We started out on a tough section of more sand dunes which is not my favorite, but hey, after 4 days I’ve accepted there’s going to be some sand in the desert.  Then we moved onto a long stretch of shale – going uphill followed by a real long slog down a piece of 10KM real estate that was pretty boring but I had a Clif Bar which turned me into a happy runner again (little things count a lot out here).  Then came the 14KM Salt Flats.  I knew I was going to like them and I felt fantastic all the way overtaking 10 runners in the process.  If your one of the front runners, the salt flats are horrible (and, they don’t make for a pretty picture no matter when you’re crossing them) but after 60 or so runners have gone over the same spot, it makes for a great trail run; still not sure anyone in camp agrees with me but their loss!  I ended up 62nd or 63rd for the day so, again, a slightly better stage position than yesterday.

I’ve now gone 4 days and about 145KM and I’m still blister free (this really is a huge victory!).  At the finish when I pulled into camp, as if I wasn’t already feeling good enough about myself, what do you know, there’s a small lake / pond right behind the tents.  I cannot express in words how good it felt to jump in, now it’s almost like I have brand new set of clothes for tomorrow – YIPPEE!!!

Alas, the little 35 – 40KM training runs of the last four days are over, now it’s onto the big kahuna with 73KM to cover tomorrow.  But, I’m feeling amazingly good right now, its freaky. My legs don’t feel any different than if I’d just taken a stroll through a mall, my feet are as beautiful as they’ve ever been (beauty always being in the eyes of the beholder, of course!), and so is everything else. Cool, bring on the Big March!

I’m not sure how the pictures on the RTP website work but I’m wearing a blue shirt and most of the time I have trekking poles (very handy sometimes).  I’ll be doing my next blog after the Big March so I’m not sure when it will be published.  Again, thanks for all the messages, it really is great coming into the Cybertent to read them all – all humor, advice, and words of encouragement are all very welcome!

I think we crossed every single possible type of surface on on our lovely planet earth today.   Crud, mud, shale, sand, salt flats, salt flats / mud (a wonderful combo), rocks, pebbles, water, tall, medium, short grass, dirt roads...We were told at the briefing its probably the hardest day of terrain in the entire race; I do know it was the hardest so far!.  Temperatures were manageable but it was still incredibly hard and the last 3KM included going down and up crazy sand dunes and just as you could see camp on the horizon they send us down another sand dune into a river and then another huge climb through sand before finally crossing the finish line.

I thought today was supposed to be the Infamous Salt Flats but thats actually tomorrow.  I'm hoping it'll be a little easier than today in the lead up to the 73KM Big March on Thursday but you never really know until you've done it.

The good news is I moved up the board again today and I think I fiinished the stage in 65th (7 hours, 20 minutes) so every day now I've finished higher than the day before.  Things are going in the right direction, for sure, so that'll get me out of my sleeping bag tomorrow.  And, the fact I was convinced I picked up some blisters today but didnt is huge.

Thanks again for all the messages.  Ill be blogging again after the Infamous Salt Flats are in the rear view mirror!

So, I know most you think I'm nuts for doing this race but today was fun, really, I swear!  We were crossing a river 3 different times within the first 20 minutes meaning wet shoes for our 35KM run.  A little later it was a walk up the side of this incredible canyon with surreal views of Death Valley and I even got the camera out.  Then at about 12KM it was a wild run down the biggest sand dune...talk about feeling like a kid, just laughing all the way down, it was right up there with skiing in 18" of new POW!  The next 10KM were kind of unexciting except 2 more river crossings...just as the feet had dried out.  But, no problem, its not like I was silly enough to change socks or anything like others did.  Finally, we had a taste of the infamous salt flats...2-3KM today in the lead up to tomorrows notorious 15KM.  They're hard but loads more fun than good old asphalt or at least I thought so although I havent found anyone in camp to agree with me yet!

So, Im in good shape.  I think I finished 83rd yesterday and today was 70th.  At this rate, I just need 7 more days before they declare me the winner!  Ive had no problems with feet (even with the water today), cramps, or anything else.  And, the 3,000 calories of food per day seem to be sustaining me quite nicely although a nice cold beer would be awesome right now!

My tent (#11) has quite a variety of nationalities (Kiwis, Koreans, Zimbabwe, Canada, Singapore, Austalia) as well a range of finishers, including the Zimbabwean in 6th.  Its funny hanging out with 8 of your newest mates in such friendly confines, how chummy it all gets!

Thanks to all of you for sending your messages.  Its pretty cool sitting out here in the middle of the Chilean desert reading your emails (even if I cant reply to individual messages), it means alot.  Thanks for all the encouragement and Ill be back after tommorows run through the Infamous Salt Flats.

Day 1 in the bag!  But gee, they promised in the advertisements we'd be runnng 33KM and and it was only 31KM, I want my money back!  It was great to get running after along day Saturday stopping and starting with the admin, equipment checkin, and bus ride out to Campsite 1.

Todays Stage 1 went pretty well.  we started at 10,000 feet elevation and you could feel it in the lungs a bit at first.  But, except for a few relatively short and sharp uphills the first 20KM was mostly downhill so the short breaths were quickly behind us.  Best part was going through some longish canyons where millions of years ago there was a river.  And, then from about 20KM to 28KM it was a nonstop gradual climb through the longest canyon I've ever seen...it just wouldnt quit but I didnt either and finally got there.   Mercifully at the top was the next (and last) checkpoint and waterstop.  From there on in it was pretty much downhill for 3 more KM.

This is the driest desert in the world where it supposedly hasnt rained for 300 - 400 years...except the last 3 days Ive been here!  Go figure; with these kinds of odds I should start buying lottery tickets!

Anyway, tomorrow is 42KM.  i think will be spending some time in, and crossing, rivers.  Itll be nice to see how the body reacts to a liitle fresh water, as you may know, no showers, no cleaning, and virtuallu no new change of clothes for the entire weeks...things are already getting a little ripe in camp!  Next update tomorrow...