5 weeks out and thank fully a key part of the manditory kit arrived - The VENOM PUMP - just in case......!?!?

Will - I trust the new home in Azerbaijan is treating you well mate - hows the training going. Still shy on the gaitors....

Its freezing.

Dubai Marathon tomorrow - go Dubai!

GOOD LUCK!!! Very inspiring. Looking forward to the regular updates. Best wishes, and we'll be thinking of you! Lou :)

Donations are coming in - thanks to all those that are supporting the 3L Libyan Challenge Team. Just 14 days until the big RACE _ go the fund raising :)

Why oh why do little calf muscle injuries have to pop up just 2 weeks out from a race and make everything seem like its balancing on a knife edge?

Must be time to rest and rice...i mean ice ;)

Some one please tel this calf injury to scram.

Good luck buddy, and Scram calf injury!
There you good mate just for you....

Nice one brother - I think you send that message at exactly the right time! Amazingly the injury seems to have scrammed. I shall stay off it anyhow and trust that the work required has been done.

Hello all,

Well the time you've all been waiting for has finally arrived. The organisation convoy left Genoa on Saturday and is making its way down through Tunisia and into Libya and will then spend the end of the week setting things up for our arrival.



Our charter flight is scheduled to leave on Saturday 19th February at 11am with check-in 8.30am-9.30am. For those flying into Paris that morning, let's hope that your flight is not delayed as we would hate to leave without you! We are expected to be back in Paris the following Sunday around 1.30pm. The departure terminal has not yet been confirmed…



I have booked a room at the Formule 1 hotel close to the airport and I expect to arrive there late afternoon. For those who are interested, we usually meet up milling around the hotel lobby and then go to "Hippopotamus" steak house around the corner for dinner around 8pm.



We should be arriving in Libya on Saturday afternoon where we shall be picked up for the short transfer to the camp to get settled in. There will be a race briefing on Sunday and an administrative/kit check on Monday (after which your running pack is quarantined). The race start is at midnight on Monday with a cut-off time during the night of Thursday to Friday.



As hopefully you will have realised by now, it is a 215km (or more…) self-supported foot race with GPS navigation (a road book but no markers) with checkpoints (water stops) every 20-25km and a 75 hour cut-off time. It is an amazing adventure in some truly stunning landscapes but you need to remember to eat and drink regularly and above all pace yourself as it is a very long way in difficult terrain. Also, although it almost never rains in the Akakus, days can be very hot and nights can be very cold so be sure to bring some warm clothing including something to take on the race itself.



The race camp itself is quite a rudimentary collection of 2 person huts and military-style tents. The toilet and shower facilities are clean but very basic (i.e. bucket of water to flush, warmish sulphur-smelling water from a thermal well). The town (Ghat) is interesting to visit but has no amenities whatsoever (it makes the MDS finish look like Manhattan) so do not expect to be able to buy anything on site except for basic groceries and souvenirs.



For your friends, family and fans, they will be able to track your progress on www.libyanchallenge.com. There will also be a blog and a way of sending you short messages of support :-)



I look forward to meeting you in Paris - my mobile number is +33(0)6.23.33.51.80 in case you get lost, in a panic, etc, etc.



Best wishes,



Laurent Locke

Libyan Challenge UK representative

www.libyanchallenge.com

Wow you boys are mad but good luck I will follow your progress xxx come home safe

Good luck guys. Very inspiring. I just made my donation and will match it again at the end. It will be an awesome experience. I did L'Etape in France a few years ago but your challenge makes that look embarassingly tame. Thinking of you guys.

Good luck guys! Get out there and show em' how it's done!

What a worthy cause lads to be involved with. Best of luck on the marathon mission of 215 kms. They say you start getting delerious at about 150kms and start dreaming of being able to ride KTM 450s!

Fly that kiwi flag high!

Dear All,

It is with regret that I email to inform you that the Libyan Challenge 2011 has been cancelled as a result of the demonstrations happening across much of the Middle East and now Libya.
The escalating situation forced the Libyan French Embassy to issue strong recommendation to cancel the event because our safety could not to assured.

While the area that we were to run in is currently safe there’s a possibility the Police from these areas would be called into other major cities if demonstrations spread. The Police also provide the only radio communication links in Libya and so even basic communications for the event could be guaranteed.
These realities were game changing for the race organisers and their focus has now shifted to ensuring the successful pullout of support staff and vehicles who ventured to Libya early last week for race preparations.
Will and myself (Team NZ) are finalising plans to run an equivalent ultra marathon this week and will be sure to update you on the progress and final outcome. Updates will be made on 3L’s website www.3lsurvivors.com

On a personal note we are obviously really disappointed the race is not going ahead though I think it is important to consider the wider picture and to see these uprisings as progressive, people lead events, which aim to ultimately aim to provide them more political dignity and respect.

Safe and well,
Jonty.