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00:25It's got a mix of different styles of architecture.
00:30It's a very beautiful city.
00:31I don't want you to tell us, Mark.
00:32You're the expert.
00:33I've never been here, but you know.
00:37Halfway into the 12,000-kilometre race to Mongolia...
00:41Wow, what a place.
00:42Look at that.
00:42God, it's stunning.
00:44Oh, I love it.
00:45That's where we ran.
00:45Yeah.
00:46I know, yeah.
00:48All four teams gather in Georgia's capital.
00:53Despite all the buildings being so old, it's a very young city.
00:56It's such a street vibe to it, isn't it?
00:58There's a sculpture or something, isn't there?
01:01Oh, yeah.
01:01What is that?
01:02In the heart of Tbilisi, the Tamada or Toastmaster.
01:07Is he singing a song or is he having a drink?
01:09Are you enjoying that?
01:10Tasty.
01:10Tasty.
01:11A symbol of hospitality for nearly 3,000 years, embodying the Georgian belief that every
01:17guest is a gift from God.
01:19Hello.
01:20Hello, everybody.
01:22Fancy meeting you all here.
01:24Imagine.
01:25Such an amazing place for halfway line.
01:28Yeah.
01:29It's such a milestone.
01:31I have no clue what to expect in the next couple of countries.
01:34No idea.
01:34The map is pretty empty.
01:37The teams are entering a new phase of the race.
01:40As they prepare to cross a changing landscape, the leaderboard also shifts.
01:45Mark and Margo have leapt into the lead, while Katie and Harrison trail by nearly 20 hours.
01:51We've dropped from first fourth quite dramatically.
01:56Ah, bottom's terrible.
01:58Like, we had great experiences last time, but I want to make up time.
02:01I think it is just about finding that balance between race and experience.
02:05We clearly haven't found it except in one or the other.
02:08We've proved we can win a leg.
02:10Actually, we've stumbled into winning a leg.
02:12We've gone up and up and up the leaderboard.
02:15Trying to stay at the top now?
02:16Yes!
02:17Yeah.
02:18Due to the land borders being closed between Georgia and Azerbaijan,
02:22it is not possible for the race to continue overland.
02:25You must fly to Akhtar, Kazakhstan.
02:28Wow!
02:30Kazakhstan.
02:31That's a big one on the map.
02:33It's huge.
02:34Oh, my God!
02:35That's going to be amazing.
02:37What's there?
02:38Vast open spaces and grasses everywhere, no trees.
02:43Jeepers.
02:45I'm quite apprehensive.
02:46I know a little bit about the stands,
02:49but Kazakhstan, I've got no idea at all.
02:52It's going to be a wild ride, and we're up for a wild ride.
02:54We didn't sign up for things just to be regular safe.
02:57I can't believe I'm going to Kazakhstan.
02:59It just feels mental.
03:01I don't know what to expect.
03:03I literally couldn't tell you.
03:04I don't know what these countries are like for English,
03:06but I can't imagine that you're going to rock up and go like,
03:08You all right, bro?
03:08Do you know what I mean?
03:11It very much feels like the unknown now.
03:42NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California
03:43well I'm gonna need my sunglasses here look at that let's get out into Kazakhstan
03:49welcome to Kazakhstan here we are after their flight from Georgia the four teams
03:55have touched down in Akhtar
04:03set between desert and sea a Soviet-era city engineered solely for industry this
04:11is the gateway to Kazakhstan the world's largest landlocked country one of vast
04:19horizons and challenging landscapes that have shaped a culture of both endurance
04:25and generosity it looks good here though look at that see just for miles I've been
04:33a prairie race leaders mark and Margo are the first to depart your fifth checkpoint
04:40is Zaman National Park oh that would be glorious
04:46Zaman Uzbekistan well found Margo a journey of around 2,200 kilometers into the
04:55soaring peaks of Zaman National Park part of the Turkestan mountain range and nicknamed
05:04the Uzbek Switzerland its alpine meadows and hidden valleys shelter rare birds
05:09lynx and Siberian ibex home to some of Central Asia's most dramatic scenery a contrast to the
05:18arid plains that lead here whoa the route's gonna be wild getting there I think I think so I mean
05:24you
05:24could go around this way via Kazakhstan that is considerably longer I think the best way to go to
05:30Uzbekistan go through Uzbekistan yeah that's the most direct route isn't it for their longest leg yet the teams must
05:37choose between two countries they can make an early crossing into Uzbekistan following ancient silk road routes through bustling cities
05:47shorter in distance but transport may be less reliable or they can stay in Kazakhstan tracking northeast across remote lands
05:57soviet soviet era settlements all connected by a 16,000 kilometer railway network that offers slower but steadier travel
06:07we've only just got to Kazakhstan I'd like to see more I think it's gonna be very much like this
06:12you know quite boring visually mmm Kazakhstan sounds a bit like more crazy and wild like the wild west mmm
06:19mark has had a lot of choices so far I've enjoyed the things we've done but we've made decisions that
06:25were right for him but I think it's going to be very much like this you know quite boring visually
06:26but as the races continues I've realized that I have to have my turn of choosing things so let's have
06:31a little look in the directory see what jobs are on offer
06:33okay yes yes look at this mark look at that one the horse farm near Turkestad I love horses you
06:39do yeah do I'm not too keen on horses but I think Mongolian and Kazakhstan horses I think they're quite
06:46small
06:46are they I might be okay with joyful horses yeah coming first I think we've got the chance to take
06:52risks even though it looks further to travel I feel it's going to be faster but I've got nothing to
06:58base it on it's a gamble
07:00yeah it's okay let's gamble and go through Kazakhstan roll the dice yeah we want to get to train station
07:06to keep the race on track the in-laws are planning a Kazakh adventure heading northeast from Akhtau city by
07:13rail
07:13oh sorry do you speak English the train station
07:16which you want to you he will take me
07:19great yes yes yes oh thank you my name is Janice
07:26Genghis the man I'll go in the front with Genghis lovely
07:32hey hey welcome Kazakhstan
07:35hey hey hey hey
07:39look at this it is like the wild west mark look at this
07:42it is isn't it yeah
07:45train choo choo choo choo choo
07:48Caspian Sea
07:49mm-hmm
07:50Caspian Sea
07:51and then we want the station
07:54oh I think you want to show us the Caspian Sea
07:56Caspian Sea
07:56yes Caspian Sea
07:57we've got a bit of a tour here
07:58I'm not sure about this Margot
08:01this is what we like adventure
08:04the adventure of a lifetime Kazakhstan
08:0890 minutes behind
08:10there's a train route that goes straight through Kazakhstan
08:12I'm sick of buses
08:14Joe and Kush debate their options
08:16I think it's going to take longer than it's worth in my opinion
08:20Uzbekistan looks way shorter
08:21our number one priority is the race so I want to take the faster route regardless
08:26I can't lie it is wacky but I think overnight train will be sick
08:31an amazing experience
08:32I want to do Kazakhstan
08:34Uzbekistan does look more efficient it does look quicker
08:37but I'm not thinking about efficiency I'm thinking about the experience
08:40ah
08:41so Kizlodra
08:42is this travelling through Kazakhstan
08:44yes
08:45oh bro
08:46so from 8.30 am tomorrow we can get from Aktau to Kizlodra
08:50one day five hours
08:51oh wow okay
08:5229 hour train
08:54we're going to cover so much distance by this one overnight
08:56let's go Kazakhstan
08:57clinching the argument for Joe
08:59Bosh
09:01the best friends have found a cross-country train leaving in the morning
09:05taking them a hugely beneficial 1,400 kilometres deep into Kazakhstan
09:1129 hour train is going to be boss
09:14we are super super stoked
09:15tomorrow we are covering more distance than the length of the UK
09:19that could be sure
09:27Caspian Sea
09:28wow
09:29Caspian Sea
09:30we're seeing the Caspian Sea right now okay
09:32spanning an area the size of Japan
09:34the Caspian Sea isn't a sea at all
09:37but the world's largest lake
09:39gorgeous
09:40didn't think we'd get to see this did you?
09:42no I didn't
09:44five nations share its vast shoreline
09:47Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan
09:52ah
09:53this is beautiful
09:58I am liking Kazakhstan so far
10:00already get a sense of the pride they've got in their country
10:04Caspian Sea
10:05Caspian Sea
10:05thank you
10:06without you we wouldn't have seen it
10:09station
10:09choo choo choo
10:11yes
10:11ticket
10:12ticket
10:13what's he telling you?
10:15oh 6.30
10:16oh dear
10:17we missed it
10:19mmm
10:20so if we'd come straight out we could have
10:22yeah
10:23we might have done it yeah
10:248.30 tomorrow
10:25yes
10:26okay
10:28eyeing up the same long distance train as Joe and Cush
10:32it's going to be a long hard journey I think for us
10:34just zip it man
10:35this journey is going to be a triumph
10:37they will also need to wait until morning
10:40losing their lead before they've left Actower
10:43no matter what the consequences I'm glad we've done it
11:02welcome to Canada
11:03thank you
11:04thank you my friend
11:05this is
11:07hey
11:08hey
11:08look at these Mark
11:108.30 in Actown
11:13I've just seen Mark and Margo
11:15did you?
11:16yeah
11:16they're on the same train
11:18gee
11:19that's mad we've closed that gap
11:21looks like it's go time
11:24wow
11:25the efficiency
11:27leaving on time
11:27two teams set off on their long haul train journey
11:31bound for the vastness of Kazakhstan
11:34it's going to be interesting isn't it?
11:36ask me that in 29 hours
11:39first carved over a century ago
11:42these Russian and Soviet tracks
11:44skirt the sparse Usturd plateau
11:49outside
11:49some of the most remote terrain on earth
11:53inside
11:54the carriages are famed for their village-like community
11:57where the Kazakh spirit can turn strangers into family
12:06I have no clue what this game is
12:08don't know what it's called
12:08don't know how it works
12:09this guy just
12:10whips out the board
12:11and started pointing
12:12not a single word spoken yet
12:18oh
12:20oh
12:20yeah yeah yeah yeah
12:21wait you can't
12:22I know yeah
12:23I'm probably getting battered right now
12:24I don't know what the score is
12:26but it is fun
12:27just like
12:28interacting with someone in a different way
12:29oh
12:30wait
12:30oh
12:31can you show me?
12:32oh my god
12:32he won second in the championship
12:35why?
12:37wait
12:37oh
12:37oh my god
12:39you're playing with a master joe
12:43it's the strangest sausage I've ever seen
12:45yes
12:45yes isn't it
12:46very old sausage
12:47right you're gonna have to help me with that
12:49no no
12:49kazak spam
12:50got to eat it
12:51keep your strength up
12:52I was a vegetarian for 20 years
12:54I'm becoming a vegetarian again
12:56not on this trip you won't be
12:59blokes over there are having vodka with their breakfast
13:01do you think we should get some vodka with our breakfast
13:04I am not having vodka with my breakfast no
13:05it must be a tradition
13:06a kazakhstan tradition Mark
13:08oh let's have a vodka
13:10no
13:10no vodka first thing in the morning
13:12I'm gonna ask if it's traditional okay
13:14okay you can see
13:15I'm gonna ask them about the culture
13:17what?
13:18English?
13:19no no
13:20no
13:20what was the name?
13:21Margo?
13:22Margo
13:23Margo
13:24my name's Sultan
13:26Sultan
13:26do you have vodka for breakfast?
13:29is this usual?
13:41this is a good tradition
13:45oh Mark's having a great time
13:47yes
13:49hypnotised
13:50give me your vodka
13:52I give me your vodka
13:55Mark you don't want to come round and join us?
13:57no
13:57no
13:58I'm happy here
13:59oh sorry sorry sorry
14:00sorry
14:01is that all it?
14:01I don't drink vodka at all really
14:03it's not my drink
14:04he wants to marry me does he?
14:06no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no
14:08you're a very naughty boy
14:09I'm on trend Joe's actually I like to look out the window and see the landscape
14:13let's go
14:15Thomas
14:17yeah
14:21as two teams advance further into Kazakhstan
14:26look at that look that is just unreal as far as the eye can see nothing
14:31it sounds silly but like you can see why people think the earth is flat
14:36third to get going
14:38Andrew and Molly set out their plan
14:41I really want to do a city
14:43I love the idea of being around people and culture
14:46where
14:46Uzbekistan is synonymous with the original Silk Road
14:50yeah
14:50some of the most beautiful cities in the world
14:53I think that could be dead fun
14:55it would be fun
14:58opting for a route east through Uzbekistan
15:00the pair set their sights on an ancient city
15:03Kiva
15:07you alright?
15:08yeah
15:08ok
15:09where's the train?
15:11we're trying to go to Uzbekistan
15:14through Benu
15:15Benu
15:16Benu?
15:16yes
15:17no
15:18no
15:18no
15:20determined to reach Uzbekistan today
15:23they must first make the five hour trip to Benu
15:26aiming for an evening connection across the border
15:30how much to go to Benu now?
15:32I think we must train to Benu
15:35where we know we would have got a connection to Uzbekistan
15:38so we're kind of racing the clock a bit
15:41because I really want to go to Kiva City
15:43fifty
15:43fifty?
15:45Mali
15:46yes
15:46guys willing to take us for fifty dollars
15:48yes
15:49alright
15:50to Benu and we'll be there for four o'clock
15:52jeez that'd be great
15:53I think we take it
15:54ok
15:55go go go
15:57go go
15:58are you happy with us yeah?
15:59yeah yeah yeah yeah
16:00we need to get there
16:04no
16:04$100
16:05no
16:06$100
16:07no
16:08no
16:09well then grand we get the train
16:10no
16:11how much
16:12do they want to know?
16:14I really haven't a clue what the girl
16:15yeah we had agreed fifty dollars
16:17and then his mates obviously got around em
16:19and decided that that wasn't the money to pay
16:20hey
16:21hey
16:22what are you doing boys and
16:23I don't want 100 I want 70 but Molly isn't currently in negotiations with about 20 men
16:29that's okay yeah then goodbye goodbye you're right Molly there yeah she's holding her own
16:34so but we just have to wait and see 70s daddy he did for 70 well done that was good
16:45right go stressful it means we get the connection tonight which is the main thing
16:51when's the last time you ever had something like that I've never had that before never
16:55Jesus Molly well done kid with Andrew and Molly finally on their way to Bennu oh by the way we're
17:02still in Europe we're not in Europe we're in Asia Harrison Kazakhstan playing the euro qualifiers
17:08Katie and Harrison waste no time in doing the same I don't do continents I do football confederations
17:15we're going through Uzbekistan rather than over the top through Kazakhstan immediately it looks like the
17:22direct route chasing the same train as Andrew and Molly they look to move quickly across Uzbekistan
17:31we are 20 out by first last leg we maxed out on experience but it did feel like we threw
17:37away
17:38three lengths worth of hard work I just don't want to sign in last again we're racing a lot more
17:44than
17:44the last leg but it is about balance whilst we're in these places we're going to try and experience as
17:50much as possible oh there's camels oh my god there's just camels in the middle of the world this is
18:01better than we call right let's go bye bye what time 48 and it goes to knock us okay look
18:12us time
18:13tickets secured just like the front runners the bottom two teams are now neck and neck happy days are
18:24you getting this one as well yeah yeah yeah yeah that's all sorted right let's get on the train
18:33there is a race back on it's nice to know that we've caught with someone already I'm sure they're
18:37not happy to be with us because it means they've lost their lead on us there's no other train we
18:42could
18:43have got so we've got what we needed to do I'm not worried about who I can see yeah worried
18:47about who
18:48can't see exactly and if people are around us that means we're in the game I will have some of
18:55anything but that Jesus bread and water is no I am starving got no water made food but what we've
19:05been doing here is eat when you can't you don't when you're gonna eat next yeah the problem is it's
19:10not that hard to find food so every time I eat I've been eating like I'm not gonna eat next
19:1548 hours
19:16but realistically it's the next four to eight hours
19:35oh don't drink the water
19:40the orange express
19:42Hi, you're good!
19:45I'll take it.
19:47I'll take it.
19:48I'll take it.
19:51Yeah, I'll take it.
19:54No.
19:56No, no, no.
19:58What's that?
19:58You look like a girl,
20:01you look like a girl.
20:03Yeah, it's a little.
20:13as the 29-hour train pulls two teams further across Kazakhstan their rival two teams have
20:20made it to Uzbekistan got a train ticket sorted for tomorrow morning out of Nukas I'm very much
20:26looking forward to getting to explore Uzbekistan a bit a nation now dominated by youth with 60
20:33percent of its citizens under 30 yet beneath that energy lies a history stretching back more than
20:39two millennia with some of Central Asia's oldest settlements how old is this cemetery then Katie
20:48think of old and then think like even older than that just outside Nukas one of those ancient sites
20:56still remains mr. Khan a sacred necropolis in use for 22 centuries as a burial ground for local
21:04communities profits and royalty we're getting into someone's grave it's kind of creepy on what the
21:12yeah wow even the brickwork on it it's just you've got hundreds of different types of bricks in it and
21:19they've been put together to create a pattern yeah it must have been such a fast I really want one
21:26will
21:27you build a building for me when I die must be jerky it's just cool to go somewhere that's so
21:34untravelled part of world I never thought I'd go to I know we're obviously racing this leg to try and
21:40get out fourth place but been nice to stop for a second isn't it like to get an appreciation of
21:45of
21:45what Uzbekistan is about yeah thousands of years over where we stood some of them date back to 400 BC
21:52and the dinosaurs around oh my god are you serious
22:00where's the ticket office sorry on the other side of town at Nukas station sorry do you really buy a
22:08ticket you could Andrew and Molly have their own plans to explore Uzbekistan I am especially looking
22:16forward to Kiva City we'd love to see the culture rather than going out to nature just more daddy
22:22things but yeah that'd be lovely actually we're looking to get to Kiva City when is the next train
22:30all right thank thank you thank you okay having missed another train we seem to keep getting stuck
22:37they search for alternative transport hello English English is there a bus to Kiva bus no
22:45thanks no thanks no taxi talk a taxi I don't know what to do I don't know yeah sorry just
22:50let us stop
22:51I need to do something want to enjoy today sorry just one sec I don't like having to pay for
22:57another
22:58taxi but I don't want to be stuck at a train station I really don't know what to do you
23:02can see it from
23:03the map the distances we're covering it's gonna be a long leg a lot of travel I think you could
23:07get
23:08lost very very quickly in this leg I'm beginning to realize that Molly has the ability to be confident
23:13but at times she doesn't have that inner self-belief so my job is the reminder that there's a time
23:23to
23:23put the skates on okay sorry for being a bit indecisive I'm just overthinking probably I'm gonna have to
23:30make a call okay he will won't come on Kiva City so do yes okay okay yes Molly's Kiva City
23:43dream has
23:44cost them another taxi ride good call yeah I think it's alcohol I don't know if it's a good one
23:50you
23:51all right I'm just gonna do it's true at least we should get there in a couple of hours and
23:57enjoy
23:58Kiva yeah as father and daughter make the last 180 kilometer push to Kiva two teams are still racing
24:07along the rails through Kazakhstan's Kizilorda region an open desert step where settlements are scarce and the
24:15horizon seems never-ending look at that bit of flatland oh my god you see that it's a rock how
24:25do
24:25they survive on this landscape to start off with it was actually quite a variety of terrain mm-hmm
24:30this now is flattened out into a vast step I have not seen one tree since eight o'clock this
24:37morning
24:37wake me up with any interesting happens I think you're pretty safe
24:50on the edge of the Karakum desert lies Kiva a gateway for Silk Road traders to rest and recover before
25:02facing the vast sands of Central Asia within it lies itch and Kala a maze of narrow streets and blue
25:09tiled
25:10minarets enclosed by towering clay walls still perfectly preserved today oh look at this Molly
25:18Wow okay I just feel like we've taxied this whole yeah I know and journey and Andrew and Molly's city
25:30stopover has cost more than a day and a half's race budget on taxis alone a modern reminder of just
25:36how
25:36the remote this outpost is to reach Kiva yep it's just lovely eventually got here but honestly very
25:46deflated very deflated kind of annoyed of course there's a lot of money to get here and we're gonna
25:56have to spend a lot of money to get out of here more than likely or we just sacrificed the
26:02race it's
26:05something I wanted to do and it's not worked out very well so better guilt with that
26:16you all right I've been fed up sorry yeah do you wanna we go for a walk I'll have a
26:25better better us time I'd love to go for a walk all right kid yeah okay yeah I wanna walk
26:34it is stunning isn't it kind of like Aladdin it is absolutely yeah look at it it's amazing it is
26:42crazy
26:43I don't really know why I'm upset I'm trying to prove myself that I'm independent but I really do overthink
26:51things I'm always kind of going oh could I've done that better could I've gotten it for cheaper where's the
26:57best
26:57place to see it Molly up on the walls no oh wow that's beautiful I wish I could stand on
27:10my decisions with
27:11pride beautiful beautiful spot amazing but I'm scared of negatively affecting people and with this
27:19race it's daddy I don't want to disappoint it that's lovely actually I probably need to trust my God I
27:28know that is within my power so I think this is what I need to do from now on in
27:35it is beautiful
27:37happy we did it good call all right Molly but you're thinking fast and then I always find it
27:44said like the Sun goes down and it always comes back up again I know yeah no matter what your
27:48day is
27:48like at least it'll come up tomorrow yeah that's the thing so I think that's what we need to think
27:52about it's kind of a nice round off tomorrow be a better day yeah
28:05the noise oh look at that color how beautiful it is lovely isn't it in Kazakhstan after more than a
28:13day's travel this was because leather yo Joe is this us Joe Joe and Kush and Mark and Margo alight
28:23in Kizilorda more than halfway to the checkpoint we need a hotel should you try and find our fella see
28:32if he's here to bed in with Kazakh culture big that my name big that cushion lovely to meet you
28:39my
28:39friend Joe and Kush have arranged a homestay with local businessman Bigzat and his family very nice
28:46space you welcome to thank you my house this is my family this is my father my mother and Kazak
29:01tradition the national dish of best Burmak is served on special occasions it's sharing platter a symbol of
29:09unity and hospitality I saw good mmm tastes amazing me basketball and Kush tie boxing tie box
29:38judo my father he fight Muay Thai me Muay Thai my biological dad passed away when I was one my
29:54mom was
29:54along with me and my older brother and she met my dad slash stepdad not he was a fighter he's
30:02coached me
30:03me and my brother for as long as I can remember Muay Thai Thai boxing as a kid I remember
30:09doing pads in
30:11the garden that's a big one he'd do around the pads with us and then make us do press-ups
30:16while the other
30:16one does the pads even though we're not blood he never once shied away from treating me as his own
30:26so growing up with him as someone strong to look up to you it meant it means the world your
30:32medals
30:37bro what are you saying champion number one champion
30:44there's a language barrier but I can sort of relate to the journey that they've grown up with watching
30:50their dad and being inspired to then pursue the same passion hey you've done this you know what I
30:57think this guy's got a lovely family it's so lovely all of it's so sweet in Uzbekistan taxi taxi train
31:12station train English English no time to mess around with our fast train noises we're in a race
31:33having spent the night in Nukas Katie and Harrison are bound 550 kilometers southeast to the medieval city
31:41Bukhara gonna get traveling all day you can't really ask for much more to the south and Kiva trained
31:49to Bukhara Andrew and Molly have the same idea two is that the earliest there's no earlier one
31:57Molly the earliest is two it's half ten now and it's gonna be a long wait the taxis how much
32:03yeah it's 50
32:04good it's gonna cost several the money to get the taxi this leg we've taxied a lot I think I'd
32:10rather
32:10prioritize budget getting to Bukhara so we're trained trains best yeah that's a good call yeah I need two
32:17tickets to Bukhara feeling very good much better today the last couple of legs I've realized that
32:25being last hasn't been a hindrance Paris and Katie were 10 hours behind us I'm sure they've got the
32:29same trainer that's out of here so I think really in the next coming legs it's not gonna matter if
32:36we
32:36can just stay in the game stay as close as possible appreciate it thanks very much there's no point one
32:41in the first couple you only want to win one so so we can tell ourselves 560 kilometers away in
32:49southern Kazakhstan and see some of that Soviet architecture isn't it two teams wake up in
32:56Kizilorda in the 1920s it was the Soviet capital owing to its strategic position on the Tashkent railway
33:06line well workers unite look at that that's all the good that circuit propaganda isn't it it's very
33:12strong and dramatic as Mark and Margo head out of the city to reach their homestay come on Marco
33:20want to go to sleep so cool Joe and Kush of the opportunity to explore their host Bexat's dojo
33:39the coach definitely a random experience during you though in the middle of Kazakhstan of course
33:48has been starved from his Muay Thai there's nice to see him last some steam come to this gym it
33:58means a
33:58lot to me it's more than just throwing and hitting and fighting there's a lot of meaning behind it
34:06I think back to memories of my dad I found it sick to do what your dad does being in
34:13the gym I wonder
34:14what he'd be thinking I'd be standing on the side it would look at a particular sort of smirk on
34:18face watching me do judo throws I remember the day he passed it was locked down and it was a
34:32real big
34:32shock he had really poor mental health and he took his own life you never sort of forget that that
34:43shock
34:50factor I still think about him all the time being on this journey it's brought me little moments of
34:57be boss to tell him and I wish I really wish I could sort of show him who I am
35:06now because when you're 14
35:07it's like I didn't know who I was I was still a child and I made a lot like I've
35:14made a lot of
35:14mistakes when I was younger and I feel like if I could sort of show what I've learned
35:32losing Kush's dad it was so sudden I think experiencing them hardships like so unexpectedly it has
35:43affected Kush's personality he wants to stay in control of himself you know he does he had never
35:50drank he's never got drunken before doesn't smoke doesn't do anything without checking safety twice
35:59because it was such a shock I guess he doesn't want anything like that to happen again thank you I'm
36:06very
36:06grateful we're doing the race together like we can literally go to each other for anything we just
36:14need to get to turkstan hopefully we can got some work keeping the budget healthy I'm always there for
36:20course and I know he's always there for me as well who's Turkistan oh perfect thank you
36:28good bye check the jobs directory there's a job seven food at this Aussie that looks sick that'll be
36:39boss as Joe and Kush push on south in search of work across the border in Uzbekistan it's tight
36:50now I don't know you're gonna do this boy Andrew and Molly are finally on their seven hour train journey
36:55to
36:55Bukata heading the same way how is it this is scary but kind of cool this is what I've been
37:10wanting
37:10to do this whole time Katie and Harrison I feel like this is an out-of-body experience looking at
37:17a
37:17desert outside of a sleeper train yeah I just never thought I'd be here really pleased with how we're
37:23racing so far we spent a good day in Nukkas but then got out there as soon as we reasonably
37:28could
37:29and now we're nine hours on the move to Bukata he couldn't ask for much more really my name is
37:35Faisal
37:35Faisal oh Harrison Harrison Harrison nice to meet you Katie where are you from where did you know
37:43I'm from Uzbekistan we're from uh Manchester Manchester United uh football come on ah yeah
37:53because I know ah Manchester City yeah so Uzbekistan the centre-back must be quite good yeah he's good
38:00Manchester City if you said to me five years ago that you'd be traveling across the world and seeing
38:06these places I wouldn't have believed you I'm obviously a world away from home but I don't feel
38:13it before the race I certainly wouldn't be going up to speaking to people I think it's become a second
38:19nature now it is very lovely to meet you two you have been very kind it's the bit that I
38:25kind of dread
38:25but it's always the experience I get the most out of and I'll come away thinking just how wonderful
38:31everyone is this is a gift from me to you it is very precious to me because it's my first
38:35achievement
38:36in Nukkas oh no no no no you sure uh-huh uh-huh it's a medal ah half marathon ah
38:46running I have run a
38:49half marathon two in Manchester I can send you my medal if you would like it my name is Faisal
38:56love
38:56Faisal love my name is Harrison we are friends
39:07hello
39:09they're lovely aren't they beautiful would you like to get on one ride not particularly
39:16in Kentau just outside the city of Turkestan
39:21Mark and Margot have made it to the horse farm run by Kularnish and his family
39:30okay the one job you've got to do is shovel sit it's very ripe marking in an exchange for bed
39:39and
39:39board give me a wheelbarrow I'm fine absolutely fine I love wheelbarrows essential to survival
39:49horses have long sustained life on the step as transport the source of kumas a fermented
39:55mare's milk and has a vital food source mum loves horses I'm a granddad loved horses oh
40:02gosh your granddad was a my great great granddad was a horse trade or yes yes so what will we
40:10do
40:10with the horses what oh they're meat meat meat meat meat meat oh lord my dream has turned into a
40:20nightmare the taste of reality isn't it when I thought about the Kazakh horses I just thought
40:27of them running wild excitedly over the fields or something are we all right I didn't really associate
40:36it with the reality of it's a major food source and that is reality of the way of life but
40:42I want to
40:43be open-minded but sometimes my mind just doesn't want to go there poor fella I'm not as squeamish as
40:51Margot's course of human life isn't it we eat animals light's gone hasn't it now right let's go
41:02I'm here am I I'm the head of the table there we go to welcome their guests the family has
41:08prepared a
41:09traditional meal it's like a banquet I feel like a king Margot oh gosh oh thank you very much look
41:22at
41:22that's that a goat Ram's head Ram's head for guests of honor oh lord what is this it might feel
41:41impolite not to accept it okay I'll try a bit of that today do something hmm do you like it
41:50it tastes
41:51a succulent lamb yes I'm enjoying this route I am enjoying it but it's not been everything I'd hoped
41:58for it was a bit of a surprise really I don't know why I think my fairy tale thinking got
42:06me into
42:07another fine mess and what's that I don't know it's meat mark this is why I brought you on the
42:14race I'm
42:15taking one for the team hi hello hello they are all happy to see you in our home oh she
42:23gave me such a
42:23hug thank you thank you a wonderful family it's been a real joy meeting them just raised my spirits we
42:35have gifts for you oh my goodness someone like I would imagine people from the ex-soviet union to
42:49be yeah you'll see images in the west of them being very dower and grumpy this is not the case
42:59here
43:01these are vibrant exciting lovely people with big hearts this is my wife this is Julia the brochure
43:11that carry with me the celebration of Julia's life she's beautiful she's very very beautiful really is
43:18an eye-opener of how we should like to treat fellow humans amazing the Kazakh way your treasures
43:25absolute treasures thank you thank you very much thank you thank you night night night not lovely
43:31mm-hmm that was an incredible night it was not what I expected for a while there back at the
43:37farm
43:38I was like I know you were very down weren't you I was I was yeah but they've opened their
43:44hearts and
43:44home to us absolutely we could feel it that was so genuine wasn't it this homestay doesn't mean
43:49about horses we about humans you know families yeah the communities and that's what's been so
43:53wonderful about it absolutely 40 kilometers south in the center of Turkestan ourselves dressed up the
44:06first time a long time I like a smart casual fit you know I mean Joe and Kush are bolstering
44:12their
44:12funds with a shift at a luxury events venue I wonder what celebration is for today's celebration is
44:19called a circumcision party sick the Kazakh tradition of soon debt toy a celebration of every boy's
44:37journey towards manhood how these gifts lavish fruit this is a really big deal and an opportunity
44:44for families to display their wealth by spending big on lavish banquets and entertainers I've never
44:52been anywhere like this my team was in a church it was quiet it was family and friends and these
44:57guys
44:57they're getting handed wads of cash oh my god look at that imagine getting an eagle in your party oh
45:16that would be
45:16lit nice to meet you nice to meet you nice good yeah it's nice to meet you yeah I'm so
45:23beautiful
45:25thank you I love the outfits okay thank you we will watch okay bye bye bye your eyes is so
45:37beautiful
45:46this job has been lively shall I say we wanted that randomness we wanted to experience new things I
45:54think this is ticked both of them boxes I don't know I was just blown away that this type of
45:59thing is
46:00happening around the world like yeah it was a celebration of these two lads getting a sir who
46:05citizen but I feel like it was it uplifted everyone in that moment what I said come find me after
46:15you
46:15finish dancing sick steady sir confidence easy this is the best job oh my god it's man and Joe's calling
46:24you know I mean we've been talking to everyone everyone's so nice it's really made me so thankful
46:30that I listened to Joe and we decided to go through Kazakhstan I mean it's such a beautiful country it's
46:35got so much heart trying to learn to enjoy the moment a lot more trying not to think so much
46:39about the
46:39future or the past you just got to take it all in your stride and enjoy it as much as
46:43you can and
46:43today's been so enjoyable low-key though have you seen the mother oh Harrison you look for me
47:09orange is your color having arrived last night do you want to get me then we've been racing pretty
47:15hard this leg we do have time we can go and have a wander around Katie and Harrison are exploring
47:21Bukhara
47:24another key stop on the Silk Road it was a center for Islamic theology unlike the stillness of Kiva it
47:32remains a city where ancient madrasas centers of higher learning set alongside a modern working
47:39city stunning mosque incredible isn't it at its center the 500-year-old Kalyan mosque so if you've got a
47:48scarf
47:53incredible what craftsmanship you don't see that on a new build in Manchester here it's grand arches and
48:01geometric detail designed to evoke a sense of harmony and balance Katie you stand right in the middle the symmetry
48:10of
48:11that maybe that's why you like it so much here because everything is symmetrical it is so we're gonna get
48:19some food
48:20yeah starving it's a little bit of luxury isn't that very peaceful I want to miss a few years ago
48:31yeah you do you used to be really boring so it's just good that you do not let yourself miss
48:36out on these types of experiences really boring is a bit harsh you're quite boring
48:43without the race I wouldn't have allowed myself to go traveling to see these things in person it's not in
48:49the plan I set out for myself at 17 18 years old my priorities in life have been to save
48:57money get on
48:58the property ladder as soon as I can if that's all sorted and I think it takes away a lot
49:02of the worries and
49:02stresses I saw our family grew up with we're good we struggled a little bit financially there was a lot
49:10of
49:10moving I think I've lived in maybe 14 different houses I've loaned money to my family from the age of
49:1716 since
49:18I started working kind of like the bank of Harrison rather than bank of my dad the stresses of financially
49:26not always having enough that's what shaped me to be so financially motivated and secure but I think my
49:33mindset on that is definitely starting to shift we're built here as much as you thought what service
49:41charge what service charge well it was very good service to be fair it was right well the tourist
49:48information center over there get taxis there to zamen yeah poised just 430 kilometers from zamen
49:57sorry do you have any English the two teams in Bukhara set about securing onward transport we are trying
50:06to get to zamen national park to strike out towards the checkpoint I mean how much $100 no we are
50:18on
50:18small budget is there a no problem we don't care about good car we have cheap with finish low low
50:26low
50:27no finish okay give me one minute okay thank you it's a killer on the budget but we are last
50:37we need to
50:38catch up if you'll help with spending it then that's fine yeah we go to zamen yeah okay it's very
50:45clean
50:45glass to be fair oh god it's gorgeous in there as Katie and Harrison as well as Andrew and Molly
50:53plot
50:54a route east through Uzbekistan the priority for today is across the board into Uzbekistan the two
51:00teams in Kazakhstan are ready to approach from the north I feel like tax is quickest for sure I think
51:06we
51:07should just try and flag one down here once across the border it's a final push to zamen as the
51:13routes
51:14converge and the pack comes together we're going to Uzbekistan fasten your seat belt we'll be in
51:22checkpoint in no time wrong way bro he's taking a wrong turn he's been told to make a U-turn
51:29but he
51:29keeps thinking he's smarter because Uzbekistan this way he doesn't know he's gone oh my days
51:40presume he knows this is better than water a song with a game okay Tomas you're a split to your
51:45woman
51:46Tomas you're a Tomas you want to play my dream again get packed to me around over listen it should
51:51be fine
51:52we'll get there don't stress
52:02high in the mountains on Uzbekistan's eastern edge the fifth checkpoint
52:13very dramatic isn't it you like a national park don't know what to sort of Uzbekistan version of Wales
52:20poised and ready to go the national park opens and the teams embark on the final push by taxi
52:28this is the bit that I love but it also stresses me out I can't wait to get going get
52:33me out of this taxi and
52:34ready to go within the salmon mountains the sofa plateau known for its distinct flat high plains and
52:43cool thin mountain air thank you thank you finally amphitheater and the way further instructions amphitheater
52:58no idea where it could be amphitheater is a man-made amphitheater over there look
53:10looks to be that up there yeah that's a Sydney opera house kind of thing salmon amphitheater standing
53:15nearly 2 500 meters above sea level it's a walk for us it's dry up here yeah it's right here
53:26okay
53:27just a sec my legs are wobbly the altitude has just killed me keep going doing well don't go too
53:37fast
53:37smart I did take my inhaler I'm working very slowly I might have another go with the inhaler I'm in
53:43no physical state to run no I'm okay with water away yeah the heart's pounding but we're all right
53:53altitude running is not what I meant to do oh almost there seating stage yeah amphitheater
54:03rather impressive structure travel by cable car to the lower station
54:11travel to the cable car I love an echo yes there's a cable car cable car oh wait that is
54:21a cable car
54:22oh it's over there I can see it I can see the sea lines down yeah cable car looks to
54:27be here
54:28I think we're getting the wrong way Margo if it's far to go I'm just gonna have to have a
54:32rest
54:33we're getting full of all the cute people come on
54:37it's lonely two people 140,000 just take it thank you thank you get on get on get on
54:52oh my god oh my god oh look at this this is crazy Jesus oh my oh my god
55:03probably we're going vertical we're going oh my god my view is insane this is sick
55:11so nice to see a hill
55:18where do you think the other teams are imagine if they're just in the cave of
55:22car line this will be hilarious that'd be so good oh my beers wow
55:30oh right
55:33find the checkpoint hotel and sign in hotel hotel what's this hotel is it town hotel is oh there's two
55:43checkpoint hotel is a little bit vague isn't it that looks like a hotel no let's try it
55:52I have no idea if that's the checkpoint hotel yeah this looks nice
56:00reception
56:00reception
56:03better be it
56:07I don't see a book
56:11I think it's the wrong hotel I think it's the wrong hotel
56:14welcome to Zemindo Resort please sign in
56:18I'm 33
56:20oh what the hell oh yes we're back we're back we're back we're back oh my god oh no I
56:29know that
56:30fuck I'm so happy to be back in first place I think transport lined up really quickly just try go
56:38the direct way through and it worked confidence restored that we are now to race
56:48do this oh no
56:53what that is so impressive
56:55they might have done that
56:56last to first
56:57the fact Harrison and Katie got here before us does kind of show that Uzbekistan was the quicker route
57:03but I'm still not regretting going through Kazakhstan we have had the best experiences
57:08one hopefully we're going to stay consistent near the top and then on the last leg do that little sprint
57:13to the end
57:19third time being third but very pleased about it thought we were not going to do as well as what
57:24we did
57:24hello Marlon that was a tough week that was very tough that was a tough week
57:29pure utter relief journey to to Kiva kind of nearly broke us
57:32I really struggled this leg and I'm so pleased everything worked yeah
57:37that's the entrance just there up on top yeah I'm not walking any further till you're certain we've got it
57:43just going up a fire escape come on up Margo good evening please sign in
57:49yes you're fourth yeah well look at that Katie and Harrison are back in the lead again Katie and Harrison
57:56have had it a lot of times move over let someone share the throne
57:59boring boring boring we've been fourth before we have four three two one we're going forward
58:05we're choosing better routes no more side quests no more side horses let's do it
58:15Margo the car coming
58:19let's go yes let's go this leg I'm letting Monica go over your daughter she did so great job
58:25Mark and I have fourth and we have got to race this could be a white knuckle ride
58:31oh I'm so stressed I hate to see you in such a negative space we just can't give up oh
58:38my god I'm on a horse in Kyrgyzstan
58:41this isn't real I feel like I'm gonna painting
58:48what are you doing
58:50what are you doing
58:50what are you doing
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