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Gobi March Blogs 2012

Wandering Wonderer

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Gobi March (2012) blog posts from Wandering Wonderer

02 December 2011 01:20 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Dec 2nd, it is 7 months to the race. I had just came back from ARWC 2011. It is a cold weather race. We kept moving at 6km/hr easily across terrains with 8kg load. It felt good. 4 days with only 10 hours sleep. This is my early prep for Gobi. Strangely, there has been no running just endurance march, rides and kayak. This is time to start the running proper.

Choosing the right shoes is an art. This is an endurance race and your body reacts very differently during distress. In fact, my toe is still numb from the ARWC. Luckily, through 80+km of treks, and 170km + of mtbing (hike a bike included) there has been no blisters. I got a blacken toe. I was wearing the salomon XT wings 2. The heel cup was a killer during the long descent of > 60 degrees. It just cuts into the heels. I am now trying the innov8 roclite 295 and the innov8 race X as training shoes. The s-lab 4 is always a standby for the race.

For my first ultra, I've signed up for HK Vibram 100k challenge. I hope to complete the course on time and have time to catch up with team active atoms in HK and raid the racing the planet store.

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18 August 2011 10:07 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Nutrition for a long race is important especially for Gobi March. It is important to constantly stay fueled and hydrated. Hammer nutrition is the product of choice for the Gobi March. Hammer Nutrition's perpetuam is one of the earliest product to address the benefits of replenishing expended energy and not from a replacement point of view. Less is more. After months of training, I understand the concept to have a bottle of drinks mixed with a scoop of perpetuam. That seemingly inadequate nutrition is actually enough for replenishing nourishment. Please try out Hammer products as they are the best in the market for endurance races.

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10 August 2011 01:32 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

The journey towards XPD was an incredible journey. Those who are not in the know, XPD is my preparation for the Gobi Desert race. Its a 700km multisports continuous self-supported race. Many would have done the Gobi March in preparation for the XPD but I chose it the other way around. XPD is definitely a tougher race for most but for me, running is my weakest link in adventure sports. I hate to run! An incredible journey it is. I met some of the most supportive teammates one could ever find. Of the many weekends we spent training, all I get was a supportive team and I'm ashamed of the slow speed that I had. Slow in runs, slow in uphills... I had just a survival instinct and an exceptional sense of balance and a bit of technical skills and that kept in still in the team. Stamina wise, I am far far from the rest. I hope to be at least 50% ready. At it is now... I'm only 30% ready. I could do 300km now I think. As more infor streamed in I am petrified of the ice forming, numerous hills and RAIN!... that ought be cold and miserable... More running for the XPD and more running for the Gobi March from now on. Those interested, we just did a 35km walk and 60km ride with 12 kg backpack. Thats a 12 hour mileage. Yes, the search for the shoes is still on....

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17 July 2011 11:42 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Fear and anxiety are one of the main emotions facing competitors. It was interesting. After training with the guys for the last few months, I did have performance anxiety, fear to train with other people. This is very interesting to me. Anyway, I did badly racing with the other guys, so, its probably true. This weekend, we went to Jasin and Muar for the Muar Jamboree, I was riding well and was strong even though I did not touch my bike for 2 weeks. ~ a LONG TIME. Anyway, it is pretty clear I am way off the top racer in the group. More importantly, I did feel inadequate. I should be strong but I am not... haiz. And.... I haven't run yet. Its all been cross training.

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11 July 2011 12:02 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

This weekend is my scheduled long rest, a time to allow my body to recover. I went to Sarawak to attend the rainforest music festival. It has been the most unbearable time I had ever with a fellow traveller. Well, it was not all bad, at least 1 performance made me smile - the performance of water percussion by the African Women certainly is creative and definitely worth every cent paid there. At least i smile. Kuching it seems has been a very different city from the last time I was there. Gone was Ruai, my favourite pub. In place came Junk. A nice but ok pub. The natives were as always lovely and very hospitable. Thanks Joyce, Corine, Sim and Francis. You made Kuching enjoyable. Also, to the 2 ladies I played a prank on posing behind you twice, peace! To Maliska running Gaiadiscovery.com, keep the good work! The last sparkle did made this trip memorable. I guess the long training route to Gobi 2012 would be the same. A lot of bitter pills to swallow and eventual sweetness at the end of the run. Keep on moving... Lets go!

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03 July 2011 12:43 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

The day was spent fixing up the bikes and running errands. Tonight, 2nd July, we are suppose to bike 4 hours and hike 6 hours. Nutrition was key. I mixed a good mix on Carbo hydrate solution to a concerntrated bottle and mixed some carbo powder to the hydration tube. I had 6 litres of water in the backpack and all had himalayan mountain salt mixed in for electrolytes. A highly concerntrated solution for a small bottle for sipping for that extra energy. I had chocolate bars. I had almost 12 kg on my back riding the pivot out to Lor Asrama, a shortened crankset... means the climb is unfamiliar and really tough. It was all well though I was the last in the pack, the real problem came at BT where a climb I normally breeze through had me stumped! I felt so bad. Riding out, along LCK road, Chris had us pulled at 35km/hr I swear it was 40.... I had my lungs cramped. Back at Marsiling, the boys had their usual feast. I had a ice coffee and a naan so as not to stress the stomache too much. Though I knew my fuel was low.... I could not take solid food. I just need liquid food. It was good when we reached wilson's place for the transition. I had my clothes changed within mins and started to mix 2 bottles with perpectuam. The perpectuam had me saved. I think I need at least 1 bottle per hour... so 6 hours hike = 6 bottles not 2. This training had exposed some wardrope malfunction. The Macpac Amp race 25L had some strings that broke and needed some attention. My Salomon 3/4 tights were torn. The joint seams delaminated. Shit. A lot more about my own physiology. My arms were swelled. I could see the "pig trotter" in my arms. Bad. There were some tightness but all is well. I realise my body were swelling too but not as bad as my right arm. Verdict, this is normal and experienced by many endurance athletes. A Epic night hike with 12kg. Ride 60km. Hike 27km.

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26 June 2011 12:35 pm (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

The 2011 race has started... it just means that the time to 2012's race is getting shorter. Am I prepared? I haven't run much since I signed up. I have been doing cross training. This is scary. I just did G. Lambak yesterday and a bikehash today... somehow, I just don't feel prepared. Lets read more from the 2011 competitors and be inspired!

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26 June 2011 07:39 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Just checked the results of the 2011 race. 2 Singaporeans made in under 8 hours and 2 singapore based expats made it just above 8 hours. Good work! Next year? Maybe just one Singaporean?

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19 June 2011 06:32 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Yes. Since the official countdown of 365 days, there has been 2 epic weekends. This weekend, we had a 60km cycling on tarmac and off road on saturday - 5 hours on road and on sunday 5 hours on the water - 35km of kayaking. I'm suffering the effect of burnt face...

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15 June 2011 09:03 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Today's training was good! X-fit consists of 4 sets of exercises follow by a 400m run; repeat. Normally we have 3 sets. Today we have 5 sets of exercises - rangers jump, swiss ball curl, plank, kettle bell squats and finally flutter kick. My form was out by the 2nd set. Today's speed for run was 1.36, 1.39 and 1.45. It was 10 seconds faster than last week. Good! Keep going! For other Gobi Hopeful, Aaron Simmons, Vincent, keep moving! we can.

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14 June 2011 06:09 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

The 1st continuous training took its toll on me... I had blocked nose with slight nose bleed. I think I am weak. Also welcoming my 2 youngest readers, j n r! Hi there buddies!

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12 June 2011 03:58 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

This weekend marked the first continuos training session with the XPD team. Saturday morning was kayaking. Boy, have I lost my touch with Kayaking. It was real tough trying to maneurve the plastic dancer, power wise, I was solely lacking? is it because of the previous day's duty? 11km due to the thunderstorm. Had a sumptous late lunch with super thriple hot buffolo wings. Bad choice. The night training starts at 12 midnight. A overnight hike for 5 hours - 25km done. I found out montrail masochist mid goretex cuts into my heels. Its painful. I endured 5 hours of pain. At the end of the hike, the socks were totally soaked. Gore tex is a no go. Convinced my team mates not to get Gore Tex whereever possible for shoes. My feet expanded and my big toe was knocking against the shoe toe box. bad. There were already some hot spots. Haiz. One shoe down. Guess its only salomon that I can use now. Right after the overnight hike is a technical break for breakfast and washup before the 100km mountain bike ride on tarmac. It was brutal. My body was giving way by sweating profusely. Is my body acclimatised to only 6 hours of action? I am very much far from being half ready. This is not the standard required of XPD. After 30km of cyciing, my body freezes up. Total cramps. I had to quit the training and rest. Time for more work. Meanwhile, I am only finding out more about my body as I trained. The longer the sessions, the better. Pls give me time to understand my body and how to make it do what I need it to do. (:

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09 June 2011 05:50 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Today is the 9th June. It is 365 days to Gobi March 2012. I haven't the slightest clue on how I can make this race happen. I am now getting my shoes fixed. Amazingly, over the last few weeks, I found out things about me which I have never found before and is coming to terms with it...

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05 June 2011 10:01 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

12 hour MTB enduro event is a punishing event. Team SART-Expedition entered as a mixed quad team but our female teammate crashed out earlier leaving the 3 guys to race competitively. Our intention was to have fun.... (its a mud fest afterall and lack of sleep makes it more interesting), but ended up racing very hard and as results filtered through, we are 3rd, with 3 hours left in the clock, the guys decided to chase the leaders. This race exposes much weakness in the preparation. Enduro events of such intensity needs better preparation. Our sponsor for nutrition was excellent. Thanks! Charles! Hammer nutrition makes excellent feul for the race, although the race was punishing, we did not suffered much side effect from cramps and bonking. Heed was good and recoverite was excellent! I did not eat much solid food. As I remember reading the mantra of hammer was less is more. The body cannot absorp what it lost. As I become bloated from overdose of heed and recoverite, I stopped and let my body replenish at its own rate. I would rather be a little hungry now than a little bloated. Thanks Hammer!

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03 June 2011 08:16 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

I spoke to my good mates about the Gobi. I told them yes, this is a painful run and I want to do it and hopefully raise funds for a charity. I had always been interested in Environmental Issue and I guess running for clean water for developing nations is a good charity and apt for Gobi March as a race in the Desert. People in developing countries are denied good clean water due to the rapid indsutrialisation, dam projects etc. Pollution had poisoned the water and through my discussion, I heard some people are bringing sanitation tablets to 3rd world to sanitize the water. I guess these people deserve a pat on the back! There are also organisations that develop products for rainwater collection, filtration system for dirty water... I guess if anyone has any information, I would love to contact them and raise funds to improve the conditions in the developing nations.

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03 June 2011 08:10 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Meanwhile, back to the feet. I did a check on my feet. Right is size 8 and arch length is 8.5 width is E+ and left is 7.5+ arch 7.5+ width is E+. Pressure is more on right than on left. This says that I should have problems on my right leg as it has a low arch. In fact, mine was a collapse arch. However, it is my left footbed that is giving me some throbbing pain at the arch. My friend Shirlyn who was helping me fit my shoes was surprised by it. Any help on this? Who can I seek help from?

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03 June 2011 08:09 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

While preparing for the Gobi March, I'll be doing the XPD in Tasmania, Australia. The requirements are different but the pain is the same. (I guess). Today, is the 12 hour enduro mountain bike race and its a quad event. No prob with that. The gears are all over the floor now waiting to be packed.

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28 May 2011 06:36 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

28th May 2011. I woke up at 3am. Much of the fear comes from the ill prep for XPD 2011. I worried about shoes, Goretex is a no no, there is no decent shoes that suits my wide feet. I worried about running. I worried about money. 4.30am. Time for training. I'm so tired. I snoozed. I continued to sleep til 6. Finally got up and got ready. Said to myself... " Hello! it must be a routine ok! " The run was a test of running shoes for XPD. It was a good run. At least I know Goretex don't work and wet shoes and socks expands the feet! sigh.

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Posted On: 04 Jun 2011 03:03 am

Hi Eric, thanks! Do you have any model to recommend? I am ok with new balance and they make great shoes. I wonder if the glue hold up in heat?

Posted On: 31 May 2011 09:24 am

New Balance make great shoes for wide feet.

28 May 2011 06:28 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Yesterday I was researching on the use of Goretex lined shoes for expedition race event. The conclusion was it was terrible. Many had complained the goretex lined shoes does indeed wore out after a while and it then becomes a trap for water retention. Who in the right mind thought of such stuffs? Finding a outdoor trail shoe without goretex lining is next to impossible. I tested the La Sportiva Wildcat GTX. (The GTX suffice makes it sound like some kind of turbo enabled car). The fit was like a tank but not as sturdy as a now defunt Montrail hurricane ridge. The goretex lining was pretty low, making it one of the most likely candidate for water bucket. I spray it with the shower screen. The shoe let in water through the tongue. A bad design. I put on a bucket of water and see if it leaks. It held very well.. bad news! Emptied out the water, the shoe held a fair amount of water due to the sponge. I ran with it with a dry pair of socks for an hour. The socks felt dry initially, but after an hour's run, my feet were wrinkled. The socks totally soaked through. The shoes' inner still felt wet. It seems like a lot more sweat got into the shoe. But it felt warm. Maybe 2nd or 3rd pair of shoes would dry up the shoes internal.

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27 May 2011 04:49 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

It has been a finale of sort or the start of a journey. It was many years back when I first heard of the Gobi March and I had wanted to do it then. There was some deliberations and time went by and I

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Posted On: 31 May 2011 08:14 am

Fellow singaporean here too! and happen to chance upon your blog. Im excited for your journey and just to share that Gobi is also actually something i will like to do in 4 years time!