10/04/10 - STAGE N°6 : ERG ZNAIGUI /MERZOUGA– 21,1 Km

Km 0 : Go N/W (bearing 324°) to reach Znaïgui erg.
Km 0,4 : Enter dunes. Take bearing 324° until Km 3.5.
Km 3,5 : Exit dunes. Follow the Roub’in Oud wadi which climbs towards Debouaâ jebel.
Km 4,3 : Follow the wadi climbing the gorge.
Km 5,7 : Exit gorge. Stony plateau. Turn left then right.
Km 6,5 : Follow the branch of the wadi going back down towards the valley.
Km 6,8 : Cross the valley.
Km 7,4 : End of valley. Sandy pass on Debouaâ jebel. Small uphill section.
Km 7,6 : End of pass.
Km 8 : Small hilly section
Km 9,7 : First ruins of the mining village of Mfis. Cross the village following the course markers.
Km 10,3 : End of village. Go North (bearing 6°) until CP1. Hilly, stony and sandy.
Km 14 : CP1. Min Ajer wadi, go W/NW (bearing 291°) as far as the foot of Merzouga erg.
Sandy terrain then slightly stony plateau.
Km 16,2 : Take bearing 291° to cross Merzouga erg.
Km 21,1 : End of dunes. Arrival in Merzouga.

 Friday 9th April  - Simon it took 20 mins to stumble to the loo this morning behind a bush, but after codeine, dicloflenac, paracetemol, strapping and hyrdralites, I managed to get around. A quick trip to Doc Trotters afer the run and I'm ready to go (home). Just 20 murderous kms to go ! Thanks so much for all the support it means a lot here !

   Friday 9th April  - Russ I have no real sense of achievement yet and don't think I will tomorrow; hopefully in coming days and weeks. Overwhelming thoughts are 1. to get back to the hotel tomorrow for rest, proper food, shower and a few cold beers; 2., and more importantly, getting home on Monday. The emails we have received have been the highlight of every day; thank you so much for sending them. I cannot express how welcome they have been.

  Friday 9th April  - Alex penultimate stage today, marathon distance 42.7km (26.4m) we were all fresh this am, but many feet blisters and foot pain! The course was relatively easier than the previous ones, mainly flat, with a few scattered wadis of sand and dunes thrown in, but we all comfortably completed within 6 1/2 hrs. The weather was kinder to us, less intense, enough water, but we are all completely pooped this evening. The thoughts of showers, baths, cold beer and decent grub is overwhelming. Only one more short stage tomorrow, but they have left the biggest dunes to the end (7km up to the finish line, it will be the final crawl!)
from alex: To say I have enjoyed this is going too far, I feel really pleased with completing my first and last official marathon today. your emails have been so welcome and motivating, and those of you who wrote in the back of the little book brought either smiles or tears to my eyes - thank you to all of you for being so supportive.

 09/04/10 - STAGE N°5 : OUED EL JDAID/ERG ZNAIGUI – 42,2 Km

Km 0 : Go N/E (bearing 38°). Hilly terrain as far as El Jdaid wadi.
Km 1,9 : Sandy wadi bed. Go E/NE (bearing 60°) in the wadi bed.
Km 4,7 : Small mound. More or less stony plateau.
Km 5,2 : Wadi bed. Mounds of sand and grass for camels.
Km 5,9 : End of wadi. More or less stony plateau.
Km 8,7 : Cross Outanouel wadi. Mounds of sand and grass for camels. Go N/E until CP1 (bearing 33°).
Km 9,1 : End of wadi. Continue until CP1 going along the dunes on the right-hand side.
Km 13,2 : CP1 at the end of the plateau. Go S/E (bearing 125°) and cross a series of dales and wadi beds.
Km 14,5 : Sandy valley.
Km 16,4 : Rocky peak on the right-hand side. Go S/E (bearing 120°) until Km 20.1.
Km 18,3 : Bank of Ziz wadi. Undulating terrain with vegetation (grass for camels and tamaris).
Km 19,4 : MIND THE CREVASSE. Technically adapted crossing.
Km 20,1 : Path over small mound of black stones at start of dried-up lake.
Km 20,9 : End of dried-up lake. Follow sandy wadi with acacias.
Km 21,4 : Turn right following the wadi.
Km 22,4 : Stony plateau.
Km 22,8 : Cross a large track. Follow the wadi.
Km 23,9 : CP2. Go E/NE (bearing 76°) and cross undulating wadi ground.
Km 25,1 : Steep-sided valley in small gorge.
Km 26,9 : End of small gorge. Go N/E (bearing 46°) until CP3. Cross the valley.
Km 28,5 : Slightly stony plateau.
Km 29,6 : Cross wadi. Mounds of sand and grass for camels.
Km 31,1 : End of Moha Fighnas wadi. Slightly stony plateau.
Km 34,2 : End of plateau. Follow markings avoiding the crops.
Km 36 : CP3 on the banks of the Beg’a wadi. Go E/NE (bearing 65°) to leave the crops on the left-hand side.
Cross area of small dunes with tamaris.
Km 37,4 : Go along the dunes on the right-hand side.
Km 37,9 : Cross scattered dunes. Go N/E (bearing 36°)
Km 40,2 : End of small dunes.
Km 42,2 : Arrive at B6

 Friday 9th April  - Simon It was the usual wake up call with the Berbers pulling down our tent at 06.00 and then 3 hours waiting before a 09.00 start. We had all been anxiously waiting for the infamous double marathon, the day that defines the whole event, and it did not disappoint.

I started really well running whilst it is still cool up to the first checkpoint, and then try and find my MDS 'shuffle' for the remaining 60 kms. It really is a brutal event, with numerous mental and physical ups and downs. It was all going fine until the final checkpoint at 70 kms, when I started shivering uncontrollably and dry retching and had to recuperate for an hour and 45 mins, before stumbling the final 10kms.

 My feet this morning are swollen and covered in blisters - I can hardly move - never mind just a full marathon tomorrow morning. I would rather you nailed my testicles to the masthead than do this event ever again ! Russ and Alex are both doing brilliantly, and are great company. This event is brutal !

  Friday 9th April  - Alex We all completed yesterdays gruelling nightmare, 82km with more than 20km pure sand dunes in the second half. It was absolutely draining, and at times, the mind started playing tricks and I visited some dark places.

Before this leg I had convinced myself I would only ever consider doing this event again if one of my kids decided to give it a go...but I will let them experience it alone if they choose (go for it guys, when you are older, if you want to really test yourself)...never again, as far as I am concerned (Mandy you will be relieved). It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, and relentless heat, distance, sweating, and fluid balance is so critical.

Mike you would have enjoyed the mountain stages on day 2, spectacular views, Dom your fishing line principle has been so motivating, starting slow and reeling in later, Jamie for you - you said it would be embarrassing to finish in bottom half, but have managed a place in top 500 (448th/1013 after 4th stage) emails brill!

   Friday 9th April  - Russ We seem to say that every day has been the worst for years & yesterdays stage was no exception with regulars saying it was the toughest long stage for ages. The saving grace was that it was a little (40ish) cooler than the previous day. Started at 9.15am & got back just before 4.00am and that was still fast enough to be comfortably in the top half.

This event is totally draining, physically & mentally. Just spending so long out in the heat every day, let alone trying to run in it, is utter madness. Goodness knows why we do it. My feet are covered in blisters & yesterday the toe nail was attached to a plaster that I pulled off the toe. Still, we have nearly finished it, just one marathon & a half marathon to go. The aim is simply to complete it.

To end on a more positive note, the camaraderie is fantastic & I am sure we will remember all the good things long after the pain has gone. Thanks to everyone for sending us emails.

Message to F, H, J, L & L. Love you all loads and miss you

 Thursday 8th April  - Neil Warren Just a quick note to say ‘Massive Congratulations’ to all of you on a truly incredible achievement so far… As one of Simon’s college pals, along with several others, we have become completely engrossed via the Darbaroud website and specifically the Posy checkpoint timing system, in watching how you are all doing from the comfort of our desks at work.

The emails were flying back and forth yesterday – as late as midnight as you passed through the various checkpoints. This of course has also led to reading your own blogs on threeunwisemen (never truer words spoken!) watching the videos and looking at pictures, including Google Earth with the Sat Nav co-ordinates provided on Darbaroud.

So, there are many of us with you in spirit, but cannot possibly imagine what it’s really like, nor understand the physical or mental strain you must be going through. I expect that there will be friendships and bonds made for life.
Today (Thursday) must be an enormous relief for mind and body before the final two stages -very best wishes and good luck in completing this monumental challenge.  If you bump into Eddie Izzard he’s lost…….!!

Thursday April 8th - STAGE N°4 : Results TAOURIRT MOUCHANNE / OUED EL JDAID – 82,2 Km

Wednesday 7th April - STAGE N°4 : TAOURIRT MOUCHANNE / OUED EL JDAID – 82,2 Km

Km 0 : Go East (bearing 99°) until CP1. Series of sandy ground with vegetation and more stony terrain.
Km 7,5 : Deceptively flat uphill section as far as CP1.
Km 12,8 : CP1. Go North (bearing 07°) to return to the path which climbs towards Zireg jebel.
Km 14,4 : Start of climb up path.
Km 14,6 : Succession de montées et descentes sablonneuses jusqu’au Km 18,6.
Top. TAKE CARE! Follow the small track carefully for 200m to go down into sand. Series of sandy uphill and downhill sections until Km 18.6.
Km 18,6 : Stony path by the trees. Sandy downhill section.
Km 19,7 : Follow the wadi bed into the gorge.
Km 21,1 : Exit gorge. Go North (bearing 25°) and cross the sandy valley.
Km 22,6 : Middle of pass between the Mziouda and Ras Khemmouna jebels.
Km 24,6 : Sandy pass up small ascent
Km 24,9 : Stony valley
Km 25,6 : Top of small ascent. Quite steep sandy descent, then follow wadi bed.
Km 26,1 : CP2 at exit of the wadi branch. Go N/NE (bearing 19°) to cross a dried-up lake.
Km 29,5 : End of lake. Enter El Maharch gorge.
Km 31,6 : El Maharch oasis. Wells (solar equipment installed for the 2006 MDS). Follow the track towards the rocky peak so that you take the right-hand side avoiding the very stony fields situated to the right of this.
Km 32,5 : Cemetery on the right-hand side.
Km 33,3 : Rocky peak on the right-hand side. Go N/E (bearing 46°) until CP3 leaving the rocky terrain to your right.
Km 38,7 : CP3 on the left of Tizi n’Guidou pass. Cross Tizi n’Guidou pass.
Km 40,7 : Tree as you exit the pass. Go S/E (bearing 132°) to cross the clear part of the Rheris wadi.
Km 41,5 : Enter Rheris wadi. Beaten earth, more or less undulating, small dunes. Same direction (132°).
Km 48,1 : Area of trees (tamarisk). Crevasses on the wadi bed.
Km 49,1 : Sortie de l’oued.
Exit wadi.
Km 51 : CP4 at the foot of the dunes. Go along the dunes on the left-hand side, then cross the valley until Km 52.8.
Km 52,8 : Enter erg. Take bearing 120° to cross dunes.
Km 57,8 : End of erg. Cross Jouijel wadi for 200 m then sandy uphill section.
Km 59 : End of uphill section, top of the pass. Sandy descent.
Km 59,7 : Edge of dried-up lake. Take a general E/NE direction (bearing 60°) until CP 5.
Km 62,5 : CP5 before the dunes. Go along the dunes on the left-hand side, bearing E/NE (bearing 72°) until CP6.
Hilly and sandy.
Km 71,3 : End of dunes. Climb towards the small pass.
Km 71,7 : Small pass. Laser beam. Descend towards CP6.
Km 72,5 : CP6. Go North (bearing 8°)
Km 75 : Cross sandy wadi bed.
Km 76,2 : Touh Ilh jebel peak on left-hand side. Direction N/E (bearing 37°) until B5. Follow the course markings
attentively to avoid the crevasses to the left.
Km 77,5 : Series of more or less stony undulating slopes
Km 82,2 : Arrive at B5

 Tuesday 6th April - PM Stage 3 All back safe and well, just! Brutal day, temperatures up to 48 degrees. To put it in context, while talking to James Cracknell, as you do, he said that it was the single hardest day he has ever encountered.

26 miles, largely across dried out salt lakes where camels were grazing (they had the right idea), we all had to walk most of the second half. Simon came in just under 6 hours, Russ and Alex in just under 7. Loads of people appear to have dropped out today. It took its toll on everyone in our tent and we are all worried about the 83 km stage tomorrow. We will probably not complete it until the early hours of the morning, if we are lucky.

Alex has set up a private foot clinic in our tent (but only for our tent) and is doing a roaring trade. The main highlight of every day is the emails we receive from you. Please continue to send them. Next blog in 2 days because of the long stage tomorrow.

Tuesday 6th April - PM Stage 3

06/04/10 - STAGE N°3 : JEBEL EL OTFAL / TAOURIRT MOUCHANNE – 40 Km

Km 0 : Go W/SW (bearing 253°) until Km 9.6 to cross the valley.
Km 1,8 : Sandy wadi bed. Mounds of sand and grass for camels for 700 m.
Km 4,4 : Relief on left-hand side. Fine pebbles.
Km 9,6 : Sandy climb up Rich Chouiref jebel. Go back down following the gorge.
Km 10,6 : End of gorge. Sandy and stony.
Km 12,8 : CP1. Go S/W (bearing 222°) over more or less stony ground. Aim for area of trees.
Km 16,2 : Tree-lined wadi bed then stony plateau. Go W/SW (general bearing 224°).
Km 21,3 : Less stony
Km 22,7 : Start of Ma’der El Kebir lake
Km 24,1 : CP2 in the middle of the lake. Go South (bearing 188°) until Km 30 to go around the field of crevasses and the calotropis forest (small tree).
Km 29,2 : Cross a large track.
Km 30 : External boundary of forest and crevasses, change direction, going S/SE (bearing 164°) to reach CP3.
Km 32,5 : Approach small dunes. Beaten earth.
Km 33,5 : Scattered small dunes.
Km 35 : CP3. Well. Go S/E (bearing 140°) until the finish. Mounds of sand and grass for camels.
Km 38,2 : Marabout Sidi Ali bou Moussa on left-hand side.
Km 39,1 : Small chain of dunes.
Km 40 : Arrive at B4

Tuesday 6th April - AM Stage 3 Awaiting todays Schedule - Come back soon!

 Monday 5th April - PM Stage 2 All back safe and sound but an even hotter and longer day - 22 miles, up to 45 degrees. Two massive climbs, one up a very big dune followed by rock climbing with ropes!

We passed several collapsed people and flares set off to raise alarms. Its 7.45pm and people are still coming in over 11 hours later, in pitch black. Simon managed 5.40 with Russ & Alex around 6.45 hours.

Our claim to fame for the day is that we were the first complete GB tent home! Again rumours say that this is the hardest second day experienced by veteran MDSers and there is a petition requesting extra water rations, which is indeed tight. Tomorrow an even longer stage at 26 miles but hopefully less arduous. Hope you're all sleeping comfortably at home in your cosy beds! Bon nuit.