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 4 Course:
With camp situated in the middle of a dune field, competitors will not find respite from the sand on Stage 4.
Running through the Qarawin dunes competitors will find heaven in a small oasis brimming with water. Ancient roman ruins can be found everywhere, and a mummy is hidden just to the left of the oasis as a reminder of just how unforgiving the terrain can be. The total distance is 37 kilometers (23.1 miles) which can be described as simply “sandy.” The times are expected to be around 3:30 minutes for the fast ones and thirteen hours for the slower field.
Check out the Video below from one of the first Check Points in the race:
Stage Update:
It was a fine clear day with cool temperatures in the morning, and racers set off to a blazing start with more than 75 competitors reaching Check Point 13 in the first hour. Rob James (Wales) said, “I am definitely running to miss the heat, once it gets to above 30 degrees (Celsius) my body starts to suffer – so tomorrow, come 1130 you will definitely see me walking.”
There was a lot of anticipation for the long day tomorrow, and the heat and length of the last leg of Stage 4 worried many. After two relatively short sections, people began to understand why this stage was called, “The Spring to Nowhere”, for after a relatively easy first half, they encountered a small oasis in the middle of the seemingly endless bounds of sand, sand and more sand – this area was called the Qarawin Dunes. Sean W. Abbott thought, “the oasis was a good addition.” And competitors took the time to pause and cool off. It was unfair that competitors couldn’t partake in a small dip in this pool of cold water, due to medical precautions stipulated by Dr. Suzie Wilson. Especially since there was a rather tanned tourist randomly walking around in a bikini and dipping into the multi-tiered pools located just behind Check Point 15. Jim Kerr (UK) said, “I am disappointed that the air-conditioning isn’t working at the oasis.” Martin J. Palethorpe (UK) said, “it reminded me of a cartoon, with those randomly placed palm trees and this little spring of water trickling out.”
What greeted racers after this oasis was a 14km slog on to the end. There was a small water pit-stop in the form of a jeep, where competitors could collect another bottle of water, which they all surely needed. By the time the clock struck noon, temperatures were blistering at more than 45 degrees (Celsius). With the addition of cut off times through the last two stages, the participants marched on through until the end of the day.
Although the camp was clearly visible in the last 3km of the stage, it wasn’t a straight line from the vantage point to the camp – and as always, Pierre the course director made the competitors’ journey just that little bit more interesting by leading them around a corner through a rock field and over a dune before they could cross the finish line. Annabel L Chartres (New Zealand) said, “all that sand was energy zapping, but the landscape was so interesting the last part – it was what I would describe as, lunar.”
Camp “Mars” is situated near rock towers in the sand, with white slats of limestone emerging through the mounds of soft sand, like what the moon would perhaps look like if someone poured sand all over it. At camp, there was an Egyptian desert band playing some tribal music and volunteers and competitors were dancing in the afternoon sun. The energy at camp was very relaxed and positive, as competitors began to discuss strategies about how they would tackle the long day ahead tomorrow. Peter E. Ball (Australia) felt, “bittersweet” about the impending end of the race, but said, “it is the last big haul we are going to endure, and I feel ready for it. Although I also feel sad that it is suddenly the end. For now, though, I am just going to focus on finishing it.”
In first place, Ryan N. Sandes (S. Africa) won the Stage for the 4th day in a row at 10.52.40. Paulo Barghini (Italy)came in 2nd at 11.23.15. 3rd came Nina Breith (Germany) at 11.29.39. Nina is 1st in the women’s division., followed by Cleo J. Oliver (UK) and then Mirjana K. Pellizzer (Croatia). Team Sipa/Seko Socks (Denmark) is 1st in the Team division and the trio ran into camp singing, “I want to ride my bicycle” by Queen at 12.11.03.