Stage 2

Paul and Hector have made it back to their tent safely after a very grueling Stage 2. A third of today's course was through big sand dunes, which were "very, very tough". This, combined with the heat, was too much for some competitors who were forced to withdraw, and the rescue helicopter was in action today.

Our runners, however, managed to make it through. The live tracker showed that Hector was pretty fast for the first 13 km, but slowed considerably in the dunes. Paul was behind him, and is gradually closing the gap.

This photograph presents an intriguing prospect. Paul's training consisted almost entirely of Canicross, which involved being towed/assisted by two powerful German Pointers. I'm wondering whether he tried to hitch a lift with this guy..

The superhuman leaders of the race completed today's course in three hours. I think at this stage the mortals are more concerned with survival, but here are the results anyway:

Hector completed today's stage in 6 hours 31 minutes and has slipped out of the top third but is well within the top half of all runners. Paul, as is always the case, is moving up through the field each day. This is because he hadn't quite completed his training schedule before leaving Edinburgh and is therefore treating the first three days as extended training. I expect him to come into his own in Stage 4...

Stage 3 tomorrow.