After two long days of restlessness, we finally received news from the front. And what news! Pere's face speaks for itself.
As much as I pretend, I wouldn't be able to explain his feelings, so the best thing I can do is transcribe his words:
<<I repeat: a very hard stage. We knew this one was 80 km, but not that we would face temperatures of 45 degrees with no wind. Crossing a salt lake at 14.00 h, it felt even hotter. Yesterday – which is still today, as it is already 14.48 h and people are still arriving – we saw everything: dehydration (the most common problem), urinary infections, vomiting and severe diarrhoea. Those of us who arrived first were at camp by 21.00. Others chose to walk rather than run and arrived later. Many arriving now stopped to sleep along the way after dark and continued in the morning. Seeing a small group walking painfully in the distance, yet smiling because they have reached the race’s finish, is like a scene from a film. The end is in sight. Despite our exhaustion, today we are happy to have completed the 80 km. Running or walking this distance destroys everyone’s feet, without exception. But yesterday the pain was so widespread and the exhaustion so extreme that our feet were the last thing on our minds. At various checkpoints, medical teams ask how you are and check that you are all right. You have to take salt tablets to avoid fainting. Between the heat, salt and poor circulation in our arms from the weight of our backpacks, our hands swell like balloons. Yesterday I tried to signal “three” to an Englishman with my fingers, only to find I could not bring my little finger and thumb together: instead of fingers, I had sausages!
Today I feel better and want to write down what went through my head yesterday in the heat of the moment: “I hate the dunes and the heat. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS EXPERIENCE TO ANYONE. What suffering! How can anyone do this race again? How can there be nearly 1,000 lunatics like me SUFFERING?” >>.
What else can be added?
Today is the 42.2 km marathon stage. Come on, you are nearly there!