August 17: Team Eco-Internet seems invincible, wins again
By Dan Morrison

Team Eco-Internet at the finish line

Extracting their stiff bodies from the kayaks, the four competitors, team captain Robert Nagle, John Howard, Andrea Murray, and Keith Murray, stepped into the muck of the tidal flat and threw down their paddles after having used them non-stop for the last 15 hours.

Keith Murray embraced his wife Andrea, and they kissed.

The large crowd of onlookers cheered.

The four adventure racers began to unpack gear from the boats, and then pumped water out of the hulls. They took their time. Crossing the finish line was merely a formality now, they had won the event convincingly and seemed to feel no need for haste.

Eventually they pulled one kayak out of the water and the four teammates carried it up a small sandy slope and across some 50 meters to the official tape at the finish line. Keith Murray held the tape aloft and the others pushed the kayak across the line.

Team Eco-Internet approaching the end

Mark Burnett stepped forward to give each team member a handshake.

Ascending a set of steps to a makeshift platform, each competitor received a bouquet of flowers and a compass. A huge bottle of champagne was presented to the team and Andrea Murray shook it and popped the cork, spraying the crowd of journalists gathered at the edge of the stage.

Mark Burnett stepped forward and addressed both the crowd and the team.

"These guys have now won again," said the race director. "Indisputably the greatest adventure racers ever. They've won the last two Eco-Challenges, they won the Southern Traverse, the X-Games. No one has ever, ever come close to this kind of a record. These guys are older, and they hardly ever make any kind of mistake. They're efficient, and look as healthy as ever."

Then Burnett turned to the team and presented them to the crowd. "Eco-Internet."

The crowd voiced their approval of the victors.

Burnett handed the microphone to Keith Murray and he spoke for the team.

"Australia's a bloody beautiful place. We've had a lot of fun over the last week. We've seen some sights here that many of you probably don't get to see. And we've done some things in those places I'm sure you've never had a chance to do."

There was a short question-and-answer session, then Burnett announced that the team would be available for further questions at a press conference.

Before leaving the stage, team captain Robert Nagle offered a few brief observations.

"Well, here we are at the finish line. We traveled about 80 kilometers from Bramston Beach. The conditions were pretty good, but we were pretty worried for a while because we knew that the Australians, who are incredibly good paddlers, were hot on our heels. We managed to outstrip them, and we're here, and we're just really relieved. And happy."

Nagle hesitated, then added with his Irish smile, "And we look forward to their arrival and having some beers with them."

Dan Morrison covered the Marathon des Sables for Outside Online.