It’s August and for some of us, it’s that time of year when we’re glued to our social media feeds following that 1,000 kilometer jaunt across Mongolia—the Mongol Derby.
As with many events this year, COVID-19 forced the organizers to postpone the 2020 edition of the world’s longest and toughest horse race. Next year they’ll run two races—one in July and one in August. That means the summer of 2021 will be Mongol Derby all day every day.
But this year there’s no middle of the night Twitter checks to find out who’s currently being chased by wild dogs, who’s currently chasing their missing horse, and who’s currently lost in the mountains somewhere just south of Siberia.
Sigh.
Luckily, there are a few alternate entertainment options over the next few weeks for those of us missing this annual event.
To satisfy your Mongol Derby cravings the Mongol Derby is re-telling the greatest moments from the last decade of the race on Facebook and Instagram. The #DerbyDiaries series will give an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the race with riders sharing their stories.
“While the Mongol Derby is an epic race, it’s also an insane adventure. The stories of adventure sometimes gets lost in the heat of ‘well who’s winning,’” said Erik Cooper, one of the race organizers.
“We will be telling these epic adventure stories straight from our riders and crews mouths. I think it will help fill the thirst for our following of faithful dot watchers and also showcase some valuable lessons for future riders.”
Separate from this, a few former Derbyists have taken matters into their own hands and come together over the last few months to organize a virtual 1,000 kilometer race called the COVID Derby.
Over the month of August, competitors from around the world will log their own kilometers on a string of a minimum of four horses. Riders had the option of entering as an individual or team. The COVID Derby also has a ‘mixed’ category for individuals and teams where people can mix any combination of riding, running, cycling, paddling, etc.
“I wanted to offer my fellow endurance riders something fun to do with their horses in this bummer of a competition season,” said Devan Horn, a three-time Mongol Derby rider and one of the organizers of the COVID Derby.
COVID Derby competitors are raising money for Cool Earth, a charity that helps fight climate change by protecting endangered swaths of rainforest.
“Hopefully people will enjoy pushing their limits and being a part of something epic in August,” said Horn.
And that means lots of entertainment for us armchair endurance enthusiasts.