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Gobi March Blogs 2008

Jamie Prendiville

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Gobi March (2008) blog posts from Jamie Prendiville

14 June 2008 08:00 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

day 1 -- hard, day 2 ---harder, day 3 --harder, day 4 --- the hardest day of my life, day 5 ------
Blisters started at the end of day 1, more blisters day 2, bigger blisters day 3, whole foot covered in blisters day 4, day 5 ---80 km run.
Nausea and  dizziness the worst on day 4  ------- day 5 ---- 80 km run.
Day 4 the most spectacular scenery ever with the 'gateway to heaven' -- the only problem is that to get to heaven first you must die. The climb to the sumit was unbelievebly hard and at one stage I could only go 12 steps at a time without bending over and resting.
day 5 --- the 80 km day took 24 hrs to complete -- it was likke 'dads army' at the end with the older 4 guys of our group limpng to the line. The team spirit was superb with the younger 2, Critta and Bada, electing to stay off the pace to support the older guys. Garry (Dog) was in so much pain he needed somewhere between 7 and 10 injections, in that 24 hours, into the Ileotibial bursa of both knees. Bent Beak Billy Biffin had severe nausea, dizziness and eventual vomiting and this combined with the inability to take in any oral fluid made his chance of finishing very poor. He tooth and nailed it through and with the help of the excellent medical crew ( including myself) finally got to the line.
The memory of this whole event will the memory of the difficulty and beauty of day 4 and the camoraderie and support of day 5. 

Comments: Total (9) comments

Posted On: 25 Jun 2008 03:23 am

Just wanted to add our congratulations Jamie. Well done. Amazing achievement. Absolutely awesome.

Posted On: 17 Jun 2008 02:39 pm

Awesome Dad..... champion! It took a lot of guts from you guys to get through stage 5, thanks for taking us on the journey. Have fun in Bali! Rag

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 10:50 pm

What an adventure!! What an achievement...to be able to look back on the miles and the hardships and say "I did that"...well done to you Jamie, and all the team. I have loved every minute this past week keeping up with your progress. Enjoy the celebrations and holiday. xx

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 01:07 pm

Congratulations to you all!! We've been following you day by day, perspiring as we read each excruciating chapter. Have you arranged for the Zimmer frame on arrival home for Dog? Looking forward to hearing all the stories. Keep a tag on Daws; when he finished the Rotto swim solo, he wanted to turn around and swim straight back, so put a lead on him! Great reporting Crabs under extreme conditions, thanks.

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 11:36 am

Well done Crabs. Following this race has been agonising and exhausting for us! ha ha Enjoy the loooong shower and banquet tonight. Can't wait to hear all the tales of the race with you in Bali

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 10:19 am

CHINNI!!!!! Huge congrats from us on your Herculeun effort. Can't wait to hear all about it and so wish we were there to hear it first hand. I am hoping that your inner Spielberg will be putting together some video summary as you did for the Channel. Have a coldie on us - LEGEND! Locks, Fat, Darce and NO.2 xxx

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 10:16 am

By this time you guys will be celebrating - and how! .....maybe just sleeping sounds like a better idea. Stupendous achievement by all and wonderful that you ALL crossed the line. Would love to see what you all look like now!

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 09:53 am

Astounded you're all still alive. Look forward to hearing it's over. you've certainly earned the post-race holiday.

Posted On: 14 Jun 2008 09:49 am

Crabs or should I say Messiah, raising all these people from the dead...congratulations on the superhuman effort, you are now a legend, see you soon Wen,Pia,Mick

11 June 2008 04:20 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Everyone was keen this morning at the start line & we were off with a flurry. Yesterdays star performer Billy ‘Bentbeak’ Biffin fell into disaster. Firstly, he popped his camelback, then he blew his groin muscle & was finally caught by the older contingent around the 30km mark. He bleated & complained of the pain but we had to stick to our original motto ‘make pain your friend’&‘if you die you die’ & left him in our wake. Critta found a few new tyres & came in with a respectable time of 5 hours 30 minutes. However, he still managed to have a couple of vomits after finishing the race. Thank god there is a medical tent here because all of his brothers ignored him! Patsy did a respectable time of 5 hours & 59 minutes. The first stage seemed shorter than what we anticipated. The second stage made up for this…..& some. With searing heat & extreme undulating terrain…..the going was tough. The third stage eased off to a long straight. Finally, the last stage lived up to its difficult rating……capped off by the valley of death. The temperatures in the valley of death rising to somewhere around 45 degrees.

Critta was being treated in the medical tent when a sand storm hit……blowing several tents over. Then as soon as it appeared, it disappeared. This typifies the conditions in the Gobi Desert.

 

See you same Bat time tomorrow.

 

Jamie Prendiville

 

Comments: Total (8) comments

Posted On: 13 Jun 2008 07:29 am

How absolutely fabulous that you have all completed Stage 5...an amazing effort. Enjoy the final stretch tomorrow and that last time running underneath the banner...hope they put on a fabulous celebration for you!! Have they drug tested that South African chappy..he's a machine!!!

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 06:30 am

I also heard that Superman wears "Crabs" pyjamas to bed at night.....

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 06:22 am

Dad - Since everyones being hearing about your super-human efforts in the desert, we've all been hearing other rumours about you, such as - You were once bitten by a Deadly Coastal Tiapan and after 5 long days of excrutiating pain the Tiapan died! Also Rag says that you once landed in a bottemless pit & have been able to slam a revolving door!

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 05:48 am

Are you sure that ga's book you got the idea to do the gobi was actually titled "101 Things To Do Before You Die", I'm pretty sure the real title was "101 Things To Do To Die". Keep up the good work ....... Sting like a bee!

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 04:55 am

Crabacini, Thinking of you enduring a massive day today - 80kms. Can't even envisage how this challenges your body and mind. Go Crabba go. You guys are super human and will come out of today on top. I pray you keep well and the body holds up. So proud of you Crabs Tons x

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 01:14 am

Hang tough Dad, last big push today and the final day's easy...... float like a butterfly! Hope you and the boys kick some butt Stage 5. Rag

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 12:56 am

Dad we were going to bid on the hot shower, however thought against it when we realised you would be viewed as an outcast and potentially eaten by some starving contestants! Good Luck Jezza

Posted On: 12 Jun 2008 12:37 am

Crabs, dont know how you are doing it. Your description is sounding more like you have morphed into Bruce Willis in a Die Hard movie, and we know what a hero he is. I wont call you Lawrence it has to be Bruce. Hang in there, see you soon, Wen Pia , Mick

11 June 2008 04:18 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

 We have just finished stage3 and are being resussitated, having blisters done and trying to have enough water to stave off nausea and dehydration.The altitude and heat were a huge problem -- upand down mountains, over mud hills and so on --I have to say the most critical decision wich has saved all our lives and that is to bring walking poles. Critta and Bada did very well and dog ,myself and Dappa come in around he same time.  The hardest thing for me is fluid balance and getting enough fluid in during the race -- I force feed myself but can only take so much water before I get nauseous. The same with salt and calories they make me sick.
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