It’s been another amazing day in the Gobi . The runners have completed/ are still completing the longest stage of the race, and spirits generally remain high. The medical staff was short 2 members last night while Dr. Lori and Dr. Allen were in Kashgar, and there were numerous feet to mend.  But, luckily, the competitor who was transferred to the hospital last night is stable, and the medical team is back at full capacity.  Dr. Brian and I have closed our checkpoints and are back at camp.  Lori, Carolyn and Allen will remain at their checkpoints overnight while the racers either complete the course armed with headlamps, or catch a few winks at Checkpoint 21 and continue racing in the morning.  The atmosphere at camp is different than the rest of the nights have been--- an iPod is blasting tunes, and I see some of the media staff dancing around in front of the tent. There seems to be a sense of lightness that may be directly related to the fact that the racers back at camp already have less than 15 kilometers to go in the Gobi March.

As the last day draws near, I find myself with mixed feelings.  I will be sad to leave my cell phone and email free life where all my possessions fit in a backpack, and my main day (and night) job is to hand out water, bandage blisters, and tend to sick racers.  But, I sure could use a shower and some clean clothes!

-Dr. Marla

Today I was able to experience one of the world’s wonders.  Heaven’s Gate or Shipman’s Arch is a gorgeous scene of wind worn sculpted rock surfaces reaching toward the massive Arch.  Through the Arch, you can see the rugged mountains tapering off to the valley below.  The racers had to climb six ladders and traverse through a river bed to get to the top, but the effort was well worth it.  My task was to make sure no one tumbled off the ledge. Though I spent more time as the photographer, snapping photos for a number of the athletes.  Ansel Adams has nothing on me. 

Heading to camp to help with the expected foot care and dehydration issues.  Dr Allen should be joining us after a successful transfer.  Seems Dr Allen has been kickin at the hotel, taking multiple showers and probably a massage or two. 

-Dr. Brian

Back to camp now after an exciting two days dealing with a medivac back to town, to the major hospital in Kashgar.  Needless to say, this was a unique experience and I had a steep learning curve with regards to local hospital politics and practices.  After a long 1.5 hour ambulance ride, which was essentially a van with a table in the back, (and the ambulance nurse vomiting from motion sickness), we arrived in Kashgar and I spent the next two days trying to figure out what medications were what and was frantically trying to relearn my medical mandarin.  All in all everything turned out okay, with assistance from Drs. Brian and Lori as well as help from the emergency SOS evacuation team, who is now accompanying the racer back home. Excited to back in the desert and take care of a bunch of nausea and foot issues now…

-Dr Allen

Let the foot care begin!!!  Today was predicted to be a relativity easy day for the races. Seems someone forgot to tell them about the mud and rocks, especially if you veered alittle off track. And mud with rocks equals lots of work for the medical team. Carly and I were based at the camp while Marla, Lori and Carolyn covered the course.  The course took quite a toll on the racers feet as there were a lot more severe blisters for this early in the race.  We spent over 8 or 9 hours treating close to half the athletes.  Blister care origami at its best.  We gave a few more IV fluids to several racers, but these are starting to taper off as the athletes get use to the heat.  Dr Allen is still with our one athlete in Kashi as we coordinate his transfer back to Hong Kong . Fortunately, the athlete is doing quite well. 

Thanks to everyone for the emails. I hear I have some, but haven’t had time to read them yet. Keep them coming.

Dr Brian

Stages 1-Remember To Pace

 We’ll it’s been an exciting two days since the start of the 2008 Gobi March. True to form, we were expecting a variety of medical issues (ie dehydration, nausea and vomiting) during Stage 1. But this was the worst Stage 1 in my career of covering RTP events. The course was hot, dry and included minor altitude. Combine that with various racers who decide to push the envelop of their fitness and you’ve created a perform storm for a long medical day.  I’m always amazed that some athletes think training in hot, humid weather will totally prepare them for the dry desert. 

 A hard course between CP2-3 caused several athletes to collapse at CP3 and the finish line.  The medical team dispensed over seven liters of fluids throughout the day.  Unfortunately, one athlete became severely dehydrated and hyponatremic (low sodium) requiring transfer to a local hospital.  Luckily, Dr Allen Chen speaks Mandarian and was sent with the athlete to help coordinate the care.

 Stage 2- Welcome to Mars

 It was just as hot and included a harsh traverse through the Red Valley .  The Red Valley is an amazing landscape that has the deep reddish colors of Mars. I joined the sweep team of Camilla, Jen and Shea (aka Charlie’s Angels) to walk through this area just in case we had any casualties.  No casualties, but we did scare away any potential evil as per our mission.  The afternoon medical tent was quite busy with continued dehydration and lots of blisters.  Hopefully, things will ease up as the medical team has been working overtime.

 Right now, the sun is slowly setting, the medical tent is winding down and Josh is providing live music on his guitar. All I need is a nice margarita. Per Josh, “Without the fantastic support of the medical team, I wouldn’t be able to play guitar.”  Seems another life was saved when Dr Lori and then Dr Marla lanced an abscess in his finger.

 It’s been an interesting two days.

Dr Brian

June 09, 2008 

Stages 1-Remember To Pace 

We’ll it’s been an exciting two days since the start of the 2008 Gobi March. True to form, we were expecting a variety of medical issues (ie dehydration, nausea and vomiting) during Stage 1. But this was the worst Stage 1 in my career of covering RTP events. The course was hot, dry and included minor altitude. Combine that with various racers who decide to push the envelop of their fitness and you’ve created a perform storm for a long medical day.  I’m always amazed that some athletes think training in hot, humid weather will totally prepare them for the dry desert.   

A hard course between CP2-3 caused several athletes to collapse at CP3 and the finish line.  The medical team dispensed over seven liters of fluids throughout the day.  Unfortunately, one athlete became severely dehydrated and hyponatremic (low sodium) requiring transfer to a local hospital.  Luckily, Dr Allen Chen speaks Mandarian and was sent with the athlete to help coordinate the care.  

Stage 2- Welcome to Mars 

It was just as hot and included a harsh traverse through the Red Valley.  The Red Valley is an amazing landscape that has the deep reddish colors of Mars. I joined the sweep team of Camilla, Jen and Shea (aka Charlie’s Angels) to walk through this area just in case we had any casualties.  No casualties, but we did scare away any potential evil as per our mission.  The afternoon medical tent was quite busy with continued dehydration and lots of blisters.  Hopefully, things will ease up as the medical team has been working overtime. 

Right now, the sun is slowly setting, the medical tent is winding down and Josh is providing live music on his guitar. All I need is a nice margarita. Per Josh, “Without the fantastic support of the medical team, I wouldn’t be able to play guitar.”  Seems another life was saved when Dr Lori and then Dr Marla lanced an abscess in his finger.  

It’s been an interesting two days.  

Dr Brian

Racing the Planet, Gobi March 2008.  We have a rockin` medical team for this race. 

The Seattle contingent is clearly in the majority, but there is a small representation from Boulder, Colorado and New York City . Brian Krabak is leading our team; as many of you know, he`s the medical director for Racing the Planet, so we are in good hands.

His casual yet energetic demeanor should keep us all in good spirits. We have two experienced nurses with us, between them they have done 8 RP races and numerous other sporting type activities in between. Carly is a cardiac nurse from Colorado and an avid outdoorswoman. Carolyn is a GI nurse from Seattle and she`s currently working towards her masters to become a nurse practitioner.  We have 2 newbies- Marla is Brian`s partner at University of Washington in Seattle and Allen is a 3^rd year resident in Physical Medicine and Rehab at UW.  And I`m Lori. I`m the New Yorker and an emergency med physician at  Mt. Sinai . This is my 3^rd RP event.

On our arrival yesterday evening here in Kezilsu, the town went all out with the welcome festivities. There was singing, dancing, speeches, and even a high speed horse race/quest for a dead goat (I can`t say I totally understood what was going on, but it was pretty high paced and exciting. At one point, one gentlemen fell off his horse and did not get up for a while and it looked like we had our first trauma patient. He did eventually get up and walk on his own.)

We are currently getting set for the start of the race- which is set for 9am. The competitors seem to be getting a little ansy; a few have stopped by the med tent for pre-race pain meds- perhaps in anticipation of what is soon to come…well, we will keep you all posted. I`m sure we will have some interesting stories to tell!

-LM

The Gobi March 2008 medical team will start to post blogs soon.