250 kilometres, 6 Stage Ultra Marathon, 22-28 September 2024
Bedouin culture
Stage 3, Tuesday 24 September 2024 – Camel Racing in Twaissah, 40 kilometres
After 2 days of racing, my appetite for food had started to wane. Perhaps the thought of eating freeze-dried food and constantly sipping energy drinks containing the required carbs and sodium made the palate tasteless. I was yearning for a good plate of curry, something spicy. I did not bring snacks like bak kwa (barbequed meat) or instant noodles as I wanted to lighten the load… and so I regretted as some of my fellow Asian competitors dined on instant noodle and the like. I now know what I had to pack for food in my future race! Breakfast had been typically dried oats, I aim for 300-400 calories pre-race supplemented by 60-80 grams of carbs per hour out on the course.
Checkpoint to refill water
Stage 3 was a prelude to Stage 4 which is known as the Long March as it is a 90 kilometre stretch in one go. With this in mind, my strategy was to conserve as much energy in Stage 3 and go as easy as possible. But this was to be dictated by the condition of my feet.
Campfire with local tea on offer
This stage involved running along sand dunes between two valleys with a narrow canyon ahead. I had hoped to witness camel racing in Twaissah village, unfortunately it was not to be. During this stage we exited Wadi Rum desert and entered Kharaza desert. Distance was 40 kilometres with elevation gain of 324 metres. Terrain remains sandy and competitors had to run across a hard white dry salt lake beside a camel racing course.
Frolicking with camels in the wild
After 2 days in the desert, there are no easy days. Every day had its own challenges, I took each step as it came. Being out longer on the course also meant less rest time in camp. It could not be avoided as I could only move as fast as my feet permitted…every step with blisters was painful, more so when the ground was rocky and uneven. Nevertheless, I was able to meet the cut-off time each day to be able to start the next stage. I was executing my strategy as planned. I could not afford any other mishaps that would potentially slow me down at the risk of missing the cut-off times. Risk return reward equation came into play, I had to make do and manage well.
Friends for life
Finally, I reached camp late afternoon within the cut-off time… another stage in the bag but not time to celebrate yet. Stage 3 was completed in 10.5 hours. We were only mid-way through the race, 120 kilometres down and another 130 kilometres to go. My feet were holding up, but just barely. Always optimistic that I will feel a lot better after a night of rest.
In the canyons
Stage 4, Wednesday 25 September 2024 – The Rock Bridge, 38 kilometres
Stage 4 was known as the Rock Bridge. It was 38 kilometres in distance and crossed a famous rock bridge as we finished the Kharaza desert. We entered the Humaima desert and moved towards the canyon area of Jordan known as Wadi Araba.
The long road ahead
Over the years, several notable film scenes of famous movies were filmed in Jordan. This included the classic Lawrence of Arabia (1962) which was the first to showcase Wadi Rum to the world. Others included the epic science fiction movie Dune (2021), Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Disney’s Aladdin (2019) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Start of a new day
This stage comprised of soft sand and dusty terrain surrounded by rock formations. The first 10 kilometres was very sandy with open views of Wadi Rum before we entered a short narrow canyon.
Sunrise in the mountains
No dramas on this stage, battling through the pain from the blisters to finish in just slightly under 10 travel hours. My strategy on Stage 4 was to go as slow as possible to manage my blisters and to conserve energy for the Long March. When I crossed the line at the end of Stage 4, I knew I had enough in my tank to complete the next stage which was 90 kilometres in distance over 2 days. I had a smile on my face.
Famous rock bridge, Kharaza desert
Stage 5, Thursday and Friday, 26-27 September 2024 – The Long March to the Turkish Road, 90 kilometres
Undoubtedly the toughest stage covering 90 kilometres. Conditions were challenging when you factor in the lack of proper sleep and having not had a shower for 5 days. Hand sanitiser and wet ones (not provided, bring your own) kept many of the competitors going. Personal hygiene had to be taken seriously lest you run the risk of falling ill and dropping out of the race.
Rocky mountain, desert country
This stage took us through Wadi Aheimar Canyon, started along the top before going downhill and then through a river bed with a sandy bottom lined with rocks and stones. Most parts of this section were exposed to the sun. This section covered 20 kilometres in the canyon…a very rocky section which took its toll on my blisters and toe nails, as expected. Every step was painful especially on downhill rocky and uneven sections. I had to grind my teeth to get through this punishing stage.
Exiting the canyon, we hit the old Turkish Road which was a long uphill stretch of about 20 kilometres.
Exiting the canyon
Progress on Stage 5 was slow, pace was just enough to meet the cut-off time at checkpoints. I was fortunate to join forces with a fellow competitor who was struggling with tiredness. With team work and spirit, we kept each other going. Checkpoint 6 at the 60 kilometre mark was an overnight checkpoint In the canyons where hot water was provided and competitors were allowed to rest. The cut-off time was 4am which means competitors must have left checkpoint 6 by 4am. Headlamps were turned on at 6.30pm, some sections were treacherous bordering on steep drops into the valley. A wrong footing will be fatal.
After 90 kilometres and 30 hours on Stage 5
We reached checkpoint 6 at 1.15am, after 15 hours of hiking. We decided to take a short nap under the open tent and set our clocks for a 3am wake up call. A quick meal of freeze-dried oats to replenish our energy and we were out of checkpoint 6 at 3.30am, half an hour before the cut-off time. The following section was listed as difficult. Headlamps were on and the cool air in the early hours helped us progress faster. This was a refreshing change from daytime temperatures in excess of 40 Celsius. We were able to move faster; the uphill terrain was less painful on the blisters and toe nails. The sun was out in full force by 7.30am and it was starting to heat up. We knew it would get hot very quickly and we tried to cover as much ground as possible.
Stage 5 was completed in 30 hours, just meeting the cut-off time by approximately 10 minutes…. cutting it very close but never in doubt. I stuck to my strategy of managing my feet issues by slowing the pace just enough to meet cut-off times and it went according to plan. The furthest distance in a race I have ever run was only 80 kilometres. This stage takes the cake and had pushed my comfort zone beyond my imagination.
For this 90 kilometre stage, I did not remove socks and shoes to check on blisters, stopping was not an option…I just had to power through no matter what, to cross the line within cut-off time. I reaffirmed what I have always believed that mental resilience is much more powerful than what we think, using it to overcome physical challenges and pain. The mind is much more powerful than the flesh.
Once I crossed the line at Stage 5, I knew that the race was in the bag. Camp for the night was set up in the mountains overlooking Petra. The finale the next day would be a short celebratory run into the UNESCO World Heritage Town and one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Petra. It will be an amazing finish in Petra with the ancient Treasury as the backdrop.
Last day…approaching Petra
Stage 6, Saturday 28 September 2024 – The Final Footsteps to Ancient Petra, 5 kilometres
This was a short celebratory stage. If you had made it this far, barring unforeseen circumstances, you were guaranteed to arrive at the finish line. The route was mainly downhill on part road and part rocky terrain going past villages and local homes in a single track.
I arrived at the grounds of ancient Petra. No dramas except lots of emotion running through my head for making it this far and crossing one more item of my bucket list. The finish line in front of the Treasury could not have been more spectacular…. the loud cheers, the high fives and hugs from fellow competitors and volunteers brought tears of joy. After a week of racing, the curtain had come down.
At the finishing line with Japanese runners
What an end to a week that I can only describe as an experience of a lifetime and nothing short of spectacular. Nothing has been bigger or more challenging than the past one week. The friendships forged were priceless…the camaraderie amongst competitors unforgettable. The magical desert views, a lifetime of memories. A truly humbling experience. The mind controls the body and the body is much more capable than we think. Mental resilience got me to the finishing line, against all odds. One week without mobile signal was bliss and when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. There is a solution to every problem. It was also a hot, sticky and sweaty week without shower… I survived. Since then, I have shed 5 toe nails!
In summary, how would I describe the race in one word?…… BRUTAL, super super brutal – both mentally and physically. Would I do it again? Well……. on to the next adventure…watch this space!
I conquered…Treasury in Petra
The Treasury, Petra at the finishing line
Petra is a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the “Rose City” because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved. The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO has described Petra as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage.” Petra is a symbol of Jordan, as well as Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction.
The Treasury is one of the most elaborate rockcut tombs in Petra, a city of the Nabatean Kingdom inhabited by the Arabs in ancient times. As with most of the other buildings in this ancient town, this structure was carved out of a sandstone rock face. It is thought that the Treasury was built as a mausoleum and crypt at the beginning of the 1st century AD. (source: Wikipedia)
RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race – Photo Highlights Slideshow
RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race – Video Highlights
A video taken by a fellow competitor – summary of the race route and terrain
Race Statistics – The 20 Year Race Jordan
- 104 participants started the race.
- 40 countries were represented at the race.
- 82% of participants had completed a 4 Deserts / RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon before.
- 27% of racers were women and 73% men.
- 20% of competitors withdrew during the race/did not finish. The normal withdrawal rate for such races is 12-20%, indicating how tough this race was.
- Nearly 100 volunteers, staff and local team helped make the race happen on the ground and behind the scenes.
Who is RacingThePlanet?
https://www.racingtheplanet.com/about_us
RacingThePlanet and the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series is widely recognized as the most prestigious outdoor footrace series in the world. The series consists of the Namib Race (Namibia), the Gobi March (Mongolia), the Atacama Crossing (Chile) and The Last Desert (Antarctica). There is a fifth race called the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon which moves to a new race location each year. In 2024, this race was held in Jordan. Competitors in these races traverse 250 kilometers (155 miles) in seven days over rough country terrain with only a place in a tent and water provided.
By the end of 2023, RacingThePlanet had staged 73 races over 20 years. More than 10,000 participants from around 100 countries have participated in the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series and the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon. The races have garnered media coverage from around the globe. TIME magazine ranked the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series as one of the Top Ten Endurance Events in the world for two consecutive years, and the races have been covered through online, print, social and television media including BBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, ESPN, Bloomberg, National Geographic, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Outside, Runner’s World, NHK and Trans World Sport. A documentary called “Desert Runners” won acclaim at various film festivals around the world and is currently available on Netflix.
