Hello there,

First of all, I’d like to say “hello again” to everyone who read my post-marathon blog. Here in Mongolia, we’ve just celebrated our biggest national holiday, Naadam, which is held every July.

However, emotionally, I still feel like I’m in the days just after the final stage of the Gobi March. The memories of the people, the thoughts that came during the race, and the feelings that still echo in my heart—they all remain vivid.

I don’t know how to begin or what exactly to write to express myself. The Gobi March felt like the beginning of a new chapter in a new book. In one paragraph, I could write about all the admiration and wonder I felt from the people I met. In the next, I could describe the frustration, regret, or confusion that came from the road. I questioned everything.

But after each stage, I realized I had learned something new—gained experience and explored myself more deeply. I discovered that I was developing greater mental strength, resilience, self-discipline, and preparation. Most importantly, I was becoming more self-aware.

I think that’s the beauty of it.

For last word, I would say when the hype finally settles, I’ll consider the next one—with clearer thoughts ;).

My Winter Training

As we all know, Mongolia is one of the coldest countries in the world. Especially in winter, the average daytime temperature reaches minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit). This extreme cold is the hardest part of my training. The fear of getting cold or giving up from the start is always present. So, I switched my running to indoors from the end of last October, trying not to pressure myself. This has helped me maintain my endurance for long-distance running.

Finding People Who Run for Their Dreams

Transferring my training indoors wasn’t enough for me. My strength was not good enough to carry my overall 10kg load. So, we did some research online and tried to find other runners. As the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I found some runners’ meetings and morning in-class trainings. We started doing in-class training with other runners who run for different purposes. Some of them train only for the Ulaanbaatar Marathon in May, while others are almost professional runners aiming to compete in world-class competitions before their prime age passes.

Their weekly meetings start with experience sharing. During my first week, there was a cardiologist who had been running for several years. The next week’s speaker was a professional runner, and the week after that, a dietitian. After their experience sharing, they do slow outdoor runs in the National Park. My fear is finally facing me and challenging me. Currently, I have the flu, and due to a severe sore throat, my neck has torticollis, so I still avoiding the ourdoor running session. But I will start again anyway. That time, I could share my share my experience or give some tips how to run in cold temperature. :)

Overall, my preparation goes day by day, as the saying goes, “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my first blog post! I’m Ananda, a participant in the Gobi March 2025 from Mongolia. I’m thrilled to embark on this incredible adventure, though I must admit, I’m a bit nervous since this will be my very first ultra marathon.

It all started last summer on a sunny day when my best friend Tsatska described me a vlog she had watched. She was so amazed and inspired by it. Then she asked if I wanted to join her and her husband in the race?

I paused for a few minutes, thinking it over, and then asked her back, “Is there anyone, besides your husband, who always supports your craziest ideas and is ready to join without hesitation?” She paused for a moment and then replied, “You, Ananda! No one else.”  This is how it begins!

Now, I am super exicted and want to see where this journey takes me.

I’ll be posting updates over the next few months. If you have any questions about Mongolia or Ulaanbaatar, feel free to drop a questions. I’d be happy to share what I know in my next bloggs!