RACE INFO

RACE INFO
Atacama Crossing Blogs 2014
8
PostsAtacama Crossing (2014) blog posts from Atul Patki
11 October 2014 01:22 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Long….Long march is done. It was started w cold weather, and few ditches w cold water within first 4km. the water here is salty. So, u know what it must have happened to all runners w blisters. Don’t want to imagine now. Soon, the Sun came and took temp to 100+ degrees from 40 degrees. What a diff but both sides were bad. Every checkpoint, we have to fill up water, use electrolytes and put water on our face …. And
I was pouring all along my body.
Before CP3 and 4, when km are covered are approx. 35 and 45, we got a surprise. And that surprise was big, big sand dunes to CLIMB. Believe me, everyone panicked.
From CP4 onward, I started realizing that I am having a lot of pain in my shoes.. cause till that time, I had no sensation that I have feet to stand. I decided then to take it very easy. Finishing was important and not timing. At CP5 on, met Dave, my tent mate and he was suffering from the same problem and we had no problem to give company to each other while running at night.
Next every checkpoint was very difficult. At CP5, which was a rest point, we had decided to take dinner, rest for an hour or two and then again start running. We reached at CP5 around 9p. We ate dinner using warm water. Thank u Rob for meal exchange a night before, it helped me a lot. And with hot Rice and beans in my stomach, we decided to just start running/walking immediately.
At CP6, which is the last CP and where Tony is the king, he welcomed us around 11:15p. We just gave our bib number, told him to see in camp and left.
We entered Valley of Moon. Ohhhh…wow, what a beautiful scene. I felt like, I was dreaming. Full moon, beautiful clear sky w beautiful stars. There was no need for me to keep my headlamp on. We just walked like that w full moon scenery.
Around 2am, we arrived at camp…. Finally. What a great feeling.
Most have blisters, leg pains…. But smile on face. I have one too. J
I sincerely thank each and every one of you to keep me motivated throughout my race. Your motivation to me means a lot to me and I appreciate all of your spending time on me. More updates when I come back.
I wish ATM runners a very happy running over the weekend and I know u all will do great. I will be thinking of you on that day. Run for self.
You guys are amazing for DC flag flying high for MKM.
I also wish great weekend performance for Nrityanaad and Lasya for ur annual Kathak performance. I am going to miss all above events and I regret it.
All the best for my girls for their tests, performances and other school activities.
Tomorrow, we all will be running to the town of San Pedro de Atacama and heard that they give the best celebration to all runners. The whole town comes on the street to dance w runners and hey, I don’t mind dancing even if I don’t know any.
See U guys soon.
Love all, Muchas Gracias, Mil besitos,
Cheers
10 October 2014 03:17 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Current temp at tent is 100 and everyone is in just shorts. No one has tops except ladies of course. Everyone is waiting to Sun go down and it gets cooler. At 3:30p, we got the briefing on our next race, ie The Last Desert, Antarctica. Its going to be an unpredictable for all due to weather there, rough seas and many more logistics issues. Most of us have major issue of blisters. We r praying that we get healed w blisters well before we leave for Antarctica which is within 2 weeks.
Atacama: 35 degrees at night and 100+ during day to Antarctica: -25 degrees F
I got to get more tougher and that to within 3 weeks. Need to eat more proteins.
I will catch you all guys as soon as I reach home.
Cheers
Comments: Total (0) comments
08 October 2014 01:25 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Sorry guys , can not write much today.
Comments: Total (4) comments
wilma raumati
Posted On: 10 Oct 2014 07:55 pm
Sofie Planckaert
Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 07:21 pm
Achyut Koulgi
Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 01:35 pm
Tejal Patki
Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 02:02 am
07 October 2014 02:03 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Dear all,
I can not say how much happy with all of your comments. That makes pain go away. I really thankful to God that I got friends and families like u. I can not write individually due to time restrictions. I hope u understand.
Today was a hard day. I had a pain in both my knees. This is also new to me. I never had lower back or knee pain but I got it here due to rocks on which we are sleeping. Anyways, patched up, did stretching and worked out in my favour.
Lovely morning but first 9 km was just long stretch with hip high grass. Many times had to worry about putting steps properly. Got out of that patch. But next 9k were like running on frozen broccoli. Next 11k were full of smooth sand. It was really taking toll on whole body. Last 12k were full of sand dunes. One sand dune was really bad , more than 200m with nearly 75 degree inclined. Believe me, everyone cried on that. That to at CP3 when we are most tired and exhausted. It really sucked.
Came to camp around 5:30p but hey who cares. I did in time.
Now let me close this blog for the day. Tomorrow are 44k again. Have to sleep well to be partially fit atleast.
Thanks again to all.
Cheers to all
Mil Besitos --Atul
Comments: Total (8) comments
Christian Vang
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 04:53 pm
Swati Dandekar
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 03:56 pm
Elizabeth Shin
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 02:49 pm
Achyut Koulgi
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 02:24 pm
Paul Taylor
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 06:12 am
Paul Taylor
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 06:11 am
Uttara Bhave
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 03:20 am
Sushama Patki
Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 03:11 am
06 October 2014 04:54 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Hi friends and families,
It was a tough day. Done day2:44km
We started in the morning w nice temp. Not so cold. So decided not to wear warm tops and bottoms just to save sometime for taking those off again in 30 min. It worked out. Had a diff terrain with river crossing at more than 50 places. More than 13 people dropped out in first 10 km of run, so you know how diff it was. I am still hanging in there w steady walk/run. Mostly walk. My back is still sore and a little leg muscles problem. Hopefully I will again fine tomorrow after some good sleep. That reminds me to tell you that today we will be sleeping on concrete dirt, uneven surface all along. Too bad for back. Hope, I should be ok to sleep.
Today we have to run down on huge sand dune. It was like 750 ft top down. Great experience running down.
Tired and sleepy and a little cold here after sun set. Tomorrow is 40k but all diff. so expect to finish by 6p.
Closing this blog w keeping U in mind. So come on and pray for me.
Cheers --atul
Comments: Total (2) comments
Sushama Patki
Posted On: 07 Oct 2014 03:12 pm
Andrew Espin
Posted On: 07 Oct 2014 12:08 pm
05 October 2014 02:13 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Hello friends and family,
Got up today w sore lower back. My tent floor had full rocks and Dave was snoring all night. No sleep at all. I thought, I don
Comments: Total (7) comments
Mihir Kurane
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 08:11 pm
Uttara Bhave
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 07:07 pm
Ravi Bhave
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 06:58 pm
Sofie Planckaert
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 06:25 pm
Andrew Espin
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 07:07 am
John Tilbury
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 03:17 am
Sushama Patki
Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 02:36 am
04 October 2014 04:06 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Hi All;
We all reached to camp1. The area looks same like Jordan race. It sucks to run in hot and dry climate. Plus there will be salt flats and nearly 10km of water on day 3rd.
I am sitting at an elevation of 3300m and it will be a down run tomorrow. We left our camp hotel around 2:45 and reached here approx. 1.5 hrs later. Chilean drums were playing for us. Due to dryness, everyone has to drink and pee a lot. At half distance, our buses were stopped for a pee stop and what a scene, more than 100 people stood out in to pee. I have never seen so many peeing at a time with so much hurry. J
My back is still not good. Have a little soreness due to sleeping on bad beds for last 2-3 nights. Hopefully I should be ok in couple of days. Going to take it real easy. We have nice tents. Hopefully I should be able to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow is 36 km race and mostly down hill.
Will write blog tomorrow if I get a chance and fit to write.
Wish me well and wish me best for this race.
I run for U, so cheer me up U all.
Love, mil besitos, lots of hugs from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Keep reading and writing on this blog friends.
Cheers --atul
Comments: Total (1) comments
Leena Ektare
Posted On: 05 Oct 2014 01:52 pm
05 August 2014 05:40 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
Thank you so much for giving me support for last 2 desert races. It helped me a lot while on the course. I hope and expect to give same level or more support this time. This is my 3rd desert race and in hottest weather. Atacama desert is considered as the hottest on this planet. It has salt flats, marshy areas, loose rocks and many different difficulties. I will be needing your wishes and prayers for me fpr successful run.
Please continue writing on my blog and till September 23rd (when I will be flying a little early to get used to the place), I will be able to reply and write more on the blog.
Cheers !!
Newsletter
Online Store
Login
Comments: Total (4) comments
Leena Ektare
Posted On: 07 Nov 2014 03:46 pm
Jonathan Oberreuter
Posted On: 17 Oct 2014 01:00 pm
Uttara Bhave
Posted On: 13 Oct 2014 02:08 pm
Uttara Bhave
Posted On: 13 Oct 2014 02:08 pm