Hey Guys

Finished the long stage last night before midnight, had a good start to the day and was running well, then some Bedouin kids hid some of the markers so got lost and ran a couple extra Km, until got back on track, had a little rant and videoed it on my phone as the midday heat was messing with me a bit. Have been placed around 74^th going into the long day then ended up coming in around 45^th last night, just seem to be getting better as the days went on, running freer although I can hardly walk today. Had to run the last 20k in the dark if you could call it running by then as the terrain was really hard and the sun had been really hot all day so was pretty messed up. One stage at the 40k mark was just up for over 10k it broke a few people and there were a few withdraws. Some people have got some messed up feet blistered as, I’m all good not one blister and still walking around camp barefoot it freaks out the medical team. Tomorrow is an untimed stage to the finish about 10k I think so will bust out the Kiwi flag and take it easy, rest day at the moment for me some other competitors are still coming in, 13 hours later, now that’s hard core. We all just sitting around dreaming of food and beer as pretty low on kai. So have pretty much knocked this one off, only 3 more to go this year, next one in 3 month time in the Gobi, China, someone should volunteer for support crew and come along. Will see you all in a week a few Kg’s lighter

Hi Guys

Another tough day today but finished, yah! Didn’t think I could run roughly a marathon a day for 4 days running and still feel human. Got the long stage tomorrow 86k ! At the moment running about 40k in 6 hours or more so It’s gonna be a long day at the office and it gets really cold at night so won’t be keen to stop too long at the aid stations. Have learn’t so much for the next race and will be making some serious gear and likely shoe changes, heaps of people are wearing those Hoka One shoes and I can see why with how bruised your feet get. Stomach holding in OK at present heaps of people getting upset from all the gels, I’ve run out of chews but luckily got heaps of electrolyte satchets let for tomorrow. As I’ve said before if I start a day I’ll finish it no matter what so it’s all go for tomorrow. Today was a struggle as the temperature finally hit desert levels and we all suffered, got some really cool tan lines too. Some of the support team have learn’t my name as the only kiwi bloke here so that’s quite cool, or maybe it’s because I keep on walking around in bare feet after the race (island styles bro) I tell them it’s why I got no blisters yet. Had to add an extra 10 minutes to my time today due to a shit break which came on all of a sudden so would have been a few places better if hadn’t but when you gotta go you gotta go, hope everyone at home is good

Had a good day today ran a lot better, felt stronger this morning and changed tactics trying to get as many Ks done before the sun hit full force worked alright ended up finishing about an hour faster than yesterday. Feet are holding up well, no blisters yet but may lose a toe nail soon. Another 40k day tomorrow before the long stage, feeling nervous about the long day as it gets really cold at night here any will probably end up running in all my gear just to try and stay warm. Plan for next time is a bigger pack and more food am hungry as and chomping through all my kai. Cheers mum and dad for the messages am alive and well. Had my first heat induced food dream today and really would love some burger fuel and an icecream. Achilles is a little better today or maybe I just can’t feel the pain anymore. Its hard to belive but there has been some people pulled up for cheating and cutting corners off the course, can’t see the point I’m running 250k. Hope everyone is well at home

Hi Guys

First blog, couldn’t write one last night as it was raining all day and freezing, in the desert! Tent got soaked through first night as they were Bedowin tents made out of wool that leaked, ran first day in wet gear and spent the end of the first days race in the medical tent with mild hypothermia, not what you expect in a desert ultra. Then it rained again that night and onto my sleeping bag so had a cold night, lucky today was so hot that everything dried out, talk about extremes. First days running started really well then as expected my Achilles flared up and the last 10k was really slow. Today was really sore initially then losened up  a bit  but still quite painful and tight that is really slowing me down may be for the best as one chick from NZ ruptured hers today which means only 2 kiwis left. At least each day my pack should be getting lighter although it doesn’t feel like it, today was soo hot when I was running at midday. Just our luck we have a guy in the tent that snores like a train and can sleep through anything. Day 3 tomorrow just gonna try and survive, cheers for all the support