Completed stage 4 today…  at 3rd position (?!)

Will have to update back a bit with more details, and a lot of pictures about stages 2 and 3 – you can look forward to see some pictures from stage 3!

In the meantime, you can see this picture, taken by the race staff during stage 2:

Stage 4 was another hot-and-humid stage, starting with a punishing sun and no hint of a cloud in the sky. This continued for quite a while before we could enjoy some clouds coming in later in the day.

After yesterday’s very long and technical stage – in which I didn’t feel so well, and took a long time to finish, today was relatively short (38 km) and straightforward (only 1,400m climbs and 1,300m descents).

I also felt much better, and was running strong from the beginning. Felt a bit strange to spend the first 1 km with the group leading the race – a first time for me, but it got even more surprising when this continued for a while, and by the first aid station I realized I am the 4th runner in.

I kept waiting for my body to shut down, but allowed it to go as it wants, while keeping an eye for body heat and a reasonable heart rate (average HR for the full stage was 140).

By the time I reached the second aid station, the staff mentioned there is something 5 minutes ahead … it took me a while to realize they were talking about the French runner at 3rd position. That was quite a shock. Still didn’t think this was relevant information for me, and just continued as we were entering the stage’s main climbing section.

I ended this stage at 3rd place (and earned my ‘FatManRunning’ badge).
There be a first time for anything, I guess.

Beer will have to wait another couple of days, but we have some entertainment and community-donations event this evening.

Tomorrow is a transition day, so a recovery day before our last stage of the race. This one is the shortest stage, but I expect it not to be easy – all the pains coming together, expect it to be at the top of heat and humidity, as we will be running on the beach, deep-sand beach, and super-muddy forest trails in the menu.