Edinburgh Napier University

  INTRODUCTION: The Gobi Challenge 2009 was an ultra marathon held in the south western province of the Gobi Desert during July 2009. Participants ran in seven consecutive stages accumulating a total of 150 miles in seven days. Temperatures exceeded 100°C during daylight hours and dropped to 30°C in the evening and night. Injuries were assessed and documented daily. Mood states have previously been shown to vary over a 44 day expedition to the South Pole and be correlated with sleep time (Pedlar et al., Wild. and Environ. Med 18, 127-132. 2007).
PURPOSE: To document injuries, self reported sleep and profile mood states over the course of a seven day event.
METHODS: Eleven male competitors (mean BMI 24 ± 1.79, Age: 33 ± 11 yrs) completed a 7 day desert race. Injuries were clinically assessed and recorded each day. Mood was assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) (Terry et al., J. Sports Sci. 17, 861-872. 1999) which was completed each morning. A full self assessment sleep log was completed by 9 participants.
RESULTS: All subjects presented with abrasion injuries, dehydration and heat stress. Vigour decreased over the first six days (p