Well, I am done and dusted basically now. I finished the long day in just over 10 hours and ran the entire way with a couple of lads who were just behind me and just ahead. Its amazing how competitive it is after 240km but right now I am sooooo happy to be finished and back in the last campsite. I think I made the top 10 Frank/Lucy/Belles but no leaderboard about to confirm anything q yet!!! I wont go through the monotomy of today as describing 75km across the driest desert in the world in 40 plus degrees over sand is rather dull but suffice to say it was hard, emotional, painful at many times and darn right dull at others. In fact, although the legs are in tatters and I do still actually still have knees and an IT band, my sunburnt face is comedy. My hat has covered the top half of my face rather well, but the suncream didnt seem to last the 10 hours today and I have already been called beetroot by some rather unfunny guy (I did smash him though so he's welcome to a cheap insult!!).
So the race is basically over now and I am definately making a pact with those around me to just cruise tomorrows jaunt into town (San Pedro). I cant wait for the finish. There are so many things i am craving right now its just cruel. I cannot wait for a shower right now, followed by some pizza and beer at the finish, and of course the medal!! All i want to do is just safely get back to HK asap, and the thought of 2 days solid travel in economy right now sucks (Anna work that upgrade with Maggie...pleeeeeeaaaaassssssseeee!!!) but the feeling of seeing my family is keeping me going. I was running with Mark all day  today and we spent about an hour just talking about our kids...it was a huge lift and I cannot cannot wait to walk home and see them.
Reflections on this race are perhaps a little premature but if anyone is considering a holiday I recommend coming over here as a tourist for sure. Its just stunning and some of the landscape we have ran through has been inspiring. Mountains, grassy valleys, sand mountains, sand dunes, salt flats, mud flats and plenty of rugged terrain have been the course, and without doubt I can say this course is the most varied and technical. Btw, I cannot remember if I said this yesterday but I fell into a creek up to my chest and totally ruined my (old) Ipod and got my entire pack sodden wet which was a delight for the remainder of the day!! Last thing too (no awards or comments for coherence of thought please right now) the same dog ran with us today for another 30km. This dog has now ran at least 60km with me!!! It has a collar so presume it has an owner somewhere in Chile.
Time to grab some food and hit the sack!
Annoyingly they have not uploaded the recent emails and I have only seen 3 days so far!!
Love to all at home!

It funny but unsuprisingly it feels like groundhog day!!  Another day and another marathon, and while I sip my lemon and ginger tea its time to write the latest blog update. Today was a good day but another tough day. I think it was another 43 km and this time across the infamous salt flats. As is normal, I am starting off slowly and then gradually working myself up the field. The first 10km was q interesting and we ran off some dunes into this forest where there was this little stream that seemed very innocent at first look but 5 minutes later I was chest deep in sludge ruining my IPOD!! This certainly woke me up but running the next 15km with wet shoes,wet kit, mud in the shoes and no ipod was vv tough. After this checkpoint we enetered the salt flats which were hell as expected. Its hard to describe but it was like running on jagged edges that every so often would crumble up to the knee. Ryan manages to run this which I have no idea. Walking fast was hard enough and dangerous in iteself. Going 14km across those in 40 degrees with no wind and just 1.5 litres was v tough but I luckily made some friends with the Belgian lad and Jo (the chick that is beating my by about 5 mins I know before I get anymore abusing emails confirming me this fact as if I dont know!!!) and running with them kept me going until the end. We then had a 6km strong finish and at last the day ended, and I am feeling ok so far.
One quite amusing story from today was at the CP 1 in some town, this black dog started running with us, and believe it or not ran the next 30km with us across the salt flats!! It was very depressing to see the dog almost strolling casually across those jagged salt crusts as we were dying the in the pain, sweating, dribbling, complaining, cursing etc etc!!

So 1more real day to go and I guess anything can happen but hopefully if i follow my tactics so far I will get through. Finishing these events is always the first aim but its nice to do well and see the hard training paying off.I just prayer 2mrw is ok.I am worried about running through the entire midday sun as spending so long exposed in that heat is hard enough especially when I am half broken on the back of the last 4 days! Right now I am not sure what I want more...to see my family, have a shower, eat some decent non-freeze food, have a few cold ones or get the finishing medal! As always, I am thinking of everyone back home in HK,Canada and UK and especially the little guys. Its amazing Dorcas how your emails go through my mind all day and I love the fact that Felix is learning new words everyday and that Milo is eating like a trooper!! :)

As you probably know by now but there was another serious earthquake just 100km south of Santiago today registering 7.3 but from what we can tell there is not too much damage or death so far.I have no idea how this is going to affect flights on the way back but RTP are trying to sort out for us. If anyone in Liquidnet HK is reading this can you ask Anna to check in with Maggie as Farrington to waitlist me on the next flights from Santiago to Auckland and then to HK, since if I cannot leave Calama on Sunday as scheduled everything is out of sync. Dont change anything yet but please keep an eye out and do whats possible if I cannot get to Santiago etc. I hope all will be good though!

Hopefully by the time you read this I will be almost finished,and I can talk to you v soon! Thx again for the messages..I love them!!

p.s.Alistair...yellow hat and a grey long sleeve!
pp.s Congrats Frank and Chelsea!!

Firstly, thanks so much to you all for both the emails and the blog comments. They are a great inspiration at the end of the day and its a 100 times better for motivation than gels, powerbars etc! Its very motivating to know that when you are running there are people from all over the place following the race. I love the Lance and Winston quotes btw!!!

So 3 days done now, and just 1 more marathon and then the long day. Today was brutal but spirits are high and the body is holding up. I was told by  few that todays stage is the hardest of all stages in RTP events and I cant say I disagree with them. Without going into all the details of the stage today, it was mainly running on mud flats and soft sand dunes in 40 degrees heat without any wind...and still somewhat at a high altitude, well compared to HK anyway!! The mud flats are hard to describe but anyone reading who has done it will know what I mean. Its like running on a hard crust and every step gives way and just crumbles under your feat. Some steps you fall knee deep and others to your ankle. I thought I was going to lose my shoe several times. To add to this section there was chest high prickly grass meaning you couldnt really even see where to plant your foot. How Ryan runs this is unbelievable. The footing is so jagged that if you fell you would have a serious injury...and plenty have v bloody legs as war wounds. After this delightful section that was v slow, we moved into the soft sands. When I signed up for this I had no idea that it would have such varied terrain and such intense heat. In this respect Atacama is way harder than I ever thought. The dune section was the most cruel as they set the camp up in the distance so that you could see it from far away and then as you got close you had to do laps of high soft dunes, and right at the end it was hands and knees stuff...as if you hadnt already been through enough pain.

At this stage in the race, I am placed well but there is a long way to go and depressingly we are not even half way through yet, so anything can happen. My big concern at the moment is the IT still but drugs seem to help this, and the sun. Its soooo  hot and avoiding sun stroke and burn is a major concern for me. You have to take it so easy at the start, eat plenty and hydrate as best as possible. I am trying, but forcing a gel down after 5 hours in the sun coupled with a warm electoylte drink is not v pleasant!!

Our tent is slowly falling apart and today we lost the 2 Mexicans so numbers are down to 5. Btw, for all following Robs team, they are fine but Andy is having a vv tough time with it. Andy is an ex Para and an officer in the BA, and is as hard as nails and will not give up but looking at him each day as hes getting worse is actually v concerning. I hope he is sensible. Each race is very different in so many ways, but the 1 constance is the mental toughness of some of these people. There are all sorts of people out here and so many inspiring backgrounds, its very inspiring. When you are going through the lows you think of them and it helps you somehow knowing they will do it as well.

As always I miss you guys. It feels a million miles away and it nearly is. I always forget how miserable at times these events are but pls keep up the emails. They really cheer me up!

Tomorrow the salt flats. Ughhh. Hearing horror stories, but its the same for everyone and I will adopt the same strategy and hopefully it will keep me up the leaderboard! There is a lot of v tight competition but at the moment its still v much about just finishing and avoiding disaster like injury or dehydration.

Dorcas...Milo's milk is working wonders with the muslie and everyday it reminds me of him. I had a moment at the end of the day today when the JCB song came on. This is a public blog but you (and Billems/Lucy) can guess what happened. When suffering is so bad and it comes emotional, its a very weird experience, but they are the moments that you look back one day with hopefully a wry smile on the face!

xxx

I should say before writing this that all typos and grammer mistakes are not my fault...these computers suck!!

Anyway, day 2 is done and the story of the day is the wonders of modern day drugs. Celebrex and paracetomal combo got me through a very tough 42 odd km today. It really is amazing what the body can take if you really need to get through adversity. I was in total pieces yesterday with the dehydration and IT pain but somehow i got through it. Since my last update, I have hardly stopped drinking and eating. Inexperience got me to be in that state, and I know I should know better by now but hey, it happened. Luckily experience did tell me that if I was sensible and replaced all lost electolytes and I ate all emergency supplies I would be ok. The major fear today and last night really was this wretched IT band on my right knee. The last few KM yesterday were agony with every step, and so I spent a good couple of hours massaging and stretching. I woke up in the middle of the night with the pain and was extremely nervous this morning pre race. I honestly took it very easy to start off with and luckily most of the other racers felt the same way. The first 2 sections were just stunning and I would go so far to say the most spectacular of all the deserts. We were crossing rivers, up and out of slot canyons, through meadows, up and down dunes all with a spectacular view of the Andes in the background. After the first 20km, I seemed to be catching a few others, and I guess the drugs kicked in. The 20-30km stage is always the worst, but I guess the relaxed first 20km helped me out and I picked up the pace taking a few others. For all those that like to abuse me on the emails, I beat all women today, but only just. There is one girl who is just nails..but luckily the competitive spirit took over at about 35km and I passed her. The last stage was a very long and dusty 11km, and the temperatures hit well beyond 40. My theory at this stage was to just get back to camp asap. The drugs would soon wear off and the pain would come back, coupled with the effect of the scoarching sun, and somehow I managed the last few clicks. To my total shock I came 5th today but somehow I am not so sure I will be able to keep this pace up. I hope my IT is ok tonight when it gets cooler and when I wake tomorrow. You can tell the kind of pain I will be in I reckon with my placing. I wish I had that part of sense that would let me take it easy for a day, but when you are there on the start line the adrenalin kicks in and I cant help trying to push it a little. I am finally realising the disconnect I have from my brain and body. I wont do anything silly though Mum/Dorcas, but if you are feeling ok, you might as well push it.
On to other parts of Atacama 2010. The tent is great fun, but poor Claire had to pull out today with altitude sickness which is a tough blow to such a top athlete. Rob and Pete are on very good form and are part of a team this year. As I write this they are not back in. I think the third member of the team, Andy, is struggling with the heat and altitude again. He is a top runner himself and came 10th in Sahara 08 so I hope he bounces back!  The 2 last people from yesterday are also in our tent and its these guys that deserve the praise. They are out in that heat all day in pain and have very little rest and relaxation and have to wake up and do it all again, and again, and again! The last guy in our tent is an American living in Singapore who is very senior at Temasek Greg. I havent yet done the pitch yet but will be easing into it!! In fact he has a very interesting story on why hes here. It was essentially a bet from his kids about 3 years ago. He started off climbing KK, then Kili, then they upped the anti and bet him to do an Ironman. He took these all in his stride, and now they sent him to Atacama!!! I hope Felix and Milo can appreciate that this is definately out of bounds, and besides I hopefully will have done that before they can wage bets with me although after the first 2 stages I am not counting any chickens. You do forget how tough these events are at the time. When you get back to HK and have had a few days to collect your thoughts you forget the hours of punishment you put yourself through but hopefully its all worth it! Whatever happens over the next few days, this really is a magic part of the world, so you must come!

Ryan is a total machine and is walking/sprinting away with another crown. It is staggering to comprehend how good this guy is. Eric is trying to hang in there but the task ahead is virtually impossible. I would love to see him tested again like in Namibia. These guys take it a few levels higher!

In short, all good today. Better spirits. Hope leg is ok 2mrw. Thanks for all emails. they are magic!

Dorcas, pls give the little guys a huge hug from Daddy. I miss you all so much! I didnt understand the initials at the end of your email?!! xxx

Lucy/Frank...Munchen is here!!! Too funny. I have already sent him your love and asked him why he didnt stay in touch!!

Liquidnetters. Thanks for the supporting emails. Keep em coming!!!

Today reminded me of Sahara day 1 if you can remember that email! it was brutal but i got through it just about and in 1 piece and finished somehow in 12th position.
At 8.15am Atacama 2010 officially started. Before we left, we had a minute silence for the recent earthquake and the victims/destruction. the first 25km went very well when it was somewhat cool, and we passed some beautiful landscape, and some stunning meadows and streams. However, as soon as the altitude effects started relaxing, the sun began to come out and boy did it get hot. After CP2 and about 20km I was flying and perhaps that was the problem but I was lying in 5th or 6th, and then my world began to collapse. I made a crucial error and mixed in the wrong powder at this CP and I knew this would make me feel sick at some stage and combined with the long hot rocky plain i soon began to run out of water and knew I had to take on this warm ransid other drink. Sure enough, as we went up the next stage, a long and winding road in sand, i started to throw up badly loosing all my salts and everything i had eaten. It must have been 40 today and this was a v dangerous moment. I started loosing a lot of places but at this point it was just about survival. I had about 4km to go to the CP...managed to get there, sat down, and cooled off while getting some much needed water on board. It was just a few km left at this time and I slowly walked it in. Other than being badly dehydrated my main concern is the dreaded IT bands. I cannot run at all. every step for the last few km was painful. I am hoping some rest and some self massaging will help and if not painkillers will have to come out. Today was not good, even though my position was ok. I can assure you 2mrw will be about survival so dont expect any miracles. Atacama 2010 seems with this pain it will be about finishing!
I dont have any more chance to send emails as get 1 a day only, but Dorcas if you are reading this...I am missing you guys and the little boys so so much but you kept me going when it got tough. Mum...I will be careful. Alistair dont slate me for not doing well 2mrw. Simon..I hope the party was good and the hangover has gone. Dad...I made v good friends with a team from Canada and they were in awe of the volunteers!!!

Anyway guys, over and out. Today 6/10, but v worried about 2mrw and the pain!

The last few days have been very stressful finding out from various people around the world their travel plans and on the ground intellignece from Chile. Its the last thing you need before a race like this!! Hamish...you have done a wonderful job for those that are travelling from Auckland on LAN!
I am 100% going to give it a go though and the more time that passes the better the situation will become hopefully. Am a little bit worried about various parts but its all guesswork from my computer screen in Hong Kong. There's only 1 way to find out and thats to jump on the plane and support RTP. Good luck to Mary and all her team. I can only imagine the stress you guys are having!
Hopefuly see as many of you as possible in San Pedro in the next few days!

Well, I thought it was about time I joined my friends in doing a blog. I am just about up to speed with technology to manage this so why not!
Over the past few months, well post Xmas really, I have been focusing towards what I hope will be a fantastic journey down in Chile, but all of a sudden I feel my thoughts changing direction in with a last minute hurdle to get through before I board that plane on Wednesday night, my best mates stag in Phuket! I did tell him that I thought it was selfish to get married around this time and especially to have his stag this weekend but it fell on deaf ears and this was the only free weekend left. My thoughts now are how to get through this weekend with limited damage to the liver, body & mind, and get my thoughts and focus back on the main goal of 2010! I will update you on Monday...hopefully with good news! The main theme for the weekend is past BBC Sports Personalities of the year, and I got roped in as going as the 2002 Champion, namely Paula Radcliffe! I have been to the Lanes in HK, got my wig, shades, vest etc, and I can assure you no photos will be seen via this blog of any evidence!
Besides this, I cant wait to get out there, enjoy the experience once again and meet some friends for life. It will be my fourth RTP event and each event so far has been mind blowing with a different experience everytime. I have no doubt that in order to get to this place, you have to go through pain and a lot of soul searching, but if you know you will go through this at some point, you can deal with it better when it happens! I have trained as hard as I could for this event bearing in my mind I sit at a desk starring at computer screens all day and have 2 v.little (yet adorable!) boys at home. It will be interesting to see if the training pays off, and experience has taught me anything. We'll see!