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Matt Bradley

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Atacama Crossing (2009) blog posts from Matt Bradley

08 April 2009 09:44 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Good morning everyone,

As promised I thought I'd polish off our journey with a short note about everything. I'm now very much back in the swing of the Big Smoke: signal failures, line suspensions, rain and everything so, if nothing else, it'll allow me one last bit of escapism.

It was a pretty epic journey back to the UK with roughly 10 hour stop overs in Santiago and Sao Paulo, both of which passed seamlessly in a haze of Chilean shiraz and fresh fruit caipirinhas respectively. Strangely enough it was nice to have a bit of time to sit down and do absolutely nothing. 

Leaving the desert was an odd experience though, the intrigue and awesomeness which it held on arrival had certainly decreased, not that surprising after watching tens of people trek across the worst it had to offer and come away largely unscathed. In a way it is also a bit of a shame because as beautiful and fascinating as the Atacama is - the night sky is truly something to behold - when you are marathoning across it, it's rather hard not to start resenting your surroundings just that little bit. 

Nevertheless the challenge of a 4 deserts race is a fantastic charge to undertake and it gives the participant a unique opportunity to triumph in some of the world's most beautiful and unforgiving areas. I very much doubt that this will be my last, I'll almost definately return to reverse my failures at a later date, but for now it's back to the daily grind and back to some of my domestic responsibilities that I've neglected for so long...drinking, working, that kind of stuff.

Thanks for all who have followed and supported me through the last few weeks and months and I'll look forward to catching up with you all soon.

All the best,

Matt

Comments: Total (1) comments

Posted On: 09 Apr 2009 06:07 pm

Nice article, you missed your call and should become writer instead of banker or endurance runner :). Maybe see you in Londres! x

08 April 2009 09:44 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Evening All,

I'm now back in the UK, back on a normal sized keyboard - which is awesome - and I've returned to see that my final Chilean blog entry wasn't uploaded. I'm sorry for appearing to shirk my communication duties, I'll rectify that ill now.

So I Iast left you when I dropped out of stage 4 as I couldn't stop crapping myself. Nice and dignified. That evening I failed to keep anything down - food, drink, nutrient, animal, vegetable, mineral - and 'woke up' in the morning with worryingly restricted movement. So the decision was made to pull out of the big kahuna, a pretty gutting moment bearing in mind that the long stage was the main reason why I took up the Atacama mission. I did stop to think how strange it was that I would have given anything to be able to run whilst I watched all the competitors heading out for 80kms of sun, sand, salt, pain and a bit more pain, but it was thoroughly miserable. 

I spent the day familiarising myself/becoming best friends with the loo at the new camp, tripping out on the weeks course of antibiotics that I was given in one day and amusing myself with a new trick that the docs had shown me...you remember that blister under my left big toenail I mentioned on an earlier post? To release the pressure you drill a needle through the nail, press down and sure enough a fountain of gore comes gushing forth which is soooo satisfying...bring on Saw VI.

Anyhow I recovered well through Thursday and Friday, even managing to take down some solid food - woop woop - and was strong enough to run the final stage as Chris' wingman which was a treat. The finish was followed by the much-anticipated inhalation of pizza and pisco followed by a damn good clean. I actually wretched at the smell which came off my hair when the water hit it for the first time!

Apologies again for the time that it has taken to get the final chapters up and I'll be back in a few minutes with some more general musings about the race, my race and the journey back.

Ciao,

Matt

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02 April 2009 09:37 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Good morning/evening everyone,
 
I'm not sure whether or not you have seen from today's times or not but I didn't finish today. 'DNF' as it's commonly known - maybe a bit of divine retribution for yesterday's excess confidence. I was up all night answering nature's calls and succumbing to more fits of unanticipated projectiling...anyhow I started today and was doing ok for the first 10km or so. Then came a few falls in a river and a 13km straight in the sun and that was that. I arrived at checkpoint two with my bodily functions largely out of control with the odd pass-out; I can't really describe the feeling save for the sensation of having absolutely no gas in the tank no matter what for: talking, standing up, drinking water, etc.
 
During the periods where I was awake I watched competitors stream through and out onto the Salar. And there I sat in my dust caked clothes, wishing I had the energy to get the **** on with it, wanting so desperately not to disappoint the BHF, everyone back home and least of all myself - yet being inexplicably powerless to do so. Of course I did have to stop this ridiculous period of reflection to go to the loo behind a spiky bush every half hour. And so there is the story of today, quite possibly the most humbling, sobering day that I have ever had...all the training, all the preparation, all the absintence unwound on the salt flats. The fact that none of you fine people are here to see it is a source of slight relief however and I'll certainly be richer for the experience no matter what.
 
I feel ok now though and I'm very much hoping that I will be fighting fit for tomorrow's big race.
 
M

Comments: Total (12) comments

Posted On: 07 Apr 2009 07:52 am

This sounds like an incredibly hard undertaking / race / adventure / ordeal. Just incredible. Hope you can continue to compete, Matt ... but take care of yourself too (and it's a little late to be saying that!)

Posted On: 03 Apr 2009 09:56 pm

... as they say "x*!@" happens!" ... but what awful luck you have had with the timing. One sentiment here --- admiration. Abrazos. Doug and troops

Posted On: 03 Apr 2009 06:12 pm

Hilary wanted me to pass on her love and hugs to you today. She's not at the office so only has her Mickey Mouse technology until Monday. You've got all of our's too. XX

Posted On: 03 Apr 2009 01:23 pm

Mate, that sucks! Sounds a lot like Cabs' 21st birthday - but I think shitting and puking all the way along the M4 and M40 is slightly more extreme! No offence. Get well soon mate...

Posted On: 03 Apr 2009 06:17 am

Oh my, what a terrible disappointment for you. It's been riveting to watch your progress and read your blog. I'm so sorry you had to withdraw, but what an amazing accomplishment. Take good care of yourself, stay well and get home safely. I'm anxious to hear your stories. Much love, Nancy

Posted On: 03 Apr 2009 02:48 am

As if you needed MORE of a challenge within the mammoth challenge you're already braving! Crossing fingers and toes for a speedy recovery so you're back up and running tomorrow...and never think you're disappointing anyone Mr Bradley...we're all unbelievably proud and wondering where on earth that mental drive comes from...please bottle some and bring it home with you!! Loads of love and good luck for the finale! xx

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 10:44 pm

Mate ... sorry to hear about your setback today. There are always those things you just can't plan for! We've all been so impressed with the times you've been clocking. Hope you manage to recover and get out on the 50 miler. Ed

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 08:25 pm

You do know your mother is on the way over with a fresh supply of tp - just kidding - poor old you - I am so sorry your are feeling so lousy but thank goodness you are in the camp - how you can possibly think you have disappointed anybody - we have been glued to this site - please please be sensible and do everything you need to do to get back on your legs - thinking about you all the time - your mother will have another excuse for why she has aged - tomorrow is another day - ooodles of love Hilary

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 08:14 pm

I didn't see your post before..very confused with these time differences as to what stage you're at (hence my lighthearted Hulk email). Don't feel that you've let anyone down- you've already achieved more than most people will in a lifetime! Just make sure you come back safely please, that's the most important thing. You've already won by just being out there. Take care Xx

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 06:59 pm

Very relieved to hear that you are doing the best you can, under the circumstances. I was online with your P when they heard from a friend that you DNF. I can't even imagine the pain, torture and extreme conditions you have been under. Be proud of your accomplishments and know that we are proud of you too! Remember, head down, heart up. Be proud of all you have accomplished, although not the outcome you had hoped for. Be safe and well. Cheers from North Carolina.....Mary

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 05:22 pm

What a relief...to know you are okay. I am sure you are v. disappointed without a doubt (as we all are) but we are so proud of what you have done, achieved, etc. Remarkable and truly impressive. I would have thought it would have been blisters or the terrain and not a tummy bug but out there its a different world (just look at the photos). We have been following your blog as it has been compulsive reading...don't stop now. Lets hope that you are fit and up for tomorrow. I hope your supply of tp is holding up....and that your tummy is sorted before your flight back home! Lots of love, P xo

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 05:01 pm

So relieved to hear that you are sort of OK and hope that you are managing to maintain what little strength you have left. Be very careful with yourself. Love you oodles. Hugs - Mummy XXX

31 March 2009 07:32 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

I think I can pretty much sum up today with the fact that the 1st half of the race took 2 1/2 hours and the second half 5 hours. Right after the halfway stage we moved into salt flats: coral-sharp salt protrusions from very soft earth that gives way under your feet; they're about as funny as the Scottish. I must have lost my shoes 5 times today, my legs are all jellified and cut up and I've got a blister under my left big toe which feels magical.  Fortunately there were no unexpected moments today, which meant that I could appreciate the flats in all the glory that 40 celcuis bestows upon them.
 
Now I'm back in camp I'm on top of the world and looking forward to tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned I've broken the back of it: one more warm-up run to go and then the big kahuna on Friday, easy peasy lemon squeezy.
 
Apologies for today's brevity...I need to hurry to the med tent and get some kip...until tomorrow: stay safe, be cool and hopefully I'll be back with some non salt-flat related news tomorrow.
 
M

Comments: Total (10) comments

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 04:41 pm

Matt mate, You'll never believe the day I've had...I got stuck at Fulham Broadway for 20 mins this morning before a bloody train turned up, and then I had to change. Twice. To make matters worse, the heel on my shoe fell off so I got cramp in my dicky hip whilst I was walking down to Pret a Manger to get my spinach soup and BLT. Don't know how I'm going to get home. Anyway, enough about me. Sounds like you're doing a great job out there, keep it up. Hope you're running/shiting without a shirt on - all over body tan is a must! Did I mention I got a little bit of sun burn lyiing in a park over the weekend? In the words of Lemar "If there's any justice in the world"...then my bloody microwave would be working. Can't sleep without having a hot chocolate before going to bed. Take care buddy, see you when you get back. Manlove, Leroy xx

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 03:32 pm

Finally I found a picture of you - have been searching all week - you looked as tho' you were in one piece - I can only imagine what you smell like - oh that was'nt kind - the photos are incredible - just stunning - I am deinately going to start working out with my backpack - any opportunities for a quick 'holiday' romance - hey if anyone could manage it it would be you - you are truly amazing but we knew that - so where to next - stay safe - oooodles of love Hilary

Posted On: 02 Apr 2009 02:11 am

An amazing accomplishment, I still can't believe you're doing this. Keep up the good time and it will soon be over and you can regale us with your stories. It does seem that you may be safer there than in London! much love, Nancy

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 10:09 pm

Could you run round the block/desert again as I've just discovered adding to your blog. Have been so busy with the email that this one escaped your techno idiot mother! Duh ... That determined streak of your's is something else. M x

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 09:41 pm

What an effort! Well done ... can't wait for the next update. Un abrazo grande! Doug

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 05:18 pm

Well, by the time you reach the finish line I will have figured out all of this blog business and how to post a comment.........so impressed with your your gut, drive and accomplishements and take care of the feet. Head down, heart up! Mary

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 04:21 pm

Hello again - next time can I come it sounds like a great way to loose some weight - inspite of it all you sound as tho' you are having a 'good' time - the terraine sounds incredible - do you think if I start running on the treadmill with a backpack I can qualify - it is so impressive - stay safe - ooodles of love Hilary

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 04:21 pm

Hello again - next time can I come it sounds like a great way to loose some weight - inspite of it all you sound as tho' you are having a 'good' time - the terraine sounds incredible - do you think if I start running on the treadmill with a backpack I can qualify - it is so impressive - stay safe - ooodles of love Hilary

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 03:34 pm

Mate, bloody impressed with your effort. Keep up the good work. Afraid nothing to report from good old london, apart from the rioting. office is next to American Embassy so went down in my suit to try and get involved - but sadly nothing happened. Anyway looking forwar to a pint with you next week. Keep safe you nutter! X

Posted On: 01 Apr 2009 08:04 am

You're making it sound like a doddle buddy..highly impressed with progress so far! Keep it up....Its anarchy in th UK today with start of G20 so you're probably missing THE most exciting day of the year in the city! x

30 March 2009 09:03 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

G'd arvo all,
 
Let me tell you the story of my day, my oh my. You know that the 'lofty' camp that I was talking about yesterday...well that got pretty chilly last night, so much so that there was a little bit of ice in our water bottles this morning! We started the stage at 8am, everyone playing chicken-and-the egg with their own nervous energy trying not to go too hard from the start.
 
The first few hours were dominated with hilly rocky passes and canyon running, which was pretty enjoyable actually. That having been said, the altitude takes the oddest toll on your legs; when you come to a hill they become wet little schoolboys and pack it in with the first coupe of steps and your lungs almost burn with disappointment with each breath of disparate air. The second though was a mission - a seemingly impossible stretch along an open plain - just as it was beginning to get hot. That was followed by a long, uphill canyon which cuddled the heat. It is very serene out here, although it is pretty hilarious when you are trudging through this canyon, step-by-step, turn your head left and then see one of your fellow competitors having a s*** just off the trail, it is pretty surreal.
 
A few powerbars, energy gels (for the love of god, never have a PowerBar Strawberry Banana energy gel, I felt as though my world was coming to an end) and I arrived at camp, five and a bit hours down, pretty chuffed to have done relatively well in the field and looking forward to tomorrow. So the plan is to chill, enjoy my spag bol, get some rest and avoid the squits epidemic engulfing camp! Wish you were here?
 
Bon nuit,
 
Matt 'the desert nemesis' Bradley (until tomorrow)

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30 March 2009 07:32 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

I have an excuse though...you know that squits epidemic that I was trying to avoid? Yeah that didn't happen. So there I was blitzing (extreme exaggeration) the stages up to checkpoint two, coming around 12th, and then I vommed: spontaneous baby style. Horrible stuff, I don't recommend it: I was left with no juice for the last 1 1/2 stages. I'm all better now though, you'll be glad to know.
 
Now I've got that out my system, so to speak, I'll tell you in slightly more genial detail about my day. The races continue to start at 8am and continue to be characterised by people purposely not going all out to save some energy for the business end of the race. The first bit of today was bliss; we were taken through what is ostensibly the only river in the Atacama and ran through it and across it for about 10km...nice to have a bit of a wash. You'll be glad to know that the water caused me no trouble and I remained chaff free. That was followed by a long, long inclide up to the top of a truly biblical sized dune for a pretty speedy descent. I hope they get some photos up asap as it was great fun. Soon after it went all wrong (see above) and I had to walk it in...hence the quite ridiculous time spent on my feet today. I think everyone was a bit weighed down by the last 20km or so...very flat, very sandy and very hot.
 
There's all sorts of aches and pains in camp this evening: blisters, altitude sickness, chronic poops, knees, ankles, sunburn...the lot. It's a cacophony of groans and moans and it's only day two. The best thing about today though is camp: our cluster of tents are huddled next to a salt lagoon and the sun is setting behind the Andean volancanoes...it's almost enough to sooth the pain. Not.
 
I've got to go and eat my spag bol and hop into bed so I'm off...thanks for all the messages - grand prix and non-grand prix related - they're really appreciated and I'll check back in tomorrow.
 
A bientot,
 
M 

Comments: Total (0) comments

29 March 2009 09:00 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
This blogging shindig might be a little shorter that I first planned; the keyboard on this laptop is impossibly small...already causing me a little bit of fat-fingered rage.
 
Anyhow I've arrived safe and sound somewhere in the middle of the Atacama, somehow my bags were successfully tranferred from Heathrow to Calama and we didn't even get fined for bringing beef jerky into the country - cashback. I arrived in San Pedro last night quickly stuffed some South American beef down me and got to bed sharpish after the 35 hour journey. San P is a great little town, much like something you'd see in a Tarantino movie, plenty of 'authentic' grub and garb.
 
Today we had our kit inspection, my pack weighted in at 9 kilos which I was pretty chuffed with, and then spent the rest of the morning fratonising with the enemy/other competitors. There are all sorts competiting: genuine all action superheroes to, well, not-all action superheores...which is comforting. I think I'm doing the right, proper, British thing and fitting in right in the middle. We are now at Camp numero uno at a lofty 3500m in an immense valley: the sides are lined by rocks coloured by iron and copper so there's an almost alien mix of green and deep red.
 
Tomorrow brings stage 1, game on, and I'll be back tomorrow evening with stories of a slightly more gruelling day. Thanks very much for all your e-mails so far - I can't reply unfortunately but they are getting through a-ok and are greatly appreciated. Keep them coming!
 
Until tomorrow,
 
Over and out.
 
M

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25 March 2009 11:09 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Good afternoon All,

I fly out tomorrow and I'm awash with tingles...I can't bloody wait to get out there. All this training, abstinence, expenditure and general preparation is about to come to a head and the sooner the better. I'm so eager to get out there and try myself against the Atacama. Of course all this bullish excitement might just be because I haven't got a clue what to expect and I'll be on the first plane back home as soon as I check the Atacama out. Sure.

Tomorrow I'll do the final rationalisation of my pack; hopefully it'll weigh in at about 8kg, and then it'll be off to the airport for the mega mission to San Pedro via Sao Paulo, Santiago and Calama.

This will be my last post until I'm in South America so until then, best wishes to you all and I'm looking forward to checking in when I'm out there hot, sweaty, jet-lagged, full of freeze dried food and ready for action: Hoo-RA!

Anon,

M

Comments: Total (1) comments

Posted On: 29 Mar 2009 05:58 pm

Hope that today was like a walk (or run) in the park. Let us know how brutal it was. Take care and hope all is well.

19 March 2009 04:31 am (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

Hola muchachos and welcome to my blog,

I'm a new to the so-called blogosphere and therefore let me offer my apologies for any boring anecdotes, unwanted medical detail, slang, syntax errors, libel and other mistakes that I'll make during the posting of my blog...hopefully we'll iron out the creases along the way.

What?! When?! Where?!

Next Thursday I'm jouneying with a friend from prep school from London to the middle of the Atacama desert, 3000 meters above sea level in the Andes mountains (http://www.sanpedroatacama.com/ingles/mapas.htm). On the morning of 29th I begin a 6/7 day race across the desert beginning. Here's the crack...

Day 1 = marathon
Day 2 = marathon
Day 3 = marathon
Day 4 = marathon 
Day 5 = marathon + 20 miles
Day 6 = rest day
Day 7 = 7 mile sprint to the finish.

Throughout all of this I'll be carrying my food and supplies on my back, although able to refill my water daily. I'm going armed with lots of freeze dried food, beef jerky, dry museli and a truly biblical amount of PowerBars. The hit of the whole fruit comes when you rehydrate your freeze dried food - the muesli looks like something a cat would regurgitate. Nice.  

Why oh why?

The British Heart Foundation has helped me out in the past and I figured that it was time to help them out so I'm raising money to help fund the training of new nurses (www.justgiving.com/desertdashmatt). I came up with the idea of racing across the Atacama whilst I was surfing the internet on a Sunday afternoon to stave off a little boredom. Let that be a warning: try not to be bored on a Sunday, you never know what might happen.

How?

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this one...a great deal of training. I try to cover around 30-40 miles during the week with a bit of gym/core work and swimming. On the weekends I try and cover 25 miles each day (backpack included). Unfortunately running around Hyde Park and Kensington Palace Gardens isn't exactly the altitude or heat training that I would ideally like to do, but it's quite nice all the same.  

The really painful part is the lifestyle restriction...barely any drinking and some pretty strict eating regimes (during the week anyway). One good thing is that when you get back in from a really long run you get to eat yourself into submission, which is awesome. 

The Countdown

By the by, apologies for those unfamiliar with this blog entry's title...It's a song by an 80s band called Europe, you'd know it if you heard it.

So I'm flying out in 8 days and I'm just putting the finishing touches to my prep - I've got more or less all my food and equipment. I'll carry on training at a moderate intensity until that point, but nothing to serious...I don't want to stress myself out too much in the run up so to speak. 

Our Deal

I'm planning on running the race, getting the fastest time possible and testing myself to the greatest degree possible. I'll be writing blog entries after all of the stages - they will be kept fresh and graphic.

All you lot have to do is read my blog, track my progress from this link(http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/comptetior_blog_new.php?pid=NDMy&blog=12) and maybe send me an e-mail to tell me what's going on back home with you, and of course ask me any questions you might have by clicking on this link (http://www.4deserts.com/atacamacrossing/rtpactp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14).

That sounds fair no?


All the best,

Matt
www.justgiving.com/desertdashmatt

Comments: Total (2) comments

Posted On: 31 Mar 2009 02:11 pm

Heeeeelllllloooo you - please come home NOW your mother is worried - I think she has worn a trough in the kitchen floor - have been reading your blog and am thinking of you all the time - been following your blog and was hoping to see some pictures of you - it sounds and looks so exciting - can't wait to speak to you when you come home - say hello to Christopher - stay safe - oooodfles of love

Posted On: 18 Mar 2009 11:45 pm

Well done Matt! We will see you in a weeks time. The HQ team leaves tomorrow for San Pedro. Safe travels. Zac