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Gobi March Blogs 2016

Allen Kerton

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Gobi March (2016) blog posts from Allen Kerton

30 June 2016 03:29 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Exactly one week ago today, I was out in the sun, struggling somewhere between checkpoint 6 and 7 and about 14 hours into The Long March (stage 5). My tent mate from tent 11

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24 June 2016 03:35 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

I like a good challenge, but yesterday was way off the scale and the toughest thing that I have ever done by a long way, We were all prepared for a hot day, but with the afternoon temperature hitting 51 degrees in the sun and a strong wind, it felt like someone had turned a giant desert hair dryer to maximum. The first couple of stages were pretty good for me and I recall being about 15th

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John Kerton

Posted On: 25 Jun 2016 07:18 pm

Hi Allen, Well done you and all the other runners, only just beginning to realize the true extent of the effort you guys have to make and I bet I am still 1,000% off reality. Expect you have left the area already but you will be pleased to know that I had a large cheese and ham toastie for you on my bike ride today. So incredibly proud of you Allen, speak soon. John

22 June 2016 02:30 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Incredibly hot here at camp 5 (6,00pm now). The tablets for typing the blogs on keep overheating and really hard to see what I

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Jare Steines

Posted On: 23 Jun 2016 05:40 am

Mid 40's! Holy cow! It was really great to read how well you did yesterday and I'm glad you're body is not falling apart as the race goes on and you're long day is upon you. Also great you can start earlier too! Every hour helps and each one being hotter than the last. Keep on keeping on Allen! You got it!

Alister Brown

Posted On: 23 Jun 2016 03:49 am

Well Done Allen!!!!, we are glad your knee seems to be holding itself together. Good luck for the 5th stage. Alister Kat & Ethan

21 June 2016 04:03 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

I

Comments: Total (4) comments

John Kerton

Posted On: 22 Jun 2016 02:01 pm

Hi Allen, Seems that you definitely prefer the heat to the rain and cold, you were flying today! Hope you kept a bit in the tank for the biggie tomorrow. Just to let you know it is Glastonbury festival back home this weekend and it is the usual quagmire (obviously would not suit you at all). Up to date on IBT now, having looked it up but you will need to let me know about the stone in the sock one day? Keep going mate. John

Jare Steines

Posted On: 22 Jun 2016 08:57 am

Allen! So glad to read this. Sounds like someone is making some good decisions at some point and this is perhaps why your knee isn't destroyed. Keep making the best decisions and you'll finish with a smile on your face! I just read about the rock in a sock on Jax's blog and thought to myself. Of course! What a good idea! Keep moving forward! Best!

Emma Leung

Posted On: 22 Jun 2016 08:44 am

We are so proud of you and keep it up Allen!! And hope you have a better recovery from your knees. Stay safe and we are all here to support you :)

Carole Start

Posted On: 21 Jun 2016 08:44 pm

Hi Allen, I finally managed to log into this site and find your blog, thanks to John, tho help from him to get into this site to find your blog was to "keep tapping at everything" very high tec advice!! Lol Thanks John x Anyway how amazing to be able to read about every step of your journey, it sounds very tough at times, but also very rewarding, the way you decribe in detail, the sceenery, the turain even the Hyenas, which made me laugh, is just brilliant, it makes it even more real for the likes of us sat in our warm homes with our slippers.. Unlike you, I'm a little worried for you at not having your slippers.. Everyone needs slippers at the end of the day!!! Lol And intrigued with the "rock in a sock massage... Do hope your knees are not too painful.. I think you are doing brilliantly.. So keep up the amazingly good work.. And love reading your blogs.. Big hugs Carole xx

20 June 2016 02:57 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

I completed stage 2 and rolled in to camp 3 a few hours ago. As always, the course went through some amazing and challenging landscapes. The hill climb was brutal and I felt every day of 55 years old as I struggled up the muddy goat paths in the rain

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John Kerton

Posted On: 21 Jun 2016 02:16 pm

I now see that it's a bit later where you are than I thought .I think that by the time we get ant info. you are tucked up in bed. Hopefully you got through today well and you will be well rested for tomorrow. I see that you are coming out of the mountains now and more into the desert. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. Anyway keep going Allen, we are all willing you on. John

Jare Steines

Posted On: 21 Jun 2016 09:45 am

Hey Allen! Keep it up and way to go on stages 1 and 2! You're going to have a lifetime of gratitude when looking back at these stages and how hard you had to work on top of your itb issue. I'm rooting for you each day and night from here in Beijing and am doing the same distances here in the city. Nothing like what you're describing and I'd love to be with you all! So excited for you! - Jare

Alister Brown

Posted On: 21 Jun 2016 12:57 am

Keep up the good work!!!!. It is great being able to get the lowdown of the stage rather than just looking at a time. On a side note all of the bunks and tables are installed in the cabin and look great. Hope your knee holds out. Alister, Kat & Ethan

Liz Hodges

Posted On: 20 Jun 2016 04:29 pm

amazing Allen - looking forward to hearing about the next stage!

19 June 2016 02:51 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

A cold start, awesome rocky river gorge section to checkpoint 1 and The Gobi March 2016 was underway for me at

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john kerton

Posted On: 20 Jun 2016 02:37 pm

See that you have completed stage 2, congratulations. I have been looking at the pictures posted and the weather conditions look shocking. Keep up the good work. John

John Kerton

Posted On: 20 Jun 2016 07:44 am

Hi Allen, Great to read the blog and get a bit of an idea of what you are going through. I think that you must be well into the 2nd stage by now and will not get this till you finish. Hope that your knee is holding up and that the new shoes are better than the last pair. Will keep looking out for pictures etc. So proud of you. John

David Cox

Posted On: 20 Jun 2016 02:24 am

Well done, Stage1 done and dusted. The dune ridge looked fantastic, I bet it was fun coming down! A couple of great photos of you, looks a bit chilly, so the heat should be welcome. Namibia was 44 and you thrived so what's another degree or two? Look after your knee - as they say over there "man man lai".

Alister Brown

Posted On: 19 Jun 2016 09:25 pm

Great to hear you are through the first stage Allen, look after that knee. Hope stage two goes well for you - Alister, Kat & Ethan.

07 June 2016 07:59 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

It

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John Kerton

Posted On: 18 Jun 2016 07:01 am

Hi Allen, Hope this gets to you before you set off. Good luck Bro, this is the tough one. Send what you can, if you have any energy left. With you all the way. Johm

Mark Stiles

Posted On: 17 Jun 2016 07:27 pm

Well Done Allen! Glad to know your blisters are "healed" (no pun intended) and that you are on your way to another great experience! The Gobi is magnificent, although you will miss our roving glow stick friends there, maybe you will get snow, as I did last year on the first day. Wishing you great luck! Your tent-mate from Namibia, Mark