Sandstorms
Sandstorms are very common in the Gobi desert occurring daily in some areas. They come in all types of intensity from High level when the sky is blotted out and GPS’s fail to function to “Chokers” where you cannot see more than 2 metres in front of you; You can have the experience of walking right into a 300m high dune and touching it with your face before you realise its there (and its not the alcohol). A large sandstorm can last for a week and comes as a giant wave. It envelops you all of a sudden and your world changes as the horizon disappears from 10 miles to 2 metres.
They bring exceptionally high winds and this often causes the tents to blow down and scatter. Even staying in a tent is not safe as the sand blows through the tent covering the inhabitants to a layer of 150 mm by morning.
The wind hits speeds of 60 mph and faster and contains 100’s of tons of driving sand that stings if it hits open flesh.
Blisters
Blisters are common as well and almost unavoidable first time out In the desert. It is important to ensure that your feet are comfortable and that the competitor has checked his equipment over a very long run in the UK e.g. 80 kms to reduce the likelihood of getting blisters.
Once your feet are trashed then the race becomes much harder to complete. There are several remedies for protecting toes and soles of feet however these can help or harm the individual. The pictures here show a solution that harmed this runner but protected another.
