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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2013
6
PostsAtacama Crossing (2013) blog posts from Alastair Sayce
08 March 2013 03:26 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
If further evidence was required that the course director is a psycho, yesterday's 47 miles began, literally within 500m from the start, by running through the salt lake which we had camped next to. It is completely saturated with salt, which crystallizes out on the bottom and around the edges, so is bright white. It's only 6 inches deep, but just enough to wet shoes/socks and to get right into the raw blisters that many people have... so shoes/socks/bandages/shorts encrusted with salt we set off on a mammoth journey up into the Valley de la Luna - running through this extraordinary landscape reminded me of that scene in Lord of the Rings (and Tom, our run down the Argentiere Valley)!
It's tough going doing these things alone so I ran with Rich & Mark from my tent, and with Aussie skipper Grant, with my Japanese nemesis snapping at our heels only 1km behind for the first 30 miles. Running eventually turned to walking - partly due to the terrain, partly due to heat, partly due to pain and exhaustion. At 31miles we were joined by an Italian, doing the now familiar slow ultramarathon shuffle-run. Grant and I were inspired - if he could run, why couldn't we? - so we cracked on. Running this kind of distance is a mental game - run to the next ridge, run to the next checkpoint, the next bend in the trail. It was actually less painful than walking, and the knowledge we were covering ground a little faster helped, as did the thought of a top 10 finish on the long stage. My fingers swelled up, I ran out of salt tablets, I hadn't eaten solid food for 5 days, it was tough going. We eventually reeled in Ricky, an American, who was completely spaced out and moving at a very slow pace - he had been sick and was in a bad way, but assured us he was ok, so Grant and I ran on. Grant is doing the Badwater ultramarathon in a few months - that's 135 miles non-stop in Death Valley California - he's a weapon and is hard as nails - but we ran well together and eventually (after losing the sign posts at around 45 miles - not a happy time) we found camp and came in 9= with big smiles. 10hrs 41mins. That's 3 hours slower than the last time I ran this far, but that was in the slightly less challenging environment of Wendover to Kensal Rise.
People were coming in all night, and until around 11:30 this morning. That's probably tougher than doing it in 10 hours. We're now camping one last night and tomorrow it has just been announced that we have a nice short 8.2Km run into town, before medals, showers, and more importanly real food and beers! I have lost several kilos and am more excited than food than ever (which is saying something). 12th spot. No top 10 finish, sorry folks. Above me are tent mates Rich & Mark, too far to catch, and Grant is 5 mins back. I don't think we'll race it...
So, thanks for all your messages. It has been an experience...an amazing way to see this landscape, with some great people, and a huge challenge - which I'm sure I will have enjoyed when I look back on it! That's all from the Atacama - hopefully see you all soon!
06 March 2013 03:04 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Today's stage was called "the infamous salt flats"... After a brisk 3 miles of moutain climbing straight out of the camp we dropped down to the valley floor and hit the salt flats at about 12 miles in. More of the rough, crusty ploughed field stuff, with a bright white crust reflecting the sun so the heat was intense. I hooked up with two of my tentmates - Rich (Kiwi) & Mark (Aussie) and we ran (or speed-walked) 8 or 9 miles together unti'l the last checkpoint. I felt pretty good so pushed on for the last 5 miles with a Japanese dude chasing me all the way - ended up going pretty much flat out for the last two miles with him 100 yards behind me! Probably a bad idea given today was all about energy conservation, but there we go - 9th place...if this race was two weeks long I might even make a top 5 finish one day...!! Clearly the calf pain over the last two months was all psychological and I apologise for boring several of you with my woes.
Tomorrow is the big one then. 47 miles, and then this thing is basically done. All talk in my tent is now of food. And beer. In fact any cold drink - everything I've drunk for 5 days has been around 30 degrees. We've been running on a calorie deficit of maybe 2000-3000 per day, and tomorrow will be a 9-12 hour day (all being well),so that's maybe an 8000 calorie deficit. Think of me at 11am UK time when we start running. I'll be finished by 11pm...unless the wheels fall off!
Friday is a rest day (assuming I finish tomorrow night). For some they will run/walk all night into Friday. And then Saturday is a little 10 mile jog to the finish line. Happy days!
We're now camped next to a salt lake overlooked by snow-capped volcanoes. It's easy not to take it in when running, as the terrain is so rough you spend most of the time looking at the ground, but the scenery here is awesome. Time to get the feet patched up. I doubt I'll blog tomorrow as I'll be toast after a long day...
Comments: Total (11) comments
Marina W
Posted On: 08 Mar 2013 05:46 pm
just to let you know we at GSK house have been following and marvelling at your progress all week. Fantastic!!
Richard Ponton
Posted On: 08 Mar 2013 11:38 am
Great work bogis - a stunning finishing position...just wincing at the thought of running marathons with blisters and shoes filled with sand.
David Rosenberg
Posted On: 08 Mar 2013 08:02 am
10:41 9th Staggering Congratulations Enjoy the rest if you can and go for it
Anton Black
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 05:04 pm
I'm disappointed you let Keita get so close? Best if luck today.
catherine foster
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 02:10 pm
so as i write this you will be about 3 hours into the big day.... hope its all going well. This challenge sounds amazing but incomprehensible at the same time!!! You must be exhausted! good effort and good luck with the last bit xx
George Sayce
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 11:29 am
Perhaps the exercise has helped the calf - or the other pains have been a useful distraction. Hope today has gone well, and you can enjoy the rest of Friday - ready for the final day's sprint!
Kunal Duggal
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 10:22 am
Go on Sayce!
David R
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 10:20 am
You're four and a half hours of the lead. Get a move on :-)
Jonathan Sayce
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 10:02 am
@Tash - ha ha! Tell me about it...
Al - I have to admit I was in awe of 9th place for stage 3, but I was expecting better for stage 4. You need to put more effort in, dig a bit deeper - you're only 10 minutes off a top 10 finish!
Hope the big one goes well.
tash Powell
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 08:43 am
Dude....boring doesn't even begin to cover it. 'bla bla leg... bla bla leg...bla bla leg'
Keep smiling x
John Higgs
Posted On: 07 Mar 2013 04:23 am
Well done mate.....love the way you ground down our commonwealth friends. To ten finish looking very good!!!!
05 March 2013 03:06 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
Hey all, Today was brutal! 25 miles or so of super-challenging terrain - the person who devised this course is clearly a sadist (but then I suppose I knew this when I entered). The first 17 miles can best be described as like running across a ploughed field, with a salt crust on it, and each step you don't know whether the crust will hold or whether you will sink 3 inches into the earth underneath...and then the last 8-9 miles in soft soft sand... some of the dunes were so steep I could only get up then on my hands and knees - and the sand was almost too hot to touch, so that was nice. I was probably carrying half a kilo of sand in my shoes by the end, so the inevitable blisters have arrived! Anyway, again despite these hardships I came in 10th place at around 5hrs 15, so am presumably creeping up the leader board (not that I'm competetive or anything). The leading guys are ridiculously quick but a top 15 or 20 spot would be nice - especially if it means Rosenberg will sponsor me more :-)
We're over half way through now. Tomorrow is another 26 miles or so, and then the big one - 47 miles on Thursday. Right now I am not even thinking about that....
Right, off to get the blisters seen to... Late last night the medical tent was like a scene from a war movie - it will be worse today I'm sure, as it was a tough day. People will be coming through the finish line until 11pm or later. Running is easier in some ways than walking, as at least we get the pm to recover and stay out the sun - yesterday it was 41 degrees in the afternoon!
Comments: Total (7) comments
Elaine Langdon
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 04:07 pm
You're doing SO well Alistair. Sending you healing thoughts for the poor blisters.
Stay strong. Thinking of you all.
:-)
Tom Williams
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 12:10 pm
in the words of Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Bring it on!!! awesome work keep it up.......
Paul Foster
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 11:02 am
Excellent work. You were quicker than five of the guys ahead of you yesterday, and a whopping 1hr40' on one of the two Brits in front. This feels a bit like following the Tour de France.
Dig deep old son, as Vince would say, "I’ve never known a man worth his salt who, in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline."
Keep grinding it out.....
Tash Powell
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 10:27 am
You just keep doing better. What is up with that- how is it possible??!! This time next week you will be home- so enjoy every second, even if it hurts and smells and is a bit mucky.
Jonathan Sayce
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 07:33 am
Don't do yourself down lad - you were 9th yesterday! Amazing. Now only 25 minutes behind your tent-mate... For the big one, remember how Joe Simpson broke down the challenge into achievable chunks - forget the final target and just aim for the next sand dune, the next ridge in the salt crust, the next llama, or whatever there is. Before you know it, you'll be there.
George Sayce
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 07:04 am
You are doing we'll, but I hope they have some good treatment for blisters. At least you're able to get to the medical tent before the crowd arrives. Keep it up!
john higgs
Posted On: 06 Mar 2013 05:23 am
Well done mate....currently lying in 14th place!! You smashed a few of the guys above you on the last leg, so i reckon they're tiring!!
04 March 2013 03:40 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
27 more miles ticked off - a marathon and a little bit - but to call it a marathon wouldn't really do it justice. The first 8 miles we were "running" down a canyon, probably 500 yards of it actually knee deep in cold water (in the driest desert in the world??), followed by perhaps 800ft of climbing onto a ridge, and then eventually a long descent down an enormous sand dune (quite fun)... and then the second half was soft sand alternating with hard salt flats, with the heat rising to the mid-30's by the time I finished after almost 6hrs. It turns out my top doesn't do a great job of protecting me from the sun, so my left side is burnt big time! Anyway, despite these hardships I managed to come in 13th place out of 150, so very happy with that. We're camped next to some salt flats which is where we're heading tomorrow - hopefully the legs won't feel too sore - my recovery routine involved some disgusting powdered thing followed by a freeze dried chicken dhansak which was about to be binned by someone carrying too much, and which was pretty damn good after 6 hours running fueled by the occasional energy gel.
The queue is forming again so that's me for the day. Thanks for the messages - I am alive, legs are working (thank you Elaine!), it's hot, I need a shower. More news tomorrow....
Comments: Total (12) comments
Paul Foster
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 10:27 pm
Bit late to the blog, apols. You're tearing it up, clearly. Excellent work, keep going. in other news i couldn't be arsed to cycle to work today, feeling particularly guilty.
Melissa Dunnett
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 09:48 pm
Very well done pssk - sounds amazing and glad your leg is ok. Enjoy the salt flats, so awesome!
John Higgs
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 05:57 pm
You legend!! Hope you aren't missing the sleeping mat too much! Great work. Looking fwd to a few ales when I'm back in London late march!!
Tash Powell
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 05:46 pm
Wow... from the race updates coming through about Stage 3- it sounds like it a really tough day out there in the desert. Keep strong sweetie, we are all thinking about you. TPxxSTP&STS is being deployed immediately. It should be with you by night fall. Keep a look out. We are all under the same stars. x
jackie phillips
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 pm
Well done Alistair....you are doing brilliantly. Congratulations on an impressive performance so far and most of all, THANK YOU from Macmillan. Best, Jackie
Anton Black
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 11:37 am
WOW - not much more to say!
Susan chiappinelli
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 09:45 am
You absolute nutter. Before I was not sure, but now I am convinced! We're all following with bated breath. Really really well done, glad the calf and shin are holding up. Nearly half way.....
Tash Powell
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 09:42 am
So.....young Sayce.... I am beginning to think the whole 'I have got a sore leg, woe is me' thing was a giant HUSTLE. Unbelievably impressive progress
Damien O'Farrell
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 09:20 am
Great work! Rosenberg has promised a straight £100 if you come in the top 20 overall....
catherine young
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 08:23 am
17th overall Alastair - 6 up on first day, you are flying.... keep up the fantastic work.... it sounds gruelling but wow are you going well. Catherine
Jonathan Sayce
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 07:31 am
Wow! The route sounds great and 13th is awesome! Nice work.
You're 17th overall and much closer to the people in front than those behind, so crack on and you might still get a respectable result. And remember the sun cream today!
George Sayce
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 06:58 am
Great news, well done. Hope today goes well.
Dad
03 March 2013 04:37 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
It turns out that running 22 miles at 10000ft 'with 12kg on your back and 39 degrees is a little different to running round Richmond Park a few times in the snow! But I made it in a not too shabby 4 hrs 4 mins by my watch, and most importantly my calf and shin held up ok (no need to resort to painkillers yet). 26 miles tomorrow, so fingers crossed it stays the same.
Just a quick blog today as theres a big queue in the cybertent.... 'The scenery is spectacular, snow-capped Andean volcanoes on the horizon and the occasional llama (alpaca? I have no idea what the difference is) visible when I blink away the sweat from my eyes. The sky at night is amazing (Dad, you would love it, maybe you should come visit!)
Right, thats me for now. More news tomorrow....
Comments: Total (12) comments
Marina Waldren
Posted On: 10 Mar 2013 10:16 am
OMG You finished and lived. Congratulations! That last leg looked like a run for the bus.
Tom Williams
Posted On: 05 Mar 2013 11:34 am
Awesome work mate, keep it up........... time to ramp it up and pull back the other Brit. respect.
Anton Black
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 10:32 pm
Well done mate - sterling effort. Hopefully your pack is lighter tomorrow. Think I can just go and do the star bit and skip the nasty jog?
George Sayce
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 09:43 pm
Well done on Day1! Hope that Day 2 was as succesful, and that both legs keep going.
Max Jolly
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 09:11 pm
Go you good thing! Top 10 finish please. Good luck for the rest of it
Klaas de Jong
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 08:22 pm
respect! go for it Al!
Keita Imaki
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 07:08 pm
I hope you took some nice photos during your sightseeing jog.
ali kershaw
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 11:19 am
Rosenberg and I are very impressed with your first effort but feel you can do better! hope the custard with berries gives you extra energy for stage 2!! Fingers crossed the leg holds up!
Jonathan Sayce
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 09:51 am
Just been looking at the stage 1 results. You're doing OK so far, 23rd overall and the 2nd Brit, but you need to raise your game - the first Brit was 1:13 faster than you!
Damien O'Farrell
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 09:43 am
Fantastic effort for the first day lad! Hope the calf and shin hold up for the 144th mile!
Tash Powell
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 09:00 am
Amazing, amazing, amazing! Now if you could just make a pit stop and shave me one of those friendly alpaca that would also be really great.
Keep smiling x
Jonathan Sayce
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 07:34 am
Well done bro! Great news that the leg is OK - that must be a massive relief.
Hope stage 2 goes well today.
01 March 2013 07:54 am (GMT-04:00) Santiago
So this is it then. 36 hours to go before kick-off and time to write my first ever blog. Arrived in San Pedro on Wednesday evening wth several fellow competitors. Everyone else is out running and acclimatising to the heat and the altitude (we’re at 2300m in San Pedro, race starts at 3300m, mid-30’s today). I, on the other hand, have been sitting around eating peanut M&Ms, and wondering whether this was all a terrible idea… This isn’t so much laziness as me trying not to antagonise my problematic calf/shin….so when not eating I’ve been stretching, rolling on a foam roller and applying significant quantities of ibuprofen gel.
My tent-mates seem great, and I think the collective camaraderie will really help. All talk in the town is about kit, grams, calories, nutrition strategies and electrolytes… My 33 litre pack is literally twice the size of some. I took it round to another hotel yesterday for a general kit discussion and it caused quite a scene among the experienced multi-day racers! So, in a last minute weight-loss drive I’ve ditched my lovely sleeping mat…which I may live to regret.
Tomorrow we have our kit & nutrition checked out and then we’re off to camp 1 for the night, before race starts early on Sunday. Very keen to get going now. Nervous? Oh boy - but mostly because my calf problems which developed during a ultra-run in January and nearly prevented me being here at all have still not fully cleared up. Not ideal when about to undertake 155 miles of running, but c’est la vie! I’ve done my fair share of endurance events but have never gone into anything feeling quite so underprepared and clueless about what lies ahead! At least I have a pharmacy-full of pain relief.
Lastly, thank you for all the sponsorship – I am hugely grateful. Next opportunity to blog will by after the first stage of 22 miles on Sunday. Bring it!
Comments: Total (5) comments
Duncan Whitaker
Posted On: 04 Mar 2013 11:54 am
Amazing result for stage 1 - not far off my London Marathon time, but that was a warm day too you know... ;-) May it continue!
Elaine Langdon
Posted On: 03 Mar 2013 10:54 am
Hi Alistair,
All the best for the next few days. I have every confidence in you.
Keep me posted on how the legs are coping.
Stay strong.
Elaine :-)
Anton Black
Posted On: 03 Mar 2013 10:39 am
Best of luck mate. You must be about to begin. Neve says "ajjajajaa" take that anyway you like but I read it as run al run although it may be change my nappy please. Good luck!
Mike Stewart
Posted On: 03 Mar 2013 09:08 am
Hi Al,
Sitting here in Birmingham with your Auntie Marg (admiring her very smart iPad). Not sure what is the more impressive - your endeavours in the Atacama or the fact that she has an iPad. Please insert your joke of choice here. All the very best. Will be thinking of you.
Mike
Tom Williams
Posted On: 01 Mar 2013 08:21 pm
Good luck pal, all the best for the off!
Comments: Total (7) comments
Jason Rice
Posted On: 12 Mar 2013 05:38 pm
Jackie Phillips
Posted On: 10 Mar 2013 02:04 pm
Anton Black
Posted On: 09 Mar 2013 05:48 pm
John Higgs
Posted On: 09 Mar 2013 05:44 pm
George Sayce
Posted On: 09 Mar 2013 04:40 pm
Tom Williams
Posted On: 09 Mar 2013 01:15 pm
Susie Thurlow
Posted On: 09 Mar 2013 11:05 am