Jun 28, I arrived camp 3 lately so I could not use the cyber tent to update the blog. We started with running at riverbed and did some river crossings. After that we went up the hill graduate to CP2. Afterward, we went down the hill to CP3. Lastly, there were some ups and downs hill before entering camp 3, it was a village. There was a river in the village, many people went to wash their stuff. We stayed at the house of villager, it was so not warm here, we no longer used our sleeping bag. After 40KM running, my right ankle felt pain, I believed it was caused by relieving  the blister on the feet, I hoped it would not any problem tomorrow.
 
Jun 29, we waked up at 8AM and headed to Gobi Desert. There was almost 3 hours traveling time so everyone slept on the bus. In the first session, it is 10KM sand dunes. The sand dunes was really tough, I almost took 4 hours to finish this session, the ankle pain probably accountable for this. After leaving CP1 the weather went around 40 to 45 degree, I felt the ankle pain was going more serious, it was hard to move a step. When I arrived CP2 at 1530, the staff told me that it was the toughest part of the course as it was the hottest time of the day and road was made of soft sold which was difficult to walk. The most importantly, CP 3 would close at 1800 which was 2.5 hours. After serious consideration, I made the hardest choice in my life, the hardest part was I joined Gobi March was not for myself but for the charity and for my company. Then I waited at CP2 for transportation to camp, I also heard that around 12 competitors stopped in this stage. At the camp, staff were busy to give medical assistance to the competitors, many competitors were queuing up on medical tent, many competitors lied down at registration tent resting after reaching camp.

27 Jun 2011, there was a heavy mist today morning, the starting time was delayed several time, the final start time was 1200, 4 hours later than the original. Actually, the mist began last night, I could not even see the toliet that was 100M away, the temperature also dropped to about 5 degree.
 
Since the weather is not good enough, so the distance was reduced 20 KM something from 41.1KM, the first two sessions were cancelled.
It was cold at the beginning, it was 13 degree. The course started along vehicle track through riverbed, and then crossed the river (but there was no water in the river). Afterward, we went up to vehicle track on opposite side of the river and did one river crossing before getting up to camp 3.
 
When I was walking along the course, I felt a little plain on my feet and I reduced the foot pace. I though I had got a trouble. After returning to camp 3, I immediately went to medical camp to see the doctor, I hope it will be better tomorrow.

26 Jun 2011. Today was the real start of Gobi March, I wake up at 630AM. I could not sleep very well last night, some one made noise, I am sensitive to noise and hopefully I brought a ear plug with me. The briefing started at 0730AM and we started moving at 0800AM.
In stage one, Tian Shan Mountains, it was 34.6 KM. We started on dusty road before heading up into hills and plains at the top. Afterward, there were some steep up-and-down hills before descending into camp 2.
The first one arrived the camp 2 was a Australian, he used 4 hour 30 minutes something. I used around 8 hours, it was almsot double time of the fastest competitor. Hopefully, I was not the last one entrying the camp 2. I was walking smoothly, I used 5 hour 30 mintues in the first sessions. (there was one water centre per 10KM), My speed drop quite a lot in the last session, i think I have to adjust the foot pace on next stages.
The course was beautiful and I was very enjoy the course. But it was real tough, tougher than I think. The weather was not the biggest issue, the issue was running with the 10KG backpack I tried to take some photo, but it was not easy, people were always busy at walking/running.

I arrived Xinjiang on 23 Jun at around 11PM something, I went to hotel with some other guys in the same flight with me, They are Adrian, Dale and Neil. Adrian is from French who is volunteer for the event, his father was the second runner of 5th desert last year. he is from South Africa who is a photographer for the event.  Neil runs spa and well being business across countries, including Hong Kong and  Shanghai, he also finished trialwalker about 22 hour something.
Actually, there were some more people on the same flight but either they stayed at other hotel or left with other competitors.
I arrived the hotel 12AM and I went bed immediately after having shower.
 
On 24 Jun, it was the time we required to check-in hotel, I moved my lagguage to another room which was provided by organzier, I shall share the room with other competitor. On that day, we did not have any agenda, so I just hang around with some competitors. We had lunch and dinner at local restaurant trying some local food, most of them were spicy, we also walked around some local market. There was official check in time, I came back to hotel a little bit earlier to repack my backpack.
 
On 25 Jun, it was a official check-in time, there was a briefing session at 8AM, the organzier introduced it's staff to us, including a medical team of 6 members from Washington DC. What a professional! Afterward, we were checked for all mandatory item to see if we met the requirement as well as recording the weight of the pack. My bag was 10.5 KG, it was definitely heavier and bigger than the othe. I saw many competitors bringing a small bag, the lightest bag shall be less than 8KG. After checking, I was given a passport and notes to the cross.
We left the hotel at 1PM and headed to camp 1. Before arriving camp 1, the organizer brought us to see show, we saw some traditonal dance by the minority. Interestingly, I was interviewed by a local TV about the feeling from here as a Chinese living at Hong Kong.
I am number 77 and I am assigned at tent - Monkey. There are around 10 people per tent. In my tent, 2 from Turkey, 3 from China (they are from the company sponsoring the event), 1 from Singapore, 1 from England, 1 from Hong Kong (actually she was borned from Bejing).
There were almost 150 competitors, most of them from America, Austraila, Britain and Hong Kong (even most of us are not Chinese). The competitors from Japan and South Korea is also increasing.
The climate here is quite different from Hong Kong, it is dry and hot here. The most interesting part is that even the time zone is as same as Hong Kong (GMT+8), but sun will you that we shall not be at the same time zone. I am now writing the email/blog, it is 9PM. But the sun is still above the sea level.
The scene here is beautiful, there are many mountains around us, we stay at forset that we can feel a little bit colder. I am so excited I can be here joining Gobi March, thank you ISS gives me the chance here.

News from China Daily USA
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2011-06/21/content_12743160.htm 

Just read the news hearing there is a serious flooding in Turpan area, such heavy rainfall has not happened over last 30 years. 

RTP management team also announced a slight modification on course is required.

Whats more, a typhoon is coming and it is getting stronger, I hope it will not affect the airport service. I will depart at ShenZhen, China tomorrow.

God bless me.

Today is 21 Jun, 5 days before Gobi March official begin. This is my last working at my company before leaving to Urumqi, it seems that I will be very busy till last minute of the day. 
During the last fews months, I have been undergoing an intensive training that I have never had, but I think it is worth to pay.

Looking at the blog from other competitors, their backpack only weight 7KG something, it makes me surprised when I look at my backpack that is more than 11KG. How can they do it?
I think I shall review my equipment list to reduce the weight.

Gobi, I am coming.