All this week we'll be keeping you updated on the third leg of the 4
Deserts race. Runners from around the world are taking on the grueling
Sahara Desert in Egypt over a period of six stages.
Stage 3 Course:
Stage 3 is the beginning of what is called “Hamada” in the Bedouin language or “flat out” in English. Competitors will be in an area where only sand is in sight, leading to a dune section known for its harsh and unforgiving winds. The area resembles a paradise with no water. The distance is 37.5 kilometers (23.4 miles).
The leaders are again expected to complete the section in three hours while the slower ones will take 12 hours.
Here's a video of what the runners eat before and after they race:
Stage Update:
The day started nice and early, in order to maximize the amount of time that competitors could have in the cooler hours of the day. Everyone was enjoying the temperate weather and praising the fast, flat runs on compact sand at the beginning of the stage. Although some, like Jack Dennis felt that those long straits were, “a bit boring.” Competitors have been paying heed to the “no littering” rule well, and Barbara L. Jones (USA) even ran off course to a moving vehicle in order to dispose of a plastic bottle that she had found on the trail. This bottle was not one that RacingThePlanet was using during the event.
Front runners sped through the first few Check Points, until they finally reached the sandy dunes between Check Point 10 and 11. “It was brutal, but also beautiful,” said Angelo B. Salvetti (Italy). Dean Karnazes, even with so much experience under his belt said, “the series of races is definitely taking its toll on me,” before getting spritzed with some nice cool water and saying, “now I feel like I am in San Francisco. (USA). Rob James (UK) came through the finish line in the top ten making a dramatic entrance belting out, “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner.
Robyn Metcalfe (USA) described the sand dunes poetically saying, “they looked like sheets of chiffon draped over the horizon, and it was just so stunning up there,” while she took a short breather at Check Point 11. Enrico Del Mastro, after feeling quite poorly over the first few days reassuringly said that he felt better. “It was a medical phenomena that I could keep going’” he joked, showing through his sense of humour that his constitution had improved.
All competitors got into camp quickly in comparison to the day before, and all commented that the cool breeze running through the air the whole day was pure bliss, after days of relentless sun.
Ryan N. Sandes (S. Africa) came in 1st for the 3rd day in a row at 10.52.14, and in keeping with this winning streak, Paolo Barghini (Italy) came in 2nd for the 2nday in a row. John W. Cecil Wright (UK) arrived at camp in 3rd place, this is his 1st 4 Deserts event, and also the best place he has achieved in this race. Nina Breith (Germany) maintained her position as the top ranking woman in her division, she placed 8th overall. Team Sipa (Denmark) came 1st in the Team division with the time of 12.13.13 and placed 20th overall, they were in excellent spirits with only a few minor foot complaints to pause their jukebox singing rampage in the evening.