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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2010
10
PostsAtacama Crossing (2010) blog posts from Mark Jaget
12 March 2010 06:41 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Wow! When i woke up this morning my feet were miserable, taped them up and took some pain killers. did not know how i was going to make it through. when they yell start you just go,you stop thinking and just go. ran the whole day with my buddy rowley who i met in namibia, and fredrick the german.we have run a lot together this week and we are all within 20 minutes in terms of overall time. today we stuck together as a team and managed to finish 46 miles in 10 hours and 13 minutes.. we crossed the line together and i think we came in collectively in 5 th place!
The landscape today was spectacular and brutal. Went over 500 ft sand dunes, nasty ground that was a combination of coral looking sand, dried mud blobs or thingy's, gravel, soft sand, slot canyons, it was awesome, but hard on the body. spent a couple hours in dry stream bed in the hot afternoon sun, probably 100 degree's. having my two buddies run with me was all the difference, we took it in turns to lead and encourage whoever was going through a bad patch. competitors will be coming inall nite,fortuantely i got in before sunset so i have been able to sort myself out. tomorrow is just 6 miles to finish in the village of San Pedro, cold drinks and food await. I have definitely lost a bunch of weight. will be fun gaining it back. this will be my last blog, so thanks for all the encouragement. i am glad it's over. i'm tired, very sore' and my feet are screwed up. but it has been a great adventure with some great people. i miss my wife and children very much, and can't wait to see them on monday.
mj
The landscape today was spectacular and brutal. Went over 500 ft sand dunes, nasty ground that was a combination of coral looking sand, dried mud blobs or thingy's, gravel, soft sand, slot canyons, it was awesome, but hard on the body. spent a couple hours in dry stream bed in the hot afternoon sun, probably 100 degree's. having my two buddies run with me was all the difference, we took it in turns to lead and encourage whoever was going through a bad patch. competitors will be coming inall nite,fortuantely i got in before sunset so i have been able to sort myself out. tomorrow is just 6 miles to finish in the village of San Pedro, cold drinks and food await. I have definitely lost a bunch of weight. will be fun gaining it back. this will be my last blog, so thanks for all the encouragement. i am glad it's over. i'm tired, very sore' and my feet are screwed up. but it has been a great adventure with some great people. i miss my wife and children very much, and can't wait to see them on monday.
mj
11 March 2010 06:32 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Wow, today was brutal. Hard to describe the salt flats but it was miles of running on coral, some of it 6 inches high, some 24. It was more like drunken stumbling, towards the end the temperature was getting bad, but i managed to get to last checkpoint just as I ran out of water. Got to run down the face of a 400 ft sand dune that ended in what looked like tropical jungle. An oasis in a canyon on the edge of a small village.
I managed to finish in 6hrs 20 mins, tied for 8th place,i think. My feet are screwed up. blisters on every toe, bottoms of feet, right heel, lots of loose skin. hopefully it will dry out the rest of the day, i can tape them up and take pain killers tomorrow. It will be a very long and painful 46 miles. Rumour going round that top runners will have a 2 hour delayed start! Just means a lot more time under hot sun, Great!!!
Camp tonight is in a valley along side a salt flat that is bright white, looks surreal surrounded by mountains, couple volcanoes. Just got word that there was another earthquake in Santiago.
I do get the emails, and look forward to them. Miss my wife and kids.
MJ
I managed to finish in 6hrs 20 mins, tied for 8th place,i think. My feet are screwed up. blisters on every toe, bottoms of feet, right heel, lots of loose skin. hopefully it will dry out the rest of the day, i can tape them up and take pain killers tomorrow. It will be a very long and painful 46 miles. Rumour going round that top runners will have a 2 hour delayed start! Just means a lot more time under hot sun, Great!!!
Camp tonight is in a valley along side a salt flat that is bright white, looks surreal surrounded by mountains, couple volcanoes. Just got word that there was another earthquake in Santiago.
I do get the emails, and look forward to them. Miss my wife and kids.
MJ
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 13 Mar 2010 12:36 am
Wow Mark, hang in there! Tell you what you are entitled to a nice pedicure when you recover after coming home. It will be my treat. You have earned it!!!!!!
10 March 2010 06:38 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Just finished stage three a little while ago. A note about yesterday. the heat started taking its toll, lots of projectile vomiting going on, fortunately not me.
Bandaged my blisters with tape, and set off through salt flats, like running on coral. some is hard, some soft and your feet sink through the crust and you get a nice cut immediately laced with salt, feels good. Ran the whole day with top gal Jo, who for you nostalgia buffs will remember her as the doctor who kicked me out of the jungle marathon in 2007 when i got sick. She is a good gal and a great runner. Finished in 5hrs and 40 minutes tied for 6th! We had several miles of salt flats, one very long rocky hill and sand dunes, they sucked. The last seven miles were up rocky hill and dunes, and seemed much longer, ran out of water just before end.
Had to have right big toe nail partially removed, it was oozing blood and puss, have a couple good pictures. Have a few other ugly blisters, losing skin off both little toes, it should grow back. Camped out on sandy bluff over looking dry salt marsh that we have to go through tomorrow, supposed to be brutally hard. Can't wait. 27 miles, and then the next day 46. Great thing is that it seems that the mileage we run is further than posted. Several people have GPS' with them, and love telling everybody how much further we have run. Not looking forward to the long stage, feet are falling apart and running through the 100 degree heat won't be fun. Looking forward to the end, feet should be real nice.
miss my wife and kids.
mj
Bandaged my blisters with tape, and set off through salt flats, like running on coral. some is hard, some soft and your feet sink through the crust and you get a nice cut immediately laced with salt, feels good. Ran the whole day with top gal Jo, who for you nostalgia buffs will remember her as the doctor who kicked me out of the jungle marathon in 2007 when i got sick. She is a good gal and a great runner. Finished in 5hrs and 40 minutes tied for 6th! We had several miles of salt flats, one very long rocky hill and sand dunes, they sucked. The last seven miles were up rocky hill and dunes, and seemed much longer, ran out of water just before end.
Had to have right big toe nail partially removed, it was oozing blood and puss, have a couple good pictures. Have a few other ugly blisters, losing skin off both little toes, it should grow back. Camped out on sandy bluff over looking dry salt marsh that we have to go through tomorrow, supposed to be brutally hard. Can't wait. 27 miles, and then the next day 46. Great thing is that it seems that the mileage we run is further than posted. Several people have GPS' with them, and love telling everybody how much further we have run. Not looking forward to the long stage, feet are falling apart and running through the 100 degree heat won't be fun. Looking forward to the end, feet should be real nice.
miss my wife and kids.
mj
Comments: Total (6) comments
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 11:51 pm
Unbelievable, rest (& drink) well for tomorrow...can't believe you are 43 xo
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 11:31 pm
Hey Marcus!
Keep up the good race. We are very proud of you man!!!
The girls say hi too.
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 10:44 pm
Yeaaaaaaaaahh, you did it!! Good to hear you are still in 1 peace! Keep going Mark, its almost over! Be STRONG!!!!!! You are very close to your Family's HUG and of course the Mac&Cheese:)))))))))))))
"hungarian friends;))"
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 06:21 pm
U can do it!!!! Have been down this road before and u know what to do to finish. Hope the rest of the way is great and remember water, water, water!!!!! Your feet have been beat up many times just keep moving :) We luv ya
J and A
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 04:02 pm
Oy boy! Mac & cheese, mac & cheese!!!!! You're soooo close. Finish strong my brotha! I have faith your mind is in much better shape than the feet....
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 05:13 am
...and you are doing this for ..why?! hope the doctor has apologized!
geez Marky, good luck for tomorrow...good luck dear feet... we are proud of you...
10 March 2010 06:34 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Just finished stage 3. Before I talk about it, just so you
Comments: Total (0) comments
09 March 2010 06:16 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
MISTAKE!!!!!
Today was 26miles, started for several miles in a beautiful canyonwith a river running through it, which we of course had to run through, over and over. My feet were numb by the end, glacial water. Was beautiful, would be nice to hike without a race. Was plodding along in7th place when i made my mistake. I missed the turn out of the canyon and continued down the road about 2/3 mile before I realized. After searching about not being able to find a course marker another runner or footprints, i realized my mistake. Turned around and hauled ass back but lost a lot of time and spent energy.Was probably back in 30th place and managed to finish 10th for stage. Unfortunately what should have been a 5 hour day turned into 6 hrs 20 mins. spent soo much energy trying to get back into contention i burned out for the last few miles and was left walking through 100 degree heat. I developed some large blisters under big toe, should make the rest of the race interesting.
Got to run/stumble down the side of a ridge that was all sand-dune, 5-600 feet high, was fun until the sand got into my blisters and I felt like somebody was rubbing sandpaper on them. I am dirty, smelly, sore as hell, sleep deprived because of the snorer in my tent, and i am writing this as we are camped out on some salt flats, nice lake right next to us, but all salty, would hurt to take a dip.
Miss my wife and kids, thanks for the kind words.
MJ
Today was 26miles, started for several miles in a beautiful canyonwith a river running through it, which we of course had to run through, over and over. My feet were numb by the end, glacial water. Was beautiful, would be nice to hike without a race. Was plodding along in7th place when i made my mistake. I missed the turn out of the canyon and continued down the road about 2/3 mile before I realized. After searching about not being able to find a course marker another runner or footprints, i realized my mistake. Turned around and hauled ass back but lost a lot of time and spent energy.Was probably back in 30th place and managed to finish 10th for stage. Unfortunately what should have been a 5 hour day turned into 6 hrs 20 mins. spent soo much energy trying to get back into contention i burned out for the last few miles and was left walking through 100 degree heat. I developed some large blisters under big toe, should make the rest of the race interesting.
Got to run/stumble down the side of a ridge that was all sand-dune, 5-600 feet high, was fun until the sand got into my blisters and I felt like somebody was rubbing sandpaper on them. I am dirty, smelly, sore as hell, sleep deprived because of the snorer in my tent, and i am writing this as we are camped out on some salt flats, nice lake right next to us, but all salty, would hurt to take a dip.
Miss my wife and kids, thanks for the kind words.
MJ
Comments: Total (2) comments
Posted On: 11 Mar 2010 05:14 am
what a plonker Rodney!
Posted On: 10 Mar 2010 08:09 pm
uU go markie!!!! take care of the feet this time and be sure t DRINK ypur water. We r so proud of u and luv ya.
Luv, Julie and Andy
08 March 2010 06:08 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
I don't know if I can do that again. 5th place, 4hrs 8mins for 22 miles of rough terrain under a blazing sun at 9 thousand plus feet. I struggled the last couple miles. Tomorrow I will slow down, don't want to crash and burn. Went through some cool canyons, dry river beds, and very rocky valley floors. With a few friends bought some quiche for nite before race. Probably a mistake as I had to poop twice before stage started and had to again during race. Note to self, less cheese before racing. Glad I brought foam pad to sleep on, ground is rocky.The camp sites have pretty spectacular views of Andes mountains and a bunch of volcanoes venting steam. Haven't felt any more earthquakes, hopefully that is over. The next few days will be tough with this heat. Have some tiny blisters on little toes that, for those of you that have seen the pictures, will know that in a couple of days should provide quite a bit of amusement for everybody. Can't wait to see my boys, miss my morning hug, not the same spooning with the sweaty guy sleeping next to me from Milan. Love to you all. Gypsy Power.
Mark
Mark
Comments: Total (5) comments
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 11:14 pm
Oy, quit yer bellyaching fatty! I've seen your feet much worse. Keep on plugging along. Mac and cheese will be awaiting your return. Love ya my brotha!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 03:19 pm
Well done fighter.
I wish one day we'll go together.
Gypsy power failed.
Couldn't go because bronchitis,was very serius.
Be storng my Bro.
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 03:12 am
I really miss you Daddy, I love you a lot, well done today...Sebastian says you have got to beat the jelly bean German!
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 03:02 am
Godspeed to you warrior! a few lil blisters on your baby toes....stop bellyaching and curl up with eye-talian and rest yer hear on a nice rock. slow down for god\'s sake and enjoy the views...we now you are tough but give the others a chance....gup
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 03:02 am
Godspeed to you warrior! a few lil blisters on your baby toes....stop bellyaching and curl up with eye-talian and rest yer hear on a nice rock. slow down for god's sake and enjoy the views...we now you are tough but give the others a chance....gup
05 March 2010 11:58 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
So my buddy Ken and I decide to hire a taxi to take us up into mountains to help with acclimitisation. Takes us up to 16,300 ft. We tell him in spanglish to leave, and we will get back to main highway and hitch the 20 miles back. He doesn´t want to leave. When we return to spot 1 hour later he is gone. We run the 4 plus miles back to highway, decending to 14,000 ft. No Cars. The 2nd truck, 18 wheeler, to come by in one hour stops. Three guys from Paraguay coming to Chile to pick up cars and bring them back. We all cram in, and after struggling with some spanglish he puts a CD on with Pink Floyd and Men Without Hats, for you 80´s fans. A little surreal at that altitude in the footsteps of the volcano. Adventure tourism.
M
M
Comments: Total (3) comments
Posted On: 06 Mar 2010 09:30 pm
Good to know you are ok and enjoying your days:)) After my hardest run every today I just want to say: what ever you are doing (will be doing) over there is just amaze me. Hats off to you!!!!!!! Have a great race! be safe
Posted On: 06 Mar 2010 06:31 am
Glad your having fun Mark. Just out of curiosity, what in the world is your bio picture of?
Posted On: 06 Mar 2010 05:00 am
hi dad i love you hope you are doing well.
04 March 2010 04:43 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
It is now thursday evening about 9:30 in San Pedro De Atacama. We just experienced a 6.3 earthquake. about a 25 second roller. Had an interesting journey. Got to Los Angeles, only to be told flights were cancelled and rescheduled, after 6 hour wait nice lady put me on plane. Met buddy Ken from Namibia and we headed off, stopping in Lima for 3 hours, then to Santiago. Some damage in city, airport is worst off. Everything is closed and set up in tents outside. Spent nite in Santiago, nice place, then managed to get flight weds afternoon to Calama, then 1 hour cab ride to San Pedro. Beautiful little town, looks like movie set. Great food. Other racers are trickling in. Will start one day late, but finish the same. Tomorrow I am going up to 13K feet for a 4 hour hike to help the lungs get used to altitude. apparently we will cross some high points around 12-14K feet altitude.
Race starts monday morning. till then i will relax, get in some hikes-runs, and hopefully be ready to start on monday. will write again after first stage.
MJ
P.S. everybody loves the lizard Josie, thanks
Race starts monday morning. till then i will relax, get in some hikes-runs, and hopefully be ready to start on monday. will write again after first stage.
MJ
P.S. everybody loves the lizard Josie, thanks
Comments: Total (0) comments
28 February 2010 02:39 am (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time(US & Canada); Tijuana
It wouldn't be an adventure race without a little adventure. Hopefully Chile and its people will quickly recover from this tragedy. Leaving tomorrow, Monday early am, to arrive in San Pedro, via Santiago, about lunchtime Tuesday. Finally got my pack done this morning. 13lbs (just under 6 kgs) without water. Might stuff a little extra food in before I go. Training, despite my constant companions, Henrietta on the left, and Heather on the right, has gone well. Las Vegas has had its worst winter in the 15 years I have been here. I have done my training during snow storms, freezing rain, hail, swollen streams! and freezing cold temperatures and wind. I should be going to the Antarctic after all that. My weight is right where I want it to be, and I am looking forward to the race. My friends Steve the Gypsy and Edina the Crazy Communist B**** have helped me immeasurably with my training. Couldn't have gotten so strong without them. I also couldn't be doing this again, 3rd time in 10 months, without the support of my family. Hopefully my Uncle Norman will be feeling better by the time I come back! All being well, I will be blogging every day after each stage, starting sunday the 7th. Algore is an idiot.
MJ
MJ
Comments: Total (3) comments
Posted On: 04 Mar 2010 04:27 am
AS ALWAYS MAKE US PROUD-MAKE IT HOME FOR A LARGE GLASS OF METAMUCIL-USA-USA
Posted On: 01 Mar 2010 07:35 am
Hey "Grandpaaaaaaaaaaaaaa":)))
Good luck to you! It really was a pleasure training with all of you:)) ! Take care and enjoy every minute of it!!!
"CCB:)))"
Posted On: 01 Mar 2010 12:59 am
Hi Grandpa !!!
Third race on the road within a year,very impressive from the old men.
Hopefully during the race in morning time your back won't
stiff as always :-)))))
Be stong my friend
Gypsy POWER
20 February 2010 09:19 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Haven't done this before. Just want to see if I can make it work.
MJ
MJ
Comments: Total (4) comments
Posted On: 09 Mar 2010 02:23 pm
testing-testing. keep on keeping on. we are behind you all the way!!! love C&P
Posted On: 04 Mar 2010 10:36 pm
Hi Mark, hope you had a safe and nice trip. Also that you don\\\'t experience too many tremors. we are following your blogs, although there is only one thus far. Any comments on your hair yet? Let us know we will love to hear them. Good luck and run safe.
Josie
Posted On: 04 Mar 2010 10:36 pm
Hi Mark, hope you had a safe and nice trip. Also that you don\'t experience too many tremors. we are following your blogs, although there is only one thus far. Any comments on your hair yet? Let us know we will love to hear them. Good luck and run safe.
Josie
Posted On: 04 Mar 2010 10:35 pm
Hi Mark, hope you had a safe and nice trip. Also that you don't experience too many tremors. we are following your blogs, although there is only one thus far. Any comments on your hair yet? Let us know we will love to hear them. Good luck and run safe.
Josie
Comments: Total (1) comments
Posted On: 13 Mar 2010 05:58 am