Stage 6 is now over and everyone has gone separate ways back to their home, love one and their responsibilities.
First of all, let me recap a bit of what happen in stage 6. It was started a bit later than usual around 7am and the weather was even warmer than any previous day. My feet still in bad shape but taped nicely by the medical team. At the start line, I could see determination on everyone face as they all coming this far and it only 15km to go. And as expected, at 9am sharp, everyone darted out full of strength (make no mistake, everyone had some injury that they had to endure for sure) and I also among them. So, we ran and ran past many villagers whom either came out to see some dirty bunch running in the morning with backpack but some also came out to cheer. The route was also scenic with crop fields and cattle. I was having so much fun overtook some competitors and some overtook me back while each passing we exchange handshake and wish each other luck. As soon as I approach finish line, the drumming sound getting closer, I made a turn into local school area and spot a long curvy line of children cheering. Then couple of them extend their hands out and I extend mine to touch them as I pass, suddenly everyone in the line extend theirs out and I touch every single of them as I pass. It was a most joyful moment and really gave me energy to sprint the last part through finish line.
Past the finish line, the medal await and as usual pizza, beer, pepsi, electrolyte also there. Each competitors congratulate each other, event organizer and volunteers all having a good time. The local also giving us a show of their local culture.
It was a beautiful day in Gobi Desert.
After it all over and done, we then head back to hotel in Kashgar and had our long wait shower. It was both refreshing and painful (when I pull out those tap that held my feet together). And later that evening, we had a banquet, awarding ceremony and of course giving thanks to all the support team.
So, I also would like to tell them again here that without such wonderful support from everyone (organizer, volunteers, medical team, local team and perhaps many other behind the scene staffs) we the competitors would not be able to gave it our all like this. True enough that it's a self-support race but, everyday, we push ourselves to the limit knowing that there is a strong team backing us up. So, thanks you all for an unforgettable memories.
...
Well, I think this is it for me as I'm also heading back to reality and work that await for me. Until the next race...Good Day.

Hello everyone. First of all, I've finished stage 5 (a.k.a. the long day which span approx. 75 km) and now resting at camp 6. All competitors will be resting here to recover and get ready for the last 15 km tomorrow which will be the finish line of this event. Secondly, my apologize for lack of update for the past two days, I was only finished stage 4 which was the most technical one at around 6pm and, by the time I finished cool down and treated my blisters, cyber tent was already closed and same for stage 5 yesterday which I came in almost midnight.

Let me tell you a bit more about stage 4, it start off with high speed hike up to Shipton gate which really have a breathtaking view (or perhaps I just short of breath) then follow by hop and jump down quickly like mountain goat to get to checkpoint 1. By the time I got to checkpoint 1, I could feel the lactic acid build up too high and intend to throttle down a bit. But, unfortunately, what await me after that for the rest of days were up/down hills (for far too many times I care to count) and what make it really technical was the steep downhill and also the pathway that as small as the width of your foot. Some competitors just speed through but some, like myself, had it in our mind that just one mistake, it would certainly put us out of the race or worse. Anyway, the fact that I managed to clear this stage, it gave both satisfaction and confident on how to control my fear and stay focus when it count most.

As for the stage 5, the course wasn't difficult so to speak but the path was filled with gravel, sharp rocks and still some up and downhill. I must says it really painful and, with my target to finish the entire course before midnight (since it call the long day not days) eventhough the final cut off time is 11am the next day, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and power through the entire course one checkpoint at a time with 5 minutes stop at each point. By the time sun gone down (around 11pm) I still got about 8km to go. I know it at that point that if I were to finished before midnight, I would have to go fast (like faster than 8kph in the trail lit with just my headlamp and marked with glow stick). And that exactly what I did, and because of the darkness, I made a couple of mistakes like went the wrong direction or almost went off the cliff. At the last stretch, when I heard the usual drumming sound which mark the finish line, I ran as fast as I could ignore all the bush of thorns, holes on the road, even water channels (what a pathway to finish line) and finish at 11:52pm.

So, all in all, I might not rank high but it sure was satisfying and fulfilling. If you ask me whether I could do better, I would say yes. But does it bother me, I would say not at all. Each competitors came to join this event with their individual goal in mind and mine was to finish it with the renew determination to keep me fire up once again.

As I mentioned earlier, there still 15km to go tomorrow and feet still filled with blisters but this will be my last blog entry from Gobi desert. The next one probably will be when I'm in Shanghai on Sunday. Until then, I'm sure I can count on your support and cheer as always....Good day

I'm back again with the update from stage 3 which is now over with last competitor cross the finish line. Although the course today was rated as moderate, everyone seems to be doing fine and trying to keep the damage to the minimum since tomorrow will be quite challenging with a lot of climb up (and up some more). But it's also quite exciting as we will be climbing up the Shipton gate.

Today was quite amazing in many ways, I start slow as usual since it's always cold in the morning and capillary in my nose always broke which was quite a disadvantage for me as the first part of everyday always an easy one. Anyhow, after checkpoint one today which I usually pick up pace and pound through, I encounter a very long gravel path which really painful on the blisters and there were like 20 competitors passed me at that point (you could say it's one of the point I feel the lowest). All the way through, I could only grit my teeth and keep going but at the same time, it got me thinking as well that whatever you do in life, you will always encounter hardship and the only way to overcome it is to dig deep down inside, find your strength and keep going forward. After checkpoint two, things start looking up, temperature rising and the trail become more grainy which is easier on the blister even though it's consist of lots of up and down hill. At the end when I reach the finish line, I manage to passed about 13 competitors and overall time was on par with yesterday. So, all in all, my rank shouldn't drop much and I got food for thought as well.

That's my amazing day today and, of course to received all the words of encouragement, it only make me want to push harder and harder. So, please cheer me on and I will be back again tomorrow with more update.....until then.

Hello folks, thanks for your email and words of encouragement. I'm writing this blog from camp 3 after finish stage 2. The course today is a bit more challenge than yesterday with lots of going up and down hill which was quite fun in its own way. The main problem was the huge field of gravel and small stones which can easily make your ankle twisted if not careful and, with lots of balancing needed, my feets now growing some nice blisters. Anyway, it's nothing serious yet, I can take care of it with medkit I got. During the last part I manage to make good time especially during the down hill, which means I still got quite a lot of energy reserve and will be able to go strong again tomorrow.

The course tomorrow will be even more challenging, so I will be sure to take a good rest and eat plenty to recover. As usual, keep your message coming, it's what keep me going....

Greeting from camp 2, it's nw 17:30 and everyone already cross the finish line of stage 1. It's relatively simpler course compare to sahara as you got a very firm footing for the most part and the rumored river crossing turn out to be small stream which can be jumped across so that was really a blessing. Unfortunately, after checkpoint 3 I stomp on small twig and it manage to puncture through my left shoe. I was rushing and thought the contsant sharp pain was because I got wounded and just limping through the rest of the stage. Surprisingly, when I took of my socks at camp site, there was just a small mark but once I inspect my left shoe closely, I found a 1cm long thorn stuck in it and that what had poke my foot the entire time (taklking about rookie mistake). Anyhow, all thing considered, there is no major injury and no blister (finger crossed). The camp 2 location is inside the local village which allow us a flat comfy ground for bed (as oppose to gravel fiilled ground at camp 1). I should be as good as new again tomorrow after a good night sleep and will keep going strong.

Hello folks, I'm writing this blog from camp1 which took us about 3 hours on the bus from Kashgar. It was a joy ride with a bit of steep up/down hill which brought us up to approx. 1,600 meters above sea level. On our arrival at camp site there were lots of local gathered to gave us a warm welcome and also show of their beautiful culture.

It's now 18:30 here but the sun still high as they are using GMT +08:00 here. So, allthough I want to turn in early to recover from the journey, it might not be until 23:00 that I can get a good shut eyes.

Tomorrow promise to be an easy day as indicate in course information but what guess I will only find out tomorrow for real. Wish me luck and I will tell you all how it's go from camp 2.

After putting off for so long, I've finally got enough still time to start my first blog entry for Gobi March 2012. I'm now at Shanghai International Airport waiting for my next flight to Kashgar. It's quite a mix feeling at the moment. On one side, I'm quite pump up for the up coming event (or perhaps the chinese tea I have been drinking is doing the trick) but on the other side, starting my journey ever since midnight from Bangkok and knowing another 8 hours on two more domestic flights are await really quite a turn off for me. I've no idea if the next airport or hotel in Kashgar will have Internet available, but if not my next blog would be from Cyber tent at camp 1. In the mean time, let me tell a bit of my first experience at this airport. First of all, the free wifi is only available before you pass through immigration, beyond that point, you either got a sign-in portal (all in Chinese) which is not free or you can go to restaurant to order some drink and use their wifi. If you look for SIM to put into your phone or tablet, it cost like RMB 200 for 300MB. I'm sure you all can guess which choice I make. Secondly, after all the walk to get the much needed Internet via wifi, I expect it but not looking forward to it, some service is blocked (e.g. Facebook). But of course it's just a simple matter of bypass it. So, here I'm sitting here with slightly over 1 hour left before I have to move to departure gate hooking on Internet trying to stay awake so that I can have a good nap on the next flight. Ok..think that's quite enough for first blog, until the next one....wish me luck