Opinion | My first ultramarathon: learning about myself, the supportive community and the empty feeling of withdrawal on the Gobi March
- Hannamiina Tanninen runs the 250km multi-day race with no experience and soon discovers the allure of ultra running, and the difficulty of adjusting back into society
I turned off my smartphone and headed with roughly hundred other people into the Gobi Desert to participate in the RacingThePlanet Gobi March ultramarathon. The seven-day race consisted of 250km course over six days at the end of July and the start of August.
Competitors have to carry everything they need during the race – minus water and tents – in their backpacks which usually weigh 10kg without the water.
The first two days flew by, because I was running on adrenaline. The backpack felt light and the distance for each day seemed manageable. I became an expert in taking care of my blisters and my equipment. I was mesmerised by the landscape and even adjusted to sharing a tent and not showering. After couple of days, cleaning yourself with wet wipes feels like the most luxurious spa treatment.
On the third day, my inexperience as a long-distance runner started to show. I was excited to speed through a 2km downhill section followed by undulating sand dunes.