Route de Sel (Trans 555) - Day 2

By Luke Cunliffe

It's about ten to four in the afternoon of Thursday and so far i've managed about 60km which is a little less than I would have hoped. It's actually been one of the most horrible experiences I've had in racing for a very long time.. The first two checkpoints came and went quite quikcly - in around 8 hours - but with temperatures now 50 degress (C) both days in the sun and 35 degrees in the shade at the check points - it's incredibly difficult to combat the heat here - and that seems to be the problem most people are having.

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So far we've had about 4 retirements that I know of - and the majority of people seem to be suffering a great deal from the heat, blisters and stomach aches - myself included - in the last 18 hours i've not managed to keep anything down food or water, which has been a real problem and leaves me feeling quite weak.

Nonetheless wr're going to push on tonight. I'm accompanied again by Wilko. We run the first stage together - and some of the 2nd where we split up and joined other groups - and then at about 1 o'oclock in the morning he found me asleep by the side of the trail where he woke me up and we continued together to the finish.

All in all - it's a very very tough race - this desert is quite incredible - there is just no shelter anywhere. Anyway - i'll try and come back later with another update..

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