MDS part 4

8.4.2011 I finaly slept well. Maybe the first time in the Sahara.. A short morning reflection- how will I dress today? There is a whole marathon on the program, 42Km to go.. After yesterdays heat I decide against compression wear from skins and put on the Bionic Fenec desert dress. Fresh black X-Bionic knee socks and target heratrate of 140. Everything goes well. The first CP is quickly behind me, I'm now into my real running rhythm. The Swiss flag is eagerly moving in the wind. Right after the CP up a mountain and there Daniel overtakes me.It doesn't matter, just like Greiff says" hinten ist die Ente fett.." There is nothing to be won at the hill- one can only destroy his reserves. In fact the hill looks pretty high and it is only as the helicopter is above me and finally even below me that I realize how high this place is.

There are many many people behind me now and only a few in front. What a great feeling so early in the stage. On the top I run across many different rocks and everything goes well, the heat is brutal now. i am happy that I did in fact always take all the water . Either I drink it or if there is still some left at the next CP I shower with it. The Fenec dress uses it to cool my body down in a way I didn't expect. Tonight they'll tell us that we reached more than 52 degrees centigrade. What for do we carry cookers with us? Touching my Fenec shorts - amazing they are COLD. Now I share some way with Stefan and once we come down the hill some children show up out of nowhere. We are their heroes and they just want to run with us and hold our hands.

I am emotionally touched- and ashamed that a lot of people refuse this gesture and don't share these big smiles with these children. I think they are as proud as we are, and who knows- maybe the next MDS winners were just running with us ?

Finally we are running through a palm tree area, ruins and it must be the oasis. We take some photos as it is simply too beautiful to just continue running. Now the last CP is reached, the TV team is waiting. loading up the last water and GO!

Now I let m heartbeat go higher, the 145 BPM average is ok as I overtake one after another. what did I say at the hill? :) The arrival is at reach , a mere 500m and there is still a runner in front of me- I will get him, for the honour. HB 150-it is Marc from Geneva, running for charity. he sees the Swiss flag and cheers me as I speed by. Sprint for the last 200ms and a jump over the finishing line. Incredible, my watch says 4.30hrs. Not bad after nearly 230km and with the bag and the heat. I am very satisfied and feel very very good. Volker is watining for me and takes me in his arms. Yolanda comes in 10 minutes later. I stop at the reception tent/ medical care. There are numerous of the professionals who are still there. this is a good feeling. I am surprised to see how many people need medical care for dehydration and fatigue after this stage. One professional is lying down , shaking the whole body and he is now getting an infusion.

Training Effect 3.1, 87ml, 2933Kcal, avg HR 138, range 105-163, asc 318m desc 203m THE LAST DAY: