I have taken a week to reflect on my first 4 deserts race. What was it like, what did I learn and most importantly, would I do it again? For people reading this in the hope of uncovering the hidden gem that tips them from armchair athlete to knee pounding, ankle twisting, blister bursting competitor, the answer to the last question is, I’m not sure yet.

However I definitely, and without hesitation, recommend anyone considering it, to do one. The experience on every level is worthwhile. OK, so it is a bit tricky to get to these places and the hotel beforehand had clearly gone for orthopedic mattress solutions to help those who prefer sleeping on the floor, in tents. How convenient. But these difficulties only add to the allure of competing in far flung, never-to-be-visited again locations.

The Gobi March is held in a truly breathtaking part of the world, far from anything I had imagined. From vast open plateaus to soaring, snow capped alpine vistas, the views at every turn were enough to make even the most die-hard competitor reach for their camera to capture the obligatory race selfie. Camels, wild horses, yak and enormous herds of sheep and goats all reinforce the sense of being properly in the wild. That is until a shepherd burns you up on a shiny motor bike with his wife snapping away on the back with a handheld tablet device, all shiny and new. There must be a good market it in goat meat these days!

The race itself, for me, was more a mental challenge than a physical one. Don’t get me wrong. 250km is a long way and it hurts but the will to keep going and not to give in to the pain in your leg or your swollen toenail is all in the mind. Conquering that is what gives the most satisfaction at the end. Knowing you are in control of your own body to a greater degree. If you want to get somewhere, you will. It just might take a bit longer and it might hurt a bit more than you expected it to. The competitive edge in me is also far greater than I realised. There are a few who can vouch for my pre-race team talk. ‘Hold the line, do NOT run. This is a marathon, not a sprint’. The usual guff. I lasted about 2 metres and then the gloves were off. I quite literally lost myself in the adrenaline of the start as everyone poured off into the distance and I scampered after them like Bambi on speed. It was probably my downfall as injuries flared up that day that could possibly have been avoided but it set my stall for the week and I am glad for it. I have no regrets. No whisper in my ear that I could have done it faster or differently or better. I got what I came for and it was great.

I would like to thank everyone who supported me in my training, my family for giving me the time and support I needed to get to the start line and all the people who talked to me in my desert experience. I would also really like to thank all those who sponored me and helped to prevent avoidable blindness in the poorer parts of the world. If people are given a chance, most of the time they will take it and do something amazing.
One last comment on the people. The people who organise it, the people who volunteer for it and the people who run or walk it. They are what makes it great and special and fun and hard. They are people who all think the same as you do. There’s a mountain over there, I’m going up it. Oh, there’s another one. Yes, why not.

So maybe until the next time, OUT.

Yesterday was a test of a totally different level to anything I have experienced before. I was feeling a bit bad for dragging the boys here, only to see them all in pain and doubting completion. We woke up for a delayed 10am start to allow the late returners from the day before time to recover slightly. There was quiet nervousness but everyone was at the start line and off we went in relatively high spirits. That didn’t last long.
I did about 1km with them but they were all together and nursing their own pain so I started to push on. By the 2nd checkpoint my hip flexer had taken over from the shin in grabbing the pain headlines. I was having to take running repairs from the staff but nothing was working. I could hardly get my left leg to move forward. WHAT TO DO?! Pain killers, that’s what. And then run as hard as you can because when they wear off you want to be as far up that track as possible. We walked up hill for about 5 hours. Camels, herds of wild horses with foals, goats, sheep, cattle and Yak. Dusty Spanish style mountains followed by undulating bog hummocks, plush grass pastures, always walking up. When I reached the top and tried to run down the 8km road, my leg wouldn’t move again. It was so frustrating. So from that moment onwards, yesterday was a battle with pain, on my own with only my thoughts for company – and they wanted me to stop.
A battle of putting one foot in front of the other commenced, trying to find a running style that allowed me to sort of trundle in a less painful way than walking. Up hill, downhill, up hill, up hill, up hill. I wanted to stop so badly I shouted at the sheep to help me. They just told me to baaaaager off. (sorry, I’m tired)
Eventually after another brutal uphill stretch I reached the top to discover a stunning lake spread out before me, completed with a late evening rainbow dropping to its shore. Just 5km to the end. A polish guy tried to take me in the final 1km but he didn’t know that I was numb to the pain and I released the old Cairns sprint finish to see him off. Long march. DONE.
I made it in just under 12 hours and in the dying light of day. My thoughts were immediately for Chigs, John, Alex and Lisa. They were now in the dark. It was bitterly cold. Would they be OK, could they complete it? Well of course they could. They’re nails. The lot of them. Out on the course for18 hours. Brutal.
So we all made it. Now we are relaxing at the shore of said Lake, in the sun. It’s very nice but I wish I could have a BBQ yak burger and a beer!
14km tomorrow. Timed. Bit of a shame as I might have to re-visit the pain factory one more time.
Your messages have Chigs and I sitting here in the cybertent, reliving the horrors of yesterday in bouts of tears. It’s been emotional and you all played a part in getting us through it. Thank you.
I look forward to seeing my girls on Sunday…a lot. Chigs looks quite interested in a roast. Love to all.
OUT.
PS. I now believe the Gobi worm to be a myth.

So they added on some distance making today 49km. We were told last night. To say the tent was pensive would be an under-statement. We started out across what looked like s glacial valley before ascending rapidly into the mountains. The sun is blazing making the conditions brutal for climbing and running. I had to stop for medical assistance at checkpoint 3 due to the shin and also now groin. The sports doc was great at getting me up again for the last 20km. I ran a 15km stretch to the end to get it done. The HK massive has been hit hard today. John came in after pushing himself to the limit and looked a bit woozy but we’ve got him up and running again with coke and peparami. Chigs has injured his thigh so really struggled. We need to see how he is in the morning. Fingers crossed. Alex is still out after 10 hours so we hope he is still going despite the shin injury. It’s all got a bit emotional and the way they’ve killed us with 2 x 50km early in the week has us very, very nervous about the long march tomorrow which takes us up 2,400m in a 65km day. Hopefully some of us will make it through.
The camp looks like a battle field. Walking wounded everywhere. Today has been a test for everyone.
To my girls; 4 more sleeps and then I’m coming home. I can’t wait to see you all. We are in a wood tonight to camp so I need to keep an eye out for the Gruffalo. On Sunday, please tell Mummy I would like a bbq, roast dinner or steak ; 0 )
To everyone else thank you for all the messages. I am getting them all, from everybody and it is great for moral to read them at the end of a tough day. Look forward to seeing you soon. Readie and Ben. NO. I AM NOT DOING THIS AGAIN
A rather emotional OUT.
PS. I saw some holes that did not look like rabbit holes but were perfectly round and big. Is this where we will find the Gobi worm?!

Amazing stage, amazing scenery, amazing running. Then we went up and it started raining. That turned to hail and it was tres cold. Mr Tilbury went off like a rat up a drain pipe so my daily game of fox and hound was made very tricky. Especially when we got to checkpoint 2 and were told that we would be doing 3km more and that would be it as the weather was getting too bad. Snow in them there hills.
So we are now sitting around in glorious, and I mean glorious, sunshine relaxing. It is a little village of yurts that the villagers have kindly let us use for the night. This place is truly amazing.
3 lessons learned today; 1. Running in a hail storm is very, very cold. 2. Running in a hail storm is a lot of fun. 3. Never look a yurt house in the face.
Sophie, Iola, Eva – we saw loads of goat herds today and in our camp there are cows that come and steal our lunch, and even cutlery, when we are not looking. If they’re not careful we might be having steak tonight!
A bit mixed feelings today as we missed some really nice parts of the course where the HK training would have really kicked in. We are also now nervous that they will create a really, really long day or 2 long days in a row. Let’s see.
Love to my fantastic family and friends and thanks for all the messages. I will pass on all your well wishes to the boys. Mum, I am getting your messages – don’t panic.
Pain is temporary, I hear. I’ll get back to you on that.
OUT.
PS. The worm continues to elude us.

Today I heard the Gobi cuckoo. Apparently summer is coming. It could of course have been an induced sound in my head due to the painkillers. Started walking with the boys today. Al went out at a strong pace and I didn’t expect to see him again, but I did – in fact chasing him down motivated me immensely. The pain on my shin is supreme. It is now swollen nicely. I really thought the first stage today would be my last. Then I discovered that going faster, maybe even running a bit, hurt less. Or the same really but at least I would reach the end faster.
Rocky, long, hard, painfull. Top 20. That’s the peak. It’s downhill from here me thinks.
It’s just started raining but we are in a cool campsite with yurts as tents (for the organisers). I think we are finally getting hills tomorrow and we all know what hills means. POWER.
Glad you guys are enjoying thr long weekend. Love to the family Cairns massive. Thanks for the comments, it is a great boost to have people writing stuff. Remember people, the blog is public so everyone can see what you say. No rude words please.
Learning for the day; 1. There are cuckoos in the Gobi, 2. The river is cold, 3. Shin splints hurt a lot
OUT.
Ps. No sign of the Gobi worm yet.

Day 1 – 50km. Promised myself I wouldn’t run today. Lasted about 10 metres before that went out the window. Just over 7 hours I think, so not a bad pace although Chigs was only just over an hour behind without running at all! I will try and stick with him tomorrow.
Three things I learnt today; 1. Pain focuses the mind or breaks the soul. Take a pick. 2. The person that catches you might not stay in front for long, 3. I do get blisters. Ben, you win that bet!
Sophie, Iola, Eva – today I saw goats, sheep, deer, camels and Uncle Chigs. He was the scariest. It is hot in the Gobi desert and there is no pool. Please take me to the pool when I get home. I am hot. I miss you all and was thinking of you in the hard parts. And mummy.
Tomorrow is another day but I have a bit of a shin problem that is worrying me. Painkillers, I guess. The food is amazing. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. It’ been years since I’ve experienced cooking at this standard. It’s a different level.
Thanks for your messages. Jim and Emma, enjoy Paris. Keep ‘em coming. It’s good to blog.
Mum, how is Dad getting on in his Gobi desert? Claire – text my mum to remind her to check the blog please!
No.12. Gobi style. Watch out for me.
Out.
Ps. No sign of the Gobi worm yet

Finally arrived at the first camp site which is actually not the first campsite because that was washed way in the thunderstorms last night. Instead we are staying in little houses on the edge of a quarry somewhere in China as more bad weather is expected. Tomorrow we will start the race which has been slightly shuffled so we now have a 50km first day to dust off the cobwebs.
My cunning plan to eat mackerel and pasta on the first night has made me loads of new friends as I absolutely stink. I didn’t think through the fact that I can’t wash my hands! It’s also quite cold so a cold bowl of pasta and a tin of stinking fish is not quite what the doctor ordered. I can’t wait to get onto the freeze dried stuff. Yum.
Sophie, Iola, so far I have seen 2 horses drive past on a trailer but no other animals. I will keep looking. I am sleeping in a room a bit like Grandad’s shed tonight. It is not something I want you to consider lightly.
Love to mum, Eva and you both.
The rest of you – I am number 12. Keep watching out for me. I’ve eaten enough to win something and I need to run very fast to drop the weight I have put on this week excessively carb loading!
OUT.

Tensions mount as we try and cram things into under sized packs, set up blogs, sew on patches and generally run around in mindless circles worrying about what we have forgotten. We just want to get there and get going. be careful what you wish for!!