Stage 5 (Part 1):
More than eighty competitors have made it into Camp 6: Kashgary after completing the 78.7 km stage in one push. Twenty competitors opted to stay overnight at check-point 21 where two tents are pitched to accommodate them. Competitors need to vacate check-point 21 prior to 0600, and arrive at camp before 1500.
Despite the demands of the distance, competitors were generally in high spirits and trooped on through until they arrived at camp.
Eric LaHaie (United States) and Riel Carol (France) crossed the finish line of Stage 5 together at 17.50.29 with their arms held high. The pair had run for the past 40km in a duo. “There was no way I could have kept that pace if I had been alone,” said Riel. LaHaie and Riel were running at a pace of just under a 9 minute mile, picking up the pace as they neared the finish line. For the first 50km, Riel admitted to having LaHaie in his target, but as the pair began to tire through the grueling stage, they admitted to relinquishing competitive ambition to see it more as a shared experience. Sean Abbott (United States) who had remained in the top three throughout the race came into camp at 17.59.17, placing in third place for the stage. Abbott was greeted by the top two who shared first place for the stage, placing him in second place today.
But for the middle of the field, moving at such a rapid pace was not an option, and although the terrain was mostly flat, it was gravelly and loose underfoot. “Those riverbeds aren’t doing anyone any favours,” said Rod Rutherford (Australia) when he arrived at the overnight check-point.
Increasingly, through the day, competitors opted to make this journey in groups, for morale and also for conversation. Hannah Sandling (United Kingdom), Kimberley Dods (South Africa) and Simone Bishop (South Africa) was one such troupe, waxing on about eating bread and cheese as soon as they returned home to keep a goal in sight.
And whilst competitors chose to power on through the night to make it into camp 6 in one sweep, the psychological need to fortify and be resilient proved challenging for many. Xavier Cochi (France) and David Linker (Australia) were asking how many kilometres remained from the overnight check-point – 29 km was the answer. “well that is better than thirty,” he said.
As the camp sleeps tonight, and competitors continue to roll in, the resounding thud of drums bangs to welcome those willing and able in through the finish line in ebbing and flowing into the early hours of the morning.
Stage 5 (Part 2):
After a long and arduous day that stretched into the night and following morning, all competitors made it back into camp except for one, Chris Frost (United Kingdom) who withdrew.
As competitors marched through the night into camp, the drums welcomed them in, pulsing with motivation and energy through to the very last moment.
The route was comprised of mostly flat straights over roads through riverbeds and gravelly passages. It alternated through smooth surface roads and small villages, where locals sat by corners to cheer competitors on.
Although the road was long, motivation levels were high, and all but twenty competitors opted to trudge on through the night. Reka Peti (Hungary) said, “it was incredibly long, and crossing the riverbeds was so difficult, but we made it,” as she gave a nod to her husband, Fitz Aguilar (United States). “We had our moments,” Aguilar joked, “but she definitely let me know when she had had enough.” The couple opted to walk on through the night.
Some competitors bemoaned the lack of variety, whilst others reveled in it. “It was pretty tame,” said Blain Davis (Canada), “but scenically it was beautiful. The long stage was definitely more of a mental than a physical thing.” Huzefa Mehta (India) said, in comparison, “it was great, but difficult and I found the scenery repetitive, although I admit I didn’t spend that much time looking up from my feet.”
For Canadian Norma Bastidas, the wind was the most challenging aspect to the race. “It didn’t matter which way the sun was facing or which direction we were going, the wind always seemed to be head on.” At one point Bastidas was literally swept of her feet by the billowing winds.
Nicola Fontanesi (Italy) said, “it is important to have a long stage, but at the same time, I didn’t know when it was going to end. I ran mostly the whole way but found it easy because I knew I was close to the finish.”
A surprise awaited competitors at 1730. In celebration of RacingThePlanet’s 20th event, the organisers threw a party. Donkeys with carts brought in crates of ice-cold beer and soft drinks, while Zac Addorisio (Canada) carried a five-tiered cake into the campsite. Great cheer and applause followed and a celebration to go down in history took place. It was high fives all around. Ben Marlow (United Kingdom) said, “that cake is magnificent.”
Competitors are spontaneously beating the drum for fun and making use of the last remaining hours of the cybertent. The sun is still out and a few competitors are sunbathing in the ubiquitous Lycra outfits they have been sporting, giving them a good airing.
For the stage, Tan Tah Ming (Malaysia) was the final competitor to make it into camp. Tan spent the night out on the course, only resting briefly for an hour and a half on the side of the road. Tan suffered from asthma while he was walking in the night, and took a 3km ride on the back of a camel. Tan may be disqualified for this. Tan was greeted by the entire camp when he crossed the finish line at 12.42.51. Tan was smiles all around, and said, “what a night.”
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