October
08
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ULTRA GOBI 400K 2025 GOES TO CODY POSKIN & ZHENG JUNYUE
ULTRA GOBI 400K 2025 GOES TO CODY POSKIN & ZHENG JUNYUE: Junyue repeats last year’s victory and triumphed in the competition, which is still in full swing even after the first eight out of 55 runners have arrived. The athletes have until 18:30 local time on Thursday to complete the 400 kilometres. Let us follow the race report by Egon Theiner.
ULTRA GOBI 400K 2025 GOES TO CODY POSKIN & ZHENG JUNYUE:
On Friday evening at 9:30 p.m., the 400-kilometre race began as highlight part of the 20th ULTRA GOBI in the Gobi Desert. The 55 participants have 141 hours – or until Thursday, 9 October, 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 9 October.
When the ULTRA GOBI 400 started on Friday evening (local time), he was immediately ‘on fire’. American Cody Poskin stormed out as if it were a half marathon or marathon. Exactly four hours later, he checked in at the first rest station, having covered 38.33 kilometres with 600 metres of elevation gain in that time. He stayed for five minutes and was already back on the trail.
Behind him were his compatriot Aaron Kubala (20 minutes behind), Jovica Spaijc (Serbia) and Jonathan Shield (Great Britain/both 33 minutes behind), Damian Kühn (South Africa) and Sangé Sherpa (Nepal/both 61 minutes behind). More and more runners arrived, including the second South African in the field. Julian Vermeer said: ‘I took the time to take photos of the wild animal footprints here, and apart from my fingers being cold and having to see the doctor briefly because of shoulder
tension”
A little later, German Brigid Wefelnberg also had to see the doctor – but in her case it wasn´t minor
aches and pains, but real injuries. ‘At around three in the morning, I slipped while crossing a riverbed
on a sloping trail and landed on a rock with my thumbs first. The one on my right hand was put in a
splint, the other was bruised. Without thumbs, many tasks can no longer be performed easily and routinely, so Wefelnberg had no choice but to abandon her third ULTRA GOBI 400.
COBY LEADS AFTER 131K
On the way to the finish line, the route crosses the Qi Lian Shan mountain range to reach checkpoint 11 in Xuan Quan Zhi Heritage Park: And here too, at kilometre 131, Poskin was still in the lead. ‘That was a tough stretch over the mountain,’ he commented on his last few kilometres, ‘but I feel good.’ At 2:06 p.m., he checked in at the refreshment station, filled two flasks with water, signed the two flags belonging to the checkpoint and continued running at 2:09 p.m. None of his competitors were in sight yet. When Kubala and then Spaijc appeared about an hour behind, they also talked about how brutal the last section had been.
Both Kubala and Spaijc lost one of the two race numbers they had been given during easy climbing passages in the mountains. ‘Do us a favour and don't lose the other one too,’ said the volunteer at Rest Point 4, where the first hundred miles had been completed. ‘I'll do my best,’ replied the Serbian. He was the third to arrive at this waypoint, but met Aaron Kubala there. Both felt that they had chosen shortcuts that later turned out to be longcuts. And they quickly agreed to run through the coming night together.
At the rest stop, he treated himself to mashed potatoes and Coca-Cola for dinner and mixed himself a
chocolate coffee drink for the road. But first, at 7:38 p.m. local time, he set off in pursuit of Cody Poskin, who was still in the lead with a 1:34 hour advantage. With the race halfway through, the battle for the ULTRA GOBI 400 was yet a three-way fight. However, over the next 200 kilometres Coby managed to keep the lead till the end, crossing the finish line after 64.49.32.
CODY POSKING MALE CHAMPION
Cody Poskin claimed the men’s title on October 6 with a time of 64:49:32, breaking the event record and earning the title of “Guanjun Marshall.” In his first Ultra Gobi 400km, Cody led from the start and built a significant gap. On the evening of October 5, however, he ran into multiple navigation problems and his leg was cut by thorn bushes. Although he was upset, losing his temper and swearing loudly, he forced himself to calm down and find solutions each time.
Before the race, Cody had estimated a 60-hour finish, but the final 100 km proved much tougher than expected. His speed dropped to 70–80% of earlier pace, averaging just 5–6 km/h. “Before the race, I studied the maps. However, when I arrived at the actual race venue, I still relied on my on-the-spot improvisation to take the shortcuts I had planned beforehand,” Cody said.
Reflecting at the finish, he described Ultra Gobi 400km as an adventure about living life to the fullest. “Running 400km means adventure and exploration. It means grabbing life by the horns and making an intentional decision to live life to the fullest. Gobi is passion and freedom. Coming to China to compete this time is truly the right choice I’ve made in my life!” he said.
ZHEN JUNYUE FEMALE CHAMPION
With a time of 92 hours, 24 minutes and 55 seconds, Zheng Junyue won again, yet fell well short of her performance last year, but still secured victory in the women’s competition and fifth place overall. In the mixed zone at Gobi Spring, the Chinese athlete said: ‘I value my success this year more than last year’s victory. Twelve months ago, the motto was ‘fast, fast, fast’. But this year, first place wasn’t even the main focus. I wanted to enjoy ULTRA GOBI. I took photos, chatted with volunteers and friends along the route and was really happy in this unique landscape. This is the real Gobi!’
‘Just under 40 kilometres before the finish line, I knew I was going to win. Sometimes I was in the flow; sometimes the saying applied: ‘If you face something strong, you get stronger.’”
About two hours later, John William Carey and Lucy Schodell reached the finish line together.
Carey said: ‘I’ve never felt better than I do right now. Lucy and I are like brother and sister; we run together a lot. When we signed up for the ULTRA GOBI 400, we knew we’d be competing and enjoying the race together from start to finish.’
Lucy Schodell silver medal
Schodell finished seventh overall and second in the women’s classification, completing the race in 94 hours, 27 minutes and 58 seconds.
“I didn’t actually expect a podium finish. We worked hard throughout the race and enjoyed it at the same time.”
‘There were some difficult moments, too. The second night was very cold; we got lost in the mountains, climbed unnecessary elevation and saw a large lake that wasn’t marked on any map.’
Carey and Schodell emphasised the outstanding organisation and work of the volunteers. ‘They were so friendly and helpful at all the checkpoints and aid stations.’
He Zheng was the best Chinese male athlete to reach the finish line at Gobi Spring in eighth place. He is from Gansu and said, “My father died a few months ago, so I dedicate this race and this finish to him. My whole family has always been very supportive of my running.”
