“Taking part in a competition means more than just realizing a great dream. When you encounter failure, you will be able to draw on this memory and recall how much effort you put in to achieve your dream.” Yuli Lin shared her experience and state of mind at Gama Conference after completing the 250 km long Marathon des Sables, also known as the Marathon of Death. She encouraged all Gamanians to pursue their dreams wholeheartedly and embark on proud, regret-free lives.
When a Super Model Hits the Road
Lin confessed that she held no great love for running at first. She did not change her mind until a good friend asked her to participate on a run through scenic Yangmingshan. Exchanges with veteran runners like Kevin Lin and Oli during competitions planted an idea in her mind to take part in the Sahara Marathon. She began a series of marathon training, but ended up in the hospital due to heatstroke when she pushed herself too hard after a bet with a friend during her first competition at Dapeng Bay. While her confidence suffered, naysayers’ opinions became her motivation after she readjusted her attitude and developed even more determination to complete the Sahara challenge!
▲Inspired by author Sanmao, Lin has always dreamed of conquering the Sahara Desert.
The Sahara Desert: A Challenge to Both Body and Mind
The complex terrain and weather conditions in the desert challenged the physical and psychological limits of every participant. Lin had to carry a 10 kg backpack over a long distance, navigating a variety of terrain types such as sand dunes, gravel deserts, and canyons with great temperature fluctuations. This was 250 km of intense exercise over 7 days and 6 nights. Throughout the journey, she developed a 10 cm blister on her foot, suffered bursitis of the knee joint, and had to bear her pain and fatigue after being awake for 20 hours straight to continue moving. The challenging environment meant that the idea of giving up crossed her mind several times. However, she held her tears back, took painkillers to deal with the physical pain, and her partners helped one another out with their determination and steadfast spirit to reach the finish line.
▲Throughout the process of conquering the desert, Lin was often alone and had to converse with herself.
Partners Share Dreams as Each Other’s Sounding Boards
Looking back on the journey, Lin also missed the time she spent with other participants. Gathered in a small tent about 50 meters long, all participants, regardless of nationality or occupation, shared the reason they took part in the challenge, and the ups and downs of their training. This equal, free atmosphere was what she enjoyed most during the race. Out of these participants, she met lawyer Raymond Chak from the Christian Zheng Sheng College who was raising funds for juvenile delinquents. His altruistic spirit which helped others’ dreams come true really moved Lin.
▲Lin felt she learned a lot from their exchanges within the tent each day.
“I’m grateful for the courage I had to bring myself to this place and complete something I can be proud of from the bottom of my heart.” Through her hard work, Lin proved herself and became the first female contestant from Taiwan to complete the Marathon des Sables. At the end of her sharing session, she cheered Gamanians on once more and hoped that everyone had the chance to learn from lawyer Chak, to give back to society through realizing your dreams.
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