Gobi Desert: The Mountains

Today was supposed to be 37K - but we ended up doing 39K - we're not sure why we did more than was originally told us, but we definitely felt that last 4K. The course was spectacular and very, very tough. Climbed from the start making our way up through rolling steep climbs to a long slog up stunning valleys, surrounded by craggy peaks and pine forests. Our high point was just below 10,000 feet and we had to work for every foot of it. The thought that kept me going on the steep pitches was that I knew I'd feel better once I crested the top and started down into the next valley. Five peaks later, on a mountain ridgeline, we topped out to a lovely descent on a wide track trail. We descended through a deep canyon and several villages, yurts, sheep flocks, following a river with views of snowcapped peaks and the valley below. It was breathtaking - once again I tried to capture as much as possible on film.


Mountain peaks and pine forests...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


I started out with my signature slow start and tried to hold my own in the mountains. Once we hit the downhill I opened it up a tad, thinking that we were close to the finish. The unknown last 4K was on very steep rolling terrain with a lot of forced hiking - a very tough way to finish a challenging day, but the scenery made up for all the pain and suffering. Each day is tough racing and each day I am amazed that I can get up in the morning off the hard ground and run.


5 peaks later...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


I felt a bit better than yesterday (relatively). I'm hoping my legs hold up as we have two more very hard days ahead - tomorrow being our 50-mile day. I'm a bit nervous about this long day, as an injury leading into this race has not allowed me the long miles. But as "someone" once said, "you can walk anywhere if you have enough time."


Lots of forced hiking...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


We are in another windswept campsite - I need to go and help stake down our tent or it may blow away!

Back at you tomorrow.

Terri

Gobi Desert: Pastoral Valleys

Today we took a 35k trot through multiple pastoral valleys here in the Gobi. Long flat stretches of scrub, rocks, dirt, small craggy peaks and knolls were surrounded by a double layer of mountains, the ones in the distance being the snowcapped Tian Shan mountain range. The valleys peppered by shepherd communities. Compared to yesterday's posthole/slog/crawl through the clay, mud, and cow dung cesspool of the salt flats, this was a breath of fresh air.


Trekking up the mountain...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


The pace on the front end was a bit quick for me so I stayed within my own game plan, even so was a bit tired at day's end. The pack feels a bit heavy today - going to see if I can lighten the load a bit. All in all its been a diverse adventure. Given my fitness coming into this race and the altitude I'm holding strong. Keep your fingers crossed - a lot of very hard racing ahead.


Stunning rock formations...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


Our camps are picturesque and windswept. Nights and mornings are cool and days get into the 80's - nothing exceptional - quite pleasant. Exceptionality comes in the scenery and people that do these races - I am continually inspired and amused by all that I meet. Very good life stuff.

We're heading into the mountains tomorrow. Back at you after another challenging day.

Terri

Gobi Desert: The Salt Flats

First race day. I got my ass kicked by the salt flats today. The struggle across 10K of thigh deep muck at altitude proved brutal for all. I lost my shoes twice and had to dig around for them, hiked in socks, and proceeded to the finish looking like I had survived a mud-wrestling contest. Needless to say the rest of the day was quite challenging. They said this was an easy to moderate day of racing. If that is true we are really in for it. We did 35K of mixed terrain today, with some very difficult climbing and descending. Tough day with a heavy pack. The highlight was seeing a bird's next right in the middle of the flats with three eggs in it. A bit of respite from an otherwise tough situation.



Day 1
Photo Courtesy Racing the Planet


Sorry for the brevity - I need to scrape the muck off my legs, clothes and pack and get ready for more tomorrow.



Salt flats...
Photo Courtesy of Racing the Planet


Back at you.

Terri

Gobi Desert: Urumqi, China

Urumqi is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the city furthest away from any ocean or sea. My urban adventure getting to this bustling city in far north China seemed to highlight its remoteness. After almost 30 hours of travel, including a delay in Harbin, China due to a sand storm in Beijing, I am required to navigate through various baffling conversations in the Beijing airport in order to execute the final leg of my journey. Here is a typical example of just one of those many conversations:

"Can you tell me what time my flight leaves for Urumqi?" I say to yet another eager young woman from Air China.

After checking her computer screen she takes my ticket and writes down a time.

I try and clarify, "so my flight leaves at 1:30?" gesturing to her handwriting. She looks at her own handwriting again, and then at me, and confidently declares, "maybe."

I have heard this word many times since my arrival in China and I am not clear as to its meaning here. So once again I try another tactic. "Which gate will this flight leave from?"

After more inquiring with the computer another number is written on my ticket. She has to circle this number, as there are many.

I point to clarify, "to Urumqi, Gate 25?"

She replies with the now familiar, "maybe."

I sigh and, for my own sake, decide to summarize my experience thus far in China. "So at some point today, my flight will leave from one of the gates in this terminal."

Pleased at my newfound understanding of the situation she smiles triumphantly and says, "Yes!"

Arriving in Urumqi over a vast and stunning landscape of sand, rivers and snowcapped peaks I am less one piece of luggage - the one that houses all my race food. Through an array of "maybes," I have been able to retrieve my bag just in time for our departure today to the race site.

I am craving the simplicity of being in my head for several days of racing while surviving with only the goods on my back.

Back at you from the desert.

Terri

Gobi Desert Gear List

Mandatory Equipment (required by the race organization)
Additional Stuff (personal items I’ve chosen to bring)

Note: If you followed my progress through the Sahara Desert last fall, you’ll notice that this gear list is quite similar with the addition of a few extra pieces of clothing for warmth at night in the Gobi. Making solid gear choices the first time around for an event of this format made prep for this upcoming event much more fluid.

Approx. pack weight at race start – 19-20 lbs.

Mandatory Equipment List (this are items required by the race organization):
My gear choices and why in [ ]

Backpack – [Gregory, ISO, 20 liter. The ISO is ultra-light, compact, comfortable with all the features necessary for an event of this type—including:


Gregory's ISO Backpack
Photo Courtesy of Gregory


*Mesh pouches on both sides of the pack for bottles. mesh zipper pouches on both sides of the waste belt for easy to reach running food
*Small, thin and light compression straps
*Rear zipper opening to allow you to refill your water bladder without removing the bladder from the pack
*Shoulder straps that are padded without overkill
*Outer expandable compartment that zips closed when not in use
*NO extra/unnecessary bells and whistles. Simple, complete, ultralight]

Sleeping Bag – [Montbell, U.L. Super Stretch Down Hugger #3;packs shockingly small, hugs the body for extra warmth, Minimum Temp: 32F, Total Weight: 1 lb 5 oz, Insulation: 725 Fill Down]


Mont-Bell U.L. Super Strech Down Sleeper
Photo Courtesy of Mont-Bell


Tights – Patagonia Silk Weight Capilene

Fleece Hat – Montbell

Gloves – Patagonia fleece glove liners

Headlamp and back-up headlamp – [Petzl Myo XP and a tiny pen light. The XP is light and small yet lights up the woods at night with 3 lighting levels. It uses 3, AA batteries that last for up to 170 hours – huge bang for its size, no need to bring back up batteries.

I am anticipating needing my main light for our 50-mile stage so it needs to be bright enough to run with. Got the smallest pen light I could find at a drug store.]

Compass – [my compass is in my HighGear Axis watch]

Safety pins (20)

Knife – [Spiderco Ladybug – I’ll use my knife quite a bit to cut plastic, clothing, food, tape, etc. so it needs to be light, sharp and small]

Whistle – [the smallest I could find – a piece of mandatory gear that will probably get a ride through the desert without ever being touched – BUT a good thing to have along in a pinch]

Space blanket – [smallest. Always carry a space blanket in any wilderness adventure. I have used mine countless times and it’s saved me from potential hypothermia. They are uncomfortable, non-breathable and loud, but are an excellent vapor barrier]

Signaling mirror – [a small piece of plastic mirror made for backpacking. I bought the full mirror at an outdoor store and chopped a small piece off - a piece of mandatory gear that will probably get a ride through the desert without ever being touched - BUT a good thing to have along in a pinch]

Baseball cap or similar – [Outdoor Research mesh running hat – pinned my Buff to the back of it when I needed extra sun protection for my neck]

Sunglasses – [Revo wraparound glasses with polarized lenses – if I need more eye protection I will line the lens with duct tape]

Windproof Jacket – [Montbell Ultra-Lightweight Wind Jacket – 2.6 oz. – packs into a bundle small enough to fit in your fist. Serious warmth from a featherweight jacket]

Running/Trail Shoes – [Montrail, Continental Divide – I use a half size bigger than what I train in to accommodate for foot swelling (and will use every inch)]

Electrolytes for 7 days – [Succeed Electrolyte tabs – enough to take 1-2 every hour or so while running (double what I take in my Nor. Cal. environment) – these tabs have the highest grams of sodium and potassium per capsule so I can carry less and take them less often] – also see recovery drink…

Blister Aid Kit –
*[Injinji tsoks –Each toe has it’s own little, dry, friction-free, space in which to move and be happy.
*Elasticon tape – 3” – for heels and low back - a few feet or so wrapped around a chopped off chopstick
*Leukotape – 1.5” – for heels and toes - a few feet or so wrapped around a chopped off chopstick
*Tincture of benzoin (put this on the skin before the tape job and the tape will stick very well)
*Hydropel – lubricates as well as keeps moisture out
*Engo pads – these are wrapped around the heel cup of my orthodics for a frictionless surface: to prevent sub-callous-deep-heel-blisters from forming (the religiously-painful kind). You can use these pads for any part of your shoe that creates excess friction]

7 day supply of food - The race requires that we bring a minimum of 2000 calories per day; I will bring about 2500-3000 cal per day plus running food.

A typical day looks like the following:
Breakfast: hot cereal. Luxury item: JavaJuice coffee (www.javajuice.com), creamer

Running food (approx. 1000-2000 per day – more for the 50 mile day): Carbo Pro and Perpetuem powders – both are mixed into a thick paste and put in separate gel flasks. Clif Blocks which are my favorite treat when running, Gu2O sports drink and EFS sports drink, water (provided by race organization).

Post Run Recovery - my double secret weapon taken immediately following each day of running: Ultragen recovery drink (2 scoops – 320 calories) mixed with packet of Oral Rehydration Salts (the Salts are like taking an oral IV – sodium 3.5 g., potassium 1.5 g. and glucose 20 g.). Ultragen has the perfect 4/1 ratio of carbo/protein as well as a serious dose of minerals, vitamins and electrolytes – a perfect recovery drink with a light clean flavor easy to toss down in a few minutes. Will mix above with 2-3 liters of water and drink all within 30 min. of finishing running.

Post Run Snacks: chicken or miso soup powder with couscous added (soup is my comfort food) or ramen noodles. Luxury items: almonds, potato chips (Krinkle Cut Kettle Chips), sunflower seeds, salmon jerky, herb tea.

Dinner: Alpine Aire dehydrated meals of various types. Took the meals out of their bulky wrappers and put them in smaller zip lock bags – only will bring one with it’s original wrapper and reuse the foil wrapper to “cook” each nights meal.

Notice: I am not interested in anything sweet once I am done running (sans my recovery drink). Many people make the mistake of taking a lot of sweet snacks for post run and they never touch them. The body gets saturated with “sweet” when we run—and one ends up craving salt and fat instead.

Additional Stuff:

1 running shirt – Patagonia Airius short sleeve T-shirt – (after a couple days I
chopped holes in the front and neckline for ventilation)

2 running shorts – Patagonia long haul runners – one for running, one for camp.


Patagonia's Long Haul Runners
Photo Courtesy of Patagonia


After 2 days of running my running shorts stood up on their own…

1 long sleeve shirt – Patagonia Silk Weight Capilene long sleeve-T for night

2 Sports Bras – Patagonia mesh bra for running and Patagonia seamless bra for camp – both dry very quickly

Montbell U.L. Down Inner Series Jacket

2 pair Injinji tsoks/2 pair Wright Double Layer Socks

1 Buff – to wrap the head in sandstorms, cover neck while running, wash with, cover greasy hair with, wipe nose with, yada yada – excellent general multi-use item.

Thongs - 1 pair, cheap, light, plastic for camp

Watch - HighGear Axis– with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, Temperature, Time,
Alarm, Chronograph – the perfect light bundle of useful information for this type of adventure

Gaiters – Custom made. Sewed Velcro around the outside rim of my running shoe upper and the other half of the Velcro to a specially made gaiter that extended out over the shoe upper to meet shoe Velcro. Thus the entire shoe upper as well as my ankle and upper ankle were covered. These work perfectly in all conditions.

2 handheld water bottles and 1-40 oz Nathan bladder – One bottle is carried in my hand and houses sports drink. The other, water as needed. The bladder with water, goes in my side mesh pouch and the tube placed in front of my chest for easy access. I will fill each at Check Points depending on the distance between checkpoints (if I needed more I’ll use race provided bottles).

2 gel flasks – for Carbo Pro and Perpetuem

A few compression straps for tying gear to outside of pack

Lip sunscreen – Dermatone SPF 23 – stays on longer than most. Kept it readily available in my shorts pocket.

Sunscreen – ProTech SPF 30. Non-greasy – doesn’t make you feel claustrophobic when hot. I will take sample packets so I can throw wrappers away each day to eliminate excess weight.

Drug Bag - Advil, Aleve, Cipro (just in case), Voltaren (lower back security blanket), Pepto Bismol tabs, 1st Endurance Optigen and Multi-V supplements.

Part of a Nalgene bottle (sawed off the top half). For tea, coffee, soup, hot food.

1 lightweight backpacking spoon (thanks Bugaboo!)

Wet Wipes – 2 per day. These are for daily “showering”

Toothbrush – half of handle sawed off

Toothpaste – very small travel tube

Dental Floss – can’t sleep if I don’t floss – also comes in handy if I need to sew anything – a length wrapped around a chopped off pencil

Duct Tape – a few feet or so wrapped around the above chopped off pencil

Sony Cyber-Shot – slim/light digital camera with an extra charged battery, carried on my pack waist strap in a small neoprene pouch.

Earplugs – silicon – to deal with snoring tent mates

Paper to write on

Pen

Favorite pair of running earrings

2 favorite necklaces, 1 good luck bracelet (my brother and sisters will all wear the same one while I race)

1/2 a comb (that I affectionately named “the rake” after a few days sans shower in the Sahara)

3 hair ties and a barrette

Chinese Money

Picture of Gryphon (my dog and favorite all-around buddy)

A few good jokes

Prep For the Gobi Desert March

Racing the Planet, Gobi Desert, China

I was recently asked at a speaking engagement what I enjoy doing for vacation. Noting that I'm not much for umbrella drinks poolside, except if used for a short respite between adventures, I shared my upcoming event of choice—a 150-mile, self-supported, running stage race across the Gobi Desert. When my inquisitor's jaw dropped in the ever familiar "why would you do something like that" sort of way, I stated, "I like to do cool things, in cool places, with cool people and this event fits the bill."



"Hami is a unique blend of Uygur, Kazak and Han Chinese cultures."
Photo Courtesy of Racing The Planet


Starting May 27th, I'll run anywhere from 15-50 miles each day for six of seven days, through the remote villages, sand, rivers, mountains, heat, cold and sand storms of the Hami region in far north China near the border of Mongolia. Each night the event organization will provide a base camp and tents for the 100 international athletes.

We are required to be self-supported except that the event will provide water for our journey. In addition, we've been given a small list of "mandatory gear," which includes a minimum of 2,000 calories per day. The strategy involved in choosing ultra-light gear, clothing, and food for this event is intriguing and its prep time consuming. Given that I'll be required to live with my choices for seven days and nights, I take on this process with some focus.


A Gobi Desert Campsite
Photo Courtesy of Racing The Planet


The dramatic landscape of the Gobi consists of some of the harshest terrain in the world and was once feared by Silk Road traders as the most dangerous section of their cross-Asia journey. There is a pure essence to engaging in an environment that is indifferent to human life. Opportunities like this allow me to ponder my authentic self sans outside stimulus. I feel privileged to experience this pristine spot on the earth.

I'll be posting daily on my blog. You can also get race updates and send me emails at www.racingtheplanet.com.

Stay tuned this week for more race prep info and a detailed food and gear list for my event.

Terri

The Civilized Prep of the Female Warrior

Preparing for a notable upcoming race is an arduous and time consuming process and for most athletes tends to involve personal rituals of sorts. The longer, more difficult and more remote the event, the further heightened my of sense impending battle. Heading into the trenches of my most recent project—a 150 mile, self-supported, running stage race across the Gobi Desert in China, my ritual meter has been on high speed.


Terri crossing the finish line last year in the Sahara Desert.


Thoughts are of upcoming endless sand dunes, mountain ranges, severe heat and sand storms, while running on pummeled feet, and, resting in chilly uncomfortable nights on the floor of a tent shared with 10 fellow unbathed runners. In between running bouts we’ll ingest pounds of dehydrated meals. Though I thrive in this primitive means of life, visions of my chosen form of "vacation" are enough to drive a female warrior into optimal prep mode. I execute my prep with the following rituals:

Get pedicure. It's highly doubtful that I'll be called for a foot model job anytime in the near future. Many years of ultra running, adventure racing and triathlons have claimed many a pink painted toenail, yet I remain undaunted. Despite the odds that I'll lose a solid $10-$15 of my nail polish by the finish line, I continue to execute this pre-race ritual. It’s a last ditch effort to find "someone" to be nice to my soon to be well-beaten feet.

Go to hairdresser. Seven days in the desert sans shower leaves one's head a mass of sand, grime and grease. Nevertheless, I'll wash, blow-dry and style my new do immediately preceding our bus ride to the start line. Initiating my adventure with a shiny clean scalp gives a sense of hope. For what, I'm not sure exactly.

Wax legs. I have thrived on various forms of physical suffering in my lifetime, but I'm not interested in ripping the hair out of my own legs. So, off to the aesthetician to diminish the horrors of dark growth during the race.

Pluck eyebrows, give myself a facial (because I'm a cheapskate), and get a massage (that one is self explanatory).

Buy new books. I recently did my ritual pre-trip book buying session and walked away $150 lighter in my bank account. Placing my stack of books on the checkout counter at Book Shop Santa Cruz, I declared, "My name is Terri and I’m a book junkie." The young man behind the counter responded, "Dude, that's cool." Though I won't choose to carry any reading material into the desert, I enjoy that they are waiting for my arrival at the finish line.

Drink several lattes; eat chocolate ice cream and a big steak. Impending life restrictions will cause humans to indulge. I am no exception and enjoy the ritual of "stocking up" on my favorites before exile into battle.

Check gear list again, and again and again.

Give my dog, Gryphon, a few more hugs than usual.

Despite the detailed civility of my pre race prep, once we don packs and head out into the desert, I am in endurance athlete’s nirvana. I will be fully responsible for my own well being in one of the harshest environments on earth, and with the "other" world well behind me I can just go out and test myself in a way that nurtures me. This type of living always helps keep my civil existence in perspective. Nothing like a good battle to learn to not take oneself too seriously.

I'm looking forward to sharing this adventure with you all as I send daily dispatches to MountainZone.com – I'll be back at you from the desert…

Terri