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Gobi March Blogs 2013

Tim Elborne

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Gobi March (2013) blog posts from Tim Elborne

04 June 2013 01:59 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Day 2 and 3 complete so half way done. All I can say now is that Tony VC has set an unbelievable marching pace. For a man with a bad knee and next to no training he's killing it. He came 14th place today which is incredibly impressive considering the field. What I've noticed is that he has seriously mastered the uphill 'crab shuffle' which is incredible to watch. Stainer, I think you're going to lose that bet pal - sorry man.
 
Day 2: Generally a completely pretty butters day. It was a 40km uphill slog through a rocky pasture which if found particularly difficult. The ground was very uneven under foot which created the perfect environment for blisters to sprout. It wasn't until the final 6km that I started to motor and that was only because I could smell the campsite on the horizon my body felt very sore all day. So I finally made it to the camp after 6 hours 22 mins on the run with 5 new blisters that the medics very kindly dealt with. Worse than day one for sure.
 
Today, day 3, I tried to keep to Tony's pace but at about 3km he was crabbing into the distance. That guy is insanely quick! It's awesome to watch. The whole day was pretty amazing and by far the most beautiful countryside we've experienced. We trekked through some stunning valley's, followed by a pine forest where we had to cross 3 swinging cable bridges straight out of Indian Jones. After the 3rd bridge we hit the hardest part of the course - a 600m climb up a 70 degree gradient that really got the legs working and the heart pumping. This is where Jack and I met and stayed together until the 3rd and final check point of the day until Jack powered off and finished a few minutes in front of me.
 
All in all things seem to be getting a little easier day by day so I'm looking forward to getting back to camp tomorrow evening and preparing myself for the long 80km stage where we could be trekking for more than 14 hours......:-s. After that, all we have is the final 10km on Saturday morning then it's party time.
'
Timothy's current body facts:
Blister count: 7
Weight loss: 1kg (Which is very low and apparently because im super hydrated)
Muffin top status: Still very much present on both sides :(.
General Moral: 7/10 (this morning I was at about 2)
 
I hope you're all well and please continue to donate to our justgiving page.
 
x

Comments: Total (12) comments

Gus Robinson

Posted On: 07 Jun 2013 06:23 pm

COME ON TIM! Really inspirational stuff, you're all doing so well. Best of luck for the final straight. Please take a photo of Jack at the moment he's replaced all the fluids lost in the desert with Dalmore Single Malt. See you when you get back.

George Cave

Posted On: 07 Jun 2013 11:34 am

Keep running Tim - you really could do with shedding a few more pounds!

Tom Davies

Posted On: 06 Jun 2013 10:01 am

Mate, I hear on the grapevine you are killing it! Awesome achievement. Good luck for a the last couple of days. Tom

Katie Muir

Posted On: 06 Jun 2013 08:57 am

Timpsorino....sounds incredible! Amazing effort. cant wait to hear more when you're home!!!x

julian muir

Posted On: 06 Jun 2013 04:13 am

Tim great achievement climbing ever up the leader board Well done very nearly there Julian

Emma Clarkson Webb

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 10:26 pm

Keep on at it Tim. You're doing so unbelievable well. Big party for when you return, we're all thinking of you lots xxxx

Breedddeee Elborne

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 01:19 pm

Bro, so glad to hear it's going really well you are killing it. Keep up the good work and you'll be done before you know it!! Smash that terrain!! xxx

Freddie Freddie

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 11:58 am

Keep going mate. Do they have beers lunch on this run?

Boulder Head

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 11:27 am

Well done man, you are doing an amazing job!! Sorry to miss you first post, can you bring back a couple of rocks for wedding decorations? I would like to add something personal to the mix. I think that woman that did the cinnamon challenge is on my training course but I am too scared to ask her. Hope you are and the boys are enjoying it though and looking forawrd to the next post. Come on TIIIIMM! xxx

Henrietta Oakes

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 08:55 am

Tim - you are bossing it!!! Well done!

Staines .

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 08:16 am

Tim, you can't let me down man. That £100 is going towards your celebration dinner at Le Gavroche. Keep it up!

julian muir

Posted On: 05 Jun 2013 04:42 am

Tim , Well done sounds like everybody is hanging in the , fantastic achievement by you all , good luck for the big one Julian

02 June 2013 01:52 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Day 1 complete and all I know is that my preparation for this event has been about as good as Ron Atkinson's stint as manager of Peterborough Utd. Firstly, at the mandatory check-in my bag weighed well over log where anything over keg was frowned upon. On top of this I was missing a number of keys items on the compulsory list so as you can imagine this wasn't the best start but certainly not the end of the world. I bought the things I was missing and off we went to the first camp.
 
The Gobi March kicked off at 8am today and all I can say is that from the start it felt pretty difficult with the heavy backpack, so tough in fact that I ditched 12 sachets of powder to try and lighten the load. Unfortunately this had little effect on my already very sore shoulders. Other than that the day was ok mainly because Jack and I ran together the whole way keeping each other sane.We march on and on and finally got in at 2.48pm after 6 hours 48 minutes traveling. It was good fun but I am hugely relieved to have one day out the way. Now onto tomorrow.
 
For the Elborne's - there are a couple of things that I've learnt over the last few days:
1. Bredde, I want to video you traveling around China for a week. You would find this place classic and all I'll say is scleeeeep!
2. Boulder, this desert is full off your offspring suffering extreme oil-skin erosion. You'd be impressed by some of the rock formations. I even think you should get married here....just a thought.
 
That's all I have to say for the time being so 'I'm off to eat some dehydrated shepherd's pie.

Comments: Total (7) comments

Sophie Salisbury

Posted On: 04 Jun 2013 10:32 pm

COME ON TIIIiM! You are doing an incredible job xxxxxxx

George Cave

Posted On: 04 Jun 2013 10:03 pm

Boy can this guy run (despite his big dick & little legs)!

Emma Clarkson Webb

Posted On: 03 Jun 2013 02:08 pm

Tim, you are steaming ahead. Well done. So so impressed with you all. xxxxx

Roy Bear

Posted On: 03 Jun 2013 12:46 pm

YIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDOOOOOOOOWOWOOWOW Keep going player. x

Alexander Badeni

Posted On: 03 Jun 2013 11:05 am

Impressive running. I've got £100 on you to win the race, so you need to improve. I hope you are thinking of the next SC location...

Simon Elborne

Posted On: 03 Jun 2013 09:04 am

Lube up those shoulders bro... keep on trucking. x

Freddie Elborne

Posted On: 03 Jun 2013 06:46 am

Very impressed bother, keep it up!! sceeelp! x