When I was preparing for the Gobi 2015 I scrutinised so many blogs trying to glean information on the best equipment, or advice that would just come in handy to a compete newcomer like me. So I am going to try and write this blog, to cover some things that I found helpful or handy.

I carried a 28litre Backpack with 2 Raid light water bottles on the front. It seemed bigger than others but apart from food we had the same equipment. Space saving was in the food. It fit all my gear in it, but only after I had packed for the last time in Hami. I weighed in at 9kg. Apart from the mandatory gear, the extras I took were a clean pair of sox for each day, walking poles, ipod, and camera( old fashioned point and shoot so no battery worries. My medical kit had a few extras in it. I took gaffer tape and a sewing kit, which I did not use, some tablets to block the rear end and the top end, which I did not use. Actually the only thing I needed more of was ibuprofen. I took the advice not to use it too literally, and ended up been given some from another competitor. I had plenty of Panadol. I was not in a lot of pain ever but my knees were sore from the continual impact and the pain relief really helped in the last few hours of the last few days. I packed my equipment in separate smaller waterproof sacs from Sea to Summit. It meant I could compress them down smaller and I knew where everything was. None of my gear was wet, even on Day 3.

Clothing I had my 2XU quarter tights , a pair of shorts and my long compression 2XU tights. I wore the long compression to bed every night. I took a light long sleeve running shirt and a light short sleeve running shirt. I slept in the short sleeve every night. The long was just as good as a sun protector as it was a warm layer. When it was raining, windy, snowing I had on my down jacket with my waterproof over the top, and was toasty warm and dry the whole time. They are just outdoor adventure brands from a popular aust out door shop, nothing elite or super expensive, just good, practical quality. Due to the first day being so cold I wore my compression calf sleeves during the day, just to be warm. I ended up doing this every day which is funny as I have never done this before. I wore my Buff day in, day out. Practical for hair and warmth/cool at day, and muffled the noise and light at night. My sox were all Injinjis, and I had 1 tiny blister that arrived in the last 10km of the Long March. Very happy about that. I double socked the first day but not after. My shoes were Salomon Trail runners. No trouble with those but after talking to other competitors there is probably a more comfortable option out there for me. I did not use a GPS watch due to battery worries , just a regular wrist watch from which I would work out my Km/speed at every checkpoint.

My food. Porridge for breakfast, snacks of protein bars, beef jerky, nuts and jelly beans, salt crisps, and an expedition foods dinner. I took GU gels and Tailwind Nutrition powder. I did not use the Gels and saved all my Tailwind from the first 3 days, it was cold so did not need it, and used it on the last 2 days. Which meant I hardly used any food on day 4 and 5 as I had 10 hours of Tailwind. Would have loved Tailwind for the whole thing but too heavy to carry that much powder. I took 7 of the 2 serve packs. I took electrolytes but again due to the cold weather did not use even half.

I used all of my equipment and gear except most of the medical things (thankfully). The only thing I wished i had was a pair of slip on shoes for camp. I should have grabbed the hotel slippers. If it had been hot weather it would not have been a problem to walk around in my sox, but we had 2 wet nights.

Training. Run rocks and dry creek beds! I thought I had prepared over different terrains as I live in a hilly, rural area. I was not prepared for the technical aspects. I would hire a technical coach if I were to do another one. My fitness level was good but I was too nervous and timid to run a lot of the course due to the rocky terrain.

General thoughts . I absolutely loved the experience. It was a great adventure, enjoyed with 160 like minded people from all over the world. I was nervous and terrified before arriving in Hami. Once I arrived and met everyone it was tremendous fun. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Hi all, i thought I had better finish off my blog even though it is now 2 weeks after the event and I am safely back in my home in Australia.

The last blog finished as the cybertent was being blown away. That was baout 10.30 am on the rest day after the Long March.

I finished the Long March at 12.15am, just after midnight. I was really happy with that as it meant I was very consistant for the whole thing. I averaged 10km every 2 hours. I ran about 10km in the last 30km of the long March. I spent the last 2 hours in the dark but it was great. I fetl really safe out there. I could see the ligth of the competitor in front until the last 10km, and then I could see theligths of camp. It was so flat out there and I just had to follow a striaght line, with the refelctor markers every 10m or so. It was not a problem and I quite enjoyed it really, surprisinigly. A huge red full moon rose over the horizon at 10pm so that was cool. My mind was quite blank for the last 2 hours, too tired to think of anything. I created a rythym with my walking poles hitting the sand and really just kept that going. i was tired but not stuffed. Seeing that camp light helped to keep moving forward. The drum sounded as I approached which was great as I was nto sure if they would keep beating it at night. I think I was one of the last to hear the drum. a few people were still up, or had recently arrived too, so had a chance for a bit of a chat and quiet celebration before I heaed ot bed about 1am.

I hope I get to finish this blog. It is the afternoon after the long march and we

Day 4 , 42km

And I made it. This morning I was not too concerned about making the distance today, now I am in camp I am REALLY happy to be here. It is HOT! The whole running in the desert thing actually occurred today.

We left our camp thus morning at 8am, with grey clouds overhead. Last night they brought buses tomthe camp because if it rained overnight they were going to evacuate us. There are no floors in the tent, just mats, so the location we were in was not good for ground water. Everyone was in bed and quiet by 10, and then the rain started. Luckily it was a light shower and we stayed put for the night.

It was still very cloudy and cold this morning. Down jacket was on until we left. I kept my waterproof jacket on fortunately. It was snowing in the mountains above us and the wind was coming off the snow. We ran away from the mountains this morning out into the desert. I took my jacket off at the9km checkpoint. The checkpoints are usually between 9 and 13 km apart.

And then we were really in the desert. Very rocky, lots of rocky creek beds badly washed. And flat, and goes for miles in every direction. We had quite abit of cloud cover though so we were eased into the temperature. I walked the first 20km, my left knee is very sore today. I thought it would be after my day yesterday. At the second checkpoint I decided buggar this, it is boring walking on black rocks, so I took a nurofen and ran the next 10km to checkpoint 3. The clouds had left by then, and the temp was up. 11 km to the end, I was on my own all day but it was so flat I could see plenty of people in front and behind. The last 11km was tough. Very hot and sandy one minute and rocks the next. I made a plan to run when a cloud came over, and walk in the sun. it probably added up to another 5km of running. I spend most of the time wondering how the front runners can run so quickly over such bad ground. They are amazing athletes.

I think I was over it with about 5km to go. Had the conversation in my head about never doing this again, and noting anyone says will change my mind. Everyone at camp told me that is normal, and they are on their 3^rd, 4^th+ race! Uh oh!

Getting into camp at the end is awesome. A drummer sits at the banner and flags and drums you in. as soon as you hear it you start running, even when you are sure you can't run another step. As soon as you cross under the banner your thoughts go from how crap your day was to how fantastic it was!

This camp is in the middle of a village ruin, all mudbrick, yellow, crumbling and hot. We all have shorts on, sunglasses, it is so different to our other nights, it is like we on another planet. A lot like an army camp I think.

So tomorrow is our long march - 80km. I am bit concerned. It is going to b very, very hot. My plan is to keep going and do it all t once. We are allowed to stop and sleep but I would rather not. I think it will take me 18 hours. The sun goes down at 10pm, so should only hve the last 20km in the dark.

So no blog tomorrow,I will still be running. I think I will run before 12, then walk in the heat, and hope to run in the evening. Thank goodness for nurofen. My knees are sore from cranky thigh muscles, everyone loves my taping. Thanks Sara!

OK, time for some food. Too hot to eat buti will need it. My Tailwind powder has been the best thing in my food pack. Pity I could not carry more.

Thank you for the messages today. I had a good cry. It is hard to explain how good they are to read after a big day. Keep them coming!

Love to all xxx

Day 3, 43 km.

Oh my!!! I do not even know where to start.

I spend most of the day thinking how I will write that particular situation in this blog, and then I get to camp. Come to the cybertent, and I am so tired I cannot remember a thing!

So firstly all that preparation for running in the heat and dry desert...still completely useless. Today was the rain day. The freezing cold, driving in sideways rain day. We started with breakfast in the sunny courtyard, I put my Tshirt on, walked back outside and the wind arrived. So quick change into wet weather jacket as I figured it was light and wind proof. And off we went.

No memory of the first 10km. lots of littlemcreeks and a long file of people.grey sky and cold wind. After checkpoint 1 there was 1km of riverbed. Dry luckily but rocks from size of potato to watermelons. How people run across this stuff I do not know! After that was 2km of tar road so I went for a run. It felt good so I went thru checkpoint 2 and decided to keep running. It was so cold I could not feel my sore knees.

The road became a lovely gravel track a lot like home and was preety flat. And then the rain started...and down it came. I was out in the middle of nowhere, grey rain in every direction, and all I could think of was keep running, it will get you to camp faster. I went thru the 3^rdcheck in the rain, 13km to camp. It was too cold tomstop long, so 2km later I needed to stop and put my down jacket layer on, as I was really cold and wet. Nowhere in site to stop and next thing there was a little gully, over the edge and in the middle was an old ruin building. I got in there, no roof, but was outmof the wind. Put on my jacket, and back out into the wind. I do not know what I was thinking. Mainly just keep moving, I could not really remember the time, not light headed, just focussed on not tripping and keeping moving. We had left the nice road, it was not a road, it was a running stream, my feet were saturated, and were crossing black rocky plain. So definitely walkingnagain. When I say we I mean the lone guy about 100m in front and me.

I had decided I had another gully and plain to run when we came to the top of the gully, together, and there was camp 50m below us. I yelled with relief and joy!

So in camp now, and well, after last nights luxury we are back in the rough. The tent mat is laid directly on the black rocks. There will be no sleep tonight! But im happy still. It's a crazy race, the terrain moves between ridiculous and more ridiculous, the weather is completely out of control, but it is still all fun. I think today will be the worst for me, but that is what made me run!

Still have minimal pain in my knees so will suffer tomorrow I am sure. No blisters either which is amiracle after the last 13km in soaking shoes and sox. All other muscles are adjusting or saving up for a big freak out.

Love to all xx

Day 2.

And I made it! 40kms today, and yes, it started in the snow......again.

The first2 daysnhave started the same way. Up at 6am, blue sky, cold wind but looking good. And then at 7.30 during race briefing the grey clouds roll in and before we can move the snow is falling. I went straight back to the tent today. I was cold enough yesterday. We headed off with a cheer at 8am, 2km around a lovely green alpine road until we turn the corner to see our trail go straight up into the snow.i thought it was quite exciting, the snow was falling in lovely big snowflakes and there was no wind. The next 1km was straightnup. Think of starting at Thredbo village and walking to the top underneath the chairlift, with 3 inches of snow all the way up. It was slow going as there were 160 of us but I had plenty of time tomstop and look at the view. The snowcapped sanddune of yesterday was free of snow and glowing in the sun.

So to the top, photos and head on down. The next 21 km was the gradual downhill from the top. We were running down a narrow valley, running stream on oneside, gravel road, and big rocks up above. I had decided not to run but the road was so nice and gradual I ran 12km to the last checkpoint of the downhill, running thru goat herds with their shepherds one minute and then past big dozers and diggers doing road works the next.

After the downhill it was turn on to a very rocky river bed for a few kms before getting to the wide open plains. We were on gravel roads. I hd caught up with Penny again so we chatted andmpower walked our way all the way to camp.9km, checkpoint and 9km more to camp. I was hoping for gravel roads like home but sadly they are more like rocky dry river beds. So rocky! I could not run at all, it was far too uneven for me. And really bruising on my feet. So Penny and I kept a good pace walking. Into camp at 4pm. We were really happy as it was 6km longer than yesterday but we had spent 1 hour climbing the snow.

Camp tonight is in a village, it is great. The villagers have moved out of their homes for us. Our room has a sleeping platform covered in thick rugs and electricity...luxury! There are 10 of us, 3 women, 7 men. It is lots of fun. We all got in close in time today so have done our stretches out in the village street-no cars here.

How am I feeling? my knees are in trouble. The Panadol is out, and happily is working. The rocks have bruised my feet but no blisters yet. As long as the Panadol keeps working, and nurofen soon no doubt I will be fine. It seems to be the same for most of us.

Ok, have to go and get my water. They just told me I have 5 minutes to collect. It is my water until checkpoint 1 tomorrow.

Till tomorrow xxxx

PS dear family, it would be nice to get a message from you. Look for the email a competitor tab!

Hi everyone.i am here! Getting used to this keyboard, ber with me.

So firstly I feel great, it has been a fasntstic first day. I will start with yesterday when we arrived at the first camp.

We arrived in buses, poured out and walked over a small hill. Below was a little valley, green with huge boulders all above and around. In the valet were our tents and about 200 locals. As we walked down the hill they started clapping and formed a tunnel for us to walk thru to get to our tents. Rockstar welcome! They were tsking photos and clapping and smiling. It was awesome. We found our tents and dropped our packs. A cultural performance was put on formus. Oh it ws freezing at this time. I had my goose down jacket and long socks etc on. So inside the enclosure only competitors were allowed, but the toilets were outside the tape, so out I go, and all the locals come crowding up wanting photos. They all have iphones. So it took 30 minute to get to the loo, and in the end you have tosay sorry, I hve to go now. Think I had sphoto with ever local!

So then chats about the fire, dinner nd bed by 9. It was freezing by then. Rained during the night but I slept pretty well.

Today.

Up at 6am, to be greeted by snow all around. Yep, it snowed over night. It was clear around our tents, started about 100m above us. So quick breskfsst as the wind was icey. We started at 8am. All nerves were gone as was too cold too think about that. Have met great people too so talking.

First 10km was awesome. Down a rocky gully, clambering down and over big river rocks, little stream beside. Onto the flat at aboutm6km. I decided to walk most of today but maybe run on the grassy plain.

We arrived at the grassy plain t about 12km, I am walking with Penny from Texas, and it strted to snow! Yes, snow. So scamble into pir wet wether gear and keep going. It snowed on and off for next 10km, sideways driving windy snow. We were just getting worried about hypothermis when we changed direction and it eased. Still drenched legs and frozen hands. We came into checkpoint 3, about 23 km to be told we were not doing thensanddune, too much snow on top. Yippee! The first 40 runners did the sanddune before they stopped it. It was 1 km of climbing.

So just 14 kim of lovely green rolling flats and the sun came out. We decided walking was the go all day as we were so wet and just happy to be feeling good. Plus the black dirtmwas clogging on our shoes so extra 1 kg on our feet!

Rachel from wales was with us so the three of us just kept on till the end. Arrived at camp at 3pm. Very happy considering the conditions.

Ate and drank fine. Got warm straightaway. The sun is out but the wind is freezing, so still in goosedown and long stuff.

Sun goes down at 10, but mwill be in bed at 9 at latest.

There really are not the words to describe arriving yesterday and the first 10km this morning, it was incredible. Could not stop smiling. And even thru the snow Penny and I were laughing, just ridiculous! Still happy but tomorrowmwill bring me backmdown. Forecast still cold, maybe more snow on pass.

Ok, I only get 15 min and this keyboard is abit overworked. Love to all. xxx

My podiatrist

Hi everyone. My first blog . Another first for me, and one more thing to get my head around before I am in the middle of a desert in China.

Up till now my preparation has been making sure I try out everything and UNDERSTAND it. I have been motivated by the thought of finding things like my headlamp out of charge just when it turns dark, or opening my dinner to find I do not have a way of eating it. All pretty dumb when you are in the middle of nowhere, and supposedly have been in training for close to a year.

So now I am relaxing slightly. That does not mean I am an expert on anything. Just that if it is not sorted now it is too late! I had a great chat to a previous competitor a few weeks ago and she reminded me of the golden rule. Keep it simple. It was a clarifying moment for me.