14/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Unfortunately, the extreme weather conditions and unforgiving terrain of the Gobi have beaten Mike into submission.   After collapsing several times suffering from heat exhaustion, he and 4 other participants have been pulled from the race on the recommendations of the medical team.  At 17:00h GMT today, after a night’s rest, Mike said he felt weak, but relieved!   He will continue to marshal and enjoy the Gobi experience at a more leisurely pace. He will update you all on his return and sends wholehearted thanks to everybody for your sustaining support…

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13/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Now finished stage 2,  which was hard … it’s as unlike the Gobi as you can imagine…raining hard … freezing.

Tomorrow will be tough…29 miles!

Thanks to everyone for the emails …

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13/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Started a day early…

Now finished stage1 ….  was an absolute nightmare…  took 6 hours!

went into the ice gorge but a lot of the ice has melted, so had to go  through the river and  up through the mountains… got soaking wet…

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11/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

It’s boiling hot now… actually in the Gobi desert…starting tomorrow at midday going up through the ice gorge on the first day … some pretty big mountains here

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08/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

If you wish, you can send a message to the satellite ‘phone via the internet or as an email. I’m assured that this is totally free of charge but it may be worth checking if in doubt.

To send a message via the internet:

• Visit http://messaging.iridium.com
• Enter the ‘phone no. which is: 8816 5144 7598
• Enter your message in the “message” box (Messages are a maximum of 160 characters) so you could send “keep going you fat, lazy, obese, turgid, gross, gargantuan pig” and still have space for an insult!
• Click “send message”

 Send a short email:

• The ‘phone has its own email address. This is 881651447598@msg.iridium.com
• Enter the satellite ‘phone email address in the “To” field
• Type your message and click “send”
• Leave the subject box blank as this information is not sent with the message
• Again, messages are restricted to 160 characters

All messages will be delivered the next time the satellite ‘phone registers with the network.

It’s my intention to switch the ‘phone on in the morning before the start and again in the evening once I’ve got myself sorted out  so if there are delays don’t be surprised - I’m not even sure that the technology works although I’m assured that it will.

I will do my best to provide Paula with a daily report which she will then upload to the blog when she has time but all may not go to plan so please be patient.

Thanks to everyone who has sent messages of ‘good wishes’ and to Bob Sykes for reminding me that Ghengis Khan was also a small, fat bloke with a beard - and look what he achieved! (As a matter of interest, he was dead 10 years before he’d have been my age - must have been all that raping and pillaging - wears a chap out you know)

Mike

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05/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Countdown to the desert begins. For updates during the Challenge log in to this blog and I’ll be sending in daily reports - if possible. I’ve got a satellite ‘phone so if I can conquer the technology between now and next week the reports will start to flow. Be prepared to be bored, very bored. Feel free to leave messages and comments.

Mike

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02/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

The waiting is pretty nearly over and the date of truth is rapidly approaching.

 I leave for Mongolia next Tuesday. I fly from heathrow to Moscow and then on to Ulan bator in Mongolia. Then an internal flight down to Dalanzadagad in the Gobi Desert. From there it’s a drve in the vehicles out to the base camp for the usual kit checks and briefings before setting out the following day for the Challenge proper.

It’s been said before, but just getting to the start of these things is an adventure in itself. There’s a long wait for the onward flight from Moscow but that’s no bad thing. My journey to the Amazon and the Jungle marathon in 2006 was nearly ruined by the late departure of the first flight from London resulting in all the connecting flights being missed and a trip of 20 hours turned into nearly 60! I did get to the start in time but only just and was so wound up and knackered that it spoilt the whole thing for me.

I’m really looking forward to the Gobi Challenge and hope both it and I live up to expectations.

The next challenge is the successful organisation of the 50 Miler on Sunday 10th August. We’ve only got 20 places left for this year so if you want to have a go at it, get your entry in NOW.

That’s it folks……………

Mike

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