Sorry I couldn’t update you all on stage 4 as I came into camp really late around 8.30pm so I had to get my priorities sorted being my feet and stomach!

Stage 4 was tough as expected but absolutely beautiful we started the first leg with a climb up to a natural arch called Heaven’s gate at 2900m pretty steep going up so I went up slow the view at top was just out of this world. After that we were walking up and along ridges with amazing views across the valleys of the desert for maybe 15 km that was the technical part but I was fine with it being used to the trails in HK. I stopped and managed to take a few photos and played catch up with the Korean guys for a while. So far the trails have been majority rocky terrain with hardly any sand so I did not have to use my gaiters at all. They were a great bunch always encouraging me on in Korean and taking photos together. The last leg was tough on the feet again with the constant pounding from the rocks in the endless riverbeds we were walking through. I was not a happy bunny at the end and it was a very long slog to the finishing line. It was a tough 11-12 hours and I was so glad to get into camp by that point I had no appetite but forced myself to eat to prepare for the long day. It’s more difficult for the slower people like me as we don’t have that much time to rest for the following day. Every night it’s the same routine tending to the feet, sorting out the pack for the next day and trying to get a decent night’s sleep.

I was sad that my two Spanish tent mates Miguel and Quini pulled out due to injury and could not start stage 4. I hope they are resting well now.

Now for stage 5 the long day of 79km I finished it J I think I walked for a total of 19 hours, I came into camp around 3.30am cold and miserable last nightL I have realized that maybe I have overestimated my capabilities because it has been so tough for me to get through each day. It has definitely pushed me way past my limits both physically and mentally. People around camp are asking if I will do another one again and off course I replied with a big fat NO! It was pure torture and suffering that I paid for in the last 5 days but on the other hand I have learnt a lot about myself. There are some mega fit people out here and they are built like machines they finish each stage in an insane time it amazes me that they can do it consistently each day (Denvy you are a mega machine!!!)

Anyway back to stage 5 technically it was not difficult but just very long, one checkpoint at a time I was thinking throughout and telling myself I can do this. At one point the sky went dark, the wind was howling and rain! Can you believe it raining in the desert!? It was actually cold that I had to stop to put my jacket on. By about early evening  I was so happy to reach check point 5 at 50 km to get a hot drink and a little rest before the so called home stretch of 29 km to camp.  I joined my two tent mates Hayley and James for this stretch as it was going to get dark around 10ish so I didn’t want to walk alone. They set up a mean pace walking but I managed to keep up after popping 4 painkillers on route. Every step was pain in itself but I had to keep going.  We were following glow sticks all the way and when we finally saw the finishing line with the red banner in the distance my heart skipped with joy!! I got to sleep around 5 am after taking a substantial amount of time taking the tape of my battered feet to allow them to breathe. I woke up this morning with massive swelling in the feet and offcourse enlarged and new blisters.  I am putting off popping them! Its like a scene from a war camp here with the walking wounded hobbling around. Everyone is battered and I can’t understand why they would do another one of these races? There was a French man with half of the skin hanging off his foot that the doctor was fixing just now.

It will be short day tomorrow around 15km to the end and FINISHJ I am very looking forward to a long shower I haven’t looked into a mirror for the last 6 days and I dread to think what I look like. My hair is stuck to my scalp and nails are caked with dirt can’t wait to wash the Gobi off me.it has been one hell of a journey I have learnt a lot and the experience has been invaluable and on top of that I have met a great bunch of people.

I have just read everyone’s messages and emails. Thank you all for your wishes and jokes much appreciated. I haven’t let you down and I have done it! I am looking forward to celebrating with you and pigging out.

Meiling, Fi  you all can have a lie next weekend as there is no way I am going hiking, looking forward to the bubbly

STC students: thank you all very much for thinking of meJ

Hansen : I am glad your exams went well this week and see you soon. Oh please can you sort me out a dinner for Sunday night as I get back late!

STC teachers/biologist: many thanks for your support and covering my lessons this week.

Darlene: hey partner thanks for your continuous support and encouragement throughout.

Denvy: my hardcore friend and I should say mentor, your tips and advice have been invaluable my tent buddies were impressed with my food packing. The poles were a great help thanks very much, looking forward to ABC kitchen yum yum: suckling pork and pavlova

There is now a long line up for the computers sorry if I haven’t thanked you here, it was great to read that you all have been following my progress I feel so fortunate and specialJ

Take care everyone and see you all very soon.

Whoopee I made itJ

Wxxx

I struggled badly today and almost gave up at one point after check point 3. The feet were aching but I was coping with it but just going slowly. I had trouble breathing and felt nausea, every step I took I was breathless. I think its due to the altitude as we are now at 2500m, alot of runners found it difficult today and the cut off time to reach camp was abit tight. I only made it because my lovely tent mate walked with me and encouraged me all the way from the last checkpoint. I was on the verge of tears and constantly telling myself not to give up, I was not in pain but I just couldn't get enough oxygen in to make each step. The terrain was an endless rocky field through these canyons which pounded my blistered feet, we were going up and down all these rocky hills and it was endless, I was too tired to appreciate the scenary and had to focus all my energy in making each step.

I made it to camp but bursted into tears infront of everyone, it was rather emotional time. I am quite embarrassed now! People were so nice to me when I arrived with my tent mate, they got me water and carried my bag to the tent. We were even given a treat today a can of pepsi:) Some people did  withdraw today. I am glad that I survived the day but only just however I am quite concerned about tommorow though as its walking at altitude and the route is going to be very up and down. Fingers crossed.

I haven;t read any messages yet as I am writing this as this laptop is write only. So sorry can;t reply to any of your questions.

Pack will at least be a bit lighter for tommorow so hopefully I will be able to make it, they will be making the cut off times generous as it will be the hardest day and quite technical.

I have new blisters today as expected two on the heel and some little ones developing on the toes so will need to give them a poke to drain the fluid. My feet are almost bound like a mummy with all the taping!! I am feeling alright overall aching offcourse.Hopefully an early night after my delicous chicken korma yum yum and I should feel better to start.

Ok better go and have my dinner and tend to my precious feet.

wish me luck:)

Ok stage 2 over and done with, it was a long day today in extreme heat maybe 40 degrees celsuis or more.Quite up and down with amazing views across the mountains, we walked through these red valleys which looked like a scene from Mars!

It was tough day and I have to report that I have two blisters and my bunions are hurting despite taping.My pack weight was maybe down to 9kgs after eating the one dinner and breakfast, I am not really eating all my snacks on course finding it a bit awkward but draining the energy paste drink though!!!

Feeling ok but legs do hurt and have to makesure that I properly tape my feet. I have put on the compression tights today for recovery it was a bit embarssing as there was not much privacy so had to hide behind the tent.

The heat was pretty extreme today and walking through constant rocky terrain was killing the feet. I felt alright but thoughts about tommorow and how I will cope was constantly whizzing through my mind. We'll see what happens:(

Thanks you for the messages again. Nothing interesting to report, not eating any spicy meals!!!! Have made friends with the two Spanairds in my tent and they have a solar charger so don;t need to ration the music now:)

Gotta go people waiting and I am frying like an egg in the sunny part of the cybertent! Excuse the grammar and spelling mistakes!

Hope everyone is doing alright in HK

over and out from the Gobi

Hello all,

Made it to stage 1 woohoo:) Quite happy with the time and very happy that I have no casaulties on the feet yet and I am not last!!

 The weather was hot but not as hot as expected with a high of 32 degrees celsius, the course was alright it was rated as easy today, very rocky with a couple of river crossings. We are not going to get any sand dunes at all but just alot of fine dust!! I had problems with the windy conditions and it was so dry so had to constantly apply lip balm and the eyeballs quite drying up!!

I rationed myself to only 10 songs on the IPOD so saving the juice for the harder bits later. Apparently the weather is looking to get hotter this week. They had to change the course abit due to heavy rains from the previous week and tommorow its going to be longer than 40KM!

Camplife is interesting! Toliets are as expected with over 160 runners on dehydrated food, power bars and gels so it takes getting used to!!

Tonight we are not staying in a tent but in some kind of village hall/house so I kind of have a bed which is fab. Last night I was the last one to fall alsleep in the tent amongst 10 people, there was a whole chorus of snoring going on hopefully better sleep tonite.

Many thanks for the messages guys keep them coming, it is very encouraging. There was a point today where I felt crap as the dusty road kept going on and on, the wind was howling and my stomach was growling :( I pulled thru and feel as good as gold now and almost looking forward to my denydrated chicken tikka dinner!!!

Hansen: Makesure you revise for the two exams this week, eat your dinner and remember to turn the lights off before going to bed!!! Thanks for sorting out the playlist for me:) Don;t worry I am alright.

Biologist at STC: only saw a couple of lizards and camels today, nothingelse of any biological significance to report yet:)

MeiLing I am glad you had your first lie in for ages but watch out I will be back next week!!

Toshi, Sonia, Denvy, Caroline and Darlene just read your messages thanks very much I will try my best and yes its more mental than anything. I was walking mostly on my own today and I think the desert does funny things to your head!!!

OK better stop here people waiting now.

Adios hasta la manana!!

Hello all,

Have arrived at camp1 ready to start tomorrow morning. A beautiful campsite with rolling hills around but pretty rocky and windy so got to be careful with the flipflops , don’t want to break the foot before I even start!

I was paranoid about meeting hardcore people but fortunately I have met quite a few newbies like myselfJ My tentmates are cool and I will practice my Spanish very soon once I warm up!!!!

Right I see there is a queue starting up for some treats: watermelon,  so got to go now can’t miss out on the fruitJ

Wendy

I can’t believe it’s only 12 days till I leave for the Gobi; it’s a rather frightening thought. Friends, students and colleagues are asking if I am ready and I am not quite sure that I am!

I will spare you the details of my training but it is consistent.  I am not hard-core in anyway therefore I do wonder at times if I am set up to compete in a 250KM race across the desert? This is really my first major race in my life so talk about throwing yourself into the deep end!

My goal of the Gobi March is simply to enjoy the experience and to cross the finish line. I also hope that my students can be inspired by this; to challenge themselves to do something out of the ordinary and to grasp the opportunity where they are able to push themselves to the limit both physically and mentally.

My son Hansen continues to think I am a lunatic to embark on such a race!  He helped me out the other night counting, weighing and labelling the range of dehydrated food  and he is in disbelief that I am will be eating such a small amount of food-approximately 2000 calories per day  as I am normally a bit of a pig when it comes to food. I reckon my belly will suffer more than my feet during the race! Secretly I think Hansen is proud that I am doing this and maybe even brags about me in front of his friends!?

The group “Race for Welfare” (like us on Facebook) my students set up  at school to raise funds for the charity Child Welfare Scheme Nepal have almost  reached our goal. Our target is to raise funds to support one of the Day Care health Centres run by CWS in the rural villages of Pokhara. The students have been especially proactive in their fundraising through events at school and promoting the sponsorships of me competing in the Gobi March. Well Done guys