RACE INFO

RACE INFO

RACE INFO

RTP Home

Gobi March Blogs 2008

Xinying Tok

6

Posts

Gobi March (2008) blog posts from Xinying Tok

14 June 2008 08:03 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Today's the long 80km day, and believe it or not, i'm back at camp 8.30pm and about 10 people have come in, including one Singaporean, Bernard Lew. 3 cheers for him! That's less than 12 hrs in! We've got a long way to go though, some people will be spending the night out on the trail and probably sleeping at the 50km point. The long distance runners are really kicking butt today. The whole day, I've seen people with really bad backs, knees, blisters on foot that are just sucking it in and keep on walking because they just want to finish. It's quite a phenomenal experience although I'm not putting myself through this in the near future.
 
Today we're in a really green spot with lotsa of trees and thorny bushes. It's starting to be humid.

Comments: Total (0) comments

14 June 2008 07:55 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

The last of the people came in at 1150am today, just before the cut off time of 12pm. Most of them have walked 15hrs the day before, took a few hrs break at night and walked another 5+ hrs back. The spirit is really admirable. Some come in running hand in hand with newfound friends who have pushed them to go further and faster all week along the course. Just another 15km tmrw and they are all done. An interesting perspective I heard is that you come out of a race like that more confident about yourself, knowing how much pain and suffering you can endure with a goal in mind. That might be the only reason I would join something like that. But desert sun and 10-15kg backpack is not really a doable combination.
 
Campsite is full of BIG bugs. Spiders and bees and everything else you can think of. We found a river and washed some of our dusty clothes...and rinsed my really really sticky and clumpy hair. What a treat! Once you look beyond this river and the couple of farms it's barren dusty hills of sand. The geography of this place is very unexpected.

Comments: Total (0) comments

12 June 2008 07:57 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Today's first stop was through a place called Heaven's gate.  It's apparently a great scenic spot and the racers had to go up some ladders to get to this place where they can see the whole valley through a "window". I didn't get to see it, but I heard it's being developed into a tourist site for Xinjiang soon.

 

Comments: Total (1) comments

Posted On: 13 Jun 2008 06:08 am

Hi Xinying, Enjoy reading your blog. Keep it up. Wish to read some more. CHEERS!!!

11 June 2008 04:03 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

We've got a great campsite today. It's in a little valley between 2 small hills and filled with sage, which smells so good. It's also starting to get cooler now at 9pm which means my appetite is back. It's amazing how the terrain just looks so different all the time. We also went through some villages today, especially my sister who is "sweeping" (i.e. follow the last racer). She learnt to say hello in the local language...We also heard the villagers loved to show off their sons without their underpants on!
 
Looks like today's course was alot harder, with alot of gravel and hill climb the last 20km but you can read the competitors' to find out more. Some of the Singaporeans took even longer to get back today, but as always they still look great and are chripy. Steven Wong, another Singaporean who had a bad knee right from the front has been holding up great and been such a motivation for the rest!

Comments: Total (0) comments

10 June 2008 12:49 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Day 1 & 2 have passed, then Eleanor, Getty and Huan Kiat have just come in and they were out there walking for 9/10hrs everyday. I can't imagine how they feel, but they are really hanging on. Kahshin is number 28 today! He's got a blister under the big toe nail that's waiting to be drilled into (apparently it has become "ripe") woohoo. Michael and Choon Yann is doing quite ok and looking good still.
The last 2 days have been quite an experience. It's not quite what I expected the desert to be. We got rain the night we drove out into the desert. We went through lots of river canyons. Yesterday we stayed in a village and had a running stream to wash our feet in. Today we are camping in sight of a green belt of trees and shrubs. I wished we were nearer to the trees, then we will have shade? running water! We even had a mini sandstorm that lasted about 2 minutes today!
It's usually bright and hot till about 9pm. I'm waiting for the sun to go down to eat my noodles. Hot weather and food just does not go well. I weighed myseld in Kashgar before we left, we;ll see how much weight this trip takes off!
we are using the digital camera really frequently. But not the film one. wonder how we are going to finishing using all that film!
anyway, going to look for a toilet in the hills and have dinner next
xy and sj


Comments: Total (0) comments

04 June 2008 06:51 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

First 2 in the team to hit .  Staying in Beijing for a night. Going to enjoy civilization to its utmost while it lasts!  This blog will track to its best attempt the Gobi March 2008 from 5 runners’ and 2 volunteers’ perspective….The packing is all done. Can’t wait for it to begin…..

 

Comments: Total (5) comments

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 01:41 am

Tok... So is it hot enough to fry an egg atop the tent? How's your vacation so far? We miss you, especially Mike (when it comes to valuation).... Elnie

Posted On: 09 Jun 2008 11:14 pm

read about tents blown, IV needed etc etc, tough 4 Ying right? Which stage are U all supporting now? Great experience....

Posted On: 08 Jun 2008 11:20 pm

hot hot hot... are U all 'hot' too? sleep well at nite?

Posted On: 07 Jun 2008 10:01 am

Yo babe, fun so far? You haven't been blogging much (why, nothing happening ah! :p) Hope the training is useful, ha.aa.....stay alive and sand-free! call anytime you want/can! Hugs, da

Posted On: 03 Jun 2008 04:52 am

Hi, Is sky at Beijing clear? nt