Newsletter
Online Store
Login
RACE INFO
RACE INFO
RACE INFO
Atacama Crossing Blogs 2012
8
PostsAtacama Crossing (2012) blog posts from Dan Stake
04 November 2011 06:59 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Blogs are a great place to get some insights as to what other competitors are doing with regard to food, hydration, electrolytes, etc.. It is still early enough to experiment with what other people are doing to see if it works better for you than whatever you have been doing. But we are rapidly approaching the point at which you need to make some decisions and stop trying new things.
Don't try something during the race just because someone has said it works for them.
It is difficult to train under conditions that even remotely simulate what you will be going through during the race. But to a certain extent, stress is stress, and it is important that your body become used to assimilating fluids and nutrition while under stress, and lots of it. Of all the training that you do, the most important might very well be back-to-back long runs, during which your means of sustenance is comparable to what you will experience during the race (1-2 litres of water every 10K and whatever you carry with you for nutrition/electorlytes). My definition of "back-to-back long runs" is at least 40K two days in a row, and not just once, but just about every week until the start of the race beginning very soon. Nothing will train your body to assimilate nutrition and hydration while under stress and to recover overnight as well as actually having to do so.
Don't try something during the race just because someone has said it works for them.
It is difficult to train under conditions that even remotely simulate what you will be going through during the race. But to a certain extent, stress is stress, and it is important that your body become used to assimilating fluids and nutrition while under stress, and lots of it. Of all the training that you do, the most important might very well be back-to-back long runs, during which your means of sustenance is comparable to what you will experience during the race (1-2 litres of water every 10K and whatever you carry with you for nutrition/electorlytes). My definition of "back-to-back long runs" is at least 40K two days in a row, and not just once, but just about every week until the start of the race beginning very soon. Nothing will train your body to assimilate nutrition and hydration while under stress and to recover overnight as well as actually having to do so.
30 October 2011 12:07 pm (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
We will be in the last week of Daylight Saving Time during the race, with sunrise being at about 0730 and sunset at about 2000 each day.
We will experience a full moon Thursday night (rising as the sun sets setting as the sun rises) which will be great for those of us doing an all-nighter to finish the long stage.
We will experience a full moon Thursday night (rising as the sun sets setting as the sun rises) which will be great for those of us doing an all-nighter to finish the long stage.
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 05 Nov 2011 01:39 am
The drawback to the full moon is that we will not get to see how brilliant the night sky is in the absence of a moon. The Milky Way is bright enough to cast a shadow. Can you imagine a starlight shadow? Quite amazing.
Posted On: 04 Nov 2011 09:36 am
oh WOW! Thanks for the information. I am sure that will be a sight to behold :)
29 October 2011 05:10 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
When you apply sunblock, and you should be doing it often on the course, be sure you apply it to your neck, under your chin, and all over your face. Even if you are wearing a hat with a bill and neck drape, the amount of radiation being reflected off of the ground will be sufficient to give you a good burn, even in places that you believe to be fully shaded. Also, bring plenty of lip balm. The air is very, very dry and if you don't keep your lips protected you will regret it.
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 04 Nov 2011 09:38 am
Hi Dan,
thank you for sharing these nuggets of wisdom. Applying sunblock under the chin is definitely something I would not have thought of.
29 October 2011 05:02 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Here's something you may not have thought about: bring something to use to moisturize your cuticles. I use Chapstick, and one small tube is plenty. Rub it into you cuticles morning and night. Trust me, if you don't, you will have dry, cracked and possible bleeding cuticles by the end of the race. Why experience that when it is so easy to avoid?
Comments: Total (0) comments
29 October 2011 04:42 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
The race is at sufficient altitude to significantly enhance UV radiation at all times during the day and the part of the race across the salt flats doubles the exposure because of the reflectivity of the salt crystals. So, be sure you have very good sunglasses with excellent UVA and UVB protection (rated UV 400) . If you don't, you risk serious retinal/corneal damage. Don't assume that dark lenses provide adequate protection. The color and darkness of the lense is irrelevant to its ability to block UV rays. UVB rays do not pass through even clear glass, but most sunglasses do not have glass lenses.
Comments: Total (0) comments
26 October 2011 06:56 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Having already spent at least 15 nights in tents in and around the Salar de Atacama, I can say with some certainty that it will get cold at night during the race. If you cannot get warm and stay warm, you will not sleep well and if you do not sleep well your overnight recovery will be less than optimal.
So, make sure your kit includes a combination of clothing/sleeping bag/pad that will enable you to stay warm at night.
So, make sure your kit includes a combination of clothing/sleeping bag/pad that will enable you to stay warm at night.
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 27 Oct 2011 09:59 pm
Hey Dan great advice on both your Blogs.... love the one with the straw haven't thought of that but do undo everything and put in snaplock bags... I think my whole kit ends up being heaps of plastic bags you know the drill. Sandy
26 October 2011 06:02 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Here is a suggestion for how to plan and organize meals, drink mixes, etc.
First, you have to decide what you are going to eat/drink in the morning before the start of each stage, what you plan to consume during each stage and what you are going to consume in the afternoon/evening after each stage.
I will be having instant coffee or tea, instant oatmeal with bran flakes added and a vitamin/mineral supplement each morning. During each stage I will supplement my nutrition with Perpetuem Solids (www.hammernutrition.com) and will have a bit of beef jerky (not so much for nutrition, but because it gives me something solid to chew on). Immediately upon finishing each stage, I will mix up some of Recoverite (www.hammernutrition.com) and drink it while getting situated for the evening. For dinner I will have a freeze-dried meal.
Everything I plan to consume for each day will go into a clear, re-sealable bag, one for each day, marked accordingly. Friday's bag will go in the pack first, Thursday's will go in next, etc. By doing this, I have every thing I need for each day available when I need it and what I don't need stays in my kit.
Here's how I mix the Recoverite: in each day's food bag is a quart-size re-sealable bag with a pre-measured amount of Recoverite powder and a straw (cut short to fit into the bag) inside. All I have to do is open the bag, take out the straw, pour in some water, shake it up and then use the straw to consume the contents. The empty bag and the straw go in the trash.
First, you have to decide what you are going to eat/drink in the morning before the start of each stage, what you plan to consume during each stage and what you are going to consume in the afternoon/evening after each stage.
I will be having instant coffee or tea, instant oatmeal with bran flakes added and a vitamin/mineral supplement each morning. During each stage I will supplement my nutrition with Perpetuem Solids (www.hammernutrition.com) and will have a bit of beef jerky (not so much for nutrition, but because it gives me something solid to chew on). Immediately upon finishing each stage, I will mix up some of Recoverite (www.hammernutrition.com) and drink it while getting situated for the evening. For dinner I will have a freeze-dried meal.
Everything I plan to consume for each day will go into a clear, re-sealable bag, one for each day, marked accordingly. Friday's bag will go in the pack first, Thursday's will go in next, etc. By doing this, I have every thing I need for each day available when I need it and what I don't need stays in my kit.
Here's how I mix the Recoverite: in each day's food bag is a quart-size re-sealable bag with a pre-measured amount of Recoverite powder and a straw (cut short to fit into the bag) inside. All I have to do is open the bag, take out the straw, pour in some water, shake it up and then use the straw to consume the contents. The empty bag and the straw go in the trash.
Comments: Total (3) comments
Posted On: 28 Oct 2011 04:32 pm
Felicia -
I do not re-package the freeze-dried meals. They stay in the original foil pouch. I have not had a problem at customs anywhere (Chile, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia, Vietnam, China) with the packets of nuts, beef jerky or Recoverite (although ziplock bags filled with an off-white powdery substance do attract some attention). I like having the jerky pre-cut into small pieces and the Recoverite pre-measured, but one could certainly do that on-site rather than prior to departure, especially if arriving a day or so early.
Posted On: 28 Oct 2011 10:09 am
Hi Dan, just a note to say how excited I am that you will be in Chile. It will be a reunion of sorts. A lot of time has passed -- too fast! Mary
Posted On: 28 Oct 2011 10:08 am
Hi Dan,
Thanks for sharing. Just wondering if you\'ve ever encountered any problem while clearing Chilean customs with the packets of freeze dried food, nuts, beef jerky and Recoverite powder? I assume it would be easier to bring these food into Chile in their original packing (so that authorities can identify what they are) and then re-pack them later?
Have a good weekend!
17 October 2011 07:44 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Here we go again. I participated in the very first Atacama Crossing in 2004 and am heading back to Chile for another trek across the Salar de Atacama. In the meantime, I have been involved in seven other RTP events. Three as a competitor (Sahara Race, Gobi March, Namibia), three as Camp Manager (Atacama Crossing, Sahara Race, Gobi March) and one as a volunteer (Vietnam).
I cannot from my own experience give any advice on how to go fast. But I do know a lot about what it takes to finish what you start in these types of events.
If anyone has any questions I will be happy to share what I have learned over the years.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Chile!
I cannot from my own experience give any advice on how to go fast. But I do know a lot about what it takes to finish what you start in these types of events.
If anyone has any questions I will be happy to share what I have learned over the years.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Chile!
Comments: Total (4) comments
Posted On: 19 Oct 2011 01:25 pm
Correction to previous comment: the second sentence should read "For the most part, the terrain will NOT do more damage to your shoes than what you experienced in the Sahara or Gobi races."
Posted On: 19 Oct 2011 01:21 pm
Hi, Sandy.
Looking forward to meeting you and Colin in Chile! The location is spectacular and San Pedro de Atacama is great little town.
For the most part, the terrain will do more damage to your shoes than what you experienced in the Sahara or Gobi races. BUT, we will be crossing the Salar de Atacama, which has kilometers of hard, crusty, sharp salt crystals that can - in just few kms - do some serious damage to anything less than a true trail running shoe. If the shoes you wore in previous races worked for you, a similar shoe should work for you in the Atacama Crossing.
Posted On: 19 Oct 2011 02:01 am
Hey Dan, my husband Colin and myself are doing the Atacama as well so will be great to meet you there. You have certainly racked yourself up some deserts fabulous effort. Colin and I have completed the Sahara last year and Gobi this year my question is what shoes did you use for Atacama as I have heard the ground can chew away at your shoes. ta Sandy
Posted On: 18 Oct 2011 01:54 pm
saludos amigo!, corri varios ultra, proximamente ire a nuevamente a la mision race (160/70 km), el problema y la duda en atacama es que cantidad de comida y cuanta bebida isotonica en polvo debo llevar,eso condiciona el peso que creo que es fundamental, gracias por tis concejos !!
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 28 Dec 2011 05:11 pm
Posted On: 01 Dec 2011 10:40 am