Ok, even though I’m now a really serious, accomplished ultra-racer, admittedly it was not all pain and suffering in the desert.  There were plenty of fun and frolics.  I just wanted to first-up share this tent-life experience with everyone.  Thanks, Bryan - sorry the rest of the Monkey tent who did not enjoy this experience as much as I did.

So it’s been a week since we returned from the desert, and I have not had time to blog or sort through photos (except the essential ones of course) due to a harsh return to work, sleeping 11 hours a night (most of my spare time), and eating an unconscionable amount of beef (I think I need protein).  Unfortuntately, the ridiculous eating behaviour must stop this weekend.

During the early part of the week I was hobbling a little, both ankles a little weak.  Despite completing the Gobi March without any serious injury, I managed to fall over in Central whilst walking around.  Sad.  But during some tough moments in the Gobi, I did promise myself as many pairs of summer season Nine West shoes as I wanted upon achieving my goal, so true to my word, I invested on Wednesday night and thought that it was time to get back into the 4 inchers.  All back to normal.

The decompression time has been a little rough, and post-Gobi blues have been rampant.  But I have managed to actually visit the bathroom when nature called (instead of squatting behind whatever obstacle presented itself), stop eating dehydrated foods and wash myself on at least a daily basis since return.  Creature comforts have been relatively easy to adjust to but the lack of clean air, blue skies and open spaces has caused more nostalgia for life as a Gobi nomad.

So have I become a changed person?  What valuable lessons did I learn?  Firstly, although I managed to win my category, I was not in a big hurry on the race, and I did think - take your time, you just need to get there in the end - enjoy the experience and enjoy the scenery - there’s no need to get all worked up, just follow the little pink flags - look for the next one and you’ll find the following one.  When I was worrying about THE LONG DAY, Jacob, the Danish pro-racer in Monkey tent, asked me “How do you eat an elephant?”  A slightly obtuse question, I thought, “Slice by slice” was his own response - “Just think of it as 8 times 10km - not a big deal.”  True.

Would I do it again?  Without a doubt - and faster.  Apparently next year’s Gobi March will be in Kashgar - maybe we can even fit in some shopping along the way!  Check out another crazy plan: www.atc.gl

To get over the post-Gobi blues, we’ve got to (a) collect all the sponsorship money (b) arrange our photo exhibition PARTY and (c) plan the next exploit. 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT PRE, DURING, AND POST GOBI!

Thank you Pilar’s donate HK$ 500, i promised not to disconnect her phone line next time and just want to let you know i recieved your chque. thanks for Anja’s $1000, Chris & Markz $500 each(total $1000). Got $500 from Denise, and thanks to Kitty’s $500 & Joanne $100(Special thanks to Joanne help me to buy the mini patch in last minutes), $200 from Emily to Sunbeam and pray for me(i wish her will pass in her driver test). Thanks to Tim & Joannie $400,$500 from Thomas $100 from Catherine Lau… million thousand thanks to all my friends in Baker.

Thank you to my boss Patricia Wong & her husband’s supporting on my equiments, but this $1000 will be donated to Sunbeam under your family name, (hope i didn’t bring you a big trouble.) Thank you to Uncle Kennth.Ng & Antie (Ba E) $2000, now total is HK$78089

Stepane

118 LaPorte Stephane France 29 Male 6:37:31 5:32:12 6:58:40 9:11:08 7:29:54 1:21:37 37:11:02 25

Lu

159
Wong Louise A. Hong Kong 27 Female 8:28:48 7:35:12 9:53:00 11:10:24 11:20:25 1:45:44 50:13:33 50

Don

80 Cheung Don C.T. Hong Kong 26 Male 10:26:59 7:13:03 10:53:59 16:58:21 10:34:49 1:54:23 58:01:34 63

Joc

81 Chow Jocelyn E.C. Hong Kong 24 Female 10:28:22 7:13:20 10:56:42 16:58:21 12:18:50 6:50:00 64:45:35 67

the live update page news flash is that everyone has finished!

this is the direct url to the video of Stephane in stage 5 RUNNING
click here for Stephane_stage5!

or try these if it didn’t work
http://www.bluent.us/rtp/2006/video/default_display.php?id=57
if that doesn’t take you in go to the video index: http://www.bluent.us/rtp/2006/video/index.php

and Don