The Gobi March was the highlight of five long distance running events Jenni is participating in to raise $25,000 for the new Parkes Hospital. 

This is Jenni’s account of 

her experience...

It was completely amazing, and easily surpassed my expectations. 

I was not prepared for how rugged and difficult the terrain would be. 

Even though it was mostly desert running, the Gobi is covered in black rocks, there was not much sand running at all. 

So it was really important to preserve your feet, as they became bruised from the rocks. 

There were also lots of dry river beds to cross where the rocks were really big, we had to scramble over them. 

It was really easy to twist an ankle or knee on these sections. 

The weather ended up playing a major part in the race too. 

We were hit with a blizzard at 10.30am on the first day. 

It was totally unpredicted and we were in open grass plains when it hit. 

It went to one metre visibility and below freezing wind chill within minutes.

I was running with a USA girl so we were pleased we were together. 

We were getting worried about hypothermia when it suddenly eased. 

It meant the sand dune we were to climb that morning was covered in snow and they changed the route to avoid it because it was too dangerous.

On day 2 we climbed to 2800 metres in the morning and of course it was completely covered in snow. 

Fortunately there was no wind so the snow just floated down and was actually quite magical.

On day 3 we were back in the foothills on the other side of the Tia shan mountains and a huge storm swept in again. 

I was lucky as I had been running most of the day and was only 8km from camp when it hit. 

It was so cold and wet I was drenched and starting to shiver when I got to camp. 

I dived into my tent and sleeping bag to get warm and all was OK. 

A number of competitors ended up in the medical tent with hypothermia that day.

Day 4 we headed directly away from the mountains into the desert. 

By 12 noon the temps were in the high 20s. 

I had a good day running and was in the camp by 3pm. 

Camp was set up in a deserted mud hut village surrounded by grapevines, an oasis in the hot black rocks. 

The temp was in the mid 30s at 5pm that day.

Day 5 was the Long March, 80km. I was feeling OK. 

I did not have blisters at all which I was really happy with. 

My knees were a bit tender, my left knee particularly so I was taking Panadol during the day. This was an amazing day. 

It was true desert. 

Hot, open plains with large rock and sandstone formations. 

Temps of 47C were measured but it would have climbed to over 50C in some areas we ran thru. 

It was 37C in the shade of the checkpoint tent at 6pm. 

I reached the 50km mark about 5.30, had an hour rest and then kept going right thru to the finish. 

This was my favourite part of the race. 

I was running thru the bottom of a huge canyon at sunset. 

I was the only person in there, the heat of the day was gone and the colours of the desert and canyon walls were amazing. 

I was running and yelling and I could have been the only person in the world. It was such a moment I will never forget. 

I came out of the canyon just as the sun disappeared, and ran the last 16km in the dark. 

The moon came up and it was a huge red almost full moon, incredibly beautiful. 

I finished at 12.15am that night.

The next day was a rest day as the last people did not come into camp until 11am. 

It was supposed to be a relaxing day but the wind picked up and changed all that. 

Our tents were blown over by lunchtime. 

All other tents and camp facilities were blown over. 

So we had to sit under a large gazebo shade, holding it down and just wait till the wind stopped. 

However at 6pm the shout went up that a huge sandstorm was coming so we ended up all huddled into the base of the rock formations being whipped by sand for three hours. It went on and on and in the end we were evacuated from camp at 4am and the last leg, 12km of the race was cancelled. 

We were back in a comfortable hotel room in Hami by 9am, no one was particularly upset the last leg was cancelled, we felt we had proved ourselves by that time.

I ended up having a very successful race, which I did not realise until I finished. 

My competitor placing was 67 out of 164 competitors. 

I came ninth out of the 45 females in the race and and I ended up being first female in the 40-49 yr old category, so I came home with a trophy.  That was just icing on the cake for me.

If anyone is remotely considering doing a 4 Deserts race all I can say is “Just do it!” 

It is not necessarily fitness that gets you over the line, you need to make smart decisions about when you run and walk and rest as well. 

We had about 16 people drop out but mostly due to blisters and knee and ankle problems.

In the end it was definitely the weather that controlled the race. 

There is not much preparation that prepares you for a blizzard or a sandstorm.

I have two more events planned for my Parkes Hospital fundraising. 

The City 2 Surf on 9th August and the Mudgee Marathon on 23rd  August. 

A very successful auction night was held in Mudgee last week, raising $5000 towards my goal. 

I am delighted that after only six weeks I have reached the halfway mark, $12000 already raised. 

A fundraising event is currently being organised in Parkes, to be held at the end of July. 

A full dinner with auction items is planned at a local restaurant. 

During the evening I will be talking more about my Gobi experience and showing slides. Details will be advertised when all is confirmed. 

Proceeds from the evening will be going towards equipment and facilities in the new Parkes District Hospital.

To donate to Jenni’s Rundraiser online go to  www.ozcrowd.com or Facebook and search for Jenni’s Rundraiser. 

For bank details or cheque donations please contact jennibuckley@bigpond.com or Joy Freebairn 02 6864 3211.