It's been a little over a week since I finished volunteering at the Gobi March 2006. I am not going to describe every day, you can check out the details plus photos and videos at the racing the planet web site. In addition, if you want to read a competotor's perspevtive, go to
Terri Schneider's web site. I know Terri from Big Bear mountain bike races and I was not surprised to see her at the Gobi March, she is a tough woman and an inspiration for all endurance athletes.
For those interested in learning more about racing the planet but don't have the time to go to the web site, here is the latest press release:
Hit by daily 60 mile per hour winds, Gobi March competitors complete 250 kilometer footrace across great Gobi Desert in northwest China; Asians take top positions in male and female divisions
(June 12, 2006) -- On June 3, 2006 nearly 100 competitors representing 20 countries crossed the finish line in a small village in remote Hami in Xinjiang Province, China, having completed the 250 kilometer, six-stage, seven-day footrace across one of the harshest landscapes and climates on Earth - the Gobi Desert in China.
The overall winner was Byeung Sik Ahn of Korea who completed the six-stages in a total of 27:46:41. The women's division winner was Kazuko Kaihata of Japan who finished in a total time of 33:00:16. The second place men's winner was Francesco Galanzino from Italy who completed the race in 28:30:56. Robin D. James, a British national who resides in Hong Kong, finished third in a time of 28:48:29. The second place women's winner was Theresa M. Schneider from the United States and in third place was Michelle B. Maislen of the United States. Team Chunghwa Telecom/MAGO, consisting of Kevin Lin of Taiwan, Charles R. Engle of the United States and Ray Zahab of Canada, won the team division in a time of 28:45:39.
The full field of competitors was both competitive and diverse, with past winners Kevin Lin (Atacama Crossing 2004), Charles R. Engle (Gobi March 2003), Ray Zahab (Sahara Race 2005) and Theresa M. Schneider (Sahara Race 2005) present. The youngest competitor was 22-year-old Shiyu Chen from China and the oldest, Kazuo Isomura from Japan, aged 67. Also among the competitors were professional executives, entrepreneurs, business leaders, doctors, lawyers and bankers.
Day one proved to be very tough with a six-kilometer crossing of salt flats. Patrick Rummerfield, the world's first fully recovered quadriplegic completed the crossing of the salt flats and went on to complete the stage in 15:36:10. Patrick, a finisher of the Hawaii Ironman, remarked "Completing just one stage of the Gobi March was the toughest thing I have ever done in my life, without question."
By day two competitors were hit with high winds but rewarded with spectacular landscape and rich culture straddling the Tian Shan Mountains. Day two saw several competitors drop out, but overall the field remained in good health. Stage three included a crossing of the Tian Shan mountains and was referred to by competitors as the most spectacular scenery they had ever encountered.
Stages four and five comprised the longest stages, with each between 50 - 60 kilometers in length. Stage four included a fierce tail wind that helped competitors set record times for the stage. Stage five included a canyon which proved to be extremely hot with many competitors running out of water before the next checkpoint.
By completing the Gobi March(tm), competitors completed one leg of the 4 Deserts series which take individuals and teams across the world`s largest and most forbidding landscapes and climates in the world. For competitors who complete the Gobi March in China, the Atacama Crossing in Chile and the Sahara Race in Egypt, they will qualify for The Last Desert in Antarctica, an epic event that presents the final challenge in the series - the windiest and coldest place on Earth.
Competitors in the Gobi March 2005 and 2006 raised more than US$250,000 to support two medical missions in China, in Xian and Urumqi, treating more than 250 children born with severe, and at times life threatening, facial deformities. Many competitors also raised money for Room to Read, a US-based non-profit organization, helping to build schools and fund scholarships across Southeast Asia. RacingThePlanet Limited in conjunction with The Esquel Foundation made donations of books to four local schools in the area where the Gobi March was held.
Fortune Magazine and Bloomberg Television were the official media partners of the Gobi March (China) , and will also be the media partners for the entire 4 Deserts(tm) series. The Coca-Cola Company provided 23,000 bottles of Sensation water which was consumed by both competitors and staff during the seven day period. The Esquel Group played a major role in assisting with government relations and logistics.
Live website coverage of the Gobi March 2006 was broadcast from RacingThePlanet's website at www.racingtheplanet.com. The website featured hundreds of pictures, breaking news texts, daily journals, video clips and field updates. Full results are also posted at www.gobimarch.com.
About the 4 DesertsTM
The Gobi March(tm) in China is part of the 4 Deserts(tm), a series of footraces across the world's most forbidding deserts: the Atacama Crossing(tm) (Chile), the Sahara Race(tm) (Egypt), the Gobi March(tm) (China) and The Last Desert(tm) (Antarctica). These locations represent the driest, hottest, coldest and windiest places on Earth. The 4 Deserts(tm) attract individuals from all backgrounds and from all walks of life, the majority being professionals including bankers, lawyers, airline pilots and medical doctors.
About RacingThePlanet®
RacingThePlanet® is an international outdoor lifestyle brand and global leader in organizing some of the world's most prestigious outdoor events including the 4 DesertsTM, a series of 7-day footraces across the world's largest and most forbidding deserts. These events include the Gobi MarchTM in China, the Atacama CrossingTM in Chile, the Sahara RaceTM in Egypt and The Last DesertTM in Antarctica. With several ancillary business units including an online merchandise shop and a media content creator, RacingThePlanet® is headquartered in Hong Kong and has representative offices in the United States, China, Denmark, Egypt, Korea, Japan and Chile. For further information about RacingThePlanet, please visit the website at www.racingtheplanet.com.
More thumbnails ...
50 votes 
This is a top pick!
