ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra

My Namibian Experience

2009-09-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

Finally it was my turn for this experience of a lifetime! Thinking back, this race may be one of the best things i treated myself to. Like what (my evil twin sister) Pauline said, this is an experience that can't be measured with money (altho i must admit it's a darn expensive race).

I had intended the whole process to be more low profile. However, the more i want to keep it under wraps, the more "attention" i got. When i finally completed the race, i was very happy and relieved.

A formal writeup of my race experience can be located at sgrunners forum under race review. A more personalized version, however, please logon to http://blog-of-ham.blogspot.com/2009/06/after-dust-has-settled.html

After the sand has settled...

2008-11-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

HH came in 78th overall, 10th in women's category with an overall timing of 48:06:29 (bib#78...what an coincidence!).

"Hey, Joyce and I are back in our hotel. Great Race! Will email once we clean our mess n find a chance. " and...
"Someone I walk wif asked me to try 'it' and trans333. He has a whole list of race for me! :D"

Joyce finished 87th overall, 12th in women's category with an overall timing of 49:43:42 (bib#95).

"We've completed the race this afternoon. The last stage was a 5km run around the pyramids. The long march was 100.2km. It was tiring but under the starry nite, i still enjoyed the shooting stars flying through the sky."

The champion of this race is Ryan N. Sandes from South Africa, clocking 27:09:17. He also won the same title in Gobi March 2008.

Top woman position goes to Nina Breith of Germany with an impressive timing of 32:50:37, placing her 6th in overall. Geez...and she is 46. Hats off!

Link to RTP Sahara 2008 results: http://www.4deserts.com/sahararace/rtpsrtp2.php?SID=3&SBID=RC3&competitorsBiosNum=5

Day 2

2008-10-28T07:16:00.001-07:00

Course:

Stage 2 traverses some of the most beautiful rock formations in the White Desert with animals, birds and mushroom formations dotting the landscape and the rough country where competitors will traverse. The stage begins with a difficult section followed by more moderate terrain. Competitors will cover almost a marathon distance of 41.8 kilometers (26.1 miles). The terrain is sandy and rocky throughout the stage, however, a small spring is located close to the second checkpoint. The leaders will complete the section in three hours while the back of pack will again take nearly 12 hours.

Stage 1

2008-10-27T04:25:00.000-07:00

好的开始是成功的一半！

HH came in tops amongst the Singaporeans for the first stage at 5hrs 41min. Joyce fared well too, finishing the 35km at 6hrs 45min.

Course:

Beginning around the oasis of Farafra, competitors begin Stage 1 in an area surrounded by white rocks in the heart of the White Desert. The first stage is moderate with a total of 35 kilometers (21.9 miles). There are four checkpoints with mainly flat, rocky and sandy ground. The fast competitors are expected to take 3 hours, while the slower competitors will take up to 12 hours to complete the stage.

Pre-Race

2008-10-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

Movenpick Resort that the gers stayed b4 race

We r checked in for race at 10am, leaving camp at 12pm. We got a surprise this morning. Will be covering 253 to 258km.

Hmm...seems like the 2 gers are gonna get every penny of their race fee worth :P

Our Iron Ladies to the Sahara!

2008-10-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

The journey begins from here, this time the distance is a little longer, in a different environment and surrounded by different elements (less humid, sandy wherever we go?). This is my first desert race but we aren't the first Singaporean to take part in such events. And in about 24 hours, HH and i will be departing for Cairo.

Last nite, we went to see Hwee Hoon & Joyce off at the airport. They are embarking on an exciting journey to Egypt, for a race of their lifetime - Sahara Desert Run!!!

They are the 1st 2 ladies of our running group to attempt this amazing feat. Since the day i knew HH, she has been toying with the idea of a desert run. Now that the day has finally arrived, i am so keyed up for her :)

We had quite a big send-off party..with HH's hubby, Joanne, Cheemeng, Linda, Clarence, Catherine, Charles..and 2 friends who surprised us at the airport - Kim, who came back from Oz & Wilson, from his Kona Ironman.

Our Gobi'08 finishers taking a shot with the Sahara'08 finishers-to-be

The 2 gers bumped into the last "Singaporean" who is in the race. Lloyd was identified by his Salomon Raid Revo 30. He left some of us puzzling about the contents of his small bag which he checked in. The size of his luggage (which looked like a gym bag) pales in comparison with the gers' duffel bags. I wonder what type of race food is in his "doraemon" bag...

As we bade our good wishes to the trio and saw them into the departure hall, the rear view of the 2 petite ladies with their backpacks resembled those of school kids...like 2 school girls following a teacher to class.

May Sahara be a memorable & delightful classroom for them in the next 1 week!

HH & Joyce: we shall be rooting for yall at home! GAMBATE!!!

15Jun08 - Gobi08 Finishers on News!

2008-06-18T07:52:00.001-07:00

Thanks Cat, for scanning the news clippings from ZaoBao!

For details of the article, please visit the below link.

http://www.zaobao.com/special/feature/pages/feature080615.shtml

Clarence on front page

15Jun08 - Post Race Update

2008-06-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

From Linda:

Hi,
the guys have completed within the top 20%*.
Mr Tay was happy because he ran beside Dean Karnaze (for those, like me, who don't know him, he is one of the elite ultra runners in the world) ...for 10seconds. And even got a photo with the nice and friendly star.

Chee Meng applauded the competitors: there were so many that didn't train, but they were very positive, and mt running pple are strong.
He felt, in conclusion, that an event like Gobi is not that inconceivable. Completing is not an issue.

*The Singaporeans said that they would run together, and came back in a few batches. Chee Meng's and Clarence's and Kah Shin's timings on the board (~35min for 15km, hmm) have to have an hour added because the officials didn't know that they started an hour earlier.*

Mr. Tay is now moonlighting as a tour guide in Kashgar.

Pleased to have been one of your reporters.

Signing off,
da

8Jun08 - Canyons, Camels & Gobi 38km (Stage 1)

2008-06-15T08:59:00.001-07:00

Cat's update about Clarence & Chee Meng:

They are both fine and are enjoying the 35 degrees dry weather and they walked more than 38.5km.

9Jun08 - Mars in the Gobi 40km (Stage 2)

2008-06-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

Cat's update abt Clarence:

"All was good. We started earlier at 8am n took less than 6hr for 40.2km. Feeling more acclimatised today. Will be the same tmr but more uphill."

Linda's update abt Chee Meng:

Mr. Tay has brought his phone with him despite having a (bloody heavy donno why it's heavier than Clarence's despite having almost the exact same stuff) 11kg pack and a very noisy ankle that is being kept at the back (x100) of his mind... There was reception inthemiddleofnowhere today, at Stage2 camp, which is a great surprise... maybe not as surprising, he did better today than yesterday, at 5.43:16 vs 5.55:43 yesterday, although his ankle is much bigger (and the course is supposed to be one of the most difficult sections?).

Mr. 5.52:15 Yap was much faster than Mr. Tay for the first 20km (as with Stage 1), with TCM trying very hard to catch up. But because TCM is made of FAT, he is able to call upon his reserves and slowly draw upon them, making it to camp in good shape and time. The temperatures that soared today were nary a concern too, because they started the race earlier than the day before. Mr. Tay had also had a nurturing welcome to camp yesterday with a chilling stream to numb his ankle that was not staying very quiet.

Chee Meng poses for pic, looking chirpy

Pauline

Team MR25 GobiSee Clarence on your rite.

Nicholas Yong

Adeline Yong?

Bib 24 - Eleanor Chia?
Te-Win, Getty Goh

11Jun08 - Fast Track to Heaven 42km (Stage 4)

2008-06-15T08:19:00.002-07:00

Linda's update abt Chee Meng:

A few days ago, TCM said that he has had a very good appetite. supposed to cater for 12 servings of food, he catered for 16, and he was fearful that not enough based on the way he was eating. So guess what the good news is: along the way (from Stage 2), they have picked up a fellow Singaporean, Bernard. A 'ke ai' fella. And this ke ai fella has a lot of food that Mr. Fat Tay has kindly taken over. So one has a lighter bag, and one has more to eat.

Stage 4 has been tiring, xiaoming said that 75% of the route is tough. TCM, Clarence and Bernard came in together, same as Stage 3. They took 7.21:18. TCM really sprained his ankle, and he said that it was very painful. Xiaoming has taken painkiller, I think he is taping his ankle now. He should be fine for the 77k tmr. They'd be sent to the next start point at 6 am.

Cat's update abt Clarence:

"Today was the toughest day, came back at 3.21pm, more than 7hr. thank God it was windy in the noon. scenery was good, took more pic. do continue to pray for us as tmr will be the 80km march".

168 chasing 88 (Clarence > Leow Kah Shin)
Bib 94 Steven Lim

The middle guy seems to be donning the SG flag.

Eleanor Chia

10Jun08 - The Farmlands of Langerville 40km (Stage 3)

2008-06-15T08:19:00.001-07:00

No updates. Not sure if the below pictures fall under Stage 3.

Adeline Yong?
Smiley Liew Wei Yong
Steven Wong
Eleanor Chia
Is that a Singapore flag?

12/13Jun08 - The Long March 77km (Stage 5)

2008-06-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

Linda's update abt Chee Meng:

"Stage 5 is over within 12hrs. I m dog tired. I walked for 20k before chasing Clarence. Survived on 8 gels and 4 fruit bars. I won't run for 1 mth after tis race

Chee Meng

Pauline

Steven Lim waving "hi"

Bib 169 - Adeline Yong?

Bernard Lew

Liew Wei Yong

Nicholas Yong

14Jun08 - Congrats! The Final Steps to the Tomb of Kashgary 12km (Stage 6)

2008-06-14T08:32:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to our proud Singaporeans on a challenge well-accomplished at Gobi Desert!

Out of the 18 Singaporeans who participated in this gruelling 6-stage 250km foot race, 3 are our friends - Tay Chee Meng, Clarence Yap & Pauline Pang. This blog will contain some personal updates from them during the 7 days.

A triumphant Clarence & fellow Singaporean, Phyllis Lum crossing the finishing line. For a moment, i couldn't recognise Clarence on this pic!
Can you spot Chee Meng? Hint: Look to your right.

Medals galore.

Liew Wei Yong and her mineral-water-bottle "bowl". Very creative.

Eleanor still looking pretty & kempt after the distance