Crap. I'm going to die before I even get there. I walk towards the aircraft only slightly larger than Brindabella airlines (exactly, so small you have never even heard of it!) and smaller than a Qantas Dash 8 for those who have had the pleasure. I then realise I am busting for the toilet... if there is one. I prop myself on the seat and look ahead. Yes, spotted. A toilet there is! We take off and I am mighty impressed with how smooth it is. I head to the toilet and edge in sideways into the size of a broom cupboard. Oh hello, I say to myself in front of the mirror as I attempt to be seated. Hmmm, this is a little high. I edge back to the seat and squat only slightly - not much room for sitting in here. Ahhhh. Ok, now where to wash hands? No tap! That's disgusting. Oh wait, there are baby wipes in here. That'll do.
Moments later, landed in Dalanzadgad. Survival.
Two hour drive later into the South Gobi aimag (province), I walk into a luxurious ger camp designed for tourists. Why luxurious? Running water, showers, seated and clean toilets, a restaurant, electricity and a bed inside a toasty warm ger versus normal ger - no shower, no toilet, one stove in the middle of the room, no refrigeration and flies.
Having spent a great evening with friends and the other crazy participants from Australia, Germany, India, Canada, US and the list goes on, I reluctantly woke up at 6am to my running outfit, perfectly laid out from the night before.
Joachim, the marathon organiser in mutters in his barely audible German accent, "You will all be tranzported to ze ztart line in zee furgen". What the fuck is a furgen??? "Itz zee German name for zee Russian vanz" replies Joachim.
I regulate my breathing in the Russian van just the way Alkhaabaatar my kick boxing trainer showed me. It gives you the illusion that one is not tired. I am surprisingly calm for someone who only trained in the last week with two 8km jogs around UB. Having decided only two weeks before that I would not go, I was chuffed that I reverted from being a pussy to a normal person.
We watched an adorable opening ceremony performed by some local children before seeing off the full marathon runners.
My 21km journey is about to begin. Ignoring the nervous jitters and negative taunts around me, I stretch and adjust my fucking annoying waist belt holding my camera, sunscreen, toilet paper (critical) and my glasses. With water bottle in hand I run. Some time later (I never actually got my time), survival.
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| Dork or douche? |
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| Putting her body on the line for the opening ceremony |
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| Entertainment and a camel |
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| The track |
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| The track |
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| Ok, ok, I look like a freaking dork. Apparently, I am a dark horse. "Who is that over the horizon, Ju Lin? Lap? Oh no its Tanya!", cries Warren in surprise. I finished just about in the middle of 21km runners. I ran about 70%, walked 20%, played photographer for 5%, toilet stop 3% and drank and ate for 2%. |
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| Jodie and I with our winnings - T-shirt and medal. Joachim zee German marathon organizer was handing out zee t-shirts. I said "Medium size please", he said in a very German accent "oh yez, you nid it". Gee thanks! |
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| Friends jumping at the flaming cliffs - I can't jump so I take photos instead. |
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| Our gang |
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| On the drive back we visited a functioning monestary in the Gobi. |
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| And did a little hike through the valley of death - well actually its called Mandelgovi. Its very cold so why on earth am I wearing shorts? Because it was fucking hot yesterday!!!! Ah Mongolia. Later that day I got laughed at by locals at the town centre for wearing shorts on a cold and rainy day. |
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| My tour buddies - Dave in the middle is 81 and did the half Marathon. |
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| I am cacking myself. Why? We chose to drive back rather than risk death by plane. The ride was so bumpy that we were practically flying in our seats. The tall German gentleman, Rainer, above bumped his head and we all found it very amusing even though his wife Heike has stopped laughing at this point. On the side, Heike and Rainer were chasing Geocaches and informed us that there was one near where we were driving but we couldn't detour because of time constraints. They are these capsule things that people put stuff in and tourists go around looking for them. Its cool. |
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| In a local restaurant with our guide and driver - milk, salt and tea called milk tea. Its nice even if you find a hair in the bottom of the cup - ah the amount of times that has happened to me on my travels here. |
Tourist stops at a monestary and a little hike on the way back? Was a 21k run not enough for you?
ReplyDeleteAll sounds brilliant though, especially the Germans finding your prolonged sense of humor irritating and the little bits of DNA surprise in your tea cup. What doesn't kill you huh? Serious for a mo', 21ks is impressive, congratulations. I've never run that distance before even with rabid dogs after me and a supply of rocks to chuck. A+ :)
Especially my ass muscles. They were the hardest hit.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Germans, you have misinterpreted their behaviour. They actually thought I was very entertaining and even gave me their details when they left just in case I happened to be in Germany at some stage. I take that as they liked me :)