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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2011
7
PostsAtacama Crossing (2011) blog posts from Devrim Celal
11 March 2011 06:06 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
The long day was fun, I can't believe I said that. I had always wanted to do a fast long day and I probably could not have gone faster. It included all terrains and vistas.It started running over a salt late, then salt flats to mud flats, to rolling stone hills, to massive sand dunes - up and then down, beautiful canyons and always the snow capped volcanoes of the Andes Mountains on the background.
It was truly an excellent way to finish the 4 deserts.
I am tired but content, my knee has held up very well but possibly the resulting change in running style has destroyed my right foot, which is ridden with blisters. The blisters will heal but the experience will last.
I do recommend a desert run to anyone who dares to take on the challenge but as for myself, this was the last one.
Thanks for all your support, you have been incredible,
Devrim
It was truly an excellent way to finish the 4 deserts.
I am tired but content, my knee has held up very well but possibly the resulting change in running style has destroyed my right foot, which is ridden with blisters. The blisters will heal but the experience will last.
I do recommend a desert run to anyone who dares to take on the challenge but as for myself, this was the last one.
Thanks for all your support, you have been incredible,
Devrim
10 March 2011 07:14 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Once again thank you for the wonderful comments.
It was a hard hard day. Heat of Sahara and salt, mud and rock flats of Atacama. We had a brief introduction to the salt flats today, therefore not looking forward to 15km of them tomorrow. I did well today finished a comfortable 18th (again) but tomorrow will have to be very very slow. I feel like I need to preserve energy for the long day.
Phil and Sam, I know what you mean by CP3, it was a killer.
Sorry this is short but I am exhausted... more tomorrow
D
It was a hard hard day. Heat of Sahara and salt, mud and rock flats of Atacama. We had a brief introduction to the salt flats today, therefore not looking forward to 15km of them tomorrow. I did well today finished a comfortable 18th (again) but tomorrow will have to be very very slow. I feel like I need to preserve energy for the long day.
Phil and Sam, I know what you mean by CP3, it was a killer.
Sorry this is short but I am exhausted... more tomorrow
D
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 11 Mar 2011 03:41 am
Congratulations, Devrim!! What an amazing stage for you - I am thrilled that you did so well. Now that beer is TRULY well within your reach! You deserve that, and then some :) xx
09 March 2011 06:41 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Phil, took all your advice in and it was excellent.
Gunnar, I agree with you salt flats are incredible. I had a great time
It was a very slow day as I suspected yesterday. Took me a while to get going and then I decided to enjoy the moment and take photos rather than pushing hard. I hope in the process I managed to save some energy for tomorrow.
This has been a hard event, probably the hardest of all RTP events. I may be feeling this was as it is my last one and I am truly trying to get it over with. However, it is not only me finding it difficult, sounds like all of us on our last event are finding it difficult.
Tomorrow is the long day. I am really looking forward to it. It is shorter than usual, only 73km which makes me think it will be a hard course. If not, and I can run I will go for it full force and see where I end up (probably the medical tent).
Thanks for all the support,
See you in a couple of days...
Gunnar, I agree with you salt flats are incredible. I had a great time
It was a very slow day as I suspected yesterday. Took me a while to get going and then I decided to enjoy the moment and take photos rather than pushing hard. I hope in the process I managed to save some energy for tomorrow.
This has been a hard event, probably the hardest of all RTP events. I may be feeling this was as it is my last one and I am truly trying to get it over with. However, it is not only me finding it difficult, sounds like all of us on our last event are finding it difficult.
Tomorrow is the long day. I am really looking forward to it. It is shorter than usual, only 73km which makes me think it will be a hard course. If not, and I can run I will go for it full force and see where I end up (probably the medical tent).
Thanks for all the support,
See you in a couple of days...
Comments: Total (6) comments
Posted On: 11 Mar 2011 12:47 am
Fantastic effort Dev. By now you should have finished the long march too so only about 10km to go before you join the 4 Deserts club. I hope you managed to get through the last canyon in daylight as I think it was probably quite beautiful but it was too dark when I went down it. Enjoy the rest of the journey mate and bask in the glory. You thoroughly deserve it.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2011 11:17 pm
OMG Devrim, you mega marathon superstar today
Out of the bag from saving yourself yesterday you come 13th today on the epic day
How fabulous and so thrilled your knee is obviously holding up really well
Well done you and now you can saunter tomorrow and wait for the final jolly jog to the finish line
Congratulations xxxxx
Posted On: 10 Mar 2011 07:19 pm
Excellent job through the infamous salt flats. By the time you read this you'll almost be home free!! Take in every moment of the final trip into town & under the finish line!!
Posted On: 10 Mar 2011 09:43 am
Well done you....looking forward to seeing your photos as I am sure they are wonderful
So glad you were with Lucy en route
The long day today and as your wife has said and I echo her words, don't end up in the medical tent
Have a good day
Xx
Posted On: 10 Mar 2011 07:35 am
Well done with the salt flats - I still have nightmares about them. Good luck with the long day and then you are on the home run. There is a small canyon to start with and then it's flat the whole way into town....GO GO GO! Luce
Posted On: 10 Mar 2011 06:05 am
Hey darling, tomorrow is the big day and then you're almost through to the finish. I know you'll do well. Stay out of the medical tent please!!
We finished with the Tasman Sea crossing and today spent the day in Burnie, being taken around by a local we happened to meet. He was really sweet, showed us all around town in his 1972 green Datsun. Tomorrow we are in Melbourne.
Love u! Run like the wind!
07 March 2011 06:24 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
what a wonderful set of e-mails and blog comments. It makes the stress and fatigue of the day instantaneously go away. Thank you!
What a fabulous day!!
One of those days that make the whole adventure worthwhile. Amazing canyon with water running straight through it, an amazing climb into incredible views and the most amazing sand dune (fortunately it was only a decent).
Started cautiosouly, got to CP 1 in the fifties, waited for Lucy and when she showed up with Emma we continued for a while together until we hit a climb that made me wonder if we were doing an ultra run or a climb. I decided to go all out on the climb and started pushing as hard as I can. I ran with Stan Lee for a while who having done the race before gave me the details of the track ahead.
The last stage was mentally challenging and I ran out of water but managed to finish in 7 hrs and in 18th place. A good day.
Fortunately knee holding up but already lost too nails and have blisters but it will have to do....
Tomorrow stage three (thanks for the advice Phil)
What a fabulous day!!
One of those days that make the whole adventure worthwhile. Amazing canyon with water running straight through it, an amazing climb into incredible views and the most amazing sand dune (fortunately it was only a decent).
Started cautiosouly, got to CP 1 in the fifties, waited for Lucy and when she showed up with Emma we continued for a while together until we hit a climb that made me wonder if we were doing an ultra run or a climb. I decided to go all out on the climb and started pushing as hard as I can. I ran with Stan Lee for a while who having done the race before gave me the details of the track ahead.
The last stage was mentally challenging and I ran out of water but managed to finish in 7 hrs and in 18th place. A good day.
Fortunately knee holding up but already lost too nails and have blisters but it will have to do....
Tomorrow stage three (thanks for the advice Phil)
Comments: Total (12) comments
Posted On: 09 Mar 2011 06:30 pm
I would say good luck but I know how strong you are so what is the point?...:-) What the hell, best of luck buddy! I wish that I could be there as it would be great to see you complete your Grand Slam. Remember 1 on 5 off and no resting @ the aid stations. Aloha, -cole
Posted On: 09 Mar 2011 04:14 pm
Following on from Ricky"'s commment, hurry the f***ck up mate. you are a star and i am sick to eath of hearing you finish so strong. Not really mate! You know you are my hero. Text me from San pedro De Atecama so I call you and cover cou with kisses. unbelievable. Impressed. How do I compete?????
Posted On: 09 Mar 2011 03:02 pm
Looking strong out there.... great finish out there...sorry i didnt get to say goodbye... but you guys really helped me push onto day 2 and it really helped having you guys help me out with my pack..lol..all 40 pounds of it... you guys are great and ill continute to follow..
Posted On: 09 Mar 2011 01:37 pm
Dude, hurry up and finish already, I ordered some takeaway for you from tip top Thai and it's getting cold.
Posted On: 09 Mar 2011 12:46 pm
Hearing about the moment that makes it all worthwhile, is like a breath of fresh air to read ...... I knew there must be some reason for the self imposed punishment !! ;-)
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 10:19 pm
YAY DEVRIM! You are doing amazingly well! It's so exciting to check in every day, see the results and what you've written. I agree with Denvy - go for top 10 man! WOWWWWWWW! Table 18 at the MS Volendam is all routing for you!
You are one incredible person, bravo sana
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 02:08 pm
Hi Devrim,
I hope the race is going well. Back here it looks like next year may be better for timing. Please email or call when you return so we can connect.
Regards,
Chris
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 11:37 am
Go Dev.. You rocked it today!! Agree with Phil's comment and remember that the final checkpoint in day three is a toughie and far longer. Lock in and go, go go.....
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 08:01 am
akşam izleyemedik. internet bağlantısı yoktu. Birinci günden sonra büyük sürpriz. Çok iyi. Yine de kontrollu gitmeye devam et. ayaklara da dikkat. Kolay gelsin. Başarılar.
Sevgier.
H.Celal
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 03:42 am
Go Dev Go! Fond memories of you sneaking up behind me and passing me with 10km to go each day. Keep the hgih spirits going and do not woryy about the salt flats at all. Set a good pace and focus on the footprints in front of you and that stretch will e over before you know it. You have succeeded in far worse spots than that. Enjoy the moment as few get to experience it and keep focussing on that volcano as it never seems to go away.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 03:14 am
Hi Dev. Well done so far!! Glad to see you're all positive and enjoying the race. It's Phil's favourite and apparently the scenery is amazing so I hope you manage to take it in as you're steaming along. Have fun out there. Amy xx
Posted On: 08 Mar 2011 03:05 am
Top 20? Come on, Devrim, you are a top 10 finisher! Stop being a gentleman (to wait for the ladies) - all very gallant I admit, but you are going to kick Ander's ass! Give him a run for his money. Stay strong. You are rocking this :) x
06 March 2011 06:13 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Here we go again!
We are up at 3,200m, it is 7pm almost dark and freezing.
The terrain is rough, so it will be a slow day of undulating course,
The landscape is breathtaking, a mixture of high, pointed and snowcapped volcanoes, vast sand deserts, toxic looking salt flats and many ragged formations (one properly named the dinasour).
The group is small only about 120 but many many familiar faces, my tent mates Emma Ferguson, Lucy Tang, Ralf Crowley, and Ali Wehbi, Ash Mokhtari, May Okabe, Diego Carvejal, Stan Lee and many many others that I would write if I were not freezing.
Tomorrow should be a slow but relatively easy day as we will decent down to 2,600m.
More tomorrow. . . .
We are up at 3,200m, it is 7pm almost dark and freezing.
The terrain is rough, so it will be a slow day of undulating course,
The landscape is breathtaking, a mixture of high, pointed and snowcapped volcanoes, vast sand deserts, toxic looking salt flats and many ragged formations (one properly named the dinasour).
The group is small only about 120 but many many familiar faces, my tent mates Emma Ferguson, Lucy Tang, Ralf Crowley, and Ali Wehbi, Ash Mokhtari, May Okabe, Diego Carvejal, Stan Lee and many many others that I would write if I were not freezing.
Tomorrow should be a slow but relatively easy day as we will decent down to 2,600m.
More tomorrow. . . .
Comments: Total (4) comments
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 03:13 pm
Great first day Dev. Really impressed. Stage two will now be over and I hoped you enjoyed the scenery. For day three - drink all the water you can all day ss you will; need it for the last stage which is deceptivley long. Do not get fooled towards the end when you first see the campsite as it will still be a bit of a way away so conserve a bit of water right to the finish. You are strong buddy. Keep going.
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 11:33 am
Great day Devrim and glad that you were able to enjoy it with Lucy. Hope today moves as smoothly!
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 09:11 am
Well done for your first stage
Just cant imagine your determination and strength to keep going hour after hour and am really trying to focus hard for my challenge ahead
Please keep encouraging Lucy as she is feeling scared and low
Hope today is more beautiful than yesterday and that you have a good day ahead
Have a good one xx
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 07:39 am
By the time you read this you'll have cruised the first 2 stages. Keep going, just watch out for the mud flats on stage 3 - proper ankle rollers!! Luce
05 March 2011 06:13 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
These events are so mental and emotional that when you are pushed on by friends who know how hard they are it helps tremendously, so Phil, Matt, Denvy and Lucy T who suffered for 6 hours with me a big Thank You. Jim, thanks for the donation and he support.
What a day!
I thought after Sahara I was strong and can go into cruise mode here and fly through stage 1. It was not to be, Atacama is a completely different beast, it is a Gobi at high altitude with a psychotic temperature, freezing till sun rise and an oven thereafter.
Lucy T and I, set off today with no particular agenda but to get through the first day with minimum damage. We did very well and were almost enjoying ourselves and then we hit the dreaded uphill canyon and the misinformation lady.
The canyon is a long uphill winding road with only one point of interest some ancient drawings on rocks, beyond that you hike up in 45 Celsius heat always wondering whether the checkpoint is after the next turn or now, more often it’s now. And then comes the misinformation lady who tells you a kilometer to go, you are suddenly energized, you finish your water in anticipation of some more fresh water and then you walk and walk more and after 4km you reach the checkpoint exhausted and dehydrated!
Beyond that it was a good day, no blisters but one minor nail issue…. We are lower as well, therefore tonight should be a little warmer.
Tomorrow is a longer day but I am hoping it is flat. The terrain is very unforgiving, sharp rocks, soft sand and constantly changing temperature….
What a day!
I thought after Sahara I was strong and can go into cruise mode here and fly through stage 1. It was not to be, Atacama is a completely different beast, it is a Gobi at high altitude with a psychotic temperature, freezing till sun rise and an oven thereafter.
Lucy T and I, set off today with no particular agenda but to get through the first day with minimum damage. We did very well and were almost enjoying ourselves and then we hit the dreaded uphill canyon and the misinformation lady.
The canyon is a long uphill winding road with only one point of interest some ancient drawings on rocks, beyond that you hike up in 45 Celsius heat always wondering whether the checkpoint is after the next turn or now, more often it’s now. And then comes the misinformation lady who tells you a kilometer to go, you are suddenly energized, you finish your water in anticipation of some more fresh water and then you walk and walk more and after 4km you reach the checkpoint exhausted and dehydrated!
Beyond that it was a good day, no blisters but one minor nail issue…. We are lower as well, therefore tonight should be a little warmer.
Tomorrow is a longer day but I am hoping it is flat. The terrain is very unforgiving, sharp rocks, soft sand and constantly changing temperature….
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 01:39 am
I am so happy that you and Tango are sticking together. Good strategy for day 1. Atacama is tough but you are tougher.. Pocket Rocket
04 March 2011 03:41 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Well, yes, off to another one of those crazy events that I have been boring you about for the past year.
It was never meant to be more than one. The Gobi March was a one off adventure. In fact, it was simply a means to get fit. That it did! Now after 3 events, 750 km (well almost, admittedly Antarctica was a little shorter), 3 continents, some of the most exhilarating landscapes and terrains and having met some of the most interesting people in my life, I have come to the end, the final race, the Atacama Crossing!
By all accounts this is meant to be the most beautiful of all four events as attested to by my good friend and 2010 Grand Slammer Lucy Rivers Bulkeley. I am therefore glad to have left the best to the last, though it was not by design.
It has been an incredible journey. Four events in a row has had its ups and downs. It has been relatively easy to go from event to event as my fitness level never really went down, having to restart for each event (like Lucy Tang-Wastnage, I don
Comments: Total (7) comments
Posted On: 07 Mar 2011 12:24 am
Devrim, you may now be the most impressive person I know. This is fantastic and I can\'t wait to read more about your adventures. (Did I tell you I crossed the street yesterday without looking? - My adventure.)
Much love,
Deaton
Posted On: 06 Mar 2011 08:10 pm
Devrim!! Off on another adventure already--you are extremely impressive. Good luck to you and I know you can do it. Don't let anything get you down. Go, Go, GO!!!
Posted On: 06 Mar 2011 07:01 pm
Hi Dev
Hope today went well and that your knee held up well
Hope lucy's snoring didn't keep you awake
Or her flatulence
Did a run today so that I could feel the strain after 14.86 miles
OMG I am too old for this nonsense
The thought og doing that twice in the north pole is quite scary
Anyway hope you had a fab day and that tomorrow will be even better
Much love xxxxx
Posted On: 06 Mar 2011 12:39 pm
Hey Dev. Stay strong. You are amazing. Only one more race to the 4 Desert collection. I'll be watching very closely but just do your normal thing and go steady before blitzing the last stage each day. Cheers
Phil
Posted On: 04 Mar 2011 10:54 pm
I was intrigued to hear of your activities and wish you well, particularly because of your chosen cause as I have recently lost a friend who had suffered for many years with this horrid affliction.
Posted On: 04 Mar 2011 03:24 pm
Dev, this is it! I am absolutely thrilled for you. What an amazing journey and what a way to end it. I will be following your blog so keep posting. Love hearing about Emma and Lucy and familiar faces who did the Gobi, makes me wish I was at the Atacama with you... stay strong and enjoy the first day - it's such a joy to run with fresh legs! xx
Posted On: 04 Mar 2011 11:45 am
DR DEV we have lift off!! I cannot thank you enough for helping me over the last two days. THANKYOU I WANT AN OUNCE OF YOUR CALMNES PLEASE?
Comments: Total (4) comments
Posted On: 16 Mar 2011 01:47 am
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Posted On: 12 Mar 2011 03:06 am