Yesterday was long, and very, very eventful.  Seven stages in total, with the final stage being camp.

 

The first two stages went well, just trucking along.  Then we hit a longer stage across salt flats.  It was brutal.  Scorching hot, and the salt flats are white so it just reflects back at you.  It was like being in an oven.  And finally a huge dune to climb before we reached checkpoint 4. 

 

It was a long stretch between checkpoint 4 and 5, but the terrain was meant to be fairly easy going, so I set off hoping to get through it pretty quickly.  That didn't work out quite to plan.  Just after I set off the winds picked up, and they just got worse and worse.  It was almost blowing me over, and at one point it was a full on sandstorm and I had to crouch down to take cover.  There was also pretty impressive thunder and lightening, which gave a pretty show at least!

 

I finally made it to checkpoint 5, but it took me a lot longer than I had expected and it was already dark by the time I got there.  When we arrived we were told that we had a mandatory wait at this checkpoint as the weather was so bad, which wasn't such a bad thing.  This checkpoint had hot water and tents, so I made a meal and got my sleeping bag out for a cheeky nap!

 

After about 90 minutes we were allowed to move on, although it was still raining (in the driest desert in the world!).  Five of us decided to continue together, so we got our waterproof gear out and set off.  About 2/3rds of the way through the stage the course took a sharp right turn.  There were two big buses parked there with Chilean drivers.  We couldn't really make out what they were in the dark.  The drivers beckoned us over and told us, in broken english, that we had to get on their bus.  We had no idea what they were talking about, and it was a bit freaky.  Being in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and suddenly some strange men try and get you to board their bus!  They were telling us that we weren't allowed any further down the road, 'the authorities say the road is closed'.  After a lot of discussion and broken communication we decided to get moving...quickly - my mum always taught me not to get into a car with strangers, there was no way I was getting on their bus!

 

So we sped off down the road, and about 500m from checkpoint 6 we saw an official car coming towards us.  I figured we had better tell them that there was some strange chilean guys trying to get competitors on their bus at the end of the road, and when we did they confirmed that we had to turn round, walk back to the bus and get on.  We were told the road was closed and we couldn't go any further.  It was so weird - we were told that it was because of weather issues, but where we were at the time there was no bad weather.  So we all turned round and walked back towards the bus.  We were developing all these theories about what was going on in our sleep deprived, exhausted, slightly delusional state.  Our favourite was that we were being kidnapped, the volunteer who had told us to get on the bus had a gun to his back, and we were going to end up in some chilean dungeon at an undisclosed location.  We could see competitors walking towards the bus from the other direction, so we figured we would let them be the first victims - we turned off our headlamps and walked very slowly trying to watch what was going on.  Eventually we got back to the bus and discovered that it was genuine, they had decided that the weather was too bad and unpredictable to leave competitors out on the course and they brought us all back to camp. 

 

It was a bit dissapointing not to finish the full stage in one go, especially when you're mentally prepared for it, but it was quite nice to have the break.  This morning we got back out and finished the course, and actually it was really stunning, so it was quite a nice treat to get to see it in the light rather than truck through in the middle of the night.

 

Now I'm enjoying some rest time, and looking forward to the pizza and beer at the finish line tomorrow, and to have my first shower of the week.  It is so hot in camp today that I couldn't bear to put my sweaty running tights back on, so I've self-styled a sarong out of my sleeping bag liner.  It looks gorgeous.  I also can't fit my swollen feet into my running shoes so I'm walking round with them like high heels - I may make the catwalk.

 

Well, that's all the updates from here.  Thanks again everyone for all your messages - loving them!

 

Next stop San Pedro, real food and clean clothes....yay!

 

B x

Day 4 done, now only the long stage to go.

 

Today wasn't as tough as yesterday, but my body still hates me.  Scorching hot again.

 

After yesterdays gaiter tripping incident I decided to ditch the gaiters today and go au naturel.  That was a big mistake to make as the first stage had us wading up and down sand dunes.  Too stubborn to stop at the first checkpoint to clear out my shoes, I trucked on through for half the day with about 2kgs of sand in each shoe.

 

It was the infamous salt flats stage today too.  They had been hyped up pretty well, so I was actually pleasantly surprised when I finally hit them.  That doesn't mean to say they were easy though.  It was like crossing a ploughed, rock hard field.  Very hard underfoot.  And again it was brutally hot out there. 

 

The sand and the salt flats kept Barry the Blister happy.  He is coming along nicely, and now has a couple of friends onboard to join him. 

 

Good news on the swelling and the sunburn front.  I look slightly less like I am suffering from elefantitus today, although my toes still look like sausages (more chipolata than full on pork breakfast variety though).  The sunburn is starting to turn less red and more brown.  It doesn't look bad at all.  I'm actually thinking of oiling up for the long stage to try and even it out and top it off nicely before I come home to winter!  I'm still avoiding the mirror loo though - I don't want to subject myself to any more pain than I have to!

 

I'm getting a bit low on food too, which is a bit worrying.  After suffering from a nasty stomach bug during my last race and not being able to eat anything, I underestimated how much I can chow through.  I am heavily rationing right now.  So far we've had a full compliment of people making it through in our tent - no drop outs mean noone to steal food from!  We have the leading lady in our tent too.  Not only is she super fast, she also has the most impressive selection of food with her.  I have offered to carry it for her during the day to lighten up her pack a bit so that she can go faster.  Unfortunately, she is far too honest for that.  I was planning on maybe 'losing' some along the way.....parmesan, what parmesan?!

 

Well, that's all from here today.  Huge thank you again to everyone for all your amazing messages and comments.  I LOVE reading them.....keep them coming!

 

Mantra for tomorrow....get busy living, not surviving!  Thanks for that one Rob (although I think tomorrow may be more about surviving and less about living)

 

Toby - huge stinky hug to you and the children....I'm missing you all so much! (p.s. I peeed on myself a little bit today whilst trying to squat...I promise to shower really well before I come home, and maybe I'll finally ditch these shoes!)

 

Long stage tomorrow....75kms of fun, fun, fun!  Wish me luck!

 

B x

Hey everyone!  Have just read through all my blog comments and email messages and it has put such a smile on my face - thank you all so much!

 

So, we were warned that today was the toughest day of the week.  And I'm hoping they were right because it was absolutely brutal!  A huge mix of terrain, which was good because it kept it interesting, but really, really tough going.

 

A whole section of some kind of bog wading - I almost lost my shoe but just about managed to hold it together.  And then lots of sand and rock.  I developed a couple of blisters yesterday during the river crossings.  I did get them dressed last night, but with all the rocks we were going over today I've really made the one on the sole of my foot unhappy.  He's so big now I think he deserves a name of his own.  I'm going to call him Barry.  I'll let you know how it develops with Barry tomorrow.

 

Today was sweltering hot.  I was going great guns until checkpoint 3.  Then I got really hungry and all my energy went.  It was only 11.5kms from Checkpoint 3 until camp, but it took me 3.5 hrs.  It was a lot of uneven rock, and I was stumbling around like some kind of smelly old drunk.  I then caught one of my gaiters on a rock that was sticking out and fell flat on my face.  Then we hit sand.  A couple of ravines that we had to wade down into, and then climb up the other side again.  Again, I went flat on my face in the sand and my language was probably not suitable for before the 9pm watershed.  Everything is covered in sand....me, my bag, my ipod, my ears.  I'm hoping the exfoliation effect will counteract some of the wrinkles I've developed in the sun.

 

Finally I made it into camp, 9.5hrs after we set off.  I've just had some dinner and feel like a new person (well almost).

 

The swelling and the sunburn are coming along nicely.  My calves are so swollen now that I think I'm actually getting stretch marks.  My sunburn has intensified to a much more vibrant shade of red.  I'm doing my best to avoid the toilet with the mirror in.

 

That's all for now.  Salt flats tomorrow - I can't believe I pay money to do this!

 

Thanks again everyone for all your amazing messages....keep them coming, they are such a boost!

 

And yes Toby, that was me running down the sand dunes yesterday on the little video clip.  I'm moving slightly slower today!

 

Stephanie, I'm keeping them peeled for a speedy Chile for you, although not sure I'll be able to find one fast enough!

 

More tomorrow!

 

B x

So, had a great day out in the desert again today.  The terrain is gorgeous, and really varied, which makes it fun.

 

Today we had sand dunes, rocky climbs, salt flats and four river crossings.  I made it out alive....just!

 

I forgot to mention yesterday, this is kind of luxury desert racing as we have real portaloos instead of just holes in the ground.  Ones where we can actually sit down instead of trying to squat on our destroyed quads.  So thank you Amelie for offering to loan me your giant pink potty, but I'm ok!  The only downside to all of this is that one of the portaloos has a mirror on the inside door.  Its a lottery to know if you're going to get the mirror loo or not.  The only good thing about looking as rough as I do in these races is that I never have to look at myself!  Now the mirrored loo ruins this!

 

I don't know if its the altitude, or the sun, or an electrolyte issue or what, but I'm having an issue with swelling out here.  Actually, I don't really have an issue with it, I'm managing to do it really well.  I've also managed to catch the sun in a high altitude desert kind of way.  And as per the mirrored loo, which never lies, I also seem to have developed a whole bunch of new wrinkles.  So right now I look a bit like the love child of a giant rubber ball, a lobster, and a shar pei.  I'm getting botox when I come home....or going into hiding for a few weeks or something.  This look isn't going to be resolved quickly or without medical intervention.

 

Apart from that, all is going well.  I'm having an amazing time.  It really is a stunning desert.  I'm not in pain when I'm out on the course, it only seems to hit when I get to camp and sit down.  So maybe the secret is to spend longer on the course.

 

Thanks again everyone for all your messages!  They are so fab to get everyday.  Funnily enough Devrim, I was thinking of UTMB as I was doing the last 5km today.  Like how glad I didn't get a slot this year and how much more fun it will be to cheer you guys on than to be out there running :)  Rob, make that 3 miler a 6 miler.  Lucy, I hope that leg is back working again, it's not long until Jordan (I'm already in training!).  And Emma, yes, my tent is full of stinky men, you're not crazy to be jealous, and the Lululemon gear is rocking!  Bev - Tony and Charley are doing a wonderful job of looking after me - and we're missing you!  The cybertent is just not the same without you.  And to all my amazing family, thanks for all the updates!  Keep them coming.

 

That's all for now.  I'm going to hobble off to the medical tent and see if they can give me a general anaesthetic or electric wheelchair or something to get me through the next stage!

 

More tomorrow!

 

B x 

Hello everyone!  I had lots of exciting updates to share with you all, and now I've just been sat in line waiting for a computer for the last hour and I've developed writers block!  Still, I'll do my best to think of some of my funny anecdotes from the day.

 

So, finally out to camp last night.  I've come to the driest desert in the world - I was expecting it to be dry and hot.  We get here and it is chucking it down and freezing cold.  I felt like I was back in England!  Still, this morning it cleared up and we had a gorgeous and very hot day out in the desert.

 

Camp 1 was pretty high.  3200m I believe.  Having only just arrived in Chile the day before so no time to acclimatise, and with a stinking head cold, I definitely felt the altitude.

 

I usually sleep great out in the desert for some wierd reason, but last night I think I was still suffering from jetlag, and with rainstorms in the night, I didn't get the best nights sleep.  I woke up in the morning aching like crazy and with my head feeling huge and puffy from my cold.  I had a great look going on! 

 

It all got better though once I got out on the course though.  I'm in my favourite place in the world when I'm trucking through the desert, and today was no exception.

 

It was a fairly easy start to the week, with only 33km today.  It was nice to get things moving.  And I got into camp just after lunch so had a great excuse to eat through some more of my food and have a nice nap.  My feet and legs are fairly intact after today which is good, but I have turned a nice shade of lobster red from the sun despite applying tons of sunscreen - I'm going to have some wicked tan lines when I come home!

 

Not much else to report.  I just sat eating my organic wild mushroom couscous freeze dried meal with my feet up in my tent looking out over the snow capped andes - I definitely had a moment!

 

Missing you all at home.  Thank you all so much for all your wonderful messages - it is brilliant hearing from you all, and it brings a big smile to my face at the end of the day.  Keep them coming!

 

More to come tomorrow!

 

Ciao for now from Chile

 

B x

Hola from Chile!

My luggage and I finally all made it safely to San Pedro de Atacama last night.  It was a long and eventful trip, and I'm hoping tougher than the race....the hard work is done now, the next 250km should be a piece of cake.

It is hot, and I can feel that we're at alititude, but it is stunning.  The town we stayed in last night, and will be finishing in next week, is gorgeous.  As I flew into Santiago I could see the Andes and they are incredible.  I can't wait to get out into the desert now.

My bag is packed and, despite every time I do one of these and promising myself I will travel light, it is huge!  It weighed in at just under 10kg this morning, which isn't too bad, and most of that is food, so I'll start on some marathon eating tonight to try and get it down to around 7kg before the race begins!

I bumped into quite a few other competitors on the flight over - we were instantly recognisable to one another across the crowded terminal by our salomon footwear and water bottles strapped to our backpacks.  I've also bumped into a few old friends from previous races.  The more races I do, the more they turn into social events, which is pretty much the main reason I race!  It's nice to finally talk to people who understand my crazy interest.  My family simply can't understand why on earth I like to do this....I don't feel like such a social outcast when I'm with other crazy runners! :)

So, all the prep work is done, final shower of the week just taken.  I'm going to go off now and enjoy some real food for lunch before we head out to camp this afternoon and the fun begins.

Missing you all at home.  

Next installment tomorrow!

Love from Chile........ B x