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Gobi March Blogs 2011
4
PostsGobi March (2011) blog posts from Mike Snell
01 July 2011 03:25 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
hi all i have just had a good night sleep after one of the toughtest days of my life,the day started off as per usuall 30+ degrees and an 8am start through about 10km of small sand dunes which i could move at about 8-9km/h then onto a dirt track for the next 10km,this section took us down to the second lowest place on earth (-200m) .i was in about 5th place at this time and slowlly catching the korean infront of me.It started to rain JUST, but it was enough to give you the slightest little drop in temperature.
Coming into CP3 at 30km ithought it was a good time to get the ipod out,exellent decision from me,but this didn't last to long,i only had 1 hour of battery left,and when the music stopped thats when i started going down hill big time.It was getting real hot and it would stay that way for the next 6-8 hours,they say the ground retains the heat for the next 6-8 hours so the temp dosn't drop for a long time
I was down to a slow run/shuffle /walk for the next 15km over as best i could describe it as KRUD! and this slowlly turned to a walk i just didn't have the energy to run anymore i think if i tried to run i would have hit the wall harder than i did and would not have come out the otherside.
The last 30km F#$$%%^^^k 50 degrees and walking with nowhere to hide,i was moving so slow at this time it was stupid.iwas now walking with 2 other racers an english guy matt who i had run with during the week and the leading female Jen,it was good to chat with someone for a while.
CP7 i died,i was done out and couldn't get my hr down so we stopped for around 20 mins.
All i had to go was 8.7km,it was around 8 at night and the sun had one more hour till it set all i could do was follow the footsteps infront of me and they were getting further away i was so slow the other 2 got away and stopped and waited for me 2-3 times. i needed to eat but i couldn't stomach my 12th gel for the day so i just hung on.finally i saw the flags to the uphill finish and the rest is history.
As soon as i crossed the line i walked into the finishing tent and layed there for a couple of hours.
reat day today and then a 12 km walk maybe run to finish ,the land of coke and pizza i cant wait ........
Thanks guys for all the messages they have helped alot see u back in oz.
Coming into CP3 at 30km ithought it was a good time to get the ipod out,exellent decision from me,but this didn't last to long,i only had 1 hour of battery left,and when the music stopped thats when i started going down hill big time.It was getting real hot and it would stay that way for the next 6-8 hours,they say the ground retains the heat for the next 6-8 hours so the temp dosn't drop for a long time
I was down to a slow run/shuffle /walk for the next 15km over as best i could describe it as KRUD! and this slowlly turned to a walk i just didn't have the energy to run anymore i think if i tried to run i would have hit the wall harder than i did and would not have come out the otherside.
The last 30km F#$$%%^^^k 50 degrees and walking with nowhere to hide,i was moving so slow at this time it was stupid.iwas now walking with 2 other racers an english guy matt who i had run with during the week and the leading female Jen,it was good to chat with someone for a while.
CP7 i died,i was done out and couldn't get my hr down so we stopped for around 20 mins.
All i had to go was 8.7km,it was around 8 at night and the sun had one more hour till it set all i could do was follow the footsteps infront of me and they were getting further away i was so slow the other 2 got away and stopped and waited for me 2-3 times. i needed to eat but i couldn't stomach my 12th gel for the day so i just hung on.finally i saw the flags to the uphill finish and the rest is history.
As soon as i crossed the line i walked into the finishing tent and layed there for a couple of hours.
reat day today and then a 12 km walk maybe run to finish ,the land of coke and pizza i cant wait ........
Thanks guys for all the messages they have helped alot see u back in oz.
28 June 2011 04:58 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Hi guys no internet yesterday so I will catch up on the last 2 days for you, yesterday was very short only 20km due to really poor visibility,we couldn’t see more than 10m in front of us and it was raining ?????????not what I expected.
We had to wait 4 hours to start and they cut the course by 20km ,it was a very quick stage anyone with long legs was infront of me,I came in 12th .
DAY #3- 44KM
No delays to day we woke up and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
From the start we had a 10km dash down this awesome riverbed which ran through a massive canyon were half the field took there shoes off at the first river crossing,don’t ask me why because you could see all these braided streams crossing each other up ahead.once we headed up andout of the river it was a 10km climb straight up to 2500m this little Italian ran straight passed me ,I would see him later sitting in the medical tent (rookie mistake ).
Once we got to the top it was a steady decent for the next 20km so the pace was on, I was currently in 6th place and feeling the heat I think it hit 40degrees today,I hadn,t seen anyone for the last 15km and I had just passed CP3,still moving at about 9.5-10.5 km/h and my hip flexors started to tighten up not a good thing.
The last 6.7km to go and I was in a lot of pain and wasn’t moving as quick ,this last section was constant rolling hills and the finish never came,then I got passed with 3km to go I couldn’t hang with this guy so I just stuck to my pace and finally got to the finish,7th place .
Oasis……… yes they do exist and that is where camp 3 is,I dumped my bag and walked down to the river and had my first wash in 3 days and it was ice cold,just what I needed,oncei finally got up which took a couple of minutes I went to the room I’m staying in for the night which is in a goat hearders courtyard (pretty cool and better than the tent).
I have never enjoyed a cookie so much that’s what I ate after the river,it took me around 6 mins to finish.
The dumbest thing I did this trip was to buy the smallest snickers in the shop across from the hotel because I thought the large one would be too heavy IDIOT….
Another big day tomorrow around 40km then the 80 +day
Later ……
Comments: Total (15) comments
Posted On: 01 Jul 2011 09:03 am
Hey Mate... Just letting you know that I've permanently borrowed your blood pressure cuff..
Thanks alot!! xoxo
Posted On: 01 Jul 2011 05:53 am
Well done so far mate! Just 3.17 back up to 6th place - good luck on the last stage and hope you catch the guy in front to reclaim 6th!!
Posted On: 01 Jul 2011 05:12 am
Well done buddy - really great result
Posted On: 01 Jul 2011 05:05 am
Hey Buddy, Stormy's right, you should be winning! i\'ll make sure i have a couple of beers for you tonight. Stay Strong, Jack
Posted On: 30 Jun 2011 11:21 am
oh my god!
As to be expected you are doing so amazingly well, stay positive and focused. Have fun in the dunes!
I love the dunes
Posted On: 30 Jun 2011 10:48 am
Good work Rock stay strong buddy we are all there with you mate c u back in Manly a winner!
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 11:02 pm
Doing good buddy! Keep it up and come home strong. Agree, gotta eat more chocolate, IDIOT!
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 08:11 pm
come on snell you should be bloody winning!! remember what herbert used to say "visualise", you cant be doing it!!! just joking your kicking arse, keep it up. stormy.
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 11:56 am
Hey you sounds like you are on fire ..... don't worry about the Italian , they look good, they dress well, they smell good...... But like anything Italian they don 't work properly
Good luck
Maw maw maw
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 10:42 am
Keep it up buddy and stay focused, good you dropped that rookie and remember not to try too hard to stick with them if you are tightening up, just save it for the 80k's and blow them away.
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 09:43 am
Also forgot to say, freaking awesome work so far! (and don't forget to BREATHE when you stretch)
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 09:42 am
Come on Mike, get your head in the game! Stop checking out the Italian's ass and stick yours in his line of sight instead :P
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 02:14 am
Time to drop the hammer and catch those dudes in front of you, at least the next 2. Just imagine there is a cup cake for you after each km so sprint from one to the next. They will have no answer to that sort of motivation. Have fun.
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 02:11 am
Go Mike. What a great overall result . You little ripper .Save your snickers for the big one coming up . Well done
Posted On: 29 Jun 2011 01:23 am
Come on Buddy. Catch those two guys just infront of you - there is two of them only 2 mins in front.
Stop talking about this italian - he must have made a big impact on you as you have mentioned him in both posts and I am sure he is good looking - but stay focused on the race
26 June 2011 07:55 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
hi all tough day at the office it wasn't that hot,about about 32 degrees But we are at camp which is 2170m and with
the pack at around 10.5kgs i found it really hard dealling with the altitude.At the 24km mark i was cooking this was just after cp3 and there was a slight up hill for several km's i should have been running but couldn't.Then i saw a snake(that was cool) which bit the italian guy infront of me it was only little and he was'nt too fazed.
for everyone who knows damo he came in first at 4.01 hours he's flying 30 so mins infront of me i came in 6th not bad.Thanks for the emails guys it was gret to hear from some of you from home.
Hi babe missing you mwa mwa mwa
the pack at around 10.5kgs i found it really hard dealling with the altitude.At the 24km mark i was cooking this was just after cp3 and there was a slight up hill for several km's i should have been running but couldn't.Then i saw a snake(that was cool) which bit the italian guy infront of me it was only little and he was'nt too fazed.
for everyone who knows damo he came in first at 4.01 hours he's flying 30 so mins infront of me i came in 6th not bad.Thanks for the emails guys it was gret to hear from some of you from home.
Hi babe missing you mwa mwa mwa
Comments: Total (15) comments
Posted On: 28 Jun 2011 02:16 pm
NI HAO ROcky Bobby!!!!! You have one supporter in Switzerland :) 6th! That's great! GOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Posted On: 28 Jun 2011 01:36 am
Well done Mikey -- keep it up
Have a great 3rd stage mate
Posted On: 28 Jun 2011 12:44 am
nice work snellaphantus rex!!
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 12:02 pm
Hurry up buddy...god
Jimmy
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 11:33 am
Yeeeaaaa buddy!
Glad to see didn't have to look far down the leader board to see your name up there! (Internet is shit down here at the snow). Tsssaarrr!
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 11:33 am
Hey buddy! Doing well - doing us proud! Hope you had a good stage today, head high and happy thoughts. Know that we are following you throughout the day. Enjoy the blister fest...
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 09:01 am
It\'s a cliché but you really are inspirational; would hold my breath but you always tell me not to...
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 09:01 am
It's a cliché but you really are inspirational; would hold my breath but you always tell me not to...
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 07:50 am
Come on angry man. Channel some of that concentrated anger.
Glad to see you have met a nice italian and have bitten his snake.
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 07:37 am
Pick it up cupcake!!!
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 06:50 am
Hey Mikey,
Hope stage 2 is going well for you. I just read your blog and no wonder you got lost on the bike in Beijing with your love of Navigation.
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 06:42 am
Go Mike!!!! 6th - youre a machine!!
Hows the knee holding up?
All the best buddy, missing you here, getting nice and chubby without you! Heaps to train when you get back :)
Take care and enjoy the miso!
Pip x
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 04:46 am
Give it some Mike!
Posted On: 27 Jun 2011 03:22 am
Go Mikey!! 6th! Excellent first day. Watch out for those snakes, and sheep & goats, although they look cute & warm enough to pat ;)
Cheers, Kylie
Posted On: 26 Jun 2011 11:40 pm
Good work buddy, hope you manage to peg Damo back a little in the next stage.
Cheers, toby
21 June 2011 06:34 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Hi guys I'm in Beijing. halfway there!!!!!
I got to my hotel which is in this cool little part of Beijing about 1 km from that big square ! I noticed everyone was riding a bike so I got one,not such a great idea! I got a map and headed to the lake district and within 10 minutes I was lost,which so happens to be the best way to see the city, I found places I wouldnt have found,like the food market with little animals on sticks and a 300 year Mongolian BBQ food shop and mcdonalds.
Big day planned tomorrow I'm off to the great wall,can't wait .
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 22 Jun 2011 03:11 pm
YO SNELLO!!!!
hows the knee?
ive been having croissants and bad espresso for breakfast nearly every day...ive found out a way to finally put weight on!
dont stop blogging we'll be watching.
b,b,e
Comments: Total (11) comments
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 10:10 pm
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Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 11:46 am
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 10:36 am
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 09:51 am
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 09:02 am
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 05:54 am
Posted On: 02 Jul 2011 12:28 am
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Posted On: 01 Jul 2011 09:55 pm