The runners are currently relaxing at tonight’s base camp. They’re feeling the effects of a long day in the sun and there are some sore muscles as you’d expect but they’re safe and well.

Tonight’s camp is situated on an open grass plain surrounded by hills. It’s a beautiful and isolated spot watched over by rangers from a rocky outcrop looming in the distance as well as by the teams on the ground. The sky at night out here has been staggering. The milky way is clearly visible each night and tonight promises to be just as spectacular.

Today has been typified by hills, heat and herds.

The rolling hills we expected today look tame on paper.  In reality, these long grinding climbs under the African sun are extremely tough. Most of this course is around 2000m above sea level too and the slightly rarefied air starts to take its toll on the climbs.

The temperature was particularly high today and there is almost no cover out there on the course. Between checkpoints, there is no opportunity to find shade so the heat has been hitting the runners who are less used to the high temperatures.

Borana’s wildlife made plenty of appearances today. Just before the start of the race the plane and a ranger team cleared a group of elephants who had decided that the trail was a perfectly good place to hang around and watch the sunrise. They weren’t wrong, the view of the sun climbing above the horizon from the gully they’d placed themselves in was spectacular, but they were standing directly in the runners’ path.

After the first climb of the day, the runner’s emerged onto a vast open plain and took a trail which crisscrossed a meandering route to the next checkpoint, a route which repeatedly took them through the path of a massive herd of zebra heading for a large lake to take water. We had our first wild rhino sightings today too. A group of three could be seen in the woods 100 metres or so from the course not far after CP2.

The Italian runners continued their dominance on stage two. Francesco Rigodanza crossed the line first in 4hrs 47 minutes with Alessio Zambon just over 10 minutes behind in second. Their compatriot Mateo Parise took third in 5:04. Alberto Ferratto, who performed so strongly yesterday, has unfortunately developed a knee problem which saw him drop down the pack today. Though not a serious injury, it has restricted him to walking the route.

In the women’s race, the top three was unchanged from yesterday. Jacqui Manson, Liz Winton and Kasia Bury remain in first, second and third today and overall with Jacqui looking unstoppable at this point.

The runners are setting up their beds and enjoying a welcome meal in the last of the sun. There’s also a lot of giraffe spotting going on as a herd has appeared in the treeline very nearby.

Tomorrow’s stage begins at 07:00 local time.

Join us then for more sunshine safari adventures.

Team BTU

[arve url=”https://youtu.be/vzgSAssSyrI” title=”For Rangers Ultra Testimonials – Maritz Theron” /]