Sean Lobo

Sean is a native of Chicago, Ill. and a graduate of Boston College where he was part of the Honors Program and studied Political Science and Psychology. Upon graduation Sean moved to New York where he spent a year working in the consulting group of Marsh & McLennan and two years at the investment bank ABN-AMRO working on a structured credit desk. In the fall Sean will be attending the University of Chicago-Graduate School of Business.

Why Gobi March?

Sean's interest in the Gobi March was originally piqued by his friend Tim Ryan but the immense physical and mental challenges the race presented were a major part of the appeal to him. In addition, the opportunity to immerse himself in a historic country, China, in a region of the world rarely traveled and in a beautiful culture, added further enrichment to the opportunity. In 2001, Sean lost vision in his left eye which forced him to have a corneal transplant in 2005 to restore the vision. Overcoming this struggle lead Sean to seek opportunities that would challenge himself in life. The Gobi March presented just that opportunity and with the accompaniment of great friends.

Tim Ryan

Tim is a native of East Greenwich, RI and a graduate of Boston College where he was part of the Carroll School of Management and majored in Finance. He was also a member of the Division I baseball team for two years. Upon graduation Tim moved to New York City where he spent a year and a half working in the healthcare consulting group of Mercer. He is currently an associate working within Debt Capital Markets at the Dutch investment bank, ABN-AMRO.

Why Gobi March?

Tim's interest in the Gobi March was sparked when a friend told him the story of the Atacama Crossing (another Racing the Planet contest). Tim has completed both the New York and Boston marathons but this will be his first adventure race. The Gobi March was of particular interest because of its ability to allow him to experience both a region and a culture that had always been of great interest, while simultaneously challenging both his body and mind. Ultimately, this race is truly a journey and not a destination as the goal is not to win but merely to finish. The challenge will not be against other competitors, but with oneself.

Mian Azmy

Mian spent the early years of his childhood in Brooklyn, NY where he resided up until 1990. At the age of 10 he and his family made the move east and relocated to East Brunswick, NJ. Mian graduated from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College in 2002 with a major in Finance. Upon graduation, Mian joined the Equities Sales & Trading program at JPMorgan. He is currently an Associate and has spent the past 5 years working as a broker on the Institutional Equities Sales desk.

Why Gobi March?

As Mian enters his 5th year out of college, he feels he has reached a crossroads in his life and that 2007 needs to be a pivotal year for him. It was during this period of 'soul searching' that his friend, Sean Lobo, happened to make mention of the Gobi March. For Mian, finishing this race will be a personal testament to challenging himself through the physical and emotional demands set forth by it. It also marks the first of many trips Mian hopes to make to China, a region he considers to be rich in culture and advancing in industrial progress. Running this race with Sean and Tim is also something he looks forward to since finishing this race as a team (all 3 must start/finish each stage together) will force them to adhere to a strict coordinated pace on each day.