Gobi March Stage 3 – Partial Results, Stray Dogs Still in Fourth Place

Team Stray Dogs GoLite remain consistently in fourth place: for the day they finished in 8:41 with a total time of 19:59. Way to go Stray Dogs!! Check out the Web site at http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/. The scrolling photos on the home page include the Stray Dogs, Mace, Marsh, and Dr. Bob decked out in their GoLite gear. It’s nice to see their faces, if only briefly in a photo!

Team No Limits was again first in the team competition at 7:07 with a total time of 15:18. WSPA finished in 7:53 and is second overall with a total time of 17:22. Team Saigon finished in 8:22 with a total time of 18:17. Our friends Alex and Frank, racing as individuals but thus far have finished together in each of the three stages, finished 8:08. Ten hours into the race 86 competitors had made it to the finish, but additional results are not currently available.

Breaking news from Racing the Planet was that William Laughlin (US) – who is being coached by our friend Ray Zahab, by the way – was the first to complete Stage 3 on June 19th in 5:51. All competitors made it over the mountain pass but, due to bad weather and remote location, their satellite connection has been unstable and they ask all of us tracking the race from home to bear with them.

According to reports from Camp Langerville at the end of Stage 3, the course was the toughest so far, with the ascent challenging even top racers. They started at 7.30 a.m. from the Tajik Village where they had spent the night and climbed more than 5,900 feet to go over a mountain pass at 12,464 feet (previous reports were 13,500 feet) high. The first section of the ascent up to Checkpoint 1 was runnable for some of the faster competitors, but the top section was difficult for all due to both steepness of the climb, frequent switchbacks, and the altitude. Almost all competitors were reduced to a slow trudge up to the checkpoint at the pass. I’m sure Mace was in his element, as Marsh often comments that Mace is one of the strongest uphill (actually, up mountain!) runners he knows.

At the top temperatures dropped to 37 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit with light snow and even mild hail falling. Hmmm…. doesn’t exactly sound like a “blizzard” as they had reported. The views, apparently, were incredible. Will commented, “That was wonderful, it’s so beautiful up there… so beautiful” with a dusting of snow and a huge bird of prey circling. I’m sure the Stray Dogs loved it too!

The descent down the other side was steep with some competitors bombing it down the 10 miles of mountain trail reaching Checkpoint 3 at the bottom. Marsh was in his element here, as – although Mace can beat him up hill – Marsh says that he usually catch Mace on the descent. Of course, I know that Marsh, Mace, and Dr. Bob were together the entire time. They make a great team. Everyone has their strengths, and their weaknesses, and you never know when it’s your turn to have a difficult day.

The final section coming to Checkpoint 4 and the campsite was a difficult course over a rocky riverbed, requiring 5 to 30 crossings, depending on how racers navigated their course. One racer was able to keep his feet dry despite 5 crossings, while others where shin deep in water. Hopefully Mace was nearby if the water was very deep, as swimming is not Marsh’s strength.

Arriving at camp in the rain, most racers asked where the desert weather was that they had expected. Organizers and medical staff had been preparing for the hottest Gobi March ever and the rain and cold took everyone by surprise. Of course… there are still a lot of miles and terrain to cover so… you never know! At about 5 p.m. the weather cleared, allowing racers to warm up, volunteers to dry off and remaining racers to have a better time of the course.

Competitors should actually be starting Stage 4 now: The River that Never Ends, an approximately 28-mile stage. Send your messages for good luck to Team Stray Dogs GoLite from the race Web site!!!