Hi Guys,
Greetings from a stifling Gobi. The heat here is ridicules out here. More about that later.
First I want to thank my family and friends for all the the amazing emails. It means so much to me when I am out here. I decided to go for a blogs package instead of an email one, so I hope you don’t mind that I can not respond as a result. But as I say, the good news is that I am getting them and that they  are making such a difference. I promise to answer them all when I get home.
 
Okay - so now the news you have been waiting for. I did not run a 100K today but according to the competitors GPS's, I ran 110K. 
 
YES I FINISHED IT IN 88th place ! and in fantastic condition. After being on my feet for 26 hours non stop I then had to run across 5K of sand dunes to the finish in scorching sun and it really didn't take a tack out of me. I actually did a little celebration dance under the line. My overall position is 68th. with a one day to go. However, the amazing thing is that I nearly blew it an hour and a half in to the race. After 6 miles through the river bank (in and out of water) as we came to checkpoint 1 some thing did not feel right. I was stiffening up a bit and feeling a little thirsty. I knew that was dehydrating.
 
We then walked through almost 5 miles of a local village. All the children came out slapping hands while the shyer ones hid behind their bemused parents. As we smiled, waved and said HELLO for the millionth time and they responded "helo" back. It was fantastic and I have loads of pictures.
At checkpoint 2 they advised me to use electrolytes in the water and check urine at check point 3. Which I did and - not good. So I decided to spend an hour there to hydrate. It was a slow process. Got going again - C4 was a struggle. Long straight never ending road, thinking how in the name of God was I going to tackle another 50+ miles. Bit of a low point. Anyway, I did. mile after mile after mile.  At times I picked up people and we would walk together. Really though mentally. taking the stages 2 to 3 hours at a time. Bite size pieces. By the time I had hit C5, my feet were beginning to blister badly on the sole of the feet and a few toes as a result of the previous four days thrashing they were getting.
 
15 hours, most of it walking and night time set in. Stopping at checkpoints to clean feet, take a rest etc. Met up with two young English guys at this stage and got cracking. However by C6, one of them was throwing up and had to bed down for the night. We had to leave him there, which was though. He never made it after that. At this stage we wee seeing and bearing about the amount of dropouts and people on drips, including some of the top runners. We moved on to C7 and just in time for the second young man I was helping to get there. He got an hours sleep and I had  .....
 
Sorry guys, almost midnight here and they are shutting down.
Catch you later.
Hugs,
Dave

Greetings all from the Gobi. Before I give you today's gory details, let me fill you in on what happened yesterday evening when I finished my blog. Well as I was telling you, we were staying in the local village in which the locals gave up their houses to us. They slept outside and we inside. It was lovely to experience their hospitality and culture. The bed was solid and half the size of the room (like a stage) and we all lay our mats on it. Unfortunately I got no sleep at all as the heat was stifling in the room and ironically enough, their was a full size fridge next to my space which the lady and one of her daughters would frequently come in and out to. Even at midnight the activity out side the house (they had three babies) continued. So I didn't have to be woken at three. I then had my Juice Plus+ and a meal. (I know 3 in the morning) On to the buses for 4am and by 6 we were at the starting line for a very tough 36K.
 
So before sun up with no sleep and my body not knowing what was happening, we set off. 13.5K dirt track for most part. I was tired having run a fast 7K last stage the day before, not forgetting that I have run/walked 20+ miles every day for the last three days. So I walked the 13K in a brisk 2 hours. The second 11K started to get warm and it was in sand dunes and fire valley. More an open valley. Any way I finished stage 2 in the sand dunes. Sand packed in the shoes, ignoring the pain and getting there in another 2 hours. The final stage home was brutal. It was hitting 40 degrees and rising and I knew that I had to finish the last stage (12K) in two hours or else It was going to be unbearable. The final stage wound its way up a mountain, then along deep tracks like a maze where the base of two mountains come together, a sun trap.
I was slowly passing competitors who were in trouble. Vomiting, dehydration, heat exhaustion, it WAS getting serious out there. I was beginning to get a little dehydrated myself. So with 4K to go all the way steep downhill by sand dune I decided to run. I got in exhausted in 6 hours and 2 minutes and in 59th. place, passing 30 competitors in the last two stages. Just so, so happy to have made it. The medics were busy today and as I type everyone is going to the start to see the last competitor being stretchered in. A sombre moment and one that has made all of us realise that this is just a race and not worth taking risks for.
 
On that note I want to reassure everyone reading this blog that on the 100K tomorrow I WILL NOT BE TAKING UNNESSARY RISKS.
It will take me 24 hours so I wont be able to blog until Friday.
 
God bless and catch you all then,
Dave x

Hi Everyone,
Your reporter from the Gobi Desert here. Just a quick one to all that are sending emails, thanks a million, I am getting them, fantastic.
If you just spread the word that I can't respond as I have only prepaid for bloggs.
 
Well, thank God, another day down and I made it. 51st. in a time of 4hrs 28 minutes. That puts me 41st. overall. Can not really believe it. Found it harder today. The first 10K I power walked on a river bed of stones with 4 river crossings. I kid you not. Thank God I have strong ankles. It was tough. Soaking socks and shoes, all good. Then 11.5K, started with a climb and then a long run in open spaces. sandy but solid. I struggled a bit on this trek. and finally we had a 7K, mostly down hill to camp. I ran the whole way, totally knackerd, but I knew if I stopped running I would collapse. I made up 12 places on this stage. This was a good day for the "runners" and I thought that I was going to be way down the field as a result. So really happy. I just hope I haven't put everything in to the last two days. I have to tell you - it was overcast at the start, then it rained lightly and all the time a cool breeze. Irish weather. We are staying in a village tonight and in the locals home. Very different and brill.
 
I got to wash in a freezing stream here in the village and a bunch of my clothes as well. We were informed shortly after we got in today that we are to be up at 3 in the morning, then at 4 there are buses taking us on a 2 hour ride in to "flame" valley to start the race. Need I say anymore ! The reason for this is the heat. By starting the race at 6pm it will give us a two hour head start. From here on it is going to be extremely hot.
 
So now guys, I am going to finish off now and hit the sack as it is 7.50pm.  Love and hugs to Mar. Love you. and to Jackie, Ian, Colin and David. Hi, hugs and kisses to Mum, Janet, Kate, Damien, Peter and Barry. And as for that pervert, Ed Burke. Tell him I am coming to get him when I get back. Thanks to Jack, my team mate from the Atacama, great to hear from you and we will meet again on another one. And finally Robbie O'Brien, as always, thanks so much for your great support. I will send on your wishes to Sam and Lucy.
 
God bless everyone.
Hugs,
Dave x
 

Hi guys,
Blog no. 2. Well, I am still alive and glad to say, survived another day. And what a day. Went very well for me. The race started at 9 this morning. (9.30 yesterday) I came in 38th. place in a time of 4hrs and 7 minutes. Another shock, as I had thought 37th. place yesterday was a one off. Delighted that I was wrong. In fact I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the run.
 
The first stage took up where yesterday left off. 14K of rolling hills. We had that same terrain and distance last yesterday. I normally find climbs suit me better and the fact that we had it first meant that I was fresh. I also got some running in. The next stage was only 8K through two little villages and across flat plains full of greenery. Running between crops being irrigated through natural water with these magnificent mountain on both sides. Then through a dried river bed. Walked and jogged this stage taking in the beauty like a tourist. At check point two I got my position and held it to the end. Just before the finish we had a river crossing and then a steep climb up the mountain to the finish.
I got my nutrition right, I hydrated well and as a result finished really strong.
 
An update on the weather. Yesterday, started off cool with a breeze and heated up as the day wore on. However nothing to cause any problems. Today was definitely hotter. In fact you could even feel the difference this morning before we started. That was another reason why I wanted to get out of the heat asap. From here on it is going to get hotter - much hotter. In fact on the "now" 100k run (they changed it from 80/85 - 90, to the 100. ) the organizers are constantly advising us that the temp. is going to hit the 50 degrees and maybe a little more. None of us here have any idea how we are going to tackle this.
 
An update on my feet - very good. One blister on small toe today which I burst and cleaned and a tiny bit of blistering under my left foot. I will let the air at them tonight and dress them in the morning before we leave.
 
The filming is going well with Jen and Sevon sticking that camera you know where at any given moment. Bless them. Unlike the Atacama, this time they are actually getting the action shots of me running. Really pleased about that.
 
The tent I am in, no. 17, is just the best. Fantastic bunch of people. Out of 9 of us, only two from the same country. We all get on so well.
 
I don't want to give you all a novel so I will check out while the going is good. Take care of yourselves and I will give you an update tomorrow.
 
Dave, reporting from the Gobi. x

Hi everyone,
I am making history today. This is the first time Dave O'Brien has "blogged". Well welcome family and friends here I am in the middle of an open tent in the middle of the Gobi Desert in China. The sun is out but it is windy and cool. Today, Sunday was the first stage in this Gobi Run. Can I tell you that I came in to the finish line to be told I was 37th place in a time of 5 hours and 25 minutes. Well needless to say I looked around to see who the official was talking to, only to nearly swallow my tongue when I realized that it as ME!
 
I have still no idea how that happened. It was a 20 mile run, which we were told was "easy". We started running at 9.30 in the morning from a little village. All the locals came out and we were entertained with music and dance. There was two check points. The first one at 10 Kilometers which I ran non stop in 72 minutes. Relatively flat, sun was out but we had a cool breeze.  The second check point was 8k, didn't catch a time for that. One or two little climbs. Walked most of it with a little run thrown in. Then came the sting in the tail. 15K. through beautiful rolling hills. The only trouble was that they went on for ever. Some very severe down slopes with a lot of loose shale. In fact it was some of the worst I have experienced. The Spanish semi pro runner in my tent heard something click in his knee trying to get down. He had to hobble to the finish. I am not sure if he will be able to continue. Also, Bud my American friend, his hernia popped out and from then on he had to keep pushing it in. The list goes on.
 
Tomorrow we have another "easy" day. (I can't wait) 18.2 miles. Much and all as I would like to repeat today's performance, I think it unlikely. To be honest I did find it a struggle at various times today. The Atacama Desert is still fresh in my mind as the pain comes back. But then we are all here in the same boat. And some have had it a lot tougher than me.  Okay everyone, I am going to finish off now at 7.40 pm as my hands are frozen and it is getting quiet cold now. Love to every one and I look forward to blogging you all again tomorrow. God bless.
Dave - reporting from the Gobi. x