The excitement was palpable as we lined up for the the last time ready for the final 10km to the finish in the centre of San Pedro. There was a very different looking group of competitors from that very first start 6 days ago. Through the smiles and jokes there were sunburnt faces with 6 days of grime and suncream, t-shirts caked with dust and salt, scratched legs, strapped knees and ripped gaiters and shoes. I have the utmost respect for this group of people. My days on the course varied between 6 and 7 and a half hours and 12 and a half hours on the longest day, but some of these people consistently spent 12 hours plus a day in the heat and burning sun and some up to 24 hours on the course on the day of the Long March. Their determination in the face of tremendous adversity is inspirational. As we left the camp for the final day we followed a goat track around the outskirts of San Pedro over undulating dunes of shale and rock. We could hear the sounds of the finish as we ran through the streets and as we turned the final corner into the town square there was a festival to welcome us home. Dan and I crossed the finish line together and in doing so we finished a journey that not only covered 250 km of Chilean desert but 9 months of planning and training. I am incredibly proud to have competed in this race with Dan. He has tremendous physical ability but it is his mental strength and determination that set him apart from so many others. As I said, I am very proud to stand along side him at the finish line. At this point in time we have raised AU$7, 485 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and have made a significant contribution to the US$15, 000 raised by Racing the Planet for the Chilean earthquake appeal. I am so proud to have represented and raised money for the NBCF. The work that they do and the help that they provide for women with breast cancer and their families is so important and makes a massive difference. The challenges, pain and hardship that we have faced over this last week is nothing compared to what these women and there families go through in their fight against breast cancer and I am just glad that I have been able to give a little something to help them. Finally, thank you so much to all of you who have sent messages of support over the last week. They have given me a huge boost at the end of every day. Thank you also to all those who donated to the NBCF and to the earthquake appeal and for the messages of support that went with them. Over the last 9 months it has been the support of the people around us that has kept us driving forward to reach our goal and it was the thought of those people at home relying on us that helped us at our lowest points. Now, it's back to the polished floors of North Shore hospital with just a few healing blisters as a reminder of my time in the desert. As I write this my mind is already wandering to what comes next, a marathon in the Amazon maybe . . . I'll keep you posted. Cheers, Gareth

What an epic day. We started at 7.30am just as the sun came up over the mountains and headed out for another 15km of battling the salt flats. It was a tough start to what was always going to be a very long day. It's just a matter of getting through each section at a time and mentally preparing yourself for what's to come next. The next 20km were a mix of 4WD track, undulating dunes and crusty, salty mud which we were able to cover quickly. Next we faced the biggest, steepest sand dune I have ever seen at around 36km leading up to the third checkpoint at 42km. It was a daunting task but we got up quicker than we expected and started the second half of the stage in good spirits. The next 20kms were long, dry, windy and hot as we ran along the valley floor through dried river beds and 4WD tracks. At this point we were making great time, far quicker than we expected, but the pain was really starting to set in. It was an accumulation of fatigue from 4 days in the desert, blisters and muscle stiffness. At the fourth checkpoint Dan and I teamed up with Samantha and Matt to push through to the finish. The final 10kms of the course went through the Valley of the Moon, and as we made our way through the sun was just setting behind the mountains, it was incredibly beautiful. We arrived at camp in 12 hours 50 minutes, far quicker than the expected 16 hours. It was great finishing with our friends Matt and Sam, after such a long haul it was good that we were there to support each other.
 
So, I'm sitting in camp now waiting for the final 10km run into the finish in San Pedro. I just need to strap up the feet one final time and put in one big last effort.
 
Thanks for all your messages of support, I'll write again soon with news of the finish.
 
Gareth

Dan and I completed the stage after a grueling 8 hour slog across sand and salt flats. We ran a large portion of the first stage of the day across a mix of sand dunes and shale but we were forced to walk the remainder of the day across the salt flats. The flats are truly remarkable, kilometres and kilometres of flat ground covered with white salt crystals. They are also very difficult to walk across let alone run. We headed in a straight line across the flats and in some sections there was a path that made our progress faster but for the most part we were forging our own way across, heading from marker to marker. It was exciting stuff but the sharp crystals and baked peaks of mud were painful on the already blistered feet. 
 
Physically I've got a few aches and a few hundred blisters but I'm still feeling good. I'm having real difficulty eating these freeze dried meals at the end of every day. I don't feel like eating but I desperately need the calories and salt so I'm forcing them down. It's not just me though, everyone's finding it tough to eat, even the seasoned competitors. That's my only concern at the moment but on the whole I'm feeling good.
 
We're still going strong and are really happy with our progress. Tomorrow is the long day, 74km of sand, rock, salt flats, more sand and more rock. It's going to be a massive test and I'm looking forward to it.
 
The next post may be a little late because we'll still be running this time tomorrow but I'll let you know as soon as possible how the long stage goes.
 
Cheers,
 
Gareth

It's been another great day here. The first 10km of the run took us out over soft sand with a crust of baked mud and salt. It was funny to see the whole field run through the start and then almost stop dead as we hit the mud. It's very difficult to run on and the danger of twisting an ankle or a knee is very high. The trail then disappeared into shoulder high grass for a couple of kilometres before opening onto a 4WD track leading to the first checkpoint. Dan and I both felt on great form as we reached the first checkpoint and we were off again after a quick refill of the water bottles. The next 10km was very much the same terrain with some undulating dunes and soft sand making it a little more difficult. The second half of todays run was extremely tough. We encountered about 8 kilometres of salt flats which are a huge challenge to tackle. The salt grows in sharp crystals and in clumps so finding your footing is tough and it's painful on the blisters. After negotiating the salt flats we hit a stretch of small sand dunes and then flat open rocky ground through to the finish. The last 5km consisted of running up and down a series of large sand dunes the biggest being the last before camp. I slowed up on the last section due to a combination of the heat and dehydration but on the whole we finished strongly in 26th and 28th in around 7hrs.
 
Today was the toughest I've faced mentally. Concentrating constantly on where you're putting your feet km after km is draining and it's frustrating when every foot step slips in the soft ground underfoot. I just stayed positive with the thought firmly in my mind that even the hardest sections will come to end at some point. The temperature hit 40 degrees as we negotiated the long open sections and it was the first time on the race that I started to feel it.
 
The infamous salt flats are coming up tomorrow, 43kms of salt crystals and baking sun. It's another challenge and one that I'm looking forward to.
 
Thanks again for all the messages,
 
Gareth

Today was full of highs and lows. The start of the stage was beautiful as we made our way from the camp down into a series of canyons and rivers to the first checkpoint. It was slow going as we negotiated a number of river crossings including a 500m stretch walking in the river itself. Thankfully we both kept our footing and came through unscathed, neither of us fancied carrying a waterlogged pack for the next 30km. The course then took us on a steep climb out of the canyons and high onto a ridge which overlooked the town of San Pedro and the valley below. Then came the highlight of the day, to make it to checkpoint 2 we had to run down a steep 150m sand dune from the top of the ridge to the valley floor. I'm just glad we didn't have to run up it. After a quick stop a CP2 to empty our shoes, strap our blisters and change our socks we were off again onto the second 21kms of the course. We soon realised that the fun was over as we ran through the Valley of Death and out onto the open scrubland. The Valley of Death was just how I had imagined a desert run would be, very hot, no wind and soft sand. The going was slow through the valley as we struggled through the sand and heat but we still kept up a good pace. Next came the open scrubland and the final 16km of the stage. It was very hard indeed, in combination with the heat the ground underfoot was soft with a mud and salt crust which made both walking and running very difficult. We made it through to the end of the stage tired and baked by the sun in 7hrs and 30mins in 36th and 37th. Although we felt slow today, and were delayed by some running repairs, we're really happy with our position in the field. With that said our goal is to finish the race and if we place high then it's a bonus. Andrea's been fantastic, she was at the final checkpoint today ready to welcome us into camp with a cheer and a big smile. She's having a tough time too, working on the checkpoint until the final runners come in, which will be later tonight. She will be out there for almost 12 hours on her feet and in the heat. Volunteering is not an easy job and so proud at how well she is doing.
 
I've been in camp now for 3 hours and I'm starting to think about tomorrow's run. It's tough when you're out there on the course, especially at the low points, and think I've got to do this again for the next 5 days. At this stage I'm taking everyday as it comes and trying to enjoy it as much as possible.
 
My main concern at the moment is blisters. I developed a couple on my big toes yesterday and today I've got a couple on the ends of my toes. It's not too much of a problem, as long as I look after them and strap them well they should be fine. On the whole, I'm still feeling great and looking forward to my Chicken Korma and my sleeping bag.
 
Thanks to all those people who have written messages of support, I really appreciate it and they give me a big boost at the end of the day.
 
More fun tomorrow,
 
Gareth

Today we had our first taste of the Atacama desert. After a 6am start, breakfast and a lot of lubricating and strapping we lined up at the start. The pre-race nerves soon evaporated as the gun went and we set off down the valley and into the Chilean morning sun. It was a tough run today passing through gorges, crossing vast empty expanses of rubble and shale and running through dried river beds, all with snow capped volcanoes as a backdrop. We ran mostly along old 4WD tracks for the first 10km then cross country across empty flats with loose rocks and sand. It was tough going mentally and physically as the kms slowly ticked by and we never seemed to get closer to our destination.
 
Dan and I finished in 5hrs 15mins in 34th and 35th place respectively. We're pleased with where we stand in the field at the moment and are looking forward to getting out there again tomorrow. The last 7kms of todays run were the hardest for me as we ran uphill through a canyon that seemed to never end and then down to the camp for the night. I started to stiffen up and slow down, I'll have to regulate my calorie and electrolyte intake more closely tomorrow.
 
We're both full of confidence for tomorrows 42km which will take us through rivers, canyons and sand dunes. I'll write again when we finish and let you know how it goes.
 
Cheers,
 
Gareth 

After 5 days of travelling from Ghana I finally made it to San Pedro and the start of the race. My thoughts are with the victims of the earthquake here and I'm glad the race is going ahead, raising money and awareness for the earthquake appeal. I'd also like to say a big thank you to both the Sydney University Faculty of Medicine and Injinji for there ongoing support and for getting me to the start line.
 
I'm currently sitting in Camp 1 ready for Day 1 and the start of the race tomorrow. I've just had my freeze dried beef casserole which was surprisingly good and I'm starting to get focussed for the morning. The drive here was spectacular and gave me a good idea of what to expect over the next week. We're currently at 3200m so the altitude is an unknown factor that I haven't been able to train for. Regardless, all the preparation has been done and I'm feeling fit and confident. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and to finally starting the race. I've been planning and training for such a long time it'll be great to get into the desert. I'll write again tomorrow with an update of Day 1.

It’s official, Michael Jackson is not dead. He’s living next door to me in the form of an 8 year old Ghanaian boy. For the past couple of mornings I have been gently coaxed from sleep at 5am by a range of MJ classics as the boy gets ready for school outside my window. This morning was Billie Jean, a particular favourite. I half expect to open my door and find him moon walking down the corridor. He says his name is Joshua, but I’m on to him.

            So, as I lie awake enjoying the MJ party mix I think ‘Good time to go training’ and off I go. A couple of bananas, on with the backpack and shoes and out on the track for a solid couple of hours then back to Elisabeth’s for her famous banana and pineapple pancakes – smashing.

 

Everywhere I go here I am greeted by a chorus of kids shouting ‘Obruni, Obruni’. At first I thought they were shouting ‘sweaty, sweaty’ because quite frankly two minutes into walking or running anywhere I look like someone has thrown a bucket of water over me. When I arrived at the hospital the other day one of the nurses even asked me if it was raining. ‘No’ I said and went to find the nearest fan. I also get ‘Obruni Docta’ as I walk to the hospital in Dixcove and at first I thought ‘sweaty doctor’, well, that’s not very nice. ‘Obruni’ I've learnt actually means white man and is a term of endearment. So now, I laugh, say hello and feel a little less self-conscious.

 

I am staying with a lady called Elisabeth and her family here in Busua and her youngest son George has become my newest training partner. Our first run together was tough in the afternoon heat and George battled quite hard. I doubted whether he would join me again, but there he was the following afternoon, kitted up and ready to go. About 8kms through our run, George was a little way behind me when I heard a car pull over and stop. He had flagged down a passing car and the last I saw was him hanging out the window waving at me. I did have a chuckle, he’s an amusing character and good company. Sadly, he’s gone back to University so I’m running on my own again.

 

It took me a little while to settle in here and get into a rhythm with training. This week I’ve done one 10km run, two 15km runs and one 30km run all with a 10kg pack and I’ve got another 30km run planned for tomorrow morning (Sunday). I’m happy with how things are going at the moment and next week I’ll increase the kilometers again depending on how busy I am at the hospital.

A great deal has happened since I last wrote at Christmas. Dan and I have completed the first part of our medical elective in South Africa and have now parted company, Dan to Santiago and me to Ghana, for the second of our elective placements and the final month before the race.

 

Dan and I spent our first elective placement in the trauma unit of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto . It was certainly a challenge finding time to train between our exhausting 24 hour shifts, but we got out running whenever we could. We joined a gym 5 minutes from where we were staying so we could run on the treadmills when we finished late at the hospital and didn’t want to run around the streets of Johannesburg at night with our backpacks. In the afternoons and on the weekends we would run around the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve which came complete with Zebra, Springbok and Wildebeest. Running in the reserve with its wildlife and challenging terrain certainly made up for the mundane treadmill time. We did enough in Johannesburg to maintain a good base level of fitness and mixed our running with some core strength training, ready for a big final month of training in February.

As I write this I’m sat in an internet café by the beach in Busua, Ghana, hoping that I’ll have time to finish what I’m writing before either the internet fails or the power cuts out. After 3 days without electricity another power cut is highly likely, so I’m told, so I’m trying to be quick. My second placement is at the Nana Hima Dekyi Hospital in Dixcove, a short walk along the coast from Busua. It’s very different from the mayhem of the Baragwanath hospital. It’s a small district hospital run by one doctor who does everything from delivering babies to emergency surgeries. He is a truly inspirational man.

 

There’s never a dull moment training here. During my runs I’m constantly surrounded by hoards of small children who think it’s hilarious to try and race me until they realize that running is the equivalent to microwaving yourself for 30 minutes. If there are no kids then there’s always the vultures circling. On these super-hot Ghanaian runs I always feel like I’m dying, apparently I look like it too. The highlight of yesterdays run was the small child (who, by exhausting my Paediatric knowledge, I estimated was about 3) ran with me for about 200m wielding a machete bigger than he was. I was a little concerned for his safety but reassured by his Mum who was doubled over with laughter.

 

Ghana is seriously hot so training here is tough, but great for the Atacama. I’m planning to spend the next couple of weeks running, fine-tuning my kit and trying my best not to get Malaria.

 

I’ll keep you posted,

 

Gareth

 

 

 

 

Being relatively new to this long distance running lark, I am in desperate need of someone to explain to me why most runners insist on wearing such small shorts when the slightly longer variety are just as functional and leave a little more to the imagination. I feel like I should be wearing them just to be accepted by the long distance running community but to date I honestly haven’t been able to pluck up the courage. My first, and I believe, my final soiree into the world of small running shorts came for a brief moment as I was considering my kit for the Atacama. This bearing in mind, after a couple of months of training I felt I had graduated into the world of ‘the runner’ and therefore the obligatory tiny shorts – I was sadly mistaken. It went something like this: Girlfriend (slightly aghast) ‘You’re not wearing those are you?’. Me (confident in my decision) ‘Yeah, why, what’s wrong with them?’. Girlfriend ‘Well for a start I can see your package’. End of conversation followed swiftly by removal of said shorts. Back to the drawing board . . . maybe I'll get some for Christmas.

 

 

 

With less than 2 and a half months to go before the race it's about time I started my blog. I've been thinking hard recently about what to write and I thought there could be nothing better than the reasons why I'm running. 

When I attempt to explain my reasons to people all I get is another perplexed look. Why on earth would you want to do that? Always the first question. I mumble a disjointed answer about ‘a challenge’ and ‘it’s for charity’ trying to find a suitable explanation that will justify my decision to yet another vaguely interested, yet completely baffled bystander who has accidentally stumbled upon the subject of me and the Atacama. These are absolutely the reasons I’m running but I think I still have trouble explaining it to people because deep down it feels like there’s a piece missing, another reason, and I don’t really know what it is. I don’t even like running. In fact, it would even feature towards the top of my ‘least favourite things to do at 5am on a Saturday morning’ list. Let’s face it, running is generally pretty unpleasant – the start is always good and I feel like I could run for days, the middle is normally pretty average as I begin to question my decision to purchase these particular running shoes because they’re beginning to make my feet feel like . . . well like they’re on fire, then the end is predictably appalling as I drag a sweaty, slightly disorientated version of myself towards my front door in a fashion that can loosely be described as ‘running’.  

My general dislike for running is rather unfortunate considering that it’s what I do now most of the time. Since I signed up for the Atacama (rather hastily and with little consideration for what it actually involved) I’ve been running as often and sometimes as far as I can. Impressive, I believe, for someone who less than a year ago believed that running was reserved for emergencies only (and sometimes rugby, and even then limited to short bursts quickly followed by stopping for a nice breather e.g. a scrum or lineout). 

I must admit however, that I do enjoy the feeling of freedom. It’s liberating getting out on the cliffs and the beaches, battling the elements, just you, your thoughts and a long open road. Romantic and maybe a bit soppy but absolutely, 100% true. Actually, I do quite like running, maybe I’ve just answered my own question. Still, after all that, nothing beats a good sit down and a nice cup of tea.