Thanks to Mark Keane for the daily updates - embellished slightly from the original text!
(Ahem says Mark, only sometimes!)
17:40 on Thursday 6th April
The first of Peter's messages reads: "Yes its hot. Even at 5pm". What did he expect, I ask you!
18:31 on Thursday 6th April
"One hour queue to check in at hotel". Well, if it takes Peter that long just to check in, the betting is open on whether or not he will still be running in six weeks time!
11:38 on Saturday 8th April
A voicemail message from Peter after a quiet Friday (he was probably queuing all day!). Ate breakfast off a 2" table in 30 degree heat at 08:00 this morning. It would seem that there is not very good mobile phone coverage in the Sahara (now there is a surprise!) and he is having trouble getting a signal. Perhaps the mobile phone companies should consider erecting more masts, cunningly disguised as palm trees at the oasis! The upshot is that he may well not take his mobile with him on the run. Whatever will he do without it, it will be like losing a limb for Peter! There is a sandstorm coming...
13:55 on Saturday 8th April
Telephone call from Peter. It would seem that they have christened themselves 'Team Seven'. Long story, most of which was drowned out by the rapidly impending sandstorm, but had something to do with Grizzly Adams! You can almost picture the scene can't you - Peter atop the highest sand dune to get his phone signal, with a howling sandstorm whipping around his ears! Anyway, back to the story: Team Seven are in tent 77, and there are seven men and one woman. So, what else to call them but Snow White and the Seven Dwarves!
23:54 on Sunday 9th April
Peter's first e-mail update has now been translated from double dutch (Peter blames the French keyboard!) and is as follows: "Very hard today. There have been a few casualties but none in Team Seven. More water is being given out as it was 40°C today and there was another sandstorm again after 15:00. I had a good day, with a time of 4hr 45m for 18 miles (28km).
Tomorrow is a longer day but now have some experience so can plan it better. I don't know if I wil get to e-mail again, but I will try. It is not easy though as the opportunities are limited and those lovely French people take forever to decide what on earth they are going to send!" Ah, that will mean more queues then!
Please note that the link to the official Mds site has been updated to more user friendly English pages, so it is now easier than ever to follow Peter's progress and send him words of encouragement!
23:58 on Monday 10th April
No contact from Peter today. No doubt those lovely French people have been hogging the computers again! According to the results on the official website, Peter completed today's gruelling 35km in a time of 7hrs 25m, an average of 4.72km per hour. One can only imagine what a long hard day this has been - the temperature was recorded as 42°C at 13:00 with a hygrometry of 15 %, and there was yet another sandstorm.
23:59 on Tuesday 11th April
No contact from Peter again today, so another update courtesy of the official website statistics. Stage 3 was over 38km, the longest distance so far. Peter's time is recorded as 7hrs 59m, which is an average of 4.76km per hour. Well done Peter! The temperature was recorded as 39.4°C at 13:00, with a hygrometry of 18 %. Tomorrow sees the commencement of the mythic long stage: 72km over 2 days, partly run during the night! On behalf of everyone reading this, good luck Peter!
23:45 on Wednesday 12th April
No results for Peter are yet being shown for today. The following general news update is taken straight from the official site: In view of the severe weather conditions which have taken a heavy toll on competitors, the organisation decided to reduce this long stage by 15km. The decision was also made to double the water rations at the first 3 check-points. Note that the vast majority of the race so far is being run in terrible conditions: sandstorms, low visibility, high humidity levels and very high temperatures. Also noted was the fact that an Irish competitor has been repatriated to the University Hospital of Bordeaux in France after collapsing from hypothermia on stage 3. Hypothermia in the Sahara?!
15:00 on Thursday 13th April
Finally there is an update as to Peter's progress yesterday. He completed the gruelling stage in a creditable time of 12hrs 15m, which is an average of 4.65km per hour. Well done Peter! The temperature was recorded as 39°C at 18:00, with a hygrometry of 13%. One can but imagine how tough yesterday must have been! There is now Stage 5 to look forward to tomorrow - 42.2km!
10:50 on Saturday 15th April
Still awaiting an update from the official site as to Peter's progress yesterday over the epic marathon stage. The distance was 42.2km, with 4 check-points. The weather was a little more favourable, with temperatures a good ten degrees cooler than previous days, and a cool wind rather than a sandstorm. The temperature was recorded as 28.1°C at 12:00, with a hygrometry of 20%. A further update will be posted as soon as there is more news.
13:14 on Saturday 15th April
Finally some news! Peter completed yesterday's stage in a time of 8hrs 19m, which is an average of 5.07 km per hour. Well done Peter, that's the fastest average speed since stage 1. Today's stage of 11.8km will surely seem like a walk in the park by comparison with all that has gone before!
13:30 on Saturday 15th April
Rumours have been circulating all week that Peter was spotted on his mobile phone in the Sahara. The mysterious picture has now been obtained. A close examination of the image however, has revealed that it cannot possibly be Peter...
...far too much hair!
09:08 on Sunday 16th April
Well, it's finally over! Peter completed the yesterday's 11.8km stage in a time of 1hr 19m, which is an average of 8.88km per hour. The temperature was 34.3°C at 12:00, with a hygrometry of 19%. Congratulations Peter!
A quick glance at the official website informs us that, and I quote, "the competitors arrive so thick and fast there are moments when they have to queue to get over the finish line." More queues! This is where we started I think!
Please remember why Peter has been running this race, to raise money for Facing Africa to help fight NOMA (See Why am I doing the Mds? ). It is still not too late to sponser Peter, so get your credit card out and click here!