Woke up at 3 am. Checked out at 3:20. At 3:35 I was at the meeting place. Boarded one of the buses at around 4:20, while all our bags were being loaded into a truck. Left at about 4:50. Tried dozing off a few times. The seat was comfortable and the AC was on, things I would miss for the next week. Saw a couple of monkeys and a bunch of crocodiles. Apparently, there are not a lot of crocodiles left. These ones are fed by the locals because they attract tourists.

Got as close as possible to the starting point by bus. After we left the tarmac, the road got crappier and crappier until the bus got stuck. From there we walked for about 15 minutes, up to a gorgeous beach on the Pacific Ocean!

Started the race at 9:30. The countdown was brief, as we were roasting in the sun.

Today’s route (“From the plantations to the hidden valley”) was 32 km long with 900 m in climbing. The first 12 km or so were indeed on gravel roads through palm tree plantations. After that, we started approaching the hills. Up to now it was hot. Not crazy hot, but pretty hot and humid. We were trying to catch every patch of shade.

And then we hit the first jungle trail. It was overcast, so no sun. But the humidity and the still air made it feel like a sauna. Only that you can get out of a sauna, yet here there was no exit. Near claustrophobic. I felt I was overheating, so I stopped, but the sensation didn’t go away. I wanted to sit down, but that was impossible – there was no place to sit, the trail was too rugged. Tried to bend over, resting my hands on my knees, but I was too sweaty and my knees were slipping out of my palms.

The jungle trail was short and we soon got to some village gravel roads. Before coming here, I was hoping for as much jungle and wilderness as possible, but now…

For the rest of the day we continued with roads and trails. The heat was bearable, but not by much. I was drinking a lot and taking salt pills often.

Stumbled across a couple of pool parties. By pool party I mean people sitting in the river, enjoying themselves. Pura vida.

Just before the finish we had a river to cross. The water was at most waist deep and not that fast, but you could barely see the rocks underneath. More than once I’ve lost my footing and I even fell in before managing to rebalance myself.

Finished in 5h26′, which I’m very pleased with, given the weather. I haven’t pushed myself and I was mostly OK. With the small exception of two small blisters. Both my feet wrinkled from the humidity. Adding the friction from running on the balls of my feet got me this pair of blisters. One of the doctors put some padding on them, for me to keep during day 2.

The camp was very decent: toilets, showers, massage area, medical area, kitchen and a large dining area. It was in the jungle, next to a river. It felt remote, wild, almost like an actual expedition (if you disregard the amenities and great food). Saw lots of big bugs and even fireflies. Before sunset, I could barely hear my thoughts due to the cicadas. Being in the jungle, it was very humid. I tried resting in my tent in the afternoon, but got out 30 seconds later as sweat started dripping off my forehead.

Went to sleep at 8:30 pm. By that time, it got a little cooler and I was able to not sweat. During the night it even got chilly enough that I had to use my silk liner.