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Gobi March Blogs 2015

Michael Williams

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Gobi March (2015) blog posts from Michael Williams

05 June 2015 07:59 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

So its Friday.

Comments: Total (7) comments

Alexandra nunez

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 11:56 pm

sooooooooooo badass!!!

Gus Zambrano

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 06:57 pm

Amazing journey Mike. Takes a lot of balls to do this so far way. I know you made it and this is probably the first leg of many of these types of journeys. The great Mike!

Maria Manrique

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 05:58 pm

Nicely done - you're a beast! Celebrate well when you return home. Speedy recovery for that foot.

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 03:10 pm

Fantastic on the long day! Which I gather makes for a fantastic finish with the last leg cancelled. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Overall rank 23 - not too shabby. Especially with a bad leg. What an adventure you've had. Safe journey home.

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 12:57 pm

So proud of you! I pray every day you will finish strong. You need to come back home to me so I'm glad they aren't keeping you. I go through the pictures daily to see if I see pictures of you and I found 2 of you. I showed Coco and she pointed you right out. So, at least you know she remembers what you look like. LOL. You've got the hardest part under your belt. The finish line is so close. Stay motivated! After you're done, you can celebrate by going to the nearest bar (as soon as you shower I hope) and have a beer. I don't know if I would have more than one though, you'll be pretty dehydrated and it will go straight to the head, but that might be nice considering your week. Think about how good those Flanigan's ribs are going to taste with a Fat Tire.

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 12:31 pm

Wow! Wow! Wow! You did AMAZING!! Sooooo impressed. You really are an inspiration. Rest up, finish strong, and CELEBRATE!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 09:09 am

That's awesome dude you kicked ass out there, 117?! That's crazy! I knew papi strong like bull! Fatty when we get you get back.

03 June 2015 03:07 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Hey all was a great day as far as terrain, But I twisted my ankle on day 2, and I still took 13thplace. Day 3 was 22ndplace I think and started to develop shin splints on same left side. Today day 4 was nice, but ended up walking half the course due to shin splints and now they think I am getting stress fracture. GO ME. So I go 37thplace today, so that's gonna drop me from place I wanted, hope to try and stay top percentage, but tomorrow changed to full 50 mile run. So I have over an hour to make up for today, and hold that spot. Beautiful people and country here. OOOOO..LOL did you all see pictures from day one...full out blizzard, forget snow storm, white out that my buddy Andy and I got caught in, thus put me 53rdthat first day which was bummer,& mentally not ready for that, or the cold. There are some tough tough runners here. Great people, lots repeats as far as runners here so they really know what they are doing. OOOO fun note gonna lose all nails on my right foot...LOL......I am all taped up...both feet, shins with pressure wraps for splints/stress fracture...LOL......But what about 90% people look like...and getting soak wet shoes 3 days row, drying them by fire...they shrink...think that's why feet so bad.

Miss fam...Kiss to the babies

Thank you all that's watching me...LOL...did not even know I was 19thplace as of day three..??? Sorry Papi gonna move 20's after today...

Now we are in valley hot hot here. So we are going from freezing...to sweating...lets hope Miami heat, training, gonna help me tomorrow.

Love all

Dooks

Daddy

Doc Mike

Papi

Comments: Total (8) comments

Mary Ann Wiliams

Posted On: 06 Jun 2015 01:39 am

Sounds like you are definitely taking this experience for all it's worth!!! Remember to stretch, especially with the shin splints. I know those really suck and they are a pain in the *ss. Stay hydrated too. Most importantly, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!! Don't do anything that doesn't feel right. You are too close to the end to make a silly mistake. You have already achieved so much that we are all PROUD OF YOU! Sounds like you are going to come back to me as one HOT MESS! Don't forget to wash yourself and your clothes before coming home...LOL. Are you sure the shoes are shrinking??? Or are your feet growing??? LOL (inside joke) Keep blogging to keep us updated since it's the only way to know how you're doing. When you start feeling discouraged, just remember...you are closer to the finish line now than you were one day 1. We love you!!! XOXOXO

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 05 Jun 2015 02:33 pm

So today's communications are worse than ever..no results, not blog posting, limited news. Hope you survived the sandstorm...wow, the weather has really given you all the extremes! Hang in there, you're on the downhill now! You've done so very well. I continue to be awed by the courage and stamina to keep going day after day. Hope the injuries are not too bad. Go, Mike!

Carol & David Diaz/O'Quinn

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 11:11 pm

Doc, David is shaking his head as we read your blog. I thinks you are insane. I KNOW you are. We love you anyway and that it includes Oliver, Lola, Sara, Elmer, Conchita, Noname and Snickers. P.S. We are proud of you!!!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 02:19 pm

Dude youre doing awesome, after all this youre still standing and going strong papi strong like bull. Youre more than half way through dude! Team papi love! Keep going youre making all of us proud

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 02:12 pm

Hey Doc! Sorry to hear about your ankle, shin splints and nails! Combined with the heat, it can't be easy. We are all in "awe" of all that you have accomplished thus far. You are #1 in our rankings for sure!! Stay strong and healthy.

Alexandra nunez

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 01:30 pm

Keep it up! You're placing great even with all the injuries! God speed on your longest day! You're kicking butt!

Karen Kimble

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 10:42 am

Keep fighting!! You are doing great. Sorry to hear about your ankle and shin splints. Good news is that after this stage you're almost home free! They said temps reached 36 Celsius today so u hope you all are taking care of yourselves and staying hydrated. Landscapes must be amazing out there but I'm sure it's hard to soak it all up when you're working your butt off for 7 straight days in the snow, the scorching heat, bum ankle etc. But you're doing something so many people will NEVER experience! Keep going!! Mary Ann- hope you're hanging in there too! A bunch of my emails didn't make it through to Adam the first three stages and are forever lost in cyber space, which is a major bummer. But maybe that's our fault! Maybe we DID shut down the server with our refreshes!

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 04 Jun 2015 06:29 am

Glad to know that you're still LOL through all the pain. You didn't really drop that much...you're ranked 26 at end of Stage 4. Still sounds fabulous to me. They didn't post your Stage 4 blogs until after Stage 5 had started, so by now you're well into your longest day. Praying that God will guide your mind as well as your steps in the Black Gobi ordeal. And anxiously waiting tomorrow's news.

01 June 2015 01:52 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Thank you all for the great support. First day was kick my ass, snow, cold...was really hard on me, but I made it. Today was hard core, Came in top 25 or close to it. Was one hardest runs, first 10 miles right up mountain past a temple, then hard core downhill. This race puts you out of your element. Tomorrow is 27 miles of pain.

Had to pull out the big pads B...!!!!!...LOL

Love to you and the babies!!!

Thank you all my friends.

OOOOOOOOO......PAPI......This is some serious shit man..Not for faint at heart dude.

Mike

Doc Mike

Daddy...Love you...

Comments: Total (13) comments

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 07:15 pm

Finally stage 4 results posted......you did FANTASTIC! I am so proud of you. I hope you are staying hydrated and eating. Take time to take pictures and video so you can share with the kids when they are old enough to appreciate how crazy their Daddy is. You have definitely inspired me and I have found myself looking at through the pictures and thinking to myself "I can do this..." then reality kicks in and I know I can't. I'll leave the extreme stuff up to you. Love & miss you

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 05:10 pm

Congrats on completing Day 4 -- you're still going great! So very impressive to be able to keep going back for more each day. Keep it up! Wishing you a great Day 5.

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 05:07 pm

You Completed another day! You are truly an inspiration! Will be thinking of you and wishing you all the best for Stage 5. Stay strong Doc!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 03 Jun 2015 04:45 pm

Hope you had an awesome run today dude, keep kicking ass out there. Still waiting to see results for today

Kathi Perna

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 09:48 pm

You are amazing !!! Keep on going you can do this stay strong ;) can't wait to hear about it in July :)

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 08:56 pm

Up to 19th place. You go boy!!!!! You rock!

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 08:49 pm

Keep it up!!! You are doing great. It's getting harder and you are doing better. When the going get tough, the tough get going! Tomorrow is going to be a trying day for you. Stay positive, stay strong, and stay focused!!! Make sure to eat all that yummy food you have with you. LOL. Just remember...don't quit! You are not allowed back home if you do. I will call China and tell them not to let you board the plane. You know I will!!! XOXOXOXO-B

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 08:42 pm

Thanks Karen (Adam's Wife)! This is so tough to not be able to communicate when you are so used to talking/texting every day. I bet us wives are the ones constantly hitting the "refresh" button so see when something will change or get posted. LOL. How are you holding up with no hubby around? Mary Ann

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 06:46 pm

Way to go, Mike! Stage 3 results finally posted and you've moved up to #19. You just keep getting better! Very, very impressive. Have a great Day 4!

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 04:47 pm

Day 3 must have been rough...looks like a lot of the runners are slowing down. I hope it wasn't too bad for you. You're doing so great and everyone is very proud. Hang in there!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 01:29 pm

Looks like youre kicking ass out there dude, that's awesome. I'm sure the stories will be awesome over fatty when you get back.

Karen Kimble

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 06:00 am

You're doing so great!! Keep it up!! Adam told me about your not so fun adventure just getting to the start line with all your belongings..CRAZY. Glad it all got sorted out in time for you to get out on the course. Sounds like a tough one, you guys are amazing for pushing through. I'd be crying at the sight of snow flurries. Also love your wife's comments...the life of a Gobi march wife! Surprised we haven't shut down the system with our constant refreshes of the page. :) Keep rockin! Karen (Adam's wife)

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 04:56 am

You are doing amazing Fat House! You are in 21st place and kicking ass and not taking names because...ain't nobody got time for that. I finally found a picture of you too. I've been stalking the website day and night. First thing when I wake up (without even getting out of bed) and last before I shut off the TV and yes....throughout the day too. I'll send you some super absorbents via my thoughts. LOL You are absolutely AMAZING and I am so proud of you for taking the time to do something for yourself. The pictures I have seen have been absolutely amazing and I can't wait to hear about every moment. Take in every moment and enjoy it all....the pain, the cold, the joy, etc. It's a lifetime experience and you are fortunate to experience it. Take it for all it's worth! Put on your big boy pants and enjoy the ride baby. I love you!!!!!

17 April 2015 03:31 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Hello fellow racers.

Comments: Total (26) comments

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 02 Jun 2015 12:50 am

OMG! You are amazing! Way to go Doc!

Linda Warner

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 09:36 pm

Cheering for you!! Kick some butt

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 06:49 pm

Finally to Day 2 results...WOW! I thought the top 1/3 for the first day was great, but top 15% on Day 2. I repeat...WOW! Go, Doc!

Alex nunez

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 04:50 pm

You are a badass sir! Keep it up!!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 02:29 pm

Hope you did awesome today dude! 2 days down

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 01:58 pm

Frustrated not to see Stage 2 results posted yet, but you did so well on Stage 1 that I bet you had a great run on the 2nd day, too. Hope going up & down that mountain pass was beautiful and not too hard for a Miamian. Keep up the great work! We're all very proud of you.

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 01:51 pm

Looks like you're doing great! Keep it up. Coco, AJ and I are all proud of you!!! We love you.

Mom and Dad Guglielmi

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 03:53 am

be safe, God Speed.!!!

Mom and Dad Williams

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 03:45 am

be safe, God Speed.!!!

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 03:32 am

Have a great Stage 2 run today. We love you. Can't wait to hear from you.

mary brandt

Posted On: 01 Jun 2015 02:23 am

Hey Dr.Mike, Our great neighbor. We are toasting to your success!Good luck!

Silvia Munoz

Posted On: 31 May 2015 09:58 pm

Way to kick butt today!!!! Soooo impressed. We are rooting for you!

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 31 May 2015 05:41 pm

Sounds like you made it through day 1. Snow?!?! Wow! Hope it was fabulous and tomorrow even better. Go, Mike, go!

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 31 May 2015 05:12 pm

I hope you had an amazing first day. We love you and miss you!

Richard Garcia

Posted On: 31 May 2015 04:45 pm

Just saw your ranking for the first stage youre doing awesome keep it up dude! Can't wait to hear the stories. Love, Papi the cheerleader

CRISTINA ZAITER

Posted On: 30 May 2015 01:58 pm

YOU GO DOC!!!! I"M YOUR #1 FAN!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Dorothy Bennett

Posted On: 29 May 2015 11:14 pm

You've got a great challenge...have a great time, too! Thinking good thoughts. Dorothy & Dusty

Suzanne Shirley

Posted On: 29 May 2015 07:04 pm

Best of Luck Mike run a great race remember it's not the win it's the challenge to endure. Your family is cheering you on brother in law. Luv Suzanne

Tina Hernandez

Posted On: 29 May 2015 04:29 pm

Counting down! Good luck crazy man

Richard Garvia

Posted On: 29 May 2015 11:57 am

You got this papi love! push through the end one mile at a time

Paul Vergara

Posted On: 29 May 2015 02:44 am

Mike is my hero!!! After you kick ass in Gobi may I join your endurance team??? Please! Before I get euthanized.

Lili Prats

Posted On: 29 May 2015 02:22 am

Good luck and Kick ass, Doc!! Xoxo

Jo & Danny de los Santos

Posted On: 29 May 2015 01:32 am

Go Dr. Mike Go :)

Carol Diaz-Zubieta

Posted On: 29 May 2015 01:13 am

Hey Doc, The whole Diaz-O'Quinn zoo is sending you many blessings! You rock!

Mary Ann Williams

Posted On: 29 May 2015 12:50 am

You got this Dooks!!! We love you.

Gus Zambrano

Posted On: 25 May 2015 03:56 pm

As the time approaches.... God's speed !

08 February 2015 08:05 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Getting ready to hit the sand, mountains, rivers, streams and whatever else lay ahead of us all. All I can say is "BRING THE PAIN". As this is my first ever 4deserts race series I want to thank all the help that racingtheplanet has given me with travel, supplies and general knowledge. For training, I want to thank Mary Ann for all the push, Isagenix for all supplies and Jungle Fitness Miami for "hard core" that they live by. Good luck everyone!!!!

Comments: Total (2) comments

Mike Williams

Posted On: 12 Feb 2015 04:54 am

Thank God Riitta is posting on our blogs...LOL...looks like I'm he crazy blogger for this run.

Riitta H

Posted On: 09 Feb 2015 01:18 am

Fantastic to see your first blog update! Better preparation, less pain - I'm sure you'll find the experience very satisfying. 4 months to go... good luck with your training! WE look fwd to reading your updates. Riitta from the 4 Deserts team

19 December 2014 12:01 pm (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

Hello everyone. Wanted to say reading the old blogs is great way to learn from past racers what was good, bad and ugly. My motto for the holidays is, train hard, eat right, and when you think you are done for the week, GO HARDER!!

Comments: Total (0) comments

01 December 2014 05:13 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)

I have just joined the Gobi 2015 race tonight and I must say I am very excited and yet quite scared. I would think that most first timers, even veterans may have the same feelings. Any help from runners with previous experience or anyone with good ideas will be greatly appreciated. Food, training, packs, gear, and travel help...let me know your thoughts. I will give updates on good things I find or hear about. Good luck to all and can't wait to see you all out there. Mike

Comments: Total (1) comments

Sam F

Posted On: 01 Dec 2014 05:40 am

We're super excited to have you joining the race Mike. We'll be sending lots of updates to keep you informed and help with prep, but I highly recommend reading blogs from previous editions of the race, in particular some of the last entries which often have notes on what they learned and what they would change. One I would recommend from the 2014 edition of the Gobi March is http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/gm_comptetior_blog.php?pid=MjM2MA==&blog=125 And also one from The Last Desert from Grand Slammer Rob Trepa: http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/ld_comptetior_blog.php?pid=MjUzOA==&blog=127