The final ceremonial 10k run started at the Khoja tomb at the outskirts of the old city and ended at the Id Kah mosque. Took lots and lots of photos, ran the way with the three Everest summitteers and joined the party at the end. A local band with plenty of local onlookers. Waited to cheer May when she arrived who struggled all long limping on one leg. Collected my medal, took a shower, took care of (for lack of a better word) my diaper rash :) and spent the rest of the day back in the old city, some famous orchards, a museum and the bazaar. There was a banquet for the competitors in the main square under the huge statue of Mao. The next morning，went back to the bazaar -- the Sunday Kashgar market is the most famous in all of Central Asia, a huge shopping mall where camels are sold in the approximately the same aisle as brassieres. Took the taxi back to the airport to get back to Beijing via Urumqui. And now thought, I should finish the blog from Beijing.
While out in the Gobi, my favorite moments were the Heavenly Gate stage and the long 80k stage between CP6-CP7 feeling hopeless and finally sleeping in the middle of nowhere with three other guys and remember their faces when they woke up. And looking at the desert sky in the night when the Milk way just jumps at you. After 70km in a 80km stage, the stars and those bright objects take an entirely new meaning. I will remember a lot of laughter and stories —the kind that fills us as a coping mechanism under physical duress. The people who live in the Gobi keep it real daily. I gave it a good shot for about a week.
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