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Gobi March Blogs 2010

Wing kee Chan

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Gobi March (2010) blog posts from Wing kee Chan

29 June 2010 09:56 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

just completed stage 3. A much better stage than yeseterday, where I had a persistent leg cramp that carried over from later stage of stage1. Needless to say I wlked gingerly most of the stage and later that evening I was told that ibuprofen will relief cramps. It worked, I ran most the way today and complete the race in jut over 5 hours. We went through river beds  with  rounde bolders and had to cross a dozen rivers, then we ran on flat plateau and rolling landscape (just like the small hills in Vegas) finally a long downhill to the campsite; easier than the first 2 stages. However, I stubbed my big toe running the river. My feet are good except for the stubbed  toe.
 
We are to get up at 2:30am tomorrow and take a 2 hour bus ride to startign point and stage 4. Expect to be hot and deadly. will do my best and thank you all for the support

Comments: Total (7) comments

Posted On: 06 Jul 2010 03:33 pm

WingKee, Hope you had a great race.

Posted On: 04 Jul 2010 05:25 am

Cheers, wishing you well. what amazing scenery you are going through. We will keep looking out for you.

Posted On: 30 Jun 2010 01:42 pm

I am posting this comment before any entry from you shows up about the last (hardest) leg that you just finished. As I understand it, the next leg, through the oven, is the hardest and longest. Hope you get some rest and an early start, when it is cooler, and you will have enough water and make it . Then one last shorter day to finish. We are all cheering for you.

Posted On: 30 Jun 2010 12:32 pm

Keep going, we know you can do it!!

Posted On: 29 Jun 2010 08:27 pm

Best wishes, Wing Kee! Gordon and I are following the race and hoping you and your brother get through it with no problems. Sorry to hear about the stubbed toe but hopefully it won't give you any more trouble. We salute you. Cheers! Barb Pelz, Calgary

Posted On: 29 Jun 2010 07:46 pm

Way to go Wing 1 Way to go Ibuprofen. Our marathon here is just to see how long we can go without sleep. Kyra developed Mastitis but now has antibiotic and is still nursing. You can finish this. We will relax in the heat here and think of you while having a cold drink.

Posted On: 29 Jun 2010 07:43 pm

Wing Kee, We are following the progress of the "march". Wish you well and know you are doing just fine. Look forward to seeing your videos. Pam & co.

28 June 2010 09:13 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Hello I am here at camp 2, a good 28 km race, but I could not do any running. We started with a bunch of ups and downs and by the time the flats came around I was too tired to do the run.  In fact I had bad cramps all the way through despite regular intake of salt pills and electrolytes. Trouble with cramps is that it will keep re-occouring once you get it. I walked most of the way and even with the walks my legs cramped up. Andrew and TY still have not come in as I am writing, hope they are OK. Andrew walked fairly fast yesterday and was way ahead of TY, like 1hour ahead, he is planning to take it easy and walk with TY. I will most likely travel with them tomorrow unless my legs feel better. The camp site is much warmer and feels like camping at Drumheller. The warm is a nice change from the last two sites, there were too many complaints from the people from warm countries. Again In will do my best and hope I can complete a short but hilly 23 km tomorrow. Our tent-mates intend to go for a massage at Urumqi at the end of the race, there are 8 of us at tent 2 and a fun bunch; besides TY and Andrew there are 3 Aussies, 1 English and 2 from HK. Hope you all are doing well and I can't hardly wait to come home for some 'real' food. Take care and talk to you tomorrow.

Comments: Total (0) comments

27 June 2010 06:41 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

here I am at the 2nd camp after almost 6 hours run/walk. It was a lot harder than we all expected, even though it was only 30 km. I basically ran the first 15 km and walked the second half. After the second station at the 15 km marker the trail went straight up and down, like a dozzen times. I was just exhausted by the time I got to camp. I was fighting cramps the last 3 km. I took video of the whole ordeal, landscape is just like something youll find at Longview/Pincher Creek mountains are more dramatic and the temperature again is just like Calgary, windy, 20C and cool at night. We expect temperature to change at stage4.Sorry can`t write too much my legs are getting cramped sitting on this stool.

Comments: Total (3) comments

Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 04:30 pm

How's the "blister" situation? Any problems yet?

Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 01:47 pm

Keep going WingKee. Sounds like your pushing through it. Keep the pace. Jim

Posted On: 27 Jun 2010 05:41 pm

Hey Chan Man, Hope you are doing ok after the first leg.....so do you finally think you are crazy??? Maybe I will ask you that again in a few days. We are all pulling for you here at work and will track your progress. Have fun, take lots of pictures! Julia, Murray, Kim, Viv and Suzanne.

26 June 2010 08:36 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Finally arrived at the first camp after a 5 hour ride/welcome celebration. The road was little rough, but after a few hang-ups the bus was able to take us safetly to camp#1. I am looking at a beatiful sunset surrounded by local kids and families wondering what we were doing. We are camped at a camel pasture with snowy mountains in the background, very primitive but beautiful. I am just waiting for my ;spaghetti with meat sauce to hydrate while writing. Little nervious about the first leg tomorrow, and so are the rest. IT  is 8:30 pm  and feels like Calgary in the evening, 15C and windy. There are 10 of us in tent#2, and the girls are NOT  virgins as requested. Will do my best tomorrow and keep in touch. I was told that I can reply emails.

Comments: Total (6) comments

Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 11:45 pm

As one senior to another let me say well done, have a good run, enjoy the scenery, enjoy yourself and come back safely. Pl tell same to Andrew.

Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 04:25 pm

Hi Wingkee, Good to see you're still hanging in there. Barb and I wish you all the best!! Gord

Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 12:44 pm

Just out of curiosity, how exactly do you know the girls of tent #2 are not virgins?

Posted On: 27 Jun 2010 04:55 am

Best of luck! We are thinking of you here. Calvin just arrived in SF, and will be spending a few weeks at Stanford. Look forward to seeing you here after your race. Keep on blogging!!

Posted On: 27 Jun 2010 02:42 am

Good luck old man (from Victoria) Hope the first leg went well - everyone is thinking about you. I haven't wanted to do any running since you left - have resorted to swimming and zumba. Stay safe. love Kathy Sam wasn't here to write anything - he is out at the bar with friends.

Posted On: 26 Jun 2010 09:41 pm

We are sitting here Saturday afternoon, having a drink after Jesse's circumcision and toasting to a most excellent and fulfilling race for you and your brother. Have a wonderful experience. You can do it. Go for it. Harris and Peter

24 June 2010 05:52 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Spent the last 3 days in Shanghai and the Expo, very facinating city and changing very fast and am glad they are doing a great job fixing up the old colonial buildings. The expo is another matter, and I think I had my fill of expo to last me a life time. Was able to get a couple of runs at the hotel and even ran along the Butan one morning (along the Yanze and the old colonial buildings) .

We flew in to Urumqi last night, a 5 hour trip from SHanghai, ate lamb kabab on the street and local fruits and seemed OK this morning. The population here is 3 million and many Persion looking dudes. I was told they read an write Turkist and all Muslim. THe hotel is very nice and equivalent to a 5 star in Calgary, and already filling up with participants from all over. Will try and get a last run in today before the big race. Thanks for the support, Sherperd/Baker/Hanson, will try my best but will not break any record for sure. I just started taking video when I arrived here and will continue to record for the rest of the event. Take care.

Comments: Total (0) comments

20 June 2010 07:09 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

 I was afriad to catch a cold or some other more infectious disease on the flight but arrived in Hong Kong healthy and in one piece. The weather is wonderfully warm (30-32C)and humid and I can hardly wait to try out the pack in the warm surroundings. Had my first small run on arrival two days ago (along with a yoga class) and follow up with a longer 3.5 hours run yesterday. I sweat like a pig but it was wonderful and I felt good and strong. I picked up the last of the equipment at the Planet and now my pack is complete and I am planning to leave for Shanghai tomorrow for a few days to see the Expo. My pack weight in at 17 lbs as expected. My two buddies whom I met up in Hong Kong are still repacking and can't seemed to get below 22 lbs, their biggest concerns are not having enough to eat.
At the Planet I was told that for $50 I can blog everyday during the race, which I intend to do, and should be able to answer most of my emails if they are sent to me through the Planet. I am planning to have a couple more good runs in Shanghai and I should be ready to face the desert, I think. Will keep you all posted soon.

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 21 Jun 2010 07:29 pm

Hope you are getting plenty of rest between training sessions. Not much rest happening here. Mirai goes into sympathy crying whenever Jesse cries. She can even hear him at 2 A.M. so I thinkher hearing is fine.

Posted On: 21 Jun 2010 01:49 pm

Wing-Kee - You're amazing! What an adventurer. Have a fantastic experience. The Shepherds are rooting for you and we'll be watching. - Bob

14 June 2010 02:53 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

One can only do so much for training, I think I am ready. I have lost close to 15 pounds training for this race; much stronger core and upper body strength. I have enjoyed the training so far and hope the race is as enjoyable. I have learned to eat properly and found out that I am disciplined enough to follow a routine once I set my mind to it. I now know the race is about the 'mind', one will have to be patient and focus to complete, getting good time will have to throw in the 'guts' and iron will. One will never have enough time to train, I have to deal with a lot of poor weather here in Canada. My warmest training day was 20 C, most of the time the weather was too perfect for running, a cool 10-15C and overcast. The positive thing about training here is that we are sitting at about 1000 meters above sea level and I know what it feels like to sleep at 5C outside. I was lucky enough to be able to do some training with my lovely wife who kept me in check with the diet and strength training. She lost a bunch of weight as well, unfortunately not participating in this race, she thinks I am crazy but with full support. All I have to do now is stay healthy until race day, last thing I want is to sit beside somebody with a cough for the next 15 hours flying from Calgary to HK. I know I am getting a lot of support from my friends and at my Rotary club and work, and I promised I will take pictures of my feet every evening to show you that I am not running on blisters.

Comments: Total (1) comments

Posted On: 21 Jun 2010 01:27 pm

Way to Go WingKee. You are trained, now you have to do it. The hardest part is always the third quarter. Pick easy goals and push through it. Jim