After a gruelling 88km stage between Lake Middleton and Loch Laird on Tuesday and Wednesday, the fourth of seven, yesterday's fifth stage from Loch Laird to the Waitaki River was a comparatively short 45km.
That would have been of little comfort for many, after the strain their bodies have been put through since the 323km ultra endurance race from Aoraki Mt Cook to Oamaru Harbour started on Sunday.
Alps 2 Ocean Ultra race director Mike Sandri, of Oamaru, said stage four had been a stern test for most of the field, but others handled it surprisingly well.
"There was some seriously beaten up bodies, that's for sure. Some came in as fresh as a daisy, but the majority got beaten up pretty badly. It was really hot and for some it was a long day at the office."
The stage had a 34-hour cutoff. The first runner home was North Otago's Eric Ross in 10hr 10min and the last was Oamaru's Ben Fraser, in 27hr 52min.
In yesterday's stage, which started at 7am with a 12-hour cutoff, Paul Hewitson crossed the line first in a swift time of 4hr 52min, just ahead of Jason Rawlings and Keith Burrows, who finished in 4hr 53min.
Sandri said the ultra endurance race had got to the point where it had started to take a significant toll, both physically and mentally.
"They're really all over the place. The feet are starting to get beaten up and the lack of food and stuff like that is starting to take its toll, really.
"They're looking forward to having a nice drink down in Oamaru, that's for sure ... they're wanting to get home."
Today's stage covers 53km between Kurow and Peaks Rd, before Saturday's final 29km stage to Oamaru Harbour, where runners could start arriving from about 10.30am.
