Farrkin El!

That was rather a long and hard journey but what an amazing adventure! This area is quite simply one of the most amazing places I have ever seen and somewhere that I definately want to come back to, who knows I may even come back and do this all over again. I`m definiately up for Gobi next June.

To everyone that emailed me thanks so very much. I`m sorry that I didn`t blog during the race, as a matter of fact I hardly logged either! The event was awsome and apart from sore feet I`ve escaped injury free. Sal on the other hand twisted her knee early on Day 3 and has an infected little toe and plenty of blisters, I`ve only got a couple.

KT you were right I did stink! Michael and Stevo yes I am facker than a Bolivian Pirate! I love and miss the three of you very much but will see you soon. To everyone else thanks again, I`ll post a more expansive Blog later and be in touch with you all.

Now it`s time for some more beer, had a couple at the finish line but now I feel the need for some more.

Yo later sports fans! Viva The Atacama!!!!!

In keeping with the theme of most recent Postings and email's and seeing as I have some time on my hands I'll once again muse over this very awkward pre race period.

Have I done enough? Have I done too much? Have I got the right gear? Are my shoes the correct size? Should I have another beer and some more crisps( Carbo loading of course!) These questions and more are running around in my head as I'm sure they are everyone else's. Having recently quit my job I now find I have far too much time to contemplate my race preparation. Having so much time on my hands now is not a good thing as I can't utilise it for training, I'm too paranoid to jump on my bike, get out into the hills or even vacuum the floor for risk over over doing it or getting injured. Well the vacuuming bit is just an excuse but tapering excuses having to do anything in my book.

This past weekend in Perth was perfect

Is it just me?

Everytime I run something else hurts, I run like a crab and have no energy.

I've had acupunture for the first time, after panicing that I had an achilles injury. Turns out it was only calf tightness. Since then I feel every little niggle is something sinister. I'm not sleeping well but thats probably because I've been up until midnight watching "Le Tour" every night. At least thats finished now.

I've run a few marathons and always enjoyed the tapering period but I'm hating this. I'm paranoid I've not done enough and I'm having trouble coming to terms with the fact that it's only three weeks away and nothing I do now, other than rest and maintenance, will help me. I also quit my job two weeks ago so I've got nothing to take my mind off of the challange ahead.

We are experienceing Perth wettest winter in a long time and as much as we need the rain it doesn't really help with what we can expect in Chile. Every long run Sally and I have done in the last 2 and 1/2 months has been wet. At least our feet will be ready for the river crossings etc.

Other than contending with the rain a couple of other obticles have provided some excitment during our preperation. I have trodden on two snakes, Sally has been confronted by a massive Emu and almost wee'd on a snake. We've had to dodge Trail and Montain Bikes, remove ticks( blood sucking parasites) as well as getting lost a couple of times on some of our longer runs.

We have discovered some great trails and seen some great sights, soaring Eagles and lots of Kangaroo's, met some good people too, trail runners and non runners alike.

We can't wait, paranoid thoughts aside, to get over to Chile, meet everyone involved with the race, compete in an amazing event and discover and be immersed in the total experience that is the Atacama Crossing.

Steve.

After reading Catherine