Stage Four is complete and it’s been a dramatic day. Stage Four begins with a dash through a ravine carved right our of the red earth by the recently elusive yearly rains. Rocks stand atop towers of earth in a way that seems to defy logic and rhino tracks were found throughout by the rangers before the runners set off in the morning.

Before reaching checkpoint one, there is then an opportunity to meet one of the orphaned rhino cared for on Ol Jogi. Alfie is a 14 year old, blind black rhino and he was alongside the trail with his keeper Peter. There were tears from some of the runners as they came face to face with the incredible creature and say the relationship between him and his carer. There were many rhino selfies.

The next big feature of the course is the last significant climb of the race. A long grinding ascent up to checkpoint two where they also find what Race Director Kris King refers to as the best view of the whole race. We’re inclined to think he has a point. There were many viewpoint selfies.

After checkpoint two the runners descend down to a dusty, open plain. This parched and yellowed grassland is broken only by the shattered remains of long dry trees and heat haze is visible across the horizon. The runners hit this at the hottest point of the day and it proved to be the tipping point for a few runners who were struggling already. A few of them were brought in by our team rather than completing the course on foot. All the runners are safely at camp this evening.

In a wholly unexpected move, after 4 searingly sunny days on the course, those elusive rains have now appeared and camp is currently under a downpour.

At the front of the female athletes, Lou Cole continued her partnership with Katie Baker and the duo passed the whole day together. The win was particularly sweet for Lou as it came on her birthday! Happy Birthday from everybody at Beyond the Ultimate. Veronique Levin also had a very strong day and finished in 3rd once more. The overall standings remain Lou Cole in first, Katie in 2nd and Veronique in 3rd as we enter the final day. 

Among those who didn’t make it today was Tom Makin. Tom was race leader until this morning but tripped on the rocky trail and ended up with an injury that has sadly finished his race.

That makes James Hassan of the British Army Training Unit Kenya to take the lead he’d been pushing for over the last couple of days. 2nd is Alex Ward who has been consistently strong throughout, and 3rd is the similarly reliable Bradley buckle-Hill who completes a trio of runners from the British Army training unit.

Tomorrow is the final stage. One last test stands between these runners and a medal. That test will take place largely on Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to a massive abundance of wildlife. The finish line is on the equator line so they’ll end the race by crossing into a different hemisphere. Racing starts at 07:00 (05:00 UK).

Stage Four Results:

Overall Standings: