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Gobi March Blogs 2010
6
PostsGobi March (2010) blog posts from Devrim Celal
02 July 2010 10:49 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
100km is a long distance to run.
Didi and I, agreed to run together yesterday. 100km is a long distance and both boring and mentally difficult to compete alone. We decided on a 4min off and 1 min on tactics, packed our food and set off.
Fortune was not on our side, first Didi pulled a muscle in her back, then asthma attacks, my broken toes and blisters. Despite our multiple stops for treatment we were still able to run through villages, barren fields, salt flats, rock fields and vineyards to reach check point 7 at 77km mark where we took a small break. That was the turning point. We had not accounted for what twelve hours of non-stop running could do to the body. We tried standing up and fell back to our seats again. Only after about another 10 minutes we were able to get up and start again but could not push any more and the remaining 23km through vineyards, fields and sand dunes (over 6km of them) took almost 8hours.
I have to agree with the skeptics of these events that the human body was not built for these distances but it was fun!
Best
Devrim
PS last stage tomorrow only 10km
Didi and I, agreed to run together yesterday. 100km is a long distance and both boring and mentally difficult to compete alone. We decided on a 4min off and 1 min on tactics, packed our food and set off.
Fortune was not on our side, first Didi pulled a muscle in her back, then asthma attacks, my broken toes and blisters. Despite our multiple stops for treatment we were still able to run through villages, barren fields, salt flats, rock fields and vineyards to reach check point 7 at 77km mark where we took a small break. That was the turning point. We had not accounted for what twelve hours of non-stop running could do to the body. We tried standing up and fell back to our seats again. Only after about another 10 minutes we were able to get up and start again but could not push any more and the remaining 23km through vineyards, fields and sand dunes (over 6km of them) took almost 8hours.
I have to agree with the skeptics of these events that the human body was not built for these distances but it was fun!
Best
Devrim
PS last stage tomorrow only 10km
01 July 2010 03:17 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
After finishing the last blog we got news that plans had changed and we were leaving the village at 3am for a 2 hour bus ride to our new start which meant no sleep and no breakfast.
Nonetheless, incredible 37km stage through the Turpan Basin also known as the "the oven." The run was like a beautiful collage sand dunes, canyons, ravines and long plateaus all ending at a Buddhist Temple where we will stay for the night. Some of us were able to experience their first baths in 5 days thanks to a little river next to the temple, that`s until the monks deemed it inappropriate.
Tomorrow is the d-day. 100km run through the Gobi Desert. We have 48hrs to complete it. The front runners will finish in about 15hrs, some will use a sleeping checkpoint to take a break and may be take a nap before finishing. The terrain is mostly sand dunes and canyons and temperature are meant to be hitting high 40s and may be even above 50 Celsius.
wish us luck ;-)
D
Nonetheless, incredible 37km stage through the Turpan Basin also known as the "the oven." The run was like a beautiful collage sand dunes, canyons, ravines and long plateaus all ending at a Buddhist Temple where we will stay for the night. Some of us were able to experience their first baths in 5 days thanks to a little river next to the temple, that`s until the monks deemed it inappropriate.
Tomorrow is the d-day. 100km run through the Gobi Desert. We have 48hrs to complete it. The front runners will finish in about 15hrs, some will use a sleeping checkpoint to take a break and may be take a nap before finishing. The terrain is mostly sand dunes and canyons and temperature are meant to be hitting high 40s and may be even above 50 Celsius.
wish us luck ;-)
D
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 02 Jul 2010 04:04 pm
Hi Caniks!
Hope you have a good rest after today's course! You did so well! So excited to see you tomorrow and hear all about it. GOOD LUCK FOR THE FINAL STRETCH! You're amazing!
Love,
Rana
PS I found the kebab shack - yummmm
29 June 2010 09:24 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
As promised yesterday, today was fun, thanks to my tent mates who helped plaster the blisters, burst a toe nail (it is as gross as it sounds) and recharge my ipod nano. Nothing like running in the desert listening to Bob Marley. Kind a surreal experience.
Finished in the top quarter today in 4hr 11min running (mostly) for 32km through a rock river bed with multiple crossing, up a hill and then across the desert with gale force winds (I exaggerate) and rain (this is true) and to finish it off through a range of cross country rolling hills. My idea of fun! Fortunately I was able to finish before the sun was able to get through the clouds.
I am now sitting at a beautiful Uigur village called Peach writing this in over 40 celcius heat. Tomorrow is a full on 35km desert crossing which will not be fun. I plan to take it very easy and prepare for the 100km the day after.....
Best
Devrim
Finished in the top quarter today in 4hr 11min running (mostly) for 32km through a rock river bed with multiple crossing, up a hill and then across the desert with gale force winds (I exaggerate) and rain (this is true) and to finish it off through a range of cross country rolling hills. My idea of fun! Fortunately I was able to finish before the sun was able to get through the clouds.
I am now sitting at a beautiful Uigur village called Peach writing this in over 40 celcius heat. Tomorrow is a full on 35km desert crossing which will not be fun. I plan to take it very easy and prepare for the 100km the day after.....
Best
Devrim
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 01 Jul 2010 09:45 am
Hi Devrim!
Been following you however I can - stage updates, photos, your blog, the email updates, your emails etc etc. Not sure if you've gotten my emails, so now trying this way.
I think you're probably in the last half of the 99k now as I write - go baby go!
Packed my bags for Urumqi, getting ready to leave this evening. I'll see you on Saturday at the finish line! Can't wait!
Love
Rana
28 June 2010 09:19 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
While running I had so many thoughts about this blog but by the time I cross the finish line and make it to the tent its all gone. It feels like there never is a comfortable moment here, it is either too hot or too cold. It even rained today!
Nonetheless, day 2 over! Did not feel like yesterday. Will certainly have 2 less toe nails by the end of this!
Tomorrow is meant to be an even longer and harder run and then the dreaded 100KM!
Still looking forward to it.
Best
Devrim from the Daheyan Canyon
PS promise to be more cheerful tomorrow...
Nonetheless, day 2 over! Did not feel like yesterday. Will certainly have 2 less toe nails by the end of this!
Tomorrow is meant to be an even longer and harder run and then the dreaded 100KM!
Still looking forward to it.
Best
Devrim from the Daheyan Canyon
PS promise to be more cheerful tomorrow...
Comments: Total (0) comments
27 June 2010 08:34 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Just finished day one...
At start decided to take it easy and then at stage three came across the hills and could not resist the temptation to speed up. Finished in 5hr 28min which I believe was 44. position but now I am paying for it with a black toe nail and some minor blisters.
It was fun!
Incredible scenery, one moment you are in the desert the next in luscious green fields, one second it is 40 Celsius the next a breeze picks up and it is a cool 20.
So far the organisation has been incredible. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Devrim
At start decided to take it easy and then at stage three came across the hills and could not resist the temptation to speed up. Finished in 5hr 28min which I believe was 44. position but now I am paying for it with a black toe nail and some minor blisters.
It was fun!
Incredible scenery, one moment you are in the desert the next in luscious green fields, one second it is 40 Celsius the next a breeze picks up and it is a cool 20.
So far the organisation has been incredible. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Devrim
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 27 Jun 2010 09:05 pm
Excellent done, all the best for the next one, i keep on following you...
Posted On: 27 Jun 2010 08:31 pm
Great job on finishing stage 1!
25 June 2010 02:59 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
About 72 hours ago this looked impossible, but here I am.....
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 28 Jun 2010 04:13 pm
Congrats! Awesome work!
Best of luck with the remaining stages!
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 02 Jul 2010 11:54 pm