Last February, I did a 200 km supported multistage race in São Tomé, on the equator off the West Coast of Africa. On the fourth day, we started the equivalent of the Long March and in the excitement, I started off too quickly. One of the seasoned volunteers told me the São Toméan saying "Léve-léve". It is a popular phrase, translating roughly to "take it easy" or "slowly, slowly". It serves as the country's unofficial motto, embodying a relaxed, stress-free approach to life. That was the best advice for the long, hot, humid day that got me to camp.

The RTP Long March can be daunting, especially if this is your first ultra. You might be thinking, how is it possible for me to complete such a long distance. No worries. By the time of the Long March, you will have already completed multiple ~marathon distances. In some strange way the Long March is easier than some of the previous days. Well, it is certainly not easy! Although it is a long distance and you will be on course for much longer than the previous days perhaps finishing in the dark or even the next morning, it is very doable.

So, léve-léve, go pink flag to pink flag, checkpoint to checkpoint, take in the stunning scenery!

I hope everyone’s training is going well. Since this is my second time in Mongolia for the Gobi March, I thought I would offer some tips on Ulaanbataar. There is a lot of traffic in the city and you might end up in some traffic jams as you make your way from the airport. Don’t worry, you will get to your hotel eventually.

The host hotel is just a short walk to the expansive Sükhbaatar Square. There you will see the large statue of Genghis Khan and probably a lot of local Mongolians. The Gandantegchinlen Monastery is also a short walk from the host hotel. It is very interesting to walk around and look inside the buildings especially the one with the very large Buddha. Inside the temple with the large Buddha you will have a very “Indiana Jones” type of experience. I ended up spinning all the prayer wheels in that temple. There is also a very large Monastery store where you can buy souvenirs.

Narantuul Market, also known as the Black Market, is the largest open-air market in Ulaanbaatar and the entire country. I haven’t been to it yet, but it looks fascinating on YouTube videos.

Last time I visited the Genghis Khan Statue outside of the city is in the middle of the countryside. It is gigantic and at its base is a museum. It is very impressive and worth visiting either on an organized tour or just hiring a driver.

It started in 2022 at the Atacama Crossing. That was my first attempt at a multi-stage ultra and my first DNF in any race, a setback. There I met Reinhold Hugo who also DNF’d because of a sandstorm that dropped a camp tabletop on his knee. After the race, we kept in touch and Reinhold mentioned that he was going to do the 2023 Gobi March in Mongolia. This put the idea in my mind to try again and see if I could finish one of these races. Also, I enjoyed meeting and sharing the experience with people from around the world.

OK, Mongolia? Where is Mongolia? Is it part of China? No. I never thought of visiting Mongolia. Mongolia sounds exotic. These were my initial questions (answered by Google) and thoughts when I started learning about the Gobi March.

For Gobi, I completely changed my approach to train for the race compared to my first attempt. I got my pack weight down to 7.3 kg not including what I was wearing. I got a pack that was configured to give me easy access to my hydration, electrolytes, and calories when on course. I got a coach who previously completed the Gobi March and rehearsed with my pack with different weights. Being in Houston, I automatically train in the heat (and humidity).

I finished! Mary said “You made the course look easy! I never saw you sweat”. The race was very challenging, but I think I had prepared well. Checkout my blog for the 2023 Gobi March, especially Post-Race Reflections.

The Gobi March is one of my favorite RTP races. I am excited to return, this time paying more attention to the incredible scenery around me.