Don Francisco Panceta (Bacon para los anglo parlates) decía que "si uno comienza con certeza, termina con dudas; pero si acepta empezar con dudas, llegarà a terminar con certezas". Así que, hacíendole honor a don Bacon, arranque el día lleno de DUDAS. Sin embargo "hoy no fue ayer" y hubo una buena noche de sueño... bueno, lo de buena es relativo. Como este viaje se está caracterizando por los imprevistos, se me pinchó el TermaRest por lo que domí literamnete en el piso, eso si, en unas tiendas mongoles hermosas.

Well, here we are, in the middle of nowhere in a beautiful Mongolian camp with a very funny melting pot but, as it is always the case on these events, full of good vibes and people willing to help.

Today we finished Day 1: 37 quite hard kilometers with altimetry, a scorching sun and 12 kilograms on my back. Of course it is possible to run a marathon carrying that weight but I still need to run like 6 more races in the next 5 days. So, going back to my leading phrase: "what can go wrong?"

Today I saved my energies, since what's left is a lot and it is unknown for me and my body. But at least stage 1 was completed and, what is best, I finished it early so I had time to rest and relax my muscles.

I'm intrigued as to how my body - specially my shoulders - will feel like tomorrow. But let's take one step at a time.

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day: 45 km with plenty of altimetry. So saving our energy will be vital.

But, as Coco Basile used to say, "step by step. Tomorrow we'll find out what we are made of" 😊.

Up to now the equipment had no more problems and my body is working fine. I will have had two breakfasts and two dinners, so that the weight will begin to go down.

The good thing is that, when talking to other people here, we find out we are all on the same page. This race is very extreme and, as such, we have to put our body and mind to the limit.

In my tent, the Wild Onions, there are two Australians, one American, a Portuguese and myself. I think the only one who is on par with me is my Portuguese friend. The other three are literally THREE TANKS, like the marines from the movies. Of course, when I arrived at the tent they were already there, had already showered and shaved and looked like they had not run at all. All this does not raise my spirit but, nonetheless, if I had to choose between being a slave in Heaven or reign Hell I would go for the most complicated choice.

On the hand, some are now arriving, amazing, since I have been here for four hours. I get the goose bumps watching the whole camp clapping enthusiastically, so much so I could not hold a tear.

i have no idea how these people will manage tomorrow but today they are heroes.

Back to myself, I have my GPS set to let me know every 2,5 km. Normally a marathon consists of 33 laps on my GPS. Today when I got to lap 10, I said, gosh, I still have to do 100. Let's say I started looking for the fastest way to kill myself 😊.

Anyway, here we are, one day less, one more day.

We still have plenty of rock' roll ahead. So tomorrow will be another day and we'll see what comes with it.

Thanks everyone for your support and please, have a gin tonic on my behalf since all I can drink are electrolytes and recovery's.

Tomorrow Day 2.

Well, we survived Day 1, which is no easy pie.

Yesterday was crazy. Everything was under control until I found out that in one of the 10000 airports I was a small bag with some petty things got lost. The problem arose at the equipment check, when a very correct eastern man very respectfully asked for my whistle, my compass and the little mirror, all of which were of course in the small bag. So I had a hard time trying to get everything before the departure.

The whistle and the compass were easy but getting a mirror in Mongolia... in fact, getting someone to understand that I needed a mirror, that was exhausting. I ended up buying some make up from who knows where to obtain it.

After that I ate half a pizza and saved the other half for dinner. On the road we had a caravan of 5 buses and 5 trucks. I felt I was Mad Max. It was a long trip that left us in Camp 1 safe and sound. I had another little drawback of the kind that would put the whole race in danger for me: THE FASTENER OF MY BACK PACK WAS BROKEN. Luckily it has a double fastener so I'm being extremely careful and loving with the other one. In the end the possibility of me staying in the race depends on a fastener 😊.

Apart from these small things we camped on some fantastic roads, had Mongolian serenades at sunset - so I took millions of pictures - and a quite cold evening to finish the day.

I did my best to get some sleep since, due to jet lag and nervousness, it was not an easy task. But I made it through with the company of an audiobook and some patience.

Today I read all your comments, thanks from the bottom of my heart. It's like you were all near. Let's go for Day 1.

Peperving Berlin dijo alguna vez que “La vida es un 10% de lo q haces de ella y un 90% como te la tomas” yo el 10% de lo que tenia que hacer ya lo hice, así que ahora veremos como me la tomo, aunque si se trata de “tomar” yo siempre estoy dispuesto, así que aquí estamos, en mi última noche en la civilización, en una cómoda cama junto a Roland (mi compañero de cuarto, aleman él) intentando combatir el jet lag, los nervios y el cagazo….

Antes de irme a dormir dos perlitas:

1. Dice el refrán que “Egoísta es aquel que piensa primero en él que en mi”, bueno acá por suerte eso no pasa. Mucha solidaridad, con solo escribir en nuestro grupo ¡me falta xxxx! automáticamente tienes dos o tres personas prontas a ayudarte. De ahí a que nos entendamos es otra cosa, pues el crisol de idiomas es increíble. Me faltaban alfileres de gancho (saftey pins) y creo q casi termino en un tour por la ciudad 🤪 (me contestaron en chino, mongol, alemán, japonés y hasta una chica de Ecuador) lo bueno es que además conseguí los alfileres no me fui de tour.

2. Y la segunda perla del día me la dio Roland cuando les pregunté sobre sus expectativas para la carrera y me contestó “pasarla bien, pues a partir de mañana las variables son muchas y ya no las controlamos”

Y tiene razón, como dice el dicho “no me preocupa tener una araña en la cama, lo que me preocupa es perderla de vista” y lo que no debemos perder de vista es el objetivo, “pasarla bien” sin olvidarse de Milton claro pues.... “Largo y penoso es el camino que desde el infierno conduce a la luz” 😀

Nos vemos en el desierto

Alea jacta est!

Peperving Berlin once said, "Life is 10% what you do with it and 90% how you take it". As for myself, I already did my 10% of the day so now let's see how I take it (though as Churchill once remarked, "I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me" 🤪). So here we are, on my last night in the civilized world, in a comfy bed along with Roland (my roommate, German) trying to fight jet lag, nerves and panic...

Before going to sleep, two "goodies":

1- A saying goes"Selfish is he who thinks first about himself and not about me." Well, luckily this does not happen here. Plenty of solidarity. The moment we write in our group, "I don't have xxx!", you immediately get two or three people ready to help you. The only drawback maybe understanding each other since the number of languages spoken is incredible. I lacked safety pins and I thought I would almost end up on a tour round the city. I got replies in Chinese, Mongolian, German, Japanese and even from a girl from Ecuador. The good thing is that I got them and needn't go out on tour.

2- The second goodie of today was from Roland. When I asked them what their expectations for the race were, he answered "having a good time since as from tomorrow the variables are many and we can't control them anymore."

And he's right. As someone once said, "I don't mind having a spider on my bed; what worries me is losing sight of it." And what we should never lose sight of is the goal, "have a good time", without forgetting Milton of course... "Long is the way and hard that out of Hell leads up to light". 😊

See you in the desert.

Alea jacta est!

Here I am writing a blog - the last one was during the pandemic - with everything that writing entails. Isabel Allende said that “Writing is like making love: it is not the end that matters, what matters is the process”. So, we would have to see what Tolstoy thought of this when he wrote the 1,240 pages of War and Peace: definitely what happened to León was “a real orgasm”; the guy knew how to take his time.

Mongolia….. Mongolia….. here arises one of the first philosophical questions I am having on this trip. Mongolia….  Who the hell would think of coming to run 250 km on the other side of the world? Anyway, here we are remembering "Diogenes” (The philosopher, not the cartoon): "Movement is demonstrated by walking”;in my case, running. And, boy, I will surely have to demonstrate it!

Saint Exupéry said that “a goal without a plan is just a wish”, so this race has been planned in every detail, especially in terms of weight. Carrying 9 kg on your back for 250 km makes a huge difference, so that planning its loading and distribution has been an art. Considering that more than half the weight is food, I begin to agree with Saint that I must have a “plan.” In my case I have three, 1-Eat all the food on the first day, and thus run very lightly the other five days, 2-diet, 3-Suffer... I think that plan 1 and 2 will not be accepted by Marisa (my primary nutricionist).  Then, when it comes to food, we will have to use plan 3: eat when we have to and suffer when we can. The bag will be my only comfort at night, and some clean clothes for the night will be the only comfort of all my tent companion. Therefore, Plan 3 is strictly applied, SUFFER.

So, going back to philosophy a bit; As the saying goes ““Once the impossible has been discarded, what remains, although improbable, is the best we have”. There is no choice but to suffer, suffer and suffer. There are six sections: one of 35KM, another of 45K, another of 42K, another of 80KM, another of 42K and the last of 10K.

Of course today we will close with the great Milton: "Goodbye, fortunate fields, where joy perpetually reigns! Greetings, mansion of horrors! Cheers, infernal world!"

LET THE ROCK A& ROLL BEGIN

Alea Jacta Est

Aquí me encuentro escribiendo un blog -el último fue en la pandemia- con todo lo que conlleva escribir. Isabel Allende decía que “Escribir es como hacer el amor: no importa el final sino el proceso”; habría que ver que pensó de esto Tolstói cuando escribió las 1.240 páginas de La Guerra y La Paz. Decididamente lo de León fue todo “un polvo”;el tipo si sabía tomarse su tiempo.

Seguramente don Tolstói escribió su libro frente a una gran chimenea en la bella San Petersburgo mientras se hidrataba con Vodka (del bueno). Este no es mi caso pues yo les escribiré desde una tienda de campaña en el medio del desierto de Gobi, con un vaso de agua y una pastilla de electrolitos como máximo consuelo etílico. Así que, volviendo a la frase de Isabel, supongo que lo nuestro serán SEIS de los denominados “polvos rápidos” esos que uno práctica en el entretiempo del partido, en la alacena de la casa o en una playa remota pues, entre el cansancio, el hambre y los nervios, no creo que mis musas me acompañen largo tiempo.

Mongolia….. Mongolia….. aquí surge una de las primeras preguntas filosóficas que me estoy haciendo en este viaje. Mongolia….  ¿A quién mierda se le ocurre venir a correr 250 km en el otro extremo del mundo? En fin, acá estamos acordándonos de Diógenes (El filósofo, no la caricatura): "El movimiento se demuestra andando”, en mi caso corriendo, y vaya que lo tendré que demostrar!

Saint Exupéry decía que “un objetivo sin plan es solo un deseo”, así que esta carrera ha sido planificada en cada detalle, sobre todo en lo referente al peso, cargar 9 kg en la espalda por 250 km hace una pequeña diferencia, por lo que planificar su carga y distribución ha sido todo un arte. Si consideramos que más de la mitad del peso es comida, comienzo a coincidir con Saint en que debo tener un “plan”. En mi caso tengo tres, 1- Comerme toda la comida el primer día y así correr muy liviano los otros cinco días, 2-hacer dieta, 3-Sufir….. creo que el plan 1 y 2 no será aceptado por Marisa (mi Nutri de cabecera). Entonces, en lo referente a la comida tendremos que usar el plan 3: comer cuando se debe y sufrir cuando se puede. La bolsa será mi único consuelo nocturno, y un poco de ropa limpia para la noche será el único consuelo de todos mis compañeros de carpa pues duchas no hay, ende, el Plan 3 se aplica a rajatabla: SUFRIR.

Entonces, volviendo un poco a la filosofía; como dice el refrán “Descartado lo imposible, lo que queda, aunque improbable, es lo mejor que tenemos”.  No queda otra que sufrir, sufrir y sufrir, Son seis tramos: uno de 35KM, otro de 45K, otro de 42K, otro de 80KM, otro de 42K y el último de 10K.

Por supuesto hoy cerraremos con el gran Milton: "¡Adiós, campos afortunados, donde reina la alegría perpetuamente! ¡Salud, mansión de horrores! ¡Salud, mundo infernal!" QUE COMIENCE EL ROCK A& ROLL!

Alea Jacta est!

-----------------------------------

Here I find myself writing a blog - the last one was during the pandemic - with everything that writing entails. Isabel Allende said that “Writing is like making love: it is not the end that matters but the process”; It should be seen what Tolstoy thought of this when he wrote the 1,240 pages of War and Peace. Definitely what Leon did was “a fuck”; the guy knew how to take his time.

Surely Mr. Tolstoy wrote his book in front of a large fireplace in beautiful Saint Petersburg while he hydrated himself with Vodka (the good kind). This is not my case because I will write to you from a tent in the middle of the Gobi desert, with a glass of water and an electrolyte pill as maximum alcoholic comfort. So, going back to Isabel's phrase, I suppose that ours will be SIX of the so-called “quick fucks” those that one practices at halftime of the game, in the pantry at home or on a remote beach because, between the fatigue, hunger and nerves, I don't think my muses will accompany me for long.

Mongolia….. Mongolia….. here arises one of the first philosophical questions I am asking myself on this trip. Mongolia…. Who the hell would think of coming to run 250 km on the other side of the world? Anyway, here we are remembering Diogenes (The philosopher, not the caricature): "Movement is demonstrated by walking", in my case by running, and boy, I will have to demonstrate it!

Saint Exupéry said that “a goal without a plan is just a wish”, so this race has been planned in every detail, especially in terms of weight, carrying 9 kg on your back for 250 km makes a small difference, so that planning its loading and distribution has been an art. Considering that more than half the weight is food, I begin to agree with Saint that I must have a “plan.” In my case I have three, 1-Eat all the food on the first day and thus run very lightly the other five days, 2-diet, 3-Suffer... I think that plan 1 and 2 will not be accepted by Marisa (my Nutri of header). So, when it comes to food we will have to use plan 3: eat when you have to and suffer when you can. The bag will be my only consolation at night, and some clean clothes for the night will be the only consolation for all my tent companions since there are no showers, therefore, Plan 3 is strictly applied: SUFFER.

So, going back to philosophy a bit; As the saying goes, “Once the impossible is discarded, what remains, although improbable, is the best we have.” There is no choice but to suffer, suffer and suffer. There are six sections: one of 35KM, another of 45K, another of 42K, another of 80KM, another of 42K and the last of 10K.

Of course today we will close with the great Milton: "Farewell, fortunate fields, where joy perpetually reigns! Hail, mansion of horrors! Hail, infernal world!" LET THE ROCK A& ROLL BEGIN!

Alea Jacta is!

I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I rarely want to leave here, however today I WANT to leave 😊

José Luis Borges said that “TWO is a mere coincidence and THREE is a confirmation”, in my case it will be FOUR.

ONE: I have to leave my city, Ushuaia (GTM -3:00), Tierra del Fuego, where we have been for three days, literally, COVERED with snow, and also, the airline decided change my flight, so this is the most important link end of my chain, five months of preparation hang on ONE flight, since I am 3,000 km from the international airport that takes me out of Argentina:

TWO: Flight to Madrid (GTM +2), this one already has some contingency, from Buenos Aires  (GTM -3:00)one way or another I'm going to get somewhere close to my objective, except that there is a threat of strike of air traffic controllers 😊, but it doesn't matter, here the chain is not so fine.

THREE: Madrid – Istanbul (GTM +3): Here things are easier, in any case we will get there at any price.

FOUR: Istanbul – Ulaambaatar (GTM +8), let's hope accompanied by Daniela Frieden, we arrive at most on  board a camel.

Likewise, my academic spirit reminds me that “nothing is good or bad, except by comparison”; So, if I think that man reached the Moon with a computer with less processor than my phone, that the Vikings are still flying outside the solar system or that Donald Trump could become the next president of the USA, mine is not a large risk, I just have LITERALLY cross half globe, including the Grenwich Meridian, the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, and pass six airports with 4.5 Kg of estranger food plus as many utensils very difficult to explain to a security guard in Greek, Turkish or Mongolian, so what can go wrong?.

As “Aexandre Yersin”, the first Sherpa to climb Everest, said... “THIS IS NOT A LIFE OF NOT MOVING”

One way or another, see you at GOBI!

Alea Jacta Est

Vivo en uno de los lugares más especiales del mundo, y rara vez quiero irme de aquí, sin embargo, hoy QUIERO irme 😊

Borges decía que “DOS es una mera coincidencia y TRES una confirmación”, en mi caso serán CUATRO.

UNO: Tengo que salir de mi ciudad, Ushuaia (GTM -3:00), Tierra del Fuego, donde estamos desde hace tres días, literalmente, TAPADOS de nieve, y además, a la compañía aérea se le ocurrió cambiarme el vuelo, por lo que este es el eslabón más fino de mi cadena, cinco meses de preparación penden de UN vuelo, pues estoy a 3.000 km del aeropuerto internacional que me saque Argentina:

DOS: Vuelo a Madrid (GTM +2), este ya tiene algo de contingencia, desde Buenos Aires (GTM -3:00) de una o de otra forma a algún lado cerca de mi objetivo voy a llegar, salvo que hay amenaza de paro de controladores aéreos 😊, pero no importa, aquí la cadena no es tan fina.

TRES: Madrid – Estambul (GTM +3): Acá la cosa es más fácil, de cualquier forma llegaremos a cualquier precio.

CUATRO: Estambul – Ulaambaatar (GTM +8), ya esperemos acompañado de Daniela Frieden, más no sea a bordo de un camello vamos a llegar.

Igualmente, mi espíritu académico me recuerda que “nada es bueno ni malo, salvo por comparación”; entonces, si pienso que el hombre llegó a la Luna con una computadora con menos procesador que mi teléfono, que las Viking aún están volando fuera del sistema solar o que Donald Trump puede llegar a ser el próximo presiente de USA, lo mío no reviste riesgo alguno, solo tengo que cruzar, LITERALMENTE, medio globo, incluido el meridiano de Greenwich, el trópico de cancer y capricornio y pasar seis aeropuertos con 4,5 Kg de comida muy reara, más otros tantos utensilios muy difícil de explicarle a un guardia de seguridad en griego, turco o mongol, ende, que puede salir mal?

Como dijo “Aexandre Yersin” primer sherpa en subir al Everest…. “ESTA NO ES VIDA DE NO MOVERSE”

De una u otra forma, ¡nos vemos en GOBI!

Alea Jacta Est

--------------------------------

I live in one of the most special places in the world, and I rarely want to leave here, however, today I WANT to leave 😊

Borges said that “TWO is a mere coincidence and THREE is a confirmation”, in my case it will be FOUR.

ONE: I have to leave my city, Ushuaia (GTM -3:00), Tierra del Fuego, where we have been for three days, literally, COVERED with snow, and also, the airline company decided to change my flight, for What this is the finest link in my chain, five months of preparation depends on ONE flight, since I am 3,000 km from the international airport that takes me out of Argentina:

TWO: Flight to Madrid (GTM +2), this already has some contingency, from Buenos Aires (GTM -3:00) one way or another I will get somewhere close to my objective, except that there is a threat of strike of air traffic controllers 😊, but it doesn't matter, here the chain is not so fine.

THREE: Madrid – Istanbul (GTM +3): Here things are easier, in any case we will arrive at any price.

FOUR: Istanbul – Ulaambaatar (GTM +8), let's wait accompanied by Daniela Frieden, but we won't arrive on board a camel.

Likewise, my academic spirit reminds me that “nothing is good or bad, except by comparison”; So, if I think that man reached the Moon with a computer with less processor than my phone, that the Vikings are still flying outside the solar system or that Donald Trump may become the next president of the USA, mine is not a risk. any, I just have to LITERALLY cross half the globe, including the Greenwich Meridian, the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn and pass six airports with 4.5 Kg of very cheap food, plus many other utensils that are very difficult to explain to a security guard. security in Greek, Turkish or Mongolian, so what can go wrong?

As “Aexandre Yersin”, the first Sherpa to climb Everest, said... “THIS IS NOT A LIFE OF NOT MOVING”

One way or another, see you at GOBI!

Alea Jacta Est

Introducción a Gobi 😊

Ya que alguien se tomó el trabajo de describir esta carrera, citemos el speach de la organización para ubicarnos donde vamos: “Los competidores se abrirán camino a través de amplias estepas mongolas, dunas de arena y grandes valles rocosos a medida que completan el recorrido de 250 kilómetros. Esto también incluye vastas praderas verdes, estepas, templos, y bosques antiguos. A veces, los competidores dormirán en los tradicionales Gers mongoles. La carrera se abre camino a través del campo de batalla de Genghis Khan hacia el Centro del Valle de Orkhon  (Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO) y más allá de la antigua ciudad de Karakorum.”

Difícil decir algo más, aunque, ahora que lo pienso…. si Don Gengihis lo cruzó, porque yo no voy a hacerlo 😊.

Este desierto, uno de los más grandes del mundo, es el quinto en mi proyecto personal. A la fecha he completado las figuritas de 1-Sahara, 2-Atacama, 3-Círculo Polar Ártico y 4 Petra, vamos por esta quinta figurita; con la particularidad que será mi primer ULTRA, nunca pasé los 100KM de carrera, y menos cargando comida y equipo para sobrevivir 6 noches en el desierto.

Supongo que a esta altura Ud. se preguntará que puede llevar a un sexagenario (casi) a cruzar medio globo, internarse en el medio del desierto de Gobi, correr por seis días 250 Km con 9 kilos en la espalada y 11 hrs de Jet Lag…… no se preocupe, no es el único, yo no dejo de preguntarme lo mismo cada cinco minutos. Igualmente, en mi defensa, hay mucho mito alrededor de las carreras, puedo decirles que con un poquitito de disciplina y algunos simples consejos se puede llegar sin drama, en mi caso sólo fue:

• 4 meses de entrenamiento, algo así como 120 sesiones (llueva o nieve)
• 800 KM corridos (dos pares de zapatillas)
• 300 KM en bici (mi colita lo atestigua)
• 56 sesiones de gimnasio
• 48 partidos de pádel
• 7 kg de remolacha
• 120 bananas
• 278 huevos
• 30 morcillas
• 990 almendras
• 1,5 kg de semillas de chia.
• ½ kilo de kreatina
• ¼ de glutamina
• 20 recoverys
• Un entrenador (que me torturo semanalmente)
• Una nutricionista (con la cual compartimos ansiedades)
• 10 sesiones de masajes deportivos
• 6 sesiones de cámara hiperbárica
• Y dolores en lugares que ni siquiera sabía que podían doler

Así que aquí estamos, y cuando digo “estamos” es que somos como 200 locos de 31 países a punto de cruzar las tierras del Gran Gengis Kan, así que… allá vamos, ya hemos hecho todo lo que podíamos y debíamos hacer, ende…. como diría el gran Julio Cesar....

 Alea Iacta est!

 Nos vemos en Mongolia 😊

 ----------------------------------

Introduction to Gobi 😊

Since someone took the trouble to describe this race, let's quote the organization's speach to get us where we're going: “Competitors will make their way through wide Mongolian steppes, sand dunes and large rocky valleys as they complete the course of 250 kilometers. This also includes vast green meadows, steppes, temples, and ancient forests. Sometimes competitors will sleep in traditional Mongolian Gers. The race winds its way through Genghis Khan's battlefield towards the Center of the Orkhon Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and past the ancient city of Karakorum.”

Hard to say anything else, although, now that I think about it…. If Don Gengihis crossed it, because I'm not going to do it 😊.

This desert, one of the largest in the world, is the fifth in my personal project. To date I have completed the figurines of 1-Sahara, 2-Atacama, 3-Arctic Circle and 4 Petra, let's go for this fifth figurine; with the particularity that it will be my first ULTRA, I never went beyond 100KM of the race, and even less carrying food and equipment to survive 6 nights in the desert.

I suppose that at this point you are wondering what can take a sexagenarian (almost) to cross half the globe, enter the middle of the Gobi Desert, run 250 km for six days with 9 kilos on his back and 11 hours of Jet Lag …… don't worry, you're not the only one, I keep asking myself the same thing every five minutes. Likewise, in my defense, there is a lot of myth surrounding races, I can tell you that with a little bit of discipline and some simple advice you can get there without drama, in my case it was only:

• 4 months of training, something like 120 sessions (rain or snow)
• 800 KM run (two pairs of shoes)
• 300 KM by bike (my little tail attests to it)
• 56 gym sessions
• 48 padel matches
• 7 kg of beet
• 120 bananas
• 278 eggs
• 30 blood sausages
• 990 almonds
• 1.5 kg of chia seeds.
• ½ kilo of creatine
• ¼ glutamine
• 20 recoveries
• A trainer (who tortures me weekly)
• A nutritionist (with whom we share anxieties)
• 10 sports massage sessions
• 6 hyperbaric chamber sessions
• And pains in places I didn't even know could hurt

So here we are, and when I say “we are” it means that we are like 200 crazy people from 31 countries about to cross the lands of the Great Genghis Khan, so… here we go, we have already done everything we could and should do, so… . As the great Julius Caesar would say....

 Alea Iacta est!

 See you in Mongolia 😊

Introduction to Gobi 😊 (sorry for my english, it's a little rusty),

Since someone took the trouble to describe this race, let's quote the organization's speech to get us where we're going: “Competitors will make their way through wide Mongolian steppes, sand dunes and large rocky valleys as they complete the course of 250 kilometers. This also includes vast green meadows, steppes, temples, and ancient forests. Sometimes competitors will sleep in traditional Mongolian Gers. The race winds its way through Genghis Khan's battlefield towards the Center of the Orkhon Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and past the ancient city of Karakorum.”

Hard to say anything else, although now that I think about it…. If Don Gengihis crossed it… WHY wouldn’t I? 😊.

This desert, one of the largest in the world, is the fifth in my personal project. To date I have completed 1-Sahara, 2-Atacama, 3-Arctic Circle and 4 Petra, let's go for this fifth; with the particularity that it will be my first ULTRA, I never went beyond 100KM of the race, and even less carrying food and equipment to survive 6 nights in the desert.

I suppose that at this point you are wondering what can take a sexagenarian (almost) to cross half the globe, enter the middle of the Gobi Desert, run 250 km for six days with 9 kilos on his back and 11 hours of Jet Lag …… don't worry, you're not the only one, I keep asking myself the same thing every five minutes. Likewise, in my defense, there is a lot of myth around racing, I can tell you that with a little bit of discipline and some simple advises you can get there without problem, in my case it was only:

• 4 months of training, something like 120 sessions (rain or snow)
• 800 KM run (two pairs of shoes)
• 300 KM by bike (my little tail attests to this)
• 56 gym sessions
• 48 paddle tennis matches
• 7 kg of beets
• 120 bananas
• 278 eggs
• 30 blood sausages
• 990 almonds
• 5 kg of chia seeds.
• ½ kilo of kreatin
• ¼ glutamine
• 20 recoveries
• A trainer (who tortures me weekly)
• A nutritionist (with whom we share anxieties)
• 10 sports massage sessions
• 6 hyperbaric chamber sessions
• And pain in places I didn't even know could hurt

So, here we are, and when I say “we are” it means that we are like 200 crazy people from 31 countries about to cross the lands of the Great Genghis Khan, so… here we go, we have already done everything we could and should do, so… . As the great Julius Caesar say

Alea Iacta est!

 See you in Mongolia 😊