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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2012
11
PostsAtacama Crossing (2012) blog posts from Joel Meredith
19 December 2012 10:25 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
First, I'd like to take a moment to publicly thank all of my family and friends for their support and encouragement over the past months of training and especially their messages during the event. Words from home, serious and humorous, really help pull you up mentally and keep you moving forward. Thanks again!
I wanted to share a bit on what I learned from the race, the things that I would do the same and, more importantly, what I would do differently next time. I think that these observations fall into one of three categories: training, nutrition, and racing kit.
With respect to training, my pre-race plan was to spend as much time on my feet as I could. Most weeks, I would spend 20-25 hours (thanks to a VERY liberal work schedule!). My thought was that if I conditioned myself to handle repetitive run days, with little or no time for recovery, that I would be in a better position to complete the race. I also wanted to put a lot of miles on my legs and feet in hopes that I would have less soreness and fewer foot problems.
And...this strategy worked pretty well for me. I experienced minimal soreness during the week and, with a slight exception following The Long March, had almost no foot problems. However, doing long, slow runs every day in training gets EXTREMELY boring and I was very burned-out and sick of running in the immediate period before the race. For my next training cycle, I plan to have more variety (i.e. tempo runs, hill days, cross-training). I also plan to have more REALLY long days. My longest timed run in my previous training was just at 4.5 hours. I plan to have more runs in the 6-8 hour range. There are huge differences between 2, 4, 6, and 8 hour sessions. In addition, those extra-long runs give you a great opportunity to test nutrition/hydration strategies, as well as ample time to determine whether or not your chosen race kit is working for you or not. More on those two issues later. I'll also note that, in the 3 months before the race, all of my training runs were with a 10 kg pack. There's a BIG difference between running 20 miles with a handheld or race vest and running with a loaded backpack. All in all, I don't plan to make many changes to my training plan, other than training harder and watching my nutrition better in hopes of an improved result.
Race nutrition is a very personal thing. What works well for one, may not work at all for another. However, there are some points that are universal. First and foremost....PACK A VARIETY OF FOOD!!! I cannot tell you how sick of my food I was by day 3! I basically packed the exact same ration for each day. Big mistake. I used instant oatmeal for breakfast, gels and bars for inter-race, and the same freeze dried for each night. I never want to see any of that stuff ever again...kinda like when you get blitzed on Spring Break in Mexico and never want to touch Tequila again...ever!! For next race, I plan to pack a different freeze dried for each night or, at the most, only repeat one type or flavor. I found the Expedition Foods meals to be quite good and much better than the Backpacker's Pantry items that I brought, so I will add those to my list. Instant oatmeal is great, but I think a day or two of noodles for breakfast, or similar, is a good idea. One can always find a variety of gels, bars, etc. to bring, so that's easy. My point: mix it up.
Second, try your race food and supplements in training. Your body reacts to food differently when used under stress. Just because an energy bar tastes good when you're sitting on your couch watching TV doesn't mean you won't be throwing it up when you eat it 4 hours into an 8 hour run....in 120 degree heat....while drinking lukewarm water! I made the mistake of switching electrolyte pills just before the race (from Endrolytes to SaltStick). Both are great products, but the SaltStick pill has 10x's more sodium in it. My thoughts were "more sodium, less pills to pack." I was popping one an hour AND putting a NUUN tab in every bottle I would refill. By day 2, I was so nauseated I could barely eat. I ran the entire long stage on 1 gel.....1 gel. I dropped between 5 and 7 kg over the week, which I promptly put back on in San Pedro thanks to empanadas and too many bottles of Chile's finest. I may use SaltStick in the future, but I will train with it this time.
Racing kit is probably the most important aspect of these multi-day races. Your gear is responsible for carrying you and all of your support (water, nutrition, etc.) with you during the event, and sufficient thought and trial should be put into choosing what goes along with you. I'll just throw-out a few of my bigger observations here. There is so much advice out there. Here's just a bit from me. Train with a pack, but race with a new one. I trained with my pack and everything seemed great....until my sternum strap snapped literally 15 minutes into stage 1 of day 1. On closer inspection of my pack, I found that one shoulder strap was also about to go.
I ran a Salomon XA 25, which is a great pack, but it's VERY lightweight and doesn't handle months and months of wear and tear. Most of these packs are less than US$100, so it's not a huge financial stretch to have to. I would definitely take the race pack on a couple of runs prior to the race, in order to dial in the straps and finalize the fit, but don't take an old banged-up ruck with you. It caused me considerable mental anxiety wondering if my pack was just going to spontaneously disintegrate and I would have to finish with my kit in a trash bag...hobo style. The only things that got me through were a large dose of prayer, and the kindness of Alina and Ross who stocked me up with a load of zip-ties. THANKS, YOU TWO!!!
While addressing the pack, I'll note that it's very important to test how the ACTUAL gear you will take fits into your chosen pack. I did not, and my pack was absolutely stressed to hold it all. I trained with 10kg and my race ruck weight was 9kg, but what I used as weight during training didn't pack the same as the actual gear I needed to take. My tentmate Argi said it best when he advised to use a sack slightly larger than what you need. If you have 20L, use a 25L bag. You can always compress it down and it's not stressing the seams of the pack. I tried to stuff 26L into a 25L rucksack....and it didn't work too well.
Next, travel with all your food in the original package, but lose the packaging once you're there. This saves CONSIDERABLE space in your bag. I wasted so much space by not doing this. Next time, I'll take all of the freeze dried mix out and place into a rolled zip-lock (freezer weight, so the boiling water doesn't melt it!). I also won't be bringing any cups with me. I bought a US$50 ultralight, titanium cup for my drinks/food. What a waste. By the end of the week, I was cutting the bottom out of a water bottle. It's easy, cleaner, and you can pitch it when you're done.
Bring lots of toilet paper...I'm not sure that this warrants any further elaboration. A tentmate of mine, Brett, had a great idea for socks. He packed a fresh pair for each day, then pitched them at the end of that day. It sounds expensive, but you don't want to be repacking a pair of used socks into your sack...trust me....they get pretty nasty. I brought a short-sleeved and a long-sleeved shirt. Never wore the short. I found my long-sleeved Patagonia Capilene 1 Silkweight cool in the heat and gave my arms great coverage from the sun. You're there to run, not get a tan. And lastly, next time I'll try to snag a simple pair of hotel slippers. I took rubber sandals last time....and pitched them in the trash on day 2. Too heavy and too hard to pack.
While there are so many other helpful tips floating around out there, I hope that these help those who are interested. I do caveat everything by saying that this is what worked, and didn't work, for me, and the changes I would make next time. Everyone's different. Test everything out before you arrive and see what seems to work for you. It's a crapshoot sometimes. Things may not work, but this stuff is best guess. Do your due diligence and things will, most likely, work out just fine. Cheers to all and I'm looking forward to getting back after it this October in Egypt!
I wanted to share a bit on what I learned from the race, the things that I would do the same and, more importantly, what I would do differently next time. I think that these observations fall into one of three categories: training, nutrition, and racing kit.
With respect to training, my pre-race plan was to spend as much time on my feet as I could. Most weeks, I would spend 20-25 hours (thanks to a VERY liberal work schedule!). My thought was that if I conditioned myself to handle repetitive run days, with little or no time for recovery, that I would be in a better position to complete the race. I also wanted to put a lot of miles on my legs and feet in hopes that I would have less soreness and fewer foot problems.
And...this strategy worked pretty well for me. I experienced minimal soreness during the week and, with a slight exception following The Long March, had almost no foot problems. However, doing long, slow runs every day in training gets EXTREMELY boring and I was very burned-out and sick of running in the immediate period before the race. For my next training cycle, I plan to have more variety (i.e. tempo runs, hill days, cross-training). I also plan to have more REALLY long days. My longest timed run in my previous training was just at 4.5 hours. I plan to have more runs in the 6-8 hour range. There are huge differences between 2, 4, 6, and 8 hour sessions. In addition, those extra-long runs give you a great opportunity to test nutrition/hydration strategies, as well as ample time to determine whether or not your chosen race kit is working for you or not. More on those two issues later. I'll also note that, in the 3 months before the race, all of my training runs were with a 10 kg pack. There's a BIG difference between running 20 miles with a handheld or race vest and running with a loaded backpack. All in all, I don't plan to make many changes to my training plan, other than training harder and watching my nutrition better in hopes of an improved result.
Race nutrition is a very personal thing. What works well for one, may not work at all for another. However, there are some points that are universal. First and foremost....PACK A VARIETY OF FOOD!!! I cannot tell you how sick of my food I was by day 3! I basically packed the exact same ration for each day. Big mistake. I used instant oatmeal for breakfast, gels and bars for inter-race, and the same freeze dried for each night. I never want to see any of that stuff ever again...kinda like when you get blitzed on Spring Break in Mexico and never want to touch Tequila again...ever!! For next race, I plan to pack a different freeze dried for each night or, at the most, only repeat one type or flavor. I found the Expedition Foods meals to be quite good and much better than the Backpacker's Pantry items that I brought, so I will add those to my list. Instant oatmeal is great, but I think a day or two of noodles for breakfast, or similar, is a good idea. One can always find a variety of gels, bars, etc. to bring, so that's easy. My point: mix it up.
Second, try your race food and supplements in training. Your body reacts to food differently when used under stress. Just because an energy bar tastes good when you're sitting on your couch watching TV doesn't mean you won't be throwing it up when you eat it 4 hours into an 8 hour run....in 120 degree heat....while drinking lukewarm water! I made the mistake of switching electrolyte pills just before the race (from Endrolytes to SaltStick). Both are great products, but the SaltStick pill has 10x's more sodium in it. My thoughts were "more sodium, less pills to pack." I was popping one an hour AND putting a NUUN tab in every bottle I would refill. By day 2, I was so nauseated I could barely eat. I ran the entire long stage on 1 gel.....1 gel. I dropped between 5 and 7 kg over the week, which I promptly put back on in San Pedro thanks to empanadas and too many bottles of Chile's finest. I may use SaltStick in the future, but I will train with it this time.
Racing kit is probably the most important aspect of these multi-day races. Your gear is responsible for carrying you and all of your support (water, nutrition, etc.) with you during the event, and sufficient thought and trial should be put into choosing what goes along with you. I'll just throw-out a few of my bigger observations here. There is so much advice out there. Here's just a bit from me. Train with a pack, but race with a new one. I trained with my pack and everything seemed great....until my sternum strap snapped literally 15 minutes into stage 1 of day 1. On closer inspection of my pack, I found that one shoulder strap was also about to go.
I ran a Salomon XA 25, which is a great pack, but it's VERY lightweight and doesn't handle months and months of wear and tear. Most of these packs are less than US$100, so it's not a huge financial stretch to have to. I would definitely take the race pack on a couple of runs prior to the race, in order to dial in the straps and finalize the fit, but don't take an old banged-up ruck with you. It caused me considerable mental anxiety wondering if my pack was just going to spontaneously disintegrate and I would have to finish with my kit in a trash bag...hobo style. The only things that got me through were a large dose of prayer, and the kindness of Alina and Ross who stocked me up with a load of zip-ties. THANKS, YOU TWO!!!
While addressing the pack, I'll note that it's very important to test how the ACTUAL gear you will take fits into your chosen pack. I did not, and my pack was absolutely stressed to hold it all. I trained with 10kg and my race ruck weight was 9kg, but what I used as weight during training didn't pack the same as the actual gear I needed to take. My tentmate Argi said it best when he advised to use a sack slightly larger than what you need. If you have 20L, use a 25L bag. You can always compress it down and it's not stressing the seams of the pack. I tried to stuff 26L into a 25L rucksack....and it didn't work too well.
Next, travel with all your food in the original package, but lose the packaging once you're there. This saves CONSIDERABLE space in your bag. I wasted so much space by not doing this. Next time, I'll take all of the freeze dried mix out and place into a rolled zip-lock (freezer weight, so the boiling water doesn't melt it!). I also won't be bringing any cups with me. I bought a US$50 ultralight, titanium cup for my drinks/food. What a waste. By the end of the week, I was cutting the bottom out of a water bottle. It's easy, cleaner, and you can pitch it when you're done.
Bring lots of toilet paper...I'm not sure that this warrants any further elaboration. A tentmate of mine, Brett, had a great idea for socks. He packed a fresh pair for each day, then pitched them at the end of that day. It sounds expensive, but you don't want to be repacking a pair of used socks into your sack...trust me....they get pretty nasty. I brought a short-sleeved and a long-sleeved shirt. Never wore the short. I found my long-sleeved Patagonia Capilene 1 Silkweight cool in the heat and gave my arms great coverage from the sun. You're there to run, not get a tan. And lastly, next time I'll try to snag a simple pair of hotel slippers. I took rubber sandals last time....and pitched them in the trash on day 2. Too heavy and too hard to pack.
While there are so many other helpful tips floating around out there, I hope that these help those who are interested. I do caveat everything by saying that this is what worked, and didn't work, for me, and the changes I would make next time. Everyone's different. Test everything out before you arrive and see what seems to work for you. It's a crapshoot sometimes. Things may not work, but this stuff is best guess. Do your due diligence and things will, most likely, work out just fine. Cheers to all and I'm looking forward to getting back after it this October in Egypt!
09 March 2012 06:07 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Finished the Long March yesterday with daylight to spare! Was able to run throught the first 3 checkpoints, which was very nice. Slow and steady. It started to get very hot shortly after that point and the terrain changed requiring more marching. Had to conquer a dune that was probably 1/2 mile high to start the 2nd half. Couldn't eat and sick of the food I brought. Hands were literally swollen so much that I could not make a fist. Insane. Locked into a very quick march with German/Swiss team.Great company. It's too tough to try and conquer these vast spaces on your own. Made it into camp around 6:30. Felt great but my foot are trashed. Been drying them out today in prep for tomorrow. One last 11k to finish, then.......FOOD AND SOMETHING COLD TO DRINK!!! Can't wait to finish, but also will hate to see it over. Unbelievable experience. I'll check with everyone when it's over tomorrow. Can't get to San Pedro fast enough!!!
Comments: Total (8) comments
Posted On: 11 Mar 2012 02:56 am
Joel, Are you at a bar called "Stage 7"....if not, you might want to open one. Great Run!
Get home as fast as you can....we gots us a new Calhoun's to break in.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 04:31 pm
Joelene,
Great Job. Finish strong. Don't be afraid to use your hands on some of these folks during the last mile. Also, are you running home from the airport or do you need me to pick you up?
You could run to 440 then camp under a bridge then finish to Woodmont on the 17th. Whatever.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 03:35 pm
Congrats on an awesome finish! We are proud of you...and can't wait to hear all about it. You and Justin have fun celebrating. That will be almost as fun as the race! Looking forward to seeing you on the 17th. Safe travels.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 04:04 am
Atacamavegas.com!!! Pull through strong bro.! See you on the other side.....God bless you...!
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 03:18 am
PS- Update your profession from Anesthetist to AssKicker'ist.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 03:14 am
"BUAH, THEY WOULDN'T GIVE YOU A SUBSCRIPTION TO MAXIM"! You crazy mofo, you did it!! I'm with Josh...fist bumps and man hugs are coming your way buddy. Proud of you for setting out to do something and not only doing it, but crushing it...making it look easy. Proud is an understatement. I'm/we're thrilled that you were able to experience such an amazing "journey". Now wrap it up, get you some pizza, beer, strange whiskey, gummy worms, and get home safely. You and baby bro have fun. Catch you on the flip.
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 03:12 am
So proud of you brother!! I know it's probably bittersweet to finish. We've been saying lots of prayers for you. Went to eat @ Chili's tonight & the boys said "That's gonna be a long way to go eat with Uncle Joel"....I had to explain we weren't going to Chile :) Bring it home tomorrow & enjoy your pizza & cokes!!! Love ya~chat with you soon!!
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 02:40 am
DUDE...U are one tough mother!!! I wish I was there to give man hugs and fist bombs at the finish, Justine is there waiting with a fist full of pizza and coke and juices too! But wait, it just occured to me, everyone else had poles throughout the race....where are your poles dude? I LIKE YOU! 9 miles, M&M aint got poo poo on you!
07 March 2012 06:35 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Great but tough day today. Much better outcome than yesterday, which hurt my overall standing, but probably allowed me to run better today. The rucksack is still holding, as is the rest of my gear, and I feel pretty good. Today was very bleak landscape running. You could literallly see the CPs hours before you reached them, which makes it mentally tough to focus, but I made. Just before CP 2, I stepped on a 4 inch thorn that went right through my sole and about half inch into the ball of my right foot. Feels okay tonight though. Will evaluate tomorrow. 15th position today. We did a 2.5 hour uphill on crusty loose shale, followed by sand for about 2 hours, then finished through a crusty, sharp salt flat which required mostly walking. Blazing hot at Camp 5 today, but there are 2 sinkholes next to camp that are filled with ice-cold water, probably from an underground glacial runoff. An amazing treat after today. Everyone has had a swim and cleaned off salt covered clothes. Looooong day tomorrow. Charging the pod up now. Tomorrow is it. Once complete, the race is basically over, but it will take a lot of focus and patience to get through it. Hoping to finish in the 10-12 hour range, maybe sooner. Just depends on the terrain. If I can trot along as usual, I could possibly do it in less. Thank you again for all of the comments. They are always worth a good laugh and a good feeling at the end of a long, hard day. Hoping for good sleep tonight and a good feeling for the morning.
Comments: Total (21) comments
Posted On: 10 Mar 2012 01:16 am
Joelene,
Ate El Stuffed Pepper.
Now you and I both have "those" issues.
Chad.
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 05:12 pm
Joel, I see that you are in 18th place behind Sandy Suckling of Australia. Give her a stern "G'day Shelia" from me when you pass her. I checked her bio, she won the sportsmanship award last year, she won't say anything to anyone. Pass'em All!!!!....... NUWANDA!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 05:08 pm
Dude-What an incredible race you are running!! Keep it going. I was reading an article on David Goggins and his tee-shirt said,\"I don\'t stop when I\'m tired, I stop when I\'m done\" Just a little inspiration for you. Good thoughts and Light Feet!!! Keep it going!!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 05:07 pm
Dude-What an incredible race you are running!! Keep it going. I was reading an article on David Goggins and his tee-shirt said,"I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done" Just a little inspiration for you. Good thoughts and Light Feet!!! Keep it going!!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 03:55 pm
Joel,
Great picture on the site today. Great to see you smiling. I wanted to remind you that all you need is a job and $149 and you (too) can drive a new KIA. Something to think about while you're running. Don't you leave until.....
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 03:44 pm
You're almost there, Joel!! Been praying for your health and endurance! What an awesome thing to have accomplished!! Enjoy your pizza at the finish line :) nom nom nom
Good luck!!!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 01:43 pm
Hey man. I have been sending you messages thru the website. Hope you have been getting them. Today is the big day. I know you are glad to have this behind you. Awesome job man. Congratulations!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 04:13 am
Greetings from yo brahhh, Katie, Cash and Shiner. We are all doing good aside from the crappy weather. Shiner and Cash are loving their time together.
I know your struggling and completely exhausted but try and stay strong mentally. I am very happy for you and I'm sure it's an exhilarating experience and one you've probably needed for a while. I hope you get everything out of this experience your looking for. Love ya brother.
Posted On: 09 Mar 2012 03:29 am
Joel- you are doing an awesome job! I'm so jealous of your adventure (tough as it is). I watched the video of stage 4. I saw you!!!! It was the beginning in the salt flats. I think it was you at least.. red hat, white shades, and your black attire. I was so excited to spot you (I really hope it was you).. I'm cheering you on.. Good luck bud!!!
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 10:33 pm
Joel- You are doing great- you are not only making this unbelievable race, but are in the top competitors. Hunker down and get through the next 45 miles.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 09:43 pm
Joel- great job man! Keep it up.
We're keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
On a side note- I thought of you when I was doing my "long run" yesterday. I was just about to finish up a grueling 3 mile run and feeling pretty good about myself and then thoughts of you running 20+ miles (multiple days in a row) in the desert popped into my mind and guilt immediately set in. I ran 2 more miles to satisfy the guilt and am dying today because of it.
Not that you want to hear me complain about a 5 mile run but thanks for the motivation.
I hope you make it safely through your run today and have some well deserved R and R tomorrow.
Be safe.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 09:39 pm
Joelene,
Here are the current leaders.
Carrying around crazy names like these has to be tiring.
Hell man, the 3rd place name looks like some weird bowl of alphabet soup.
LEADERBOARD
15h 27m1. Garcia Beneito, Vicente Juan
16h 06m2. Ruiz Gomez, David
16h 39m3. Papathanasopoulos, Argyrios
Dude, Vanna White called...she wants her letters back.
Enjoy passing these guys. RUN JOEL RUN!
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 08:20 pm
Way to go Joel - you are rocking it down there in the desert. I have enjoyed watching your progress each day. You are running stage 5 as I type this and I hope the run is a pain free as possible. You are a great runner bud and certainly have worked hard for the success you are having. Keep up the good work and make sure you get back to Nashville in one piece :-). P.S. - I ran 4 miles last night at east nasty with Scottie Bell and we talked shit the whole way. In other words things here at home are pretty much business as usual.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 06:00 pm
Thinking about you crushing this run. I keep checking the web site for an update when I know we won't hear anything until tonight.
I may eat Jolly Ranchers and Beef Jerky for lunch. unsure right now.
RFO.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 05:43 pm
Joel stay stong. The Kenner Lawn and Turf Society are sending strong vibes to you. Be safe!
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 04:41 pm
Amazing...keep it up! we are really rooting for you.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 12:57 pm
You are almost there! The pics are AMAZING. What an incredible experience! Good luck today. Press on. We are behind you all the way!
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 11:05 am
I almost forgot to include this..."every rose has it's thorn"..yeah it does.
if you're not singing " I feel miles apart inside" right now... then you are tired.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 11:03 am
Joelene, Just left Justin at the airport. He was very excited about making the journey. After I told him about the Tent Sale at SPRINTZ this weekend, he understood why I could not join him. "Everything must go!" ...I do to. When you get tired and feel like quitting, think about "no interest until 2018"! That's what helps me make it through tough days.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 02:59 am
Duuude...you're going for it tomorrow! Nice. Baby Bro is at the house tonight and we're following. "Good laugh at the end of a long, hard day," that's what she said! Sorry, had to do that. Keep on keeping on my man. Hope the foot isn't too sore in the am. YOU ARE ALMOST HOME FREE!! Cool activities and getting weird with the locals awaits you. Peace.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 02:56 am
Just got sentimental on ur stage 3 blog....was worried bout u. Other than that Caleb and hunter really liked the lorax dr suess movie yesterday. They saw some desert pics of u running afterwards and asked if SANTA was coming 2 town??? I said yes, but after 43 miles and a short sprint on saturday...and J-Dog was bringing his sleigh...HO HO HO!!! Good luck Dude
06 March 2012 07:09 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Had a terrible night of sleep, with only a couple hours of solid rest. At stage briefing, we were told that today would be the most difficult of the stages. I hope that is the case because I am through with it, in one piece, and have never done something so difficult. Impossible footing which only allowed for running on about 25% of the course for the day. Most of the day was over a completely flat wasteland filled with razor-sharp shrubs and a crust/salt covered mire. After CP 3, we did 11.5 km over a shale covered plateau. Blazing hot sun. Very low mental point. This is a great example of how things are here....a Canadian guy called Ashe overtook me and saw that I was feeling low. Gave me some Jolly Ranchers and ran with me for a bit. Probably the only thing that got me through today. That, and lots of prayers for me and my rucksack! ...it's still holding up. Going to rest. Salt Flats tomorrow, then 45 miles on Thursday.
Comments: Total (6) comments
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 02:39 am
Keep kicking ass bro. If I thought it would help I'd dig out some Swiderisms to help you through the next stage! Think of yourself as gazelle . . . Praying for good health and solid equipment.
Posted On: 08 Mar 2012 02:15 am
Hey big bro...been checking this site all day...glad 2 see ur stage 4 results...ur rankd 17th overall...just behind Zandy!!! don't know if u will post for ur stage 5 long run...so thought I would send a quick shout out if u are at least checking comments on ur stage 3 blog. The LORD bless you and keep you...and that HE would make HIS face shine upon you. You're my big bro....hang in there dude...we are all watching and praying 4u...
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 04:32 am
Joelene, Great to see you. You look great. Keep moving forward. 3 Cheers for Ashe. Canadians are good for 2 things 1) Diet Bacon 2) Jolly Ranchers. Keep going! Toughest yet to come. You can do this. Make it great. The Woodmont Mens League is behind you. Keep pushing.
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 04:21 am
Thanks for that jolly ole' Ashe. We're prayin for u bro. I know what it's like to hit that point....when I was in the Marines I hit that point countless times in the majave desert where I'd rather take the bullet...but don't give in dude....stay motivated. It's easy for me to see some really cool pics of u and forget the pure mental/physical side of it. Push on...baby bro just is on the way.
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 03:17 am
Hopefully you'll get some rest tonight! Saw you in a couple of the videos (one in the Salt Flats). Looks rough...keep pushing. Glad your boy Ashe was able to spot you some Jolly Ranchers. If Clay were there he could have hooked you up with some skittles. Catch you tomorrow.
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 03:14 am
I hate to hear about today, but so glad that you made it through! Thank goodness for Ashe & his Jolly Ranchers~you owe him a brewski after all of this :) Love ya!!! Keep up the good work!
05 March 2012 07:41 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
After a decent nights sleep, we got Stage 2 underway. Felt much better running around 8500 ft. No head issues and didn't feel as if my chest was about to explode. Said a prayer over my rucksack before setting off, as well as many, many times on the course....and it has held up! Thank God for that. It will need some attention tonight, but I'm praying that with even less weight tomorrow that it will do just as well. Amazing terrain today....but very, very tough. We started with several river crossings (knee height) leading up to CP 1. We then traversed an amazing ridge for about 10km leading-up to CP 2. The footing was mostly loose, large rock with up and down (mostly up) terrain. Shortly after CP 2 we hooked off of the ridge and down to one side. I can honestly say that it was the most amazing view that I have ever seen in my life. The entire side of the rock ridge we had traversed was engulfed in a giant, rolling dune. I actually stopped for a moment to take it in. The run down the dune took at least 10 minutes to quickly descend. Absolutely fantastic. The rest of the stage was difficult to say the least. The heat picked up and I felt absolutely drained. Had to force myself to continue. My usual pace could best be termed a slow trot. I just put my head down, tried to zone into the music on the pod, and ignore the pain. Rolled into Camp 3 in 12th place for the stage. VERY happy about that....but starting to realize how very hard it will be to keep that up for 2 more difficult stages, and follow that with a double stage day. One stage at a time. One checkpoint at a time. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS AND PRAYERS!! It definitely is good to hear support from home. Keep praying my kit stays intact and that I can keep up the pace. I feel good tonight and hope for some better sleep, as well. Looking forward to hearing from everyone tomorrow. CHEERS!!
Comments: Total (12) comments
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 02:22 am
Tonight at the Y while climbing on the Jacob's Ladder machine, I couldn't help but feel like it was a Rocky 1V situation...I was Ivan Drago (working out in an conditioned facility with tv's and Vitamin Water), and you are Balboa (climbing rugged terrain with gear on your back and your lip curled up with a sweaty brow). You are Stallone my man...YOU. ARE. STALLONE.
Posted On: 07 Mar 2012 02:14 am
you are kickin ass! We are so proud of you
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 04:44 pm
Joelene, I have reviewed the Stage 3 videos.
A couple of notes: 1) You're not using your hands. Grab the people in front of you and thrust yourself forward. 2) #38 is perfect for you. 3) The area looks perfect for drilling and fracking. I did not see any oil wells...yet. Can you perform soil testing after your run? 4) Bart Durham needs you to engage the camera. needs video evidence. Great job. Keep moving!
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 03:47 pm
Love reading your blog. We have been thinking about you. We are rooting for you all the way. Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. We love ya!
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 03:10 pm
Last night I dreamt that I was right next to you during Stage 3...riding in an air conditioned Hummer with some kick ass rims- spinning, drinking cold beers, enjoying the view, listening to "Eye of the Tiger" as loud as it could go, yelling words of encouragement through the rolled up, tinted windows. It was canary yellow. Vaniety plate: DEZRT DOG
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 01:35 pm
Do your best to remember the way to that rock ledge/dune, we could get some suhweet planking photos taken here in a few days...thoughts and prayers all day long Bronan!
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 01:30 pm
After reading your update I challenged myself to go and get the mail. I almost got hit by a car.
I blame you and the people of South America. I am so thankful that NORTH Americans were around to take me for a frosty. I'm calm now.
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 05:23 am
Don't let that Alex Reinert from Hong Kong beat you buy 32 seconds on Stage 3 tomorrow dude...NOT COOL. I might be have to call Drill Instructor Sgt. McCrey on your A. Suck it up bro....I LOVE YOU.
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 04:45 am
Lee Myers and I were talking about you over the weekend. You are killing it!!! Keep it up and know your peeps in Nashvegas are pulling for you.
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 04:20 am
Thoughts and prayers are here bro!! Man...you're making the home team very, VERY proud! Glad the pack held up. Like you said, hopefully the lighter it gets, the safer you'll be. Keep on feeling the flow.
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 04:13 am
Dude! You're rockin man! I'm currently giving you a thumbs up pose like the Chicago rickshaw. Speaking of gear issues, I hope you brought your red Toms to wade through some of those streams like you did at Lolla. I think they held up nice. Seriously, nice job. Keep it up bro!
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 03:49 am
So glad the pack is holding up~I thought about you many times today~Some of the pics from today had some amazing view!! Good idea to soak it up~keep going brother!!
04 March 2012 08:37 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Stage 1 complete! Camp 1 was at just under 10,000 ft. Woke up this morning with a pounding headache. 2 cups of coffee and some ES Tylenol took care of that. No other ill-effects from the altitude, other than early-onset fatigue, feeling like my heart is thumping out of my chest when running, and some GI upset (which isn't being helped by my food). The run felt great today. The previous week off helped greatly by giving my legs some much needed rest, as well as helping me mentally recharge. The terrain was vast, with mostly undulating hills and open flat valleys...all with very large scattered stone. Very difficult footing. Light breeze for most of today, but under a brutal sun. Finished covered in salt. Trying to rehydrate and eat something this afternoon, though I have little appetite. That's the good bit. Unfortunately, I had some major equipment problems along the way. My sternum strap pulled out halfway between the start and CP 1, costing me about 20 mins in repair time. I ended-up zip tying my shoulder straps across my chest which caused quite a restriction in my breathing, but allowed me to finish. On inspection at Camp 2, the stitching on both of my shoulder straps is coming loose. Did some surgery on it with my Swiss Army and about 8 zip ties. Fingers crossed that it holds. I'm up the smelly creek if it doesn't. Placed 25th today. Hoping for no further equipment issues and another good day of running for Stage 2.
Comments: Total (6) comments
Posted On: 06 Mar 2012 01:36 am
25th is strong without equipment issues. SO proud of you, Joel!
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 09:49 pm
You'll pull through regardless of any equipment mishaps. You just keep MacGyver-ing your way through it.. you'll be just fine!! Great job Joel!!!
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 08:20 pm
Hate to hear that about your equipment, broham. Sounds like all good news otherwise! Keep us posted...Chad, go ahead and set up a lunch with Bart D.
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 02:58 pm
I though you brought a back-up pack??? If it continues to break, use the pop-up handel and wheels, and just pull it behind you...like at the airport.
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 02:50 pm
Joel, Great news...Bart Durham thinks you have a case. Meredith v. Strap Company. You'll be featured in one of his ads before you know it!!
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 12:58 pm
That darn chest strap!!! Obviously it's faulty...praying everything holds up for the duration! Keep us posted!
03 March 2012 05:53 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Through the final gear check and medical clearance. Pack officially weighed in at 20 lbs even...without fluid. One last stroll around San Pedro and a bit of lunch, then off to Camp 1. Incredible weather and amazing landscapes. Thanks again for everyone's support. READY TO RUN!!!
Comments: Total (6) comments
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 03:07 am
Good luck and have fun. Watch your cornhole
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 01:53 am
I keep checking the pictures, but haven't seen the pics of you guys in bike shorts that you promised. What's up?
Posted On: 04 Mar 2012 02:26 pm
Joelene, I just reviewed the "check in" pictures. I was shocked to see that you are wearing a Confederate Flag as a cape. What up with that Dude? Do you think you're the Luke Duke of ultra marathoning? Is Uncle Jesse down there? Take that thing off a give it to a naked child or something. Get rid of it.
Posted On: 04 Mar 2012 02:19 pm
Joelene, Is it too late to tell you tell you that I'm not going to pay off this bet. If you run 155 miles in some third world, volcano town I'm not streaking down Woodmont Blvd. Sorry to tell you this now...but I thought you needed to know.
Posted On: 04 Mar 2012 12:33 am
Good luck tomorrow!!!
Posted On: 03 Mar 2012 03:03 pm
What an amazing journey:-) I will commit to praying for you daily. Cannot wait to follow you.
02 March 2012 06:34 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Arrived a few hours ago in San Pedro with everything I left home with. No problems at all. The hour bus transfer from Calama seemed to take 5. Though it's 3 hours ahead of Central here, I'm popping some NyQuil and getting some sleep...probably the first in about 2 days. Hope that I feel 100% in the morning, can get in an easy hours run to get things moving again, and somehow make everything fit into my pack. Fingers crossed....
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 03 Mar 2012 12:57 pm
You are all set! Deep breath...you can do this! Excited for you.
Posted On: 02 Mar 2012 11:50 pm
Glad you are settling in
01 March 2012 07:57 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
Just off the plane in Santiago and through customs, and it appears that everything has made it with me this far! One more leg to get to San Pedro. Came down with the funk 2 days ago, so the flight down was pretty rough, but I am feeling MUCH better today. I hope that will continue. I'm still about 75% right now. I'll be here in Santiago for another few hours and hopefully in San Pedro by 7 tonight, if all goes well. BIG ups to Scott and Dr. Bell for hooking me up with a much needed Z-Pack just an hour or so before heading out. With 3 days more to rest, I think I'll be in good shape by Sunday. Also, probably should have tried to learn more Spanish before coming down.....
Comments: Total (3) comments
Posted On: 04 Mar 2012 09:48 pm
That Z-PACK was the least I could do for you Ma' Nerd...
Posted On: 02 Mar 2012 01:27 pm
Rest up the next two days. You will do great!
Posted On: 01 Mar 2012 10:17 pm
Sooo glad you are feeling better!! I think you will be fine for Sunday. Any English-speaking people, or very few? Good luck again!!
27 February 2012 06:47 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
After months of prep and accumulating gear/food etc., I'm all ready to hit the road....but wait. This morning, while I was out snagging some last minute items, my dog decided to go shopping in my gear closet. It looked like a hurricane had hit my room when I returned home! After salvaging what hadn't been either eaten or chewed beyond recognition, I was able to determine what the little f-er had consumed: 4 freeze dried meals, 7 Picky Bars, 6 Bonk Breaker Bars, 2 envelopes of Endurox, 14 (yeah....fourteen) packets of instant oatmeal, 6 Hershey's chocolate bars, 2 Hammer Gels, and an iodine swab. Thank the Lord that no gear appeared to be too badly damaged. No worries, though. That stuff is just par for the course in my world! I'm off to the store....
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 28 Feb 2012 02:33 pm
Bless the poor mutt, you've been starving him haven't you? Did he hide when you came back? My sheltie would happily do the same (she routinely eats my cats' food when she has the chance) and she's banned from even looking in the direction of the room where my gear was kept. Hope you have time to order/replenish everything. Good luck and see you in San Pedro!
23 February 2012 11:48 am (GMT-06:00) Central Time(US & Canada)
For all of my family, friend-family, and supporters....YOU MADE IT! This is the blogspace where I will update you on my progress throughout the event. I will be able to post an update here at the end of each day's stage AND (more importantly) will be able to read your comments and messages. You can also send me a personal message by going to the main Atacama Crossing page and clicking on "Race Coverage" and following that with the "Email A Competitor" link (recommended). I will surely need and look forward to any words of encouragement you can send!
After months of preparation, I'm finding myself less than a week before I set off. Of course, last minute SNAFU's are the norm for me. As I was on my usual run this week, the sternum strap on my pack broke off, making the whole thing basically unusable! Following a bit of a fit and a frantic scramble to order a new pack, I was able to fix the problem....thank GOD! While I have been training with a heavy pack these past few months, I had not taken the opportunity to do a trial packing of the actual gear I will take. TIGHT SQUEEZE....that's an understatement! I'm having to reevaluate the exact food that will be going along, as the meals I planned to take aren't exactly fitting well into my rather small pack. No worries though. I have a little bit of time and a few good options that I think will work just fine. To boot, it appears that odd weather will follow me South. Just heard that the race area is experiencing rain, which is basically unheard of there. Like I said...SNAFU! Silver lining....maybe that will keep daytime temps low. All good.
Thanks for checking-in and PLEASE take the time to drop me a quick message during the race. For my locals, some dear friends are having a send-off for me this Saturday evening (6:30) at The Crow's Nest. Please stop by. I'll even let you buy me a drink. CHEERS!
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 05 Mar 2012 02:39 am
Checked ur results, congrats on 25! Pace urself dude and may God bless you during ur adventure. PS - took Caleb to watch Bobcats play the NJ Nets tonight downtown CLT(Chris Humphries told me to tell u hello and that he is definately over Kardashian and ready to move on).-JFM
Posted On: 26 Feb 2012 12:11 am
Can't wait to see how everything plays out! I'll be reading your blog everyday...and I don't read blogs on a regular basis. Looking forward to hearing about it all!! Good luck!
Comments: Total (8) comments
Thomas Jones
Posted On: 07 Jan 2014 12:10 pm
dylan creaven
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