Matthew R. Chapman, 29, Australia (based in Singapore), Headhunter, Hudson Global Resources

Matthew is a headhunter based in Singapore; he is originally from Australia. He has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005. In the Atacama Crossing, he was part of Team Commonwealth and in the Gobi March and Sahara Race he participated as an individual. He is fully sponsored by his company, Hudson Global Resources. Matthew is using his participation to profile work/life balance in the Asian business community. The Last Desert was Matthew's fourth 4 Deserts event. Matthew is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Matthew R. Chapman, 29, Australia (based in Singapore), Headhunter, Hudson Global Resources

Matthew is a headhunter based in Singapore; he is originally from Australia. He has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005. In the Atacama Crossing, he was part of Team Commonwealth and in the Gobi March and Sahara Race he participated as an individual. He is fully sponsored by his company, Hudson Global Resources. Matthew is using his participation to profile work/life balance in the Asian business community. The Last Desert was Matthew's fourth 4 Deserts event. Matthew is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Vincent L. Carroll, 46, Ireland, Retailer

Vincent is a self-employed retailer from Ireland. He spent 22 years in the military specializing in fitness, weapons and parachuting. As soon as he joined the navy, he started walking long distances and has never stopped. He has completed over fifteen two-day mountain marathons with two wins and three seconds. Vincent has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005. The Last Desert was Vincent's fourth 4 Deserts race. Vincent is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Lisanne C. Dorion, 40, United States, International Attorney

Lisanne is an attorney in Vermont specializing in intellectual property and international business and general contractual matters. She previously worked for Bacardi International Limited in Bermuda as Vice President, Legal, and Director of Intellectual Property. Lisanne also has her helicopter pilot's license. Lisanne has completed the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Gobi March 2003, and the Atacama Crossing 2004 and was the female winner of the Gobi March 2005. Lisanne has completed every 4 Deserts race to date and the Last Desert was her fifth 4 Deserts race. Lisanne is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Masashi Hayakawa, 62, Japan, Retired Government Staff

Masashi is retired and lives in Japan. He has enjoyed sports since he was a child but it was not until he reached his 30's that he started covering long distances on foot in order to keep fit. He completed the All-Japan Triathlon Championship (Miyako Island, 2003) and the Marathon des Sables (Morocco, 2003) in 55:01. Masashi has also competed in the Desert Cup Jordan and was a finisher in all 4 Deserts events to date which included the Gobi March 2003 and 2005, the Atacama Crossing 2004 and the Sahara Race 2005. This was Masashi's fifth 4 Deserts event. Masashi is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Derek T. Kwik, 37, Hong Kong, Managing Partner, BraveSoldier Ventures

Derek is a managing partner of a Hong Kong-based venture capital technology fund. He is an avid runner and has completed the Standard Chartered Marathon (6x's), Hong Kong Trailwalker 100km Mountain Race (3x's), Power Bar Action Sprint Adventure Race (2x's), China Coast Marathon (2x's), Macau Marathon (2x's), Los Angeles Marathon (2x's), Las Vegas International Marathon, Hong Kong International Triathlon and the Kawaguchiko Japan Marathon. Derek was a member of the first Hong Kong team to ever compete in an Eco-Challenge, the Eco-Challenge Sabah 2000 and was the team captain in the Eco-Challenge New Zealand 2001. He has also completed the Gobi March 2003, Atacama Crossing 2004 and Sahara Race 2005. The Last Desert was Derek's fourth 4 Deserts race. Derek is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

  

Alasdair G. Morrison, 57, Scotland (based in Hong Kong), Chairman & C.E.O., Morgan Stanley Asia

Alasdair is the former Taipan of Jardine Matheson Holdings, a large Asian-based conglomerate. He is currently Chairman & C.E.O. of Morgan Stanley Asia based in Hong Kong. He has competed in the Desert Cup Jordan, Gobi March 2003, Atacama Crossing 2004, Sahara Race 2005, Hong Kong Trailwalker (2 times) and the Beijing Marathon. He has also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kinabalu, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Toubkal and Sgurr Alasdair (Cuillins, Scotland). He also rowed around Hong Kong Island. This was his fourth 4 Deserts event. Alasdair is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Gunnar Nilsson, 50, Sweden, Engineer, Aerzen Svenska AB

Gunnar is an after sales engineer for Aerzen Svenska AB in Sweden, with the motto: "An after sales engineer should be ready to go anywhere in the world." Gunnar has completed 47 marathons since 1992 with a best time of 4:18. Many of these have been around the world - Copenhagen, Bangkok, Berlin, Boston, Kathmandu and Tallinn. He has completed the Marathon Des Sables, the Gobi March 2003, Atacama Crossing 2004 and Sahara Race 2005. He has also made it to the summit of Adams Peak in Sri Lanka and Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo. His hobby besides jogging is cooking. The Last Desert was Gunnar's fifth 4 Deserts event. Gunnar is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Satoru Otsuka, 65, Japan, Retired Manufacturer

Satoru is enjoying his retirement in Japan. He has gone from being an alpine skier to being a true desert competitor in the last ten years. He has completed the Shimanto River 100 Kilometer Marathon (1998) in 14:45, the Marathon des Sables 2003 in 55:42. Satoru has completed every 4 Desert event to date, the Gobi March 2003, the Atacama Crossing 2004, Gobi March 2005 and Sahara Race 2005. This was Satoru's fifth 4 Deserts event. Satoru is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Scott P. Smith, 49, United States, Army Junior ROTC Instructor, Bloomfield High School

Scott is retired from the military and currently manages the Army Junior ROTC program at Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, New Mexico. Scott cannot remember a time when he was not a runner; running has always been an integral part of his lifestyle. He is also an avid scuba diver and motorcycle rider. Scott completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, Gobi March 2005 and Sahara Race 2005. For each 4 Deserts event, Scott has raised money for individuals and charities in his local area. The Last Desert was Scott's fourth 4 Deserts event. Scott is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Chuck Walker, 39, United States, Deputy Sheriff, San Joaquin County

Chuck is a former U.S. Marine from Stockton, California currently employed by the San Joaquin County as a Deputy Sheriff. He is also a defense tactics instructor for the department and the police academy. Chuck started walking long distances at the age of sixteen purely as a mode of transportation and since then Chuck has completed many running events, adventure races, triathlons and the Marathon des Sables. Besides running he is active in Jiu-Jitsu, placing first in the 2004 US Open. He has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Gobi March 2005 and Sahara Race 2005. This was his fourth 4 Deserts event. Chuck is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Brent J. Weigner, 56, United States, Teacher, Laramie County School District

Brent is a 7th grade geography teacher and cross-country coach at McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A three-time cancer survivor, Brent currently holds the world record for running ultramarathons on all seven continents in the shortest period of time, 267 days. He is also the only person in the world who has run ultramarathons at both the Geographic North and South Poles. Brent won the senior men's title at the 2003 and 2005 Nike ACG United States National Snowshoe Championships. He has served as a race consultant to many of the world's top adventure travel companies. Most recently he helped Arctic Watch in Canada organize the world's northern most ultramarathon, the Northwest Passage 50km. Brent's running resume includes over 140 marathons and ultras around the world. Brent has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, Gobi March 2005 and Sahara Race 2005. This was his fourth 4 Deserts event. Brent is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Joel E. Burrows, 30, United States, Team Illinois, Personal Trainer, First Step Fitness

Joel is a Master Trainer at the East Bank Club in Chicago and owner of First Step Fitness, a personal training and kickboxing gym. Joel is an accomplished trainer and endurance athlete, as well as a seven-time Ironman Triathlon finisher. He achieved a personal best of 11:35 at the Ironman Triathlon in Florida in 2003. Joel has also completed ten marathons with a personal best of 3:09. Joel has competed as a member of Team Illinois in the Atacama Crossing 2004, Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005. The Last Desert was Joel's fourth 4 Deserts event with his teammates. Joel is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Click here for more information on Team Illinois.

Nancy M. Fudacz-Burrows, 38, United States, Team Illinois, Director of Exercise Programs, East Bank Club

Nancy has been Director of Exercise Programs at the East Bank Club in Chicago for the past ten years. Nancy is an accomplished endurance athlete and has completed six Ironman distance triathlons, with a personal best of 11:41 (3rd place, Athena Division) in the Florida Ironman. Nancy was named the 2001 Chicago Area Runner's Association "Clydesdale Runner of the Year" and has completed ten marathons. She was a 2003 Team USA member for the International Triathlon Union World Championship in Ibiza, Spain. Nancy has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005 as a member of Team Illinois. This was Nancy's fourth 4 Deserts event with her teammates. Nancy is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Click here for more information on Team Illinois.

David P. Kuhnau, 35, United States, Team Illinois, Consultant, GDI Solutions

Dave is a former software consultant at Arthur Anderson who started his own company two years ago called GDI Solutions. In 1999 he found himself weighing in at 265lbs and leading an inactive life. Starting with some 5km races, Dave has since done over 11 marathons with a personal best of 3:02. When he's not working, he's traveling the world. In 2003, he competed in the River To River Race (placing third), the Hood To Coast Relay (placing second in the co-ed team category), the Ironman Lake Placid (13:10:56) and the Ironman Florida (11:24:36). Dave has completed the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Gobi March 2005 and the Sahara Race 2005 as a member of Team Illinois. The Last Desert was Dave's fou rth 4 Deserts event. David is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Click here for more information on Team Illinois.

Kevin Lin, 28, Taiwan, Masters Degree Candidate in Sports Psychology

Kevin is currently working towards his Masters Degree in Sports Psychology at Chung Cheng Uniersity in Taiwan. Before that he was a Physical Education teacher at a Taiwan high school. Kevin is an elite athlete and has been running since he was ten years old. He has completed many international marathon and ultramarathon events. Kevin won the Atacama Crossing in 2004 and placed second and third in the Sahara Race 2005 and Gobi March 2003, respectively. The Last Desert was Kevin's fourth 4 Deserts event. Kevin is one of fifteen individuals in the world to have completed all 4 Deserts.

Click here to visit Kevin Lin's personal website covering his racing life.