Stage 6 :
Distance: 10 kilometers (6.3 miles).
David's time
1:43:54 Rank 43 out of the 110 that held on and completed it!
Overall combined time: 42:00:12!!
Hats off to you David - you are amazing!
...and no exact figure yet but I believe you raised around HK$15,000 for the Sunbeam Children's village.... hopefully more donations to come in honor of you and the example you have shown the children - that determination can overcome all boundaries.

Ranked number one was Eric La Haie HK based from the US with an overall time of 26:43:50 in his first 4 Desert event.

640-20-June-Stage 6: Mayuko Okabe (Japan) was the last person to cross the finish line. Okabe was suffering with severe foot pain, and limped the whole of Stage 6 through the Old City of Kashgar to the finish line in front of Id Kah Mosque in the centre of the city. It was an emotional moment, and a competitor gave her their crocs to ease Okabe's discomfort. Eric LaHaie (United States) is the overall winner of the Gobi March (China) 2009. Diana Hogan-Murphy (Ireland) is the leading lady in the women's division. Group Cohesion is the first placing team.

1315-20-June-Stage 6: 95 competitors have crossed the finish line.

145-20-June-Stage 6: The last stage of the Gobi March 2009 commenced at 1130.

(The Last Old City, Camp Kashgary to the Finish): Competitors set out from the outskirts of Kashgar winding through parts of the city's ancient past, including the "Old City" which is scheduled to be demolished in the coming months. The ten kilometer course is one of the most spectacular of any stage in the history of RacingThePlanet -- the Gobi March 2009 will conclude in front of the 600-year-old Id Kah Mosque in downtown Kashgar.

Stage 5:
David's time
15:11:20 Rank 39 out of the 109 that held on and completed Stage 5!
Overall combined time: 40:16:18!!
Impressive David!
Distance: 78.7 kilometers (49.4 miles)!!!

Photos not of David but it shows some of Stage 6's close to 80k :

9:40 am, Stage 5, The Long March: Ninety-seven competitors have now finished Stage 5. Results will be posted shortly.

No times posted as of 8AM HK time- this from the Stage 5 online updates: More than eighty competitors have made it into Camp 6: Kashgary after completing the 78.7 km stage in one push. Twenty competitors opted to stay overnight at check-point 21 where two tents are pitched to accommodate them. Competitors need to vacate check-point 21 prior to 0600, and arrive at camp before 1500.

And whilst competitors chose to power on through the night to make it into camp 6 in one sweep, the psychological need to fortify and be resilient proved challenging for many. Xavier Cochi (France) and David Linker (Australia) were asking how many kilometres remained from the overnight check-point – 29 km was the answer. “well that is better than thirty,” he said.

As the camp sleeps tonight, and competitors continue to roll in, the resounding thud of drums bangs to welcome those willing and able in through the finish line in ebbing and flowing into the early hours of the morning.

Despite the demands of the distance, competitors were generally in high spirits and trooped on through until they arrived at camp.

1:20AM HK time - I am going to sleep - and David's time has not yet been posted: You can check here and learn about it before I do!

1810-18-June-Stagae 5: The lead runners are startng to come in - probably a few hours more until David makes it in: Eric LaHaie (United States/Hong Kong) and Riel Carol (France) just crossed the finish line of Stage 5 together at 17.50.29 with their arms held high. The pair had run for the past 40km in a duo. “There was no way I could have kept that pace if I had been alone,” said Riel. LaHaie and Riel were running at a pace of just under a 9 minute mile, picking up the pace as they neared the finish line. For the first 50km, Riel admitted to having LaHaie in his target, but as the pair began to tire through the grueling stage, they admitted to relinquishing competitive ambition to see it more as a shared experience. Sean Abbott (United States) who had remained in the top three throughout the race came into camp at 17.59.17. Abbott was greeted by the top two who shared first place for the stage, placing him in second place today. LaHaie said, “I was in bad shape for the first part of the stage, and my knees were giving out, but when Riel caught up with us I said to him, ‘you set the pace, I’m going with you.’”

1035-18-June-Stage 5: Eric LaHaie has reached check-point 17 and is in the lead. Competitors set off to a great start at 0900, excited but also anxious to commence the ‘Long March’ stage. It is a cold, windy morning, and competitors were taking extra care to warm up before attempting the 78.7 kilometre stage through mostly rough and loose riverbeds. As the competitors set off, the backdrop of the snowcapped Tianshan Mountain range provided a beautiful inspiration for those in need.

(The Long March, Camp Kongsu to Camp Kashgary): From Camp Kongsu, competitors will set out on the infamous "Long March," a nearly 80 kilometer stage that will take most competitors through the night. Competitors will begin with a gradual ascent in a canyon, up a pass, followed by a deep descent into a riverbed. The early section is rated difficult, but followed by a moderate terrain. There will be spectacular views of snow-capped mountains to the east. Distance: 78.7 kilometers (49.4 miles).

Stage 4:
David's time
7h 1 m 28s
David has moved up to Rank 28 - overall combined time:
25h:04m:58s!!
Way to go David!
Distance: 41.2 kilometers (25.7 miles).

1705-17-June-Stage 4: After an interesting and varied stage 4, more than 50 competitors have arrived at Camp 5. The mood was relaxed as competitors trickled into camp at a steady pace. The finish-line drum provided a steady heartbeat, rising in crescendo as a new competitor was clocked in the line of sight. 112 people have passed through check-point 15. Many are feeling the stress of having traversed the arduous climb to Heaven’s Gate, and then descending down into the unsteady footing of riverbeds

Distance: 41.2 kilometers (25.7 miles).
(Stairway to Heaven, Camp Heaven's Gate ending at Camp Kongsu): From Camp Heaven's Gate, competitors make their way through a narrow canyon up a series of hand-made wooden ladders. Just a short distance away is the highpoint of the Gobi March, at roughly 3000 meters, Shipton's Arch or "Heaven's Gate" as it's referred to by the locals -- said to be the largest natural arch in the world. Competitors will then traverse several mountain ridges before arriving in a small village once devastated by an earthquake, called Kongsu. The entire stage is rated difficult..

STAGE 3:
David's time
5h 42m 23s
David has moved up to Rank 32 out of 121!
Dr David is briefly in this video between 3:07min & 3:11 minutes
Title is: Stage 3 Gobi March 2009 Highlights
Highlights from Stage 3 of the Gobi March - The Farmlands of Langerville - click to go to the video page

Ranked 1 is Hong Kong Resident Eric LaHaie - doing his first 4 Deserts Marathon.
Click here for the Leaderboard - HK is well represented.

The climb and the altitude add to the adventure:

Distance: 38.4 kilometers (24 miles)
(The Farmlands of Langerville, Camp Langerville ending at Camp Heaven's Gate): From Camp Langerville, competitors exit a rocky canyon to lusher fields along a river. The river is mostly dry with cultivated land along the banks. There is a gradual ascent into a stunning rock valley before reaching a lush campsite nestled in a valley. The entire stage is rated mostly moderate to difficult.

0906-16-June-Stage 3: It is a cool, gusty morning with a chance of rain. Competitors set off at 0903. Most lauded the lower temperatures, and lined their bags with plastic bin liners provided by RacingThePlanet, just in case.

STAGE 2: David's time 6h 00m 07s Moving up to Rank 34 out of 125 (with many of those 'incompleteds' - heat must have been brutal)! 41.1 kilometers (25.7 miles) Stage 2 (Mars in the Gobi, Camp Tashpushka ending at Camp Langerville): From Camp Tashpushka, competitors will travel on a gravel road a short distance until reaching Mars-like landscape. Travelling through the Mars-like landscape competitors will reach a plateau, travelling uphill through a canyon to reach a campsite nestled in a wheat field. The terrain ranges from moderate to difficult. 0910-15-June-stage 2: Stage 2 has commenced. Competitors were slow to rise this morning, perhaps due to the comfort of their accommodation last night. But after the course briefing all participants were eager to get started. All were warned of the notoriously challenging 'red zone' between check-points 1 and 2. Eric LaHaie (United States) stood in the same place underthe start-line, "for luck" he said.

PRE RACE IN KASHGAR:

The surrounding vista of the city, as it unfolded seemingly endlessly around the balcony where training was taking place, was filled with architectural contrasts between the old and the new. Skyscrapers aspiring towards the clouds in the sky break through the canopy of low-rise buildings, some still in the midst of construction and crowned with the mechanical arms of large cranes sitting atop. Architecturally, the social and economic development of this city is clearly visible, and change is afoot. 2009 will be the year that all the old vestiges of Kashgar’s 1,500 year old, Old City will be razed to make room for further civic development, new housing and business centres.

Bearing this in mind, the decision was confirmed today that the finish line of the Gobi March 2009 will take place in front of the largest mosque in the whole of China, situated next to the 2nd tallest statue of Chairman Mao in the world. Competitors will race through the Old City, winding in and out of the small, labyrinthine arteries and pathways lined with intricately carved doorways of centuries old residences. Bakeries, embroidery workshops and carpet weaving, family-run cottage industries are peppered along the sides of the dusty and uneven streets. Soon, all that will remain are memories, as these families who have resided here for generations are displaced.


Time: June 13th 2009 12:37:46 AM
1522-13-June: Competitors have all left Kashgar in a convoy of four buses and eleven cars....

The bus ride was all but two hours, passing through breathtaking scenery and flame red jagged mountain ranges blazing in the bright afternoon sun. When competitors made it into camp, they were greeted by a huge gathering of local Uyghur and Kirghiz people, clapping and cheering as they ushered their visitors into the beautifully laid out campsite. Beyond, the topography unfolded into the surrounding area. Stratified unique rock formations jutted out sharply, contrasting with the pale gravelly ravine sprawling out below. Local Uyghur men raced on horseback slinging a sheep’s pelt around playing an exotic sort of polo, and the sound of horses’ hooves resounded through the valley.

Amongst other festivities, there was an official ceremony held by the locals, and Mary K. Gadams officiated a handing over of books and other educational materials to the community. Many had traveled for more than two days in order to greet the RacingThePlanet party. Traditional song and dance concluded the evening, and volunteers joined in the celebrations as local children played with frisbees donated by staff and volunteers of Gobi March 2009. Soon after, participants tucked into a hearty dinner catered by a local restaurant of spaghetti, chocolate biscuits, softdrinks and more. And as the sun set over the stunning landscape casting lush hues over camp, competitors chatted amongst themselves about the start of the Gobi March 2009 in the morning.