Experience Report: How John Du Found Strength Running the Ultra Gobi A Race
John Du (MBA ’19) stood on a barren stretch of the Gobi Desert and was very exhausted: four days of continuous running across 121 kilometers during the Ultra Gobi A race had humbled him.
“All the training in the world can’t prepare you for the extremes,” he recalls. From 30-degree temperature swings to sudden sandstorms, the Ultra Gobi A tested not only his physical endurance but also his mindset.
Ten kilometers from the finish, exhausted and questioning his sanity, Du suddenly heard someone call his name. Out of the desert appeared a familiar face: his former professor, Gu Zhaoyang. For a few kilometers, they ran side by side. That moment, Du says, changed everything: “It reminded me that no matter how alone we feel, our journeys are intertwined.”
A Path Built on Resilience
John Du at the Ultra Gobi A race. Photo courtesy John Du.
Du’s journey to the Gobi reflects his life’s path. Born into a family with a history of migration between China and Vietnam, and later moving between Australia, Europe, and China, he grew up with change as a constant. Professionally, he worked in engineering and manufacturing roles across Sweden and Europe before relocating to Zhongshan, China, in 2012.
By 2018, he felt his growth slowing. That’s when he joined the China Executive MBA (CHEMBA) program, a partnership between the Carlson School of Management and Lingnan College at Sun Yat-Sen University. Returning to school challenged his doubts and gave him a new community — and eventually, the idea of running the Ultra Gobi A race.
At first, Du hated running. But a classmate convinced him: “If you do it, I’ll do it.” He began training, balancing early morning runs with the responsibilities of leading a manufacturing business and caring for his newborn daughter.
Community in the Desert
Training alongside fellow MBA students and alumni, Du discovered more than just discipline. The shared struggle formed bonds he now calls a “close-knit family.” Together, they faced long runs in every weather, wearing matching uniforms, and supporting each other through setbacks and progress alike.
The race itself brought both dark and bright moments. There were times of exhaustion and frustration, but also encounters that stayed with him — like the professor in the desert, or meeting teammates covered in dust, ready to cry but still pressing forward.
Crossing the finish line changed his perspective. “I approach challenges in my personal life and work differently now. If I set a goal, I know I can achieve it.”
Today, Du continues to train for future editions of the race. His motivation is simple: “Running is a reminder that you get out of life what you put in.”
Another Perspective: Veronica Zeng
Veronica Zeng, a former CHEMBA staff member
For Veronica Zeng (MBA ’22), who first brought CHEMBA teams to the Gobi in 2018, the experience also became life-changing. Originally seeking to improve her marathon times, she discovered instead a new calling.
“The Gobi tested my physical limits and redefined what I thought I was capable of,” she says. The race not only deepened her resilience but also inspired her to pursue physical therapy — a field where she now works to expand education and training in China.
“The Gobi taught me how to endure, but also how to heal and grow,” Zeng explains.
The Gobi as Teacher
For both Du and Zeng, the Ultra Gobi A became more than a backdrop for endurance. It was a teacher. It revealed connections, tested perseverance, and opened new directions in their lives.
The Ultra Gobi A challenge is not just about distance. It is about transformation — step by step, in one of the most remarkable landscapes on Earth.
