Hercules had to perform 12 labours over 12 years. On July 20th/21st 2013, you have just 24 hours to tackle as many as you can.

A labour will be completed by visiting one of the locations in the Peak District. In some simply visiting the Control location then returning to Losehill Hall is enough. For others, a small, relevant item must be collected and returned to Losehill Hall. For others, completion of the labour will only be revealed upon visiting the location. If you know us, then you know you should be prepared for anything when you arrive at a location, and certainly for a few surprises.

• Labour 1: The Nemean Lion
• Labour 2: The Lernean Hydra
• Labour 3: The Hind of Ceryneia
• Labour 4: The Erymanthean Boar
• Labour 5: The Augean Stables
• Labour 6: The Stymphalian Birds
• Labour 7: The Cretan Bull
• Labour 8: The Horses of Diomedes
• Labour 9: The Belt of Hippolyte
• Labour 10: Geryon’s Cattle
• Labour 11: The Apples of the Hesperides
• Labour 12: Cerberus

The Labours are all at varying distances from Losehill Hall. The closest is just half a mile away (1 mile round trip). The furthest is 6 miles away (12 miles round trip). By now you may have guessed that the rest all lie in distances in between. Add those distances  together; 1 through to 12, and you have a total of 78 miles. There may be no Mount Olympus in the Peak District, but rest assured the paths to the labours will neither be flat or easy. There is 17,000ft of ascent and descent to tackle.  Those calves get sore just thinking about it.  The 12 routes will take in many of the impressive local peaks and landmarks.

It’s a foreboding task for any one man or woman, and so there are 3 classes by which you can enter.

• Hercules/Hera (Solo male / Solo female)
• Titans (Pairs)
• Argonauts (Teams of 3-6)

Winners will be crowned from each class; those who completed the most labours in 24 hours, or completed all 12 Labours in the fastest time. Trophies will be awarded, and other riches bestowed. Be warned; the God’s will not make it easy for you to complete the Labours. Hades is angry. Charon waits anxiously at the waters edge for all those who fail.

There’s always a twist.  One labour will see you going into the depths of the underworld.  Better bring that headtorch, you’re going to need it.

Event registrations will go live very soon.  The last Beyond Marathon event, Dusk ’til Dawn, sold out of race-only places in just 4 days. Keep your eyes open for news, as we expect demand to be even higher for this event given the expressions of interest already received. Don’t miss out!

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Anne-Marie Flammersfeld of Germany emerged as the first woman to ever win all four events in the 4 Deserts series—and not only that, she did it all in one year. “My objective was the 4 Deserts Grand Slam,” explains the 34-year old fitness trainer and sports scientist who is based in Switzerland. “I started training mid-2011. The Atacama Crossing was my first ultra ever and it was all about the first experience… It was really only after the Sahara Race that I knew I could do this.”

There was also a remarkable victory for overall race winner, Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito. The Spanish racer came to Antarctica having already won each of the 4 Deserts races in 2012, including the Atacama Crossing (Chile), the Gobi March (China) and Sahara Race (Egypt). By winning The Last Desert (Antarctica), he joins Ryan Sandes as the only other person to have been champion of every race in the 4 Deserts series—but Beneito has taken it up a notch by winning them all in one calendar year for the first time.

“I’m really happy, this is a dream come true,” said the Spaniard. “This was the hardest race for me, I really had to focus. The terrain was a challenge, also the unpredictability of the conditions and weather. It was also hard because the Sahara Race was so close. I have had a problem in my foot, the tendons have been inflamed.”

Germany’s Michael Brehe took second overall position, powering through every stage with a deft ability to race across snow and ice. Anne-Marie Flammersfeld was third overall winner and Japan’s Hidechika Kadasawa came in fourth position. In the women’s division, two great athletes tied as second-placed females: Nahila Hernandez San Juan of Mexico and Australia’s Sandy Suckling.

In the team’s division, yet more staggering feats took place in the snow: The winning team, JDRF Born to Run, became the first team to complete all 4 Desert races—and again, they did it all in 2012. The group consists of Australians Jess Baker, Roger Hanney, Ron Schwabel and father and son Greg and Matt Donovan. Their experience was dedicated to raising awareness and funding for Type 1 diabetes research.

“We feel so relieved,” said Greg Donovan. “So much time and effort has gone into planning. With a team of five, so much can go wrong and as a team there is a greater chance of failure then taking part as individuals. Now, it’s time to celebrate.”

The Last Desert began on November 24th on King Georges Island and saw 49 competitors from 27 countries set out across up to 200-kilometers in the only multi-stage event to take place on the Antarctic continent. They raced in varying weather conditions over several days, from sunlit skies to snow flurries and from deep snow to bare cliffs.

By the end of the race, 39 competitors had joined the 4 Deserts Club, of which 18 completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam. Among them was 22-year old James Gaston of the United States who became the third person to complete all five RacingThePlanet events in one calendar year (including RacingThePlanet: Jordan).

“This has been an incredible race and a fitting end to what has been an historic year for the 4 Deserts series,” said RacingThePlanet founder Mary Gadams. “We are seeing athletes show unsurpassed levels of endurance and discipline to be taking on—and winning—every event in the series. And to see a team such as JDRF Born to Run take on a great challenge and sustain such teamwork in the name of charity, has been a humbling experience.”

About The Last Desert 2012 (22 Nov – 3 Dec 2012) – www.thelastdesert.com

The Last Desert (Antarctica) is held every two years and forms the final race of the iconic 4 Deserts series. Competitors must complete a minimum of two of the other 4 Deserts events to be invited to participate in the race.

The self-supported footrace is up to 250 kilometers with competitors having to carry a mandatory list of equipment, nutrition and water on each stage. The race uses a polar expedition ship as its base, traveling to the different course locations on the Antarctic Peninsula and offshore islands based on the prevailing sea and weather conditions, with competitors transferred from ship to shore by special zodiacs.

The unique challenges of The Last Desert (Antarctica) include having to cope with the severity of the weather conditions that can include gale-force blizzards and temperatures down to -20 degrees C (4 degrees F). Competitors also have to deal with the unpredictability of daily stage lengths and start-times, as the prevailing environmental conditions dictate where and when stages might begin.

About the 4 Deserts – www.4deserts.com

The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email info@racingtheplanet.com.

One of the world’s most extraordinary endurance races gets underway this Thursday, 22 November, as 55 competitors set out on a journey to race up to 250 kilometers across the world’s largest and coldest desert.

It is the fifth edition of The Last Desert, the most eagerly awaited race in the 4 Deserts series because of the rare chance it offers individuals to race in Antarctica, one of the most pristine natural settings on Earth. It promises to be an historic edition with several individuals aiming to break records. Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito, a 36-year-old firefighter from the Alicante region of Spain, sets out to become the first person in history to win all of the 4 Deserts events in one calendar year—a huge achievement. In the women’s division, Germany’s Anne-Marie Flammersfeld takes on the same challenge having won women’s gold throughout 2012.

“The Last Desert is always an anticipated event that, for many, is the pinnacle of the 4 Deserts journey. The year 2012 is especially exciting with so many records: the men’s and women’s winners both set to make history by winning all 4 Deserts in one year; four of the youngest people ever to compete; and the largest number of Grand Slammers in history,” says Vice President of Events, Samantha Fanshawe.

A large proportion of competitors are arriving to the end of an incredible year; 18 are attempting to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in 2012, having successfully completed the Atacama Crossing (Chile), the Gobi March (China) and the Sahara Race (Egypt). Leonard Stanmore of Canada is attempting a record of his own: to be the first person to complete both the Seven Summits and the 4 Deserts series. The 60-year-old races to raise money for the charity Trekking for Kids.

An extraordinary sense of diversity is evident in this year’s field. Amid the 55 competitors taking part, a total of 27 countries are represented, including 11 Australians in the field. Ages range from 22 years to 63 years—the oldest competitor is Kumi Murakami, a swimming coach from Japan.

The journey begins on Thursday, 22 November, when competitors board the Dutch expedition ship in Argentina and set out on a two-day route through the Drake Passage. The race kicks off on Sunday, 25 November, where competitors set out on a course that traverses a rich assortment of landscapes, from deep snow and high points, to a black sandy beach that is so warm from geothermal activity that it continually steams.

Surrounding the activity will be extraordinary wildlife of The White Continent, from penguin colonies to whales, seals and a rich variety of birds. The course is set according to weather conditions and may move over a host of settings including Paradise Bay, Cuverville, Neko Harbour and Wienke Island, on which Dorian Bay, Damoy Point and Port Lockroy are located. A night spent camping on the Antarctic Peninsular is also planned.

Unlike other 4 Deserts events, competitors will be sleeping aboard the expedition vessel between the planned six stages, yet they still must carry their own supplies – and take on the immense challenge of racing through the snow, ice and freezing conditions of the world’s largest cold desert.

About The Last Desert 2012 (22 Nov – 3 Dec 2012) – www.thelastdesert.com

The Last Desert (Antarctica) is held every two years and forms the final race of the iconic 4 Deserts series. Competitors must complete a minimum of two of the other 4 Deserts events to be invited to participate in the race.

The self-supported footrace is up to 250 kilometers with competitors having to carry a mandatory list of equipment, nutrition and water on each stage. The race uses a polar expedition ship as its base, traveling to the different course locations on the Antarctic Peninsula and offshore islands based on the prevailing sea and weather conditions, with competitors transferred from ship to shore by special zodiacs.

The unique challenges of The Last Desert (Antarctica) include having to cope with the severity of the weather conditions that can include gale-force blizzards and temperatures down to -20 degrees C (4 degrees F). Competitors also have to deal with the unpredictability of daily stage lengths and start-times, as the prevailing environmental conditions dictate where and when stages might begin.

About the 4 Deserts www.4deserts.com

The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email info@racingtheplanet.com

“It’s great to end in a such a spectacular site,” said Beneito as he came into the finish line amid the legendary Pyramids of Giza. “I’m so happy also to finally arrive with the other competitors, it’s a good feeling, not that I’ve felt alone this week. Now I’m going to rest with friends and family.”

The Spanish firefighter is on track to what could be a record-breaking year. Should he emerge as champion of The Last Desert (Antarctica) in three weeks time, he will be the first person to ever win all 4 Deserts races in one calendar year.

There was an equally incredible performance in the women’s division with German competitor Anne-Marie Flammersfeld taking a gold medal and fifth position overall with a time of 31:08:33. Flammersfeld is also heading for an historic year—if she triumphs in Antarctica, she will be the first woman to ever win all 4 Deserts.

“I’m so happy, it’s been an incredible week,” said Flammersfeld who is a sports scientist and owner of All Mountain Fitness in the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland. “The finish by the Pyramids is so overwhelming.”

The Sahara Race kicked off on Sunday October 28th with approximately 140 competitors who set out from the starting line making it through the dramatic course that ranged from sand dunes, to valleys, lakes and the protected Wadi El-Hitan, or Valley of the Whales, where ancient whale fossils still lie like museum relics on the sands.

Against the stunning backdrop of today’s finish line, the second person over the line was Canada’s Simon Donato (36), one of the stars of the TV show Boundless, who finished the course in a time of 28:48:53. Belgian competitor Steven Sleuyter (40) took the bronze medal with an overall time of 29:08:14.

Mary Gadams, RacingThePlanet CEO and Founder, commented: “It was a hot and sandy week but everyone persevered, mostly with a smile on their face. I’m so proud of every competitor.”

This is proving to be a landmark year for 4 Deserts where Grand Slammers—those who are taking on all four races in one calendar—are gaining compelling victories. The winning Team JDRF Born to Run consists of five Australians who are embarking on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam to raise funds for Type 1 Diabetes research.

They are Roger Hanney (38) who himself has Type 1 Diabetes, Jess Baker (30), Rob Schwebel (61), and father and son Matthew Donovan (22) and Greg Donovan (51). “We are all amazed at how vast and remote the desert is,” they said. “It was a special place to be. Born to Run is proud to finish three of the 4 Deserts, finishing first is the icing on the cake.”

For many of the competitors who are taking on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam, while today’s finish offered relief—it also marks the countdown to The Last Desert (Antarctica). There are just 19 days left to this spectacular event, the final race in the 4 Deserts series of 2012 that begins on November 22 amid the snow and ice of the planet’s southernmost continent.

About the Sahara Race 2012 (28 October – 3 November) – www.4deserts.com/sahararace

The Sahara Race is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer rough-country footraces. The race takes place in the historic Wadi Al-Hitan area of Egypt’s Sahara Desert, the largest non-polar desert in the world. Wadi Al-Hitan, or Valley of the Whales, is an ancient shallow sea where competitors pass fossils believed to be whales with legs that died 40 million years ago.

About the 4 Deserts – www.4deserts.com

The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races hat take place over 7 days and 250-kilomters in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again by TIME magazine in 2010 as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

The 250-kilometer footrace kicks off on Sunday, 28 October, with 140 competitors from 36 countries embarking on the challenging 250-kilometer footrace in the largest hot desert in the world. They will carry their own food, clothing and supplies with them, with just tents and water provided along the way.

“We are incredibly excited to return to the great Sahara Desert in Egypt for the eighth time, and are proud to have so many nationalities represented with large contingents from the Asian nations including Korea, Japan and China,” said Samantha Fanshawe, Vice President of Events for RacingThePlanet. “We are also excited to see growing numbers of Egyptians participating. We look forward to again working with the Ministry of Tourism to stage another successful event.” Among the frontrunners expected to dominate the race are Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito of Spain, a 36-year-old firefighter who has put in an amazing performance in the 4 Deserts series this year, winning the Atacama Crossing in Chile and the Gobi March in China. He is matched in the women’s division by Germany’s Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, who also aims to take her third consecutive 4 Deserts medal in 2012.

This speaks of an impressive group of 19 competitors who are taking on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in 2012: all 4 Deserts races in one calendar year. The Grand Slammers are showing physical strength and mental agility as they move into the third stage of their quest to complete a total of 1,000-kilomoters across the world’s most extreme desert landscapes—from the high altitudes of Chile’s Atacama Desert, to the remote sands of China’s Gobi Desert and finishing amid the epic setting of Antarctica in November.

The Sahara Race has also drawn a large number of newcomers with remarkable life stories that, in turn, has pulled in a cast of nearly 30 journalists from around the world. Canada‘s Sebastien Sasseville is a Type 1 Diabetic who has scaled Mount Everest, completed four Ironman triathlons and is here to raise funds and awareness for the disease. Japan’s ‘fastest comedian,’ Yashuhito Wakita, also takes on the feat for the first time, with an entire film crew from NHK, Japan’s National Broadcasting Organization following his footsteps. The field is extremely diverse with students, doctors, bankers, chefs and homemakers alike sharing a dream to conquer this legendary desert. The race begins on Sunday morning and traverses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi El Hitan, southwest of Cairo. Special permission has been obtained to allow competitors to move through this celebrated paleontological site, where large whale skeletons from ancient times still lie on the sands. After spending six days pushing through a course of sand dunes, desert oases and stony expanses, competitors finish on Saturday, 3 November, amid the impressive backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza.

About the Sahara Race 2012 (28 Oct – 3 Nov 2012) -www.4deserts.com/sahararace

The Sahara Race is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer rough-country footraces. The race takes place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi Al-Hitan of Egypt’s Sahara Desert, the largest non-polar desert in the world. Wadi Al-Hitan, or Valley of the Whales, is an ancient shallow sea where competitors pass fossils believed to be whales with legs that died 40 million years ago.

About the 4 Deserts -www.4deserts.com

The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again byTIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email info@racingtheplanet.com

Our friends at the RacingThePlanet Store have kindly donated a fantastic prize.  You can win a Columbia Mobex Lightweight running backpack worth $150 (£95)  It features:

• Hydration System Compatible
• Hipbelt Water Bottle Holster
• 20D Nylon Triple Rip™ Fabric
• Breathable Shoulder Straps
• Adjustable Sternum Strap
• Integrated Safety Whistle
• Removable Internal Tool Bag
• No-Snag Material
• Padded Back Padding
• Top Zippered Pockets
• Offset Buckle At Hip
• Mesh Pouch Pockets
• Note: The backpack colour of this prize is the green version
• Click here  to read and hear more about the features

For your chance to win, all you have to do is go to our Facebook Page, and click “Share” on the post for the Mobius Backpack Competition.  From everyone who shares, a winner will be chosen at random on Friday 21st September.

As well as a leading supplier of the World’s best race gear for Deserts, Mountains, Trails and Triathlons, RacingThePlanet also organise events.  RacingThePlanet events are unique, rough country footraces that take place in remote and culturally rich locations around the world. The events consist of the 4 Deserts, an annual series of 250-kilometer footraces in the Atacama Desert of Chile, the Gobi Desert of China, the Sahara Desert of Egypt and Antarctica, and a 250-kilometer roving footrace that moves to a new location each year.

One of the most extraordinary moments of the Sahara Race, comes at the halfway point, as competitors enter one of the planet’s most mind-boggling landscapes. Set against the vast, silent expanse of a valley buried deep in the desert, are the unlikely skeletons and fossilized remains of whales. If you take a closer look at these ancient, aquatic creatures placed like huge chess pieces across the valley floor, you may see something surprising: hind legs and fins with fingers.

This is Wadi Al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales, which lies 150 kilometers Southwest of Cairo and was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Once the ocean floor, this phenomenally well-preserved patch of desert has provided essential proof for scientists on the evolution of whales and evidence of their previous lives as land-based mammals. For competitors who travel into this dazzling landscape, it’s a little bit like running into one of the world’s largest history museums.

“The valley is an established tourist attraction and it is a privilege to be able to run the entire length of the valley and see some sights off the beaten track,” marvels Mark Lindsay, Course Director of the Sahara Race 2012. “Before entering the valley, make sure you look around. The area is scattered with seashells and the occasional shark’s tooth!”

The 4 Deserts races are renowned for the way they bring competitors deep into deserts and beyond the frontiers that most tourists witness. Lindsay says he has been careful to include stunning views and compelling routes in this year’s course.  “It’s a combination of breathtaking landscapes from great vantage points and sections of rolling sand dunes that provide that iconic scene of emptiness and adventure,” he explains. “The going underfoot will be surprisingly comfortable with the occasional soft section, but it all contributes to the whole nature of the race.”

Perhaps the greatest moment awaits competitors in the final stage, with a finish line placed tantalizingly amid the Pyramids of Giza.  After pushing one’s body to the max on a seven-day, 250-kilometer odyssey, competitors are able to finish like kings as they weave their way through the colossal Pyramids of Giza. Experiencing the mystical presence of these formations while pumped with the adrenaline of completing such an epic challenge is an experience that is rarely forgotten. “The pyramids are awe-inspiring,” marvels Lindsay. “It’s not until you reach the plateau overlooking the whole pyramid valley that you appreciate the scale and magnificence of this wonder.”

The 8^th edition of Sahara Race starts on the 28^th of October and along with the Atacama Crossing (Chile), Gobi March (China) and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 4 Deserts Series. To register for the event complete an online application at www.4deserts.com/registration or for more information, email at info@racingtheplanet.com.

Article by Clare Morin

For the front runners it was an opportunity to check out the competition. By the time everyone was down to the first check point 110 minutes separated the leader and the last place competitors. The check point gave competitors the chance to refill their water bottles, pick up some energy snacks and grab a hot drink before heading off through Wyth Burn aka ‘the bog’! Last year’s winner, Adam Jackson, was first through CP1 having taken the shortest route down from the summit, but a recent illness soon forced his retirement. Most of the leaders opted to take the footpath on the right of the stream, many having reccied that part of the course over the preceding few days to see which option was dryer!

The route up to High Raise is a deceptively long slog due to the boggy conditions, and High Raise, although a Bob Graham Round peak doesn’t even count as one of the 10 peaks – it just happens to be in the way. The second peak, Bowfell is the first on the horseshoe that leads to Sca Fell. Once at the summit it is possible to tick off a number of peaks with relative ease with only a few ‘bumps’ in the way such as Esk Pike. Mark Bottomley was the first to reach CP2 at Esk Hause, arriving at 7.45am, one minute ahead of Daniel Longster.

By the time the leaders reached the summit of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, Mark had opened up a seven minute lead with the third place man a further 17 minutes behind. At this point the course provides two options to reach Sca Fell – Lord’s Rake or via Foxes Tarn. The leaders all opted for the Rake but the tail-enders (who were now up to 5 hours behind) were advised to miss Sca Fell in an effort to get back on schedule and received a one hour time penalty for doing so. Once on Sca Fell competitors could take the Standard Route along the Corridor Route to Great Gable and then out and back to Pillar, or the Alternative Route, descending 900m into Wasdale, before ascending Pillar via Wind Gap.

Although last year’s winner took the Alternative Route, the thought of the long hard climb up to Pillar from Wasdale made the decision easy for most who chose to stay high and onto Great Gable.

By the time the leaders reached CP3 at Beck Head, Mark Bottomley had opened up a 51 minute lead on Daniel Longster with Simon Martland 14 minutes further behind. However Daniel’s second place was under threat and by the time they reached CP4 (Honister Slate Mine) Simon was just ahead in second place. Honister (also known by some Marshals as ‘Zombie Central’!) provided the opportunity for all competitors to enjoy a hot drink and meal, however the leaders raced on without hesitation. To make it to Honister is an incredible achievement having climbed 9 of the 10 highest mountains. The thought of the distance to get to the foot of Skiddaw, let alone the long hard climb awaiting, was too much for most and the mini bus was overrun with people wanting to retire.

For the walkers who decided to continue, it was a long night, first heading up to Dale Head Tarn and then on to CP5 (Nichol End Marine). Then came the toughest mental challenge: resisting the temptation to walk back to their accommodation as they passed so close to Keswick before approaching Skiddaw via Carlside. Mark reached CP5 70 minutes ahead of second place Simon, but didn’t show any signs of slowing, not even taking the time to take his head torch off which he had worn since the start!

Mark Bottomley finished at the Keswick Country House Hotel, knocking an impressive one hour off the previous course record, in a time of 13 hours 27 minutes. Simon Martland was second in 14 hours 34 minutes and Daniel Longster third in 15 hours 56 minutes. Becky Kingdon lead the woman’s race from the start destroying the course record by an impressive 4 hours 24 minutes to record a time of 18 hours 2 minutes and in joint 6th place overall! Second place went to Rebecca Hedderick, 19 hours 18 minutes and third place Clare Page in 19 hours 38 minutes. 77 of the 202 starters completed the course with 64 finishing within the 24 hour cutoff.

Paul Smith, Race Director, thanked all the competitors (who between them raised over £28,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support), marshals and sponsors who made this event possible. For more information please visit www.10peaks.com

[17 June 2012 Hong Kong] – Spain’s Vicente Garcia Beneito, 36, won the Gobi March 2012, earning his second-straight 4 Deserts victory in a time of 23:12:33. Garcia Beneito, winner of the Atacama Crossing 2012, never once relinquished his lead during the week-long, 250-km race.

 In the highly competitive women’s competition, German Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, 31, won her second-straight women’s event, leading the Gobi March 2012 from Stage 1 through the finish line in a time of 27:53:21. Flammersfeld finished fourth overall. 

“I am so happy,” said Garcia Beneito, at the finish line at a village school outside of Kashkari. “Some moments were very difficult but it was good I had my wife Mariana here, so it gave me hope. The most difficult day was the first day because the pack was the heaviest. Stage 4 was my favourite, but also the finale was spectacular with all the children. It made me remember my son.”

Flammersfeld was equally thrilled with her achievement. 

“I’m feeling great, no pain,” Flammersfeld said. “Just the stomach had some problems. I felt very good during this whole race. The difference from the Atacama Crossing was that there I was running with a lot of people and here I went at my own pace. On my own, I go faster.” 

The ninth edition of one of the world’s most popular endurance races was held in the Kashgar region of China’s farwest province of Xinjiang. Of the 160 starters, 145 competitors crossed the finish line.

Said RacingThePlanet CEO and founder Mary Gadams: “I’m extremely proud and impressed of the level of competition in the Gobi March 2012, both with our many former winners and competitors as well as the many competitors making their RacingThePlanet debuts. I would like to congratulate Vicente and Anne-Marie, whose strength and talent were once again on display as they won every stage this week.”

 The Gobi March 2012 supported the Esquel-Y.L. Yang Foundation. Since 2005, RacingThePlanet has worked with the foundation to donate sporting equipment and over 8,200 books to schools along the route of the Gobi March. A truly international event, competitors representing six different nationalities comprised the top-three overall and top-three women.

 Second overall was first time 4 Deserts competitor Mo N. Foustok of Saudi Arabia, 30, while third was France’s Philippe Gatta, 33. The strong women’s field saw Canadian Stephanie Case, 29, finish second behind Flammersfeld (11th overall) and Beijing-based Belgian Virginie Goethals, 36, the third-fastest woman (16th overall). The Shanghai-based Team STC, which includes Zhang Ling, 32, Pei Jun, 40, Tina Wailing, 51 and Wei Liang gang, won the team competition. In total, 42 different nationalities were represented, with a noticeable increase in the number of competitors from China, India, South America and the Middle East, speaking to the global growth of the sport.

 Said Hong Kong-based American Robert Hutchinson, who at 70 is the oldest competitor in the Gobi March 2012, as he crossed the finish line: “There is nothing to it.” For many competitors, the Gobi March 2012 was less about the ranking than about the experience. “It’s been really emotional,” said Hong Kong-based Briton Emily Woodland, who was the fourth-fastest woman. “It’s not really about the finish line; it’s about the whole week and the people you meet.” American Pamela Rickard, 50, who is running in support of RunWell, said: “I can’t even describe how I feel right now. I have run in many places but this exceeds all experiences and expectations.” Indian Arvind Sirohi, 44, who was one of the final competitors to complete the Gobi March 2012 said: “This has been truly a life changing experience.”

 About the Gobi March 2012 (10 June – 16 June 2012) www.gobimarch.com

The Gobi March is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer, rough-country footraces.

 The race takes place in China’s ancient Gobi Desert in Kashgar.

 The Gobi March’s challenges include the changes in temperature from the cool highlands to heat of the desert, potential sandstorms and variety of terrain – green fields, rocky tracks, steep hills, ridges and riverbeds with multiple water-crossings.

Competitors must plan carefully to maintain the delicate balance between physical exertion, nutrition and hydration in order to successfully complete the race.

About the 4 Deserts - www.4deserts.com

 The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

 Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email info@racingtheplanet.com.

Three Women’s Champions Battle for the Top Spot at the Gobi March 2012; A Record 42 Nations will be Represented

[31 May 2012 Hong Kong] – The world’s most well-known multi-stage footrace, the Gobi March 2012, will see 42 countries represented, including a record number of participants from across Asia. From Sunday, 10 June through Saturday, 16 June 2012, 163 competitors will participate in the six-stage, 250-kilometer self-supported footrace across the Gobi Desert as the Gobi March returns to the Kashgar region for the ninth edition of the event.

The Gobi March 2012 sees three women’s champions from recent RacingThePlanet events taking part, making the women’s race the most competitive ever.

Germany’s Anne-Marie Flammersfeld, 33, won this year’s Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012, while Nahila Hernandez San Juan of Mexico, 37, was the quickest woman in the Sahara Race (Egypt) 2011. With Canadian Stephanie Case, 29, women’s champion of RacingThePlanet: Nepal 2011, also competing, the winners of the last three RacingThePlanet events, excluding May’s RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2012, will vie for the title in the Gobi March 2012. Spain’s Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito, 36, who was the overall champion of the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012, is the favorite to win the men’s category.

While experience in the 4 Deserts Series of 250-kilometer, week-long races over rough terrain is a definite asset, over 60 per cent of competitors will make their RacingThePlanet debut in the Gobi March. Forty-four competitors from Greater China, including 25 from Hong Kong and 17 from Mainland China, will take part on their home terrain, further demonstrating the growth of endurance running events in the region.

For the first time since 2009, the race returns to the Kashgar region, with the historically and culturally rich city of Kashgar as the event’s base. Among the scenic highlights is Shipton’s Arch, known locally as Heaven’s Gate, a natural arch taller than the Empire State Building. It took National Geographic years to find the fabled arch, which was documented in Eric Shipton’s memoirs of life in the far west of China. The course will also take competitors through local Uyghur villages, where residents have rarely been visited by outsiders.

Says RacingThePlanet founder Mary Gadams: “The Gobi March 2012 is shaping up to be an incredibly competitive race in the women’s competition with three recent champions taking part. I’m especially excited to see so many countries represented with a large number from Greater China and across Asia as the sport continues to develop at a rapid pace.”

The annual Gobi March is a self-supported race. With the exception of water and a place in a tent, competitors are required to carry all of their equipment, supplies and food for the duration of the race.

Three teams will compete in the Gobi March 2012, including Team Esquel, a three-person squad from China, including one participant from Xinjiang province; Team STC, a four-member triathlon team based in Shanghai; and Team JDRF Born to Run from Australia, whose five members are aiming to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in 2012.

In total, 18 competitors are in the hunt for the 4 Deserts Grand Slam – completing the Atacama Crossing, the Gobi March, October’s Sahara Race and The Last Desert in Antarctica all within a single calendar year. In addition to Team JDRF Born to Run and Atacama Crossing champions.

Flammersfeld and Garcia Beneito, competitors such as Indian psychologist Shrimathi Swaminathan and French journalist Cecile Bertin are aiming for to reach the rare achievement. American student, James Gaston, 21, is extending the challenge to complete all 1,250 kilometers of RacingThePlanet events in 2012 – only two people have achieved this to-date. He is competing with his sister, Tara Gaston.

The Gobi March will again support the Esquel Y.L. Yang Education Fund through various fundraising activities in the local area, including providing a computer lab for one of the local schools.

About the Gobi March 2012 (10 June – 16 June 2012) www.gobimarch.com

The Gobi March is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer, rough-country footraces.

The race takes place in China’s ancient Gobi Desert in Kashgar.

The Gobi March’s challenges include the changes in temperature from the cool highlands to heat of the desert, potential sandstorms and variety of terrain – soft sand-dunes, rocky tracks, steep hills, ridges and riverbeds with multiple water-crossings.

Competitors must plan carefully to maintain the delicate balance between physical exertion, nutrition and hydration in order to successfully complete the race.

About the 4 Deserts - www.4deserts.com

The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet.

Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest.

The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.

For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email info@racingtheplanet.com.