photos to capture the moment.

Most people kept their own pace throughout the day. I spent the majority of the day on my own as I tried to maintain steady progress in order to achieve my goal of completing the day.

The sun set as I reached Stage 4, but it was important to push on to Stage 5 for the major checkpoint where hot water and tents were provided for those wanting to sleep. Arriving at Stage 5 it felt great to enjoy the change in conditions where the heat was no longer such an issue. I was really struggling by this point, and it took me over an hour to eat a little beef jerky, a nausea tablet and one of my precious cans of soft drink. Then it was time to set off for the adventure through the night…

I left Checkpoint 5 a little after 8.30pm and felt like a man possessed as I stormed through the night following the trail of glow sticks. I think I may have either been overenthusiastic or not thinking clearly because I managed to leave my poles at the checkpoint. I didn’t discover this until 20 minutes into my journey, and although I half contemplated turning back to get them, I’m glad I didn’t because it meant I was no longer so reliant on them for support.

Nevertheless, I don’t think I could have managed without my iPod. I only really met up with people at checkpoints, so it was great to have music to keep me company.

At Checkpoint 6 I discovered I was in 87^th place, and over the last 30km of the race I managed to overtake eight people. It really was incredible to walk at speed under the stars. I felt like there was no stopping me, despite the fact that my body was hurting, I had hardly eaten, the pain from my blisters was indescribable, and I felt on the brink of total exhaustion; I still knew I was going to make it across the line.

The final two or three kilometres included a number of small sand dunes that caused havoc with my knees. After 82km, I started to wish I still had my poles. Spotting the the security car 1km from the finish was an awesome feeling. The sun was starting to rise and it cast a weak light over the sand dunes and on to home camp.

By that time it was almost 5.30am and I had started the stage at 7am the previous day. As I passed the finish line I realised that this was an achievement of significant proportions. It really made me appreciate that there are no limits. I consider myself very fortunate to have had this experience in so many ways.

So now we are to wait here at camp before being bussed to the pyramids to run the final two or three kilometres. The official results are in and the last part of the race is more about a photo opportunity than anything else. All that matters is that in a few hours I will have a 2011 Sahara Race finish medal around my neck and I will be heading towards a nice hotel, shower, shave and real food!

Thank you so much to each and every one of you for your awesome messages of support throughout the week. The significance and importance of this support can in no way be underestimated, as it provided me with the motivation I needed to make it across the line.

Here are the final results for the 2011 Sahara Race:

I cannot put into words how happy I am that I have finished the race. Now, I’m looking forward to getting to Istanbul next week for some rest and recovery time.

In the meantime – Go the Wallabies!!

It’s amazing how important the email messages of support are proving to be. I was alone for most of the first two stages and I continued to recall the awesome comments of inspiration from so many special people. THANK YOU!!

The course again was challenging, made up of a number of sand dunes varying in height, salt flats, and, no surprises – soft sand everywhere. I passed the time by dreaming of being on my favourite beach, with views of the water, a cold drink in hand and that special someone at my side… Well, whatever it takes, right? Positive thinking seemed to work wonders, and there was no stopping me today, despite the intense heat, strong winds and challenging terrain.

For those of you struggling to imagine what it’s like out here, I’ll try to explain. Imagine carrying a pack weighing close to 15kg on your shoulders. Then add the weight of three litres of water. Then add the fact that the water and sports drink you are carrying are heated by the Sahara sun, so your body is taking in the heat from those as well. To top it off, the blisters on your feet are making the extreme terrain and heat even more challenging. All up, it’s just another day at the office really…

At the first checkpoint I noticed that my blisters were causing some issues. The doctor advised me that it wasn’t urgent, and it could wait until the next checkpoint or until the end of the day. So I tipped the sand out of my shoes and decided to suck up the discomfort and push on to the next checkpoint.

I carried on solo until the second checkpoint, where I met up with Deborah Kelly, an Aussie from Brisbane now working in Singapore. She wasn’t looking too flash, so we agreed to carry on together to make it home. It was a great support to be able to share the remainder of the journey and to help each other across the line.

The distances seem to keep stretching out as the event continues. Today I was told by the same person who misinformed me on Day 2 about the ease of the remaining stage, that today I was on course for only a few more kilometres of easy travel before I would hit the finish line. Again it was completely untrue. The distance felt like double, and was filled with sand dune after sand dune.

I finished today in just over 11 hours and I’ve now managed to have my feet taped. I have blisters on the front and back of both feet, which will really add to the challenge tomorrow when I face the long 80km stage. I was told this evening that the end of tomorrow’s stage will mark the end of the race. We will then be bussed into the Pyramids to run the final 2km for a photo. All that really matters now is that I have 24 hours to complete the 80km course. I will need to draw on all the strength I have to make it across that finish line.

Looking forward to reporting from the other side – wish me luck!!

The additional checkpoint featured a pool of water, where some competitors managed to find the time to take a dip and cool off. The average distance between checkpoints today was 9km, and the heat seemed to be taking its toll on all competitors. It’s interesting to note that those who do not finish a stage are still allowed to compete in other legs throughout the event. Without the hope of winning, they still carry on just for the experience.

Nutrition was a battle for me again today. I continued to suffer stomach issues during the race, but happily, I was able to keep all my food down this evening.

All in all, the day was a real struggle. However, I’m pleased I got over that 42.1km finish line in just under 11 hours. The time is not important to me, what is most important is the fact that I completed the third day and am carrying on to compete tomorrow.

Stage Update – Day 3, Gardens of Paradise:

Men’s Division:

Dan Parr (UK) retained lead position and crossed the line at 10.30am

Eric LaHaie (US) in second

Mehmet Danis (Canada) in third

Women’s Division:

Victoria Blackburn (UK) in first place

Team Division:

Mister Running Desert Team (Italy) retained its lead

 137 competitors set off on Day 3 (down from 151 that started on Day 1)

For more updates, check out http://www.4deserts.com/sahararace/stage_updates

After yesterday’s discovery of the success of using poles, I decided to start using them early on today in order to make the most of the great support they offer. Keeping suitably nourished is a little more tricky. I’ve found that even with my continued intake of salt tablets and electrolytes, it doesn’t seem to be enough to keep me out of trouble in the heat. At the first checkpoint I really enjoyed a small sample of my favourite Vege Chips, but I didn’t eat much else for the rest of the day.

I kept towards the back end of the field from the start of the race today. It’s not really an issue for me as long as I keep going. Many competitors have withdrawn from the event because of the extreme conditions, so I want to ensure I keep my pace consistent to allow me to finish.

It was a tough course today, and it crossed my mind quite a few times that it must have been designed by some kind of sadist. The first half of the race was difficult enough: we had to travel over sand dunes, soft sand and rocks. After that it got even tougher as we moved out onto rolling sand dunes. The views across the Sahara were breathtaking. However, the scenery was somewhat difficult to appreciate under such conditions. I’m looking forward to re-visiting the views through photos when I am in the comfort of my own home.

At Checkpoint 3 we were told there was only 8.7km remaining, with most of it being easy flat or downhill. Geed up by this news, I headed out after only a short break. Unfortunately, the information was quite far from correct. I traversed a large area of rocks, and then came to a huge down-hill made up of soft sand, which was great fun to get down. After about 6km I was totally ready for the finish line. But the hills kept coming – including one of the world’s largest sand dunes, which had an almost vertical incline.

In a state of exhaustion, it was all I could do to keep plugging away, one foot in front of the other until I finally spotted the finish line. I crossed it in 88^th position in under ten hours. I am definitely pleased with the result, considering I wasn’t feeling 100%.

After taking on some water and still not feeling too great, I alerted the medical team and they gave me a nausea tablet. I returned to the tent and after a few minutes could feel that I was about to be sick. Again, it was a great relief, and after another nausea tablet and a magic can of cold Coke from the medical team, my stomach started to settle.

It was then I spotted a huge blister on my right heel. It was popped and taped by the doctor, so I just hope that it will be okay over the coming days.

This is certainly one of the toughest challenges I have faced. The high dropout rate in itself attests to the extreme nature of this event. I will be more than happy to simply make it through the event, and I know that tomorrow will bring even tougher challenges than today. My overall plan is to make sure I pace myself and to look after my health in the heat.

Thank you so much for all your incredible messages of support. It sincerely means so much to me and I look forward to hearing from you over the coming days. There is no turning back now, but I believe that I can get through this challenge and return to tell the tale.

Now it is time for some much needed rest. I am looking forward to having a good night’s sleep before the next chapter starts tomorrow at 7am.

The 7am start was a little warm, but race organisers mentioned that it was expected not to be too hot for the rest of the day. I had to make some quick adjustments to the front pack on the start line with the connections not quite coming together as planned. I was fortunate to find some support in bringing details together before heading away towards the back of the pack.

I made steady progress from the start and focussed on maintaining a consistent pace that ranged from a fast paced walk to a shuffling forward. I had originally planned on completing the first stage in under eight hours and I was happy that my progress was consistent enough to achieve this.

The compact sand soon gave way to softer sand and the heat escalated quickly. The checkpoints were generally about 10km apart, and it was close to the 25km point that an Estonian competitor collapsed due to dehydration. I stayed with him and provided water until the medical team arrived to make sure he was okay.

The heat was playing havoc with a number of people, including myself, and I had to push myself as hard as possible to get closer to the finish line. I stopped for a few moments with some other competitors under a shaded rock area to rest and top up on water supplies, but headed out quickly with the knowledge that the final checkpoint was only 3km away.

Arriving at the final checkpoint, it was great to be greeted with such excitement from the support crew. I spent a short time resting in the shaded tent area before making the move out to complete the final 6.7km. It was extremely hot by this point, with reports of temperatures reaching 46 degrees. The heat was really hitting us hard and making every step even more challenging. I attempted to supplement my fluid intake with Gu energy gels to combat dehydration, but I had found that the Clif bars were not working and I couldn’t get more than two mouthfuls in on the journey.

I decided to start using my poles and this made a big difference with forward motion. In the final 1200m I was waved down by runners up ahead surrounding a Singaporean competitor who was down due to the heat. The medical car was just behind me, and this time there were four others to help the man in trouble, so I decided to carry on towards the finish rather than continue to roast in the Sahara heat.

I can’t describe how good it felt to finally make it to the finish line. With the drums beating I made a final dash for the line, and completed the first stage in little more than seven hours and placed 63^rd in the race. I was totally spent, and I was so relieved that the support crew carried my pack over to the tent. I did not feel very well and although I continued to hydrate, I knew that I was suffering from dehydration.

The sickness didn’t pass until I vomited a few hours later, and then I felt much better. I took a nausea tablet and ate a spaghetti bolognaise freeze-dried meal for dinner. I’m still not feeling too good so I think I will pull back a little tomorrow. While my plan today to get out of the heat as quickly as possible may have been sound, I think the importance of maintaining hydration during the event should be my top priority.

Then it was time to check the sport scores. News filtered through that Geelong had won the AFL Grand Final, denying Collingwood a back-to-back Premiership, and England had beaten Scotland with a late try and kicked them out of the Rugby World Cup. While the upset of the century that saw Tonga take down France was greeted with surprise and amusement by all bar the French competitors.

The next stage of preparation was the pack check. Weighing a total of 13.5kg, the majority of the weight was made up of essential food supplies. I am of the opinion that it’s probably better to have slightly more food than you need, rather than not enough. The good news is that weight will soon be dropping off – both from me and from the pack.

Following the final checks, we were given race bibs and electronic chips so that our progress can be checked live as we go through the desert. Then it was time for our police escort out of Cairo and the three and a half hour bus journey into the Sahara. It was great to head back towards the Pyramids and to once again see the backdrop that will be the end of race finish line.

The bus journey was a great way to meet other competitors, and it was fascinating to drive through the local villages and alongside the scenic lakes. We finally reached our first night camp at Wahdi Al Hatan on the Southern Lake in the Sahara Desert at around 5pm. It was an amazing feeling to hear the drums in the distance, see the circle of tents, with the beautiful backdrop of the lake and the Sahara.

I am sharing a tent with fellow Commonwealth country members, with six from Canada, Sophie who I knew from the Marathon des Sables in 2008, and Sarah from Melbourne. Dinner that evening was to be watermelon and Sahara-heated Coke, along with the first freeze-dried beef and potato hotpot meal. The meal brought back memories from previous events, and I think it’s safe to say now that this journey will not include many culinary delights.

The Bedouin group claimed a spot near the fire and played some classic tunes from the Sahara, to help us get in the zone for Day 1. The rest of the evening was focussed on taping shoulders for protection and getting our feet ready for the first day in the sand. My plan is to take it easy on the first day, and work through the opening 40km in seven to eight hours, depending on the conditions and the terrain.

Thank you so much for all your messages of support. It was great to find out from an email I received that the Wallabies defeated Russia to set up a Quarter Final showdown with South Africa next week. I look forward to sharing the latest news from the Sahara Desert tomorrow and hearing from you soon.

Bring on the massive adventure ahead…

The Sahara Race will be the Marathon Man’s first 4 Deserts Race (with other 4 Desert events including the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, and The Last Desert in Antarctica). He will be running alongside 150 other competitors from 40 countries, starting at the Valley the Whales on October 2^nd, and finishing at the Pyramids of Giza on October 8^th.

Follow the Marathon Man across the Sahara Desert:

Check out www.4deserts.com/sahararace for the latest news on the race, stage updates, photos and leader board.

If you’d like to email the Marathon Man in the Sahara to show your support, then visit www.4deserts.com/sahararace/email.

Updates will also be posted on the Marathon Man website throughout the event.

Enjoy!

A ‘Mr Morrow’ sign greeted me on arrival at Luxor airport and I was taken to meet my guide. After previously trying to buy water and supplies on my own and being over-charged by double, the guide started well by taking me to a local shop where I stocked up without being scammed. Local knowledge and the power to negotiate are definitely assets here!

Next I was taken to a statue shop, where I was shown how the vases and statues were made by hand. While this was interesting enough, it wasn’t really high on my list of must-see attractions, but I did enjoy the Egyptian breakfast of tomato, lettuce and felafel wrap. While eating, the room was plunged into darkness every few minutes to reveal a selection of green limestone statues that glowed in the dark. Among the traditional icons, there were some interesting-looking phallic representations, which I had to explain to the owners that while they were obviously high-quality objects, I really did not have much need for them…

The Valley of the Kings was the next destination. This last resting place of the Kings included three tombs and a vast array of impressive tunnels and ancient artwork. While I enjoyed seeing the sights, I think it may be another experience that stays with me. The guide had told me to leave my camera in the car as it would not be allowed inside, and in the first two tombs there were crowds of tourists and Bedouins acting as make-shift security guards to ensure no illicit photographs were taken.

In the final tomb, however, I found myself alone, and decided to seize the opportunity and take a few pictures without a flash with my iPhone. Unknown to me, there was a Bedouin in the shadows who had caught me, and asked to see my camera. In a well-practised move, he tried to reach in my pocket to grab my phone. After some struggle and the Bedouin’s threat of calling the police, my knowledge that each photo would cost me a fine of EGP100,000 (A$18,500!) led me ask what I could offer him. My first offer of EGP20 was not going to cut it, as he put on his headscarf and stormed toward the door. Luckily for me, he was more amenable to an offer of EGP50 (A$10), and I was allowed to delete the photos and leave.

Following on from there, we headed to the Temple Valley of Hatshepsut. As I walked around the magnificent structure I couldn’t help but notice the terrific heat of late morning. With the sun beating down on me, it was hard not to imagine what lies ahead for me in the Sahara.

After lunch in Luxor, our next stop was Karnak Temple. It was an incredible sight. The temple and its pillars were overwhelming in their size, although it was slightly strange to see a number of tourists doing laps around the large statue of a scarab beetle. My guide enlightened me, by telling me that if you were to circle the statue seven times, then you will never again be unlucky in love.

After a few more run-ins with Bedouin and a heavily-armed guard, I threw a bottle of water over my head to ward off the heat and made my way to the final temple of the day. Although not on the scale of Karnak Temple, it was still a fantastic sight.

By the time I got back to Luxor I was exhausted. I had about eight hours to kill before my flight to Cairo, so I made my way down the main street and caught a stunning sunset over the Nile. I took in the sights and had some dinner, but became tired of the constant attention by local touts. Although they seemed polite enough to start with, they often became abusive when they were turned down. I decided to head to the airport and try for an early flight, but with no luck, I just had to wait it out and eventually I got back to my hotel in Cairo at 3am.

The final pre-Sahara day was focussed on preparation. I had been attempting to find a tailor to mend a patch and a damaged zip on my backpack over the previous few days, but with obstacles such as closed shops on Holy Days and various other dramas, my pack still needed to be repaired. With a final desperate plea to the hotel manager, soon I was sorted out by a genius with a sewing machine in the hotel laundry.

My driver – who apparently knew where he was going, but still had to ask half of Cairo for directions on the way – took me to the race hotel, where it was great to mix with other competitors. Among them, a twenty-strong team from Taiwan plan to carry a temple in a backpack for the entire race. The temple will also be shared with a team of thirty from South Korea. A team from Latvia are planning to pack Scotch and Cognac for the journey, but I just hope the alcohol can withstand the heat for these hard-core adventurers.

After so much planning and preparation, it feels great to have finally arrived in Egypt. But with so much to experience here, I have no plans to start taking it easy! I caught up with a couple of other competitors in the Sahara Race on the flight from Abu Dhabi, including Beverley from New Zealand. Luckily for me, her driver was able to help us out with our visas when we arrived at Cairo airport.

Stepping out of the airport was a shock to the system after the long peaceful hours spent on an air-conditioned plane. It was hot and chaotic and there were a number of people who seemed quite insistent on driving me to my hotel. After choosing transportation, it became apparent that it was not to be a smooth journey, when six uniformed guys strapped with guns stopped my taxi and forced me to sign some papers. A few clueless minutes later, it turned out there was a problem with the taxi driver’s license rather than a problem with me, which was a relief.

Navigating through Cairo traffic was an experience in itself. Pedestrians took their lives in their hands whenever they stepped out onto the street; motorbike riders didn’t seem bothered about wearing helmets; and four or five lanes of traffic spanned roads meant only for two.

After checking in at the hotel, it was time to head out again to the Light and Sound Show at the Pyramids. As straight-forward as this sounds, it turned out that my driver had other plans for me and I was given an impromptu tour of all his best mates’ businesses. There was a visit to a perfume shop, where I was ushered behind a curtain and scrutinised heavily by the owners as I dutifully inspected the wares. Then there was a stop at the Papyrus Museum, where I learned how paper was made. The owner unfortunately didn’t share my enjoyment of personal space, and seemed intent on being my own personal shadow.

The Sound and Light Show was thankfully worth the wait. From the VIP section, I was treated to an entertaining lesson on the history of the pyramids and the Sphinx accompanied by a music and light show.

The following day I was greeted by same enthusiastic driver, who I managed to persuade to take me directly to the pyramids, despite the fact that he was eager to show me the delights of the Bazaar on the way. Another of my taxi driver’s friends was waiting for me at the pyramids, ready to be my guide. Although I was slightly suspicious at first, the guide turned out to be worth the money, and showed me around and provided me with some interesting information. The Great Pyramid was spectacular, and it’s beyond all comprehension how the Ancient Egyptians managed to build it on such a staggering scale.

After seeing the Sphinx, it was on to the Egyptian Museum. It was a fascinating journey through Cairo city, and I got the chance to see Tahir Square – the sight of the revolution that ended the Mubarek presidency and changed the face of modern day Egypt.

The Egyptian Museum was set out over two floors and was filled with amazing artifacts detailing Egypt’s history. I was amazed at the scale of some of the statues and the beauty of the artwork maintained for so many thousands of years. It seems such a shame that so much has been lost or destroyed at the hands of looters. Separate from the rest of the museum’s tombs, mummies, statues and boats, was the tomb of Tutankhamun. Placed in its own air-conditioned vault, the sarcophagus, mask, jewellery and other related artifacts were a sight to behold.

Next on the agenda was the Nile River Dinner Cruise. Having originally booked for the five star cruise, I was later told I had been placed on the four star version, but as the night’s events transpired, I’m not entirely sure it deserved even four. My driver kindly decided to join me for dinner as well, as it turned out that I had paid the equivalent price for two!

The night was nothing short of an experience. Funnily enough, I got to share it with a traveller from Melbourne called Tim, and another Aussie, who were both sat in the same row as me for the show. What are the odds? The show featured some ‘interesting’ entertainers, including a colourfully-dressed dancing dwarf, a belly dancer that left little to the imagination, and an over-enthusiastic crowd member whose efforts were actually more entertaining than the professionals. Unfortunately, the food was nothing to write home about, but the whole experience was enjoyable all the same. It was great to catch up some fellow Aussie travellers, and how often can you say you went on a cruise down the Nile?

There has been so much experienced in such a short space of time, and yet there’s so much still to see. With a trip to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings tomorrow, I’m sure the pace will not slow down any time soon!

The 7 day day multi stage race will be a real test of character with all supplies up to 15kg to be carried and water rations supplied throughout the each stage at 10km check points. The average distance of each stage event is 40km with the long stage between 80-90km being the ultimate challenge.

Following final preparations the adventure will start on Monday 26 September with the Etihad flight leaving for Cairo at 9.50pm.