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Atacama Crossing Blogs 2014

Linh Huynh

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Atacama Crossing (2014) blog posts from Linh Huynh

10 October 2014 03:20 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Stage 5 – the dreaded Long March is the most brutal stage of the entire race.
This time it was 76 km. It started with runners traversing a marsh and then through undulating sand dunes, and salt flats that have sharp, uneven salt formations that look like cauliflower and have torn apart a few pairs of shoes. A runner from Denmark had his shoes shredded apart by the salt and had to finish the remaining 40km of this stage in borrowed Crocs.
I had a long day that tested my resolve and about 6 hours into the stage during a particularly mind-numbing 10 km straight road in dry, dusty hell, I asked myself “What the @#$! am I doing this for??!!” The rest of the stage only got worse when we had to climb the largest sand dune I have ever seen in my life. The hours passed by very slowly, and Samantha, a Canadian doctor from Newfoundland, and I kept each other focused into the late hours. The last 20 km were spent walking in moonlight under a desert sky littered with stars. We crossed the line a 4:00 a.m., 20 hours after we began.
Enjoying a day off before the final stage.
Grand Slam is within my grasp! First Canadian woman to complete the series – and in one year to boot!

Comments: Total (3) comments

Georgia Gaden jones

Posted On: 12 Oct 2014 02:58 am

Just saw you finished!!!!! Hurrahhhhhhhhh! Xoxo

vanessa corby

Posted On: 11 Oct 2014 03:03 pm

Wow, that sounds like pure hell, except for the starry night. Stay strong!! And remember all the funny things that make you laugh. Xo.

vanessa corby

Posted On: 11 Oct 2014 03:03 pm

Wow, that sounds like pure hell, except for the starry night. Stay strong!! And remember all the funny things that make you laugh. Xo.

08 October 2014 02:23 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Only 1 monster stage tomorrow!

Temperatures reached the mid 40s these past few days.

A few people dropped out for various reasons: blisters, knees, heat exhaustion, nausea

Comments: Total (9) comments

Thieu Huynh

Posted On: 10 Oct 2014 07:07 pm

Well Done my dear sister!

Haile Selassie

Posted On: 10 Oct 2014 04:20 am

Ites pon Linh Win! Inna this ya iwa sistren Linh become champion desert runna mon! Now rest dem der feet inna cool wata. Ital is vital. Peace and unity. Seen!

Jason Huang

Posted On: 10 Oct 2014 02:53 am

So pround of you!

Sofie Planckaert

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 07:14 pm

Well done Lynh! Hope you will survive the long stage but I don\'t doubt about it! Amazing!! Xx

Richard Malcolm

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 06:02 pm

By the time you read this, you'll be done with the long march and basically back on your intense tapering workout. Pat yourself on the back and eat your best freeze dried meal because it's all cake from here. Can't wait to hear about it after the race!

Janice McCrimmon

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 04:18 pm

Linh! You're a survivor, I can't believe the heat. SERENITY NOW! It looks like a beautiful part of the world. Keep on keepin' on!!!

Shawna Lamarsh

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 02:46 pm

Wow I cannot believe the heat that you are dealing with. You go girl I hope you kicked that Monster Stage butt. Sending you love and thoughts of cool breezes.

Georgia Gaden Jones

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 04:07 am

I am reading 'Wild' and often think of you when she describes her battered feet. Love and cool breezes to you my friend. You can do it!! xoxo

Georgia Gaden Jones

Posted On: 09 Oct 2014 04:07 am

I am reading 'Wild' and often think of you when she describes her battered feet. Love and cool breezes to you my friend. You can do it!! xoxo

05 October 2014 04:25 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

After a tense 60 hours of transit and wondering if I would get my luggage, my bag finally arrived in the Calama airport minus the illegal goods: customs confiscated my pepperoni and almonds but thankfully left my dehydrated meals intact. I got back go the hotel at 10pm and had orientation at 9:00 the next morning and we all boarded busses at 2:45 to take us to the start line. I was really hoping to have a bit of a grace period but

Comments: Total (5) comments

Elizabeth Shin

Posted On: 08 Oct 2014 02:47 pm

Hey Linh! Great work out there so far. Really wish I could be there in person to cheer you on and listen to you sing as well as crack some jokes. You're more than halfway there!!!

Sofie Planckaert

Posted On: 07 Oct 2014 06:37 pm

Lynh!! Lucky you, every night surrounded by 7 men, that's how you survive a 250km race ;) I always knew you were a great writer, loved to read your first blog! All the pain comes back when reading everyone's blog but you are great, you can do this! All my respect for you Lynh!! Lots of kisses!!

Duncan Sharp

Posted On: 07 Oct 2014 04:03 am

Good luck Linh. I am slightly envious of you on this one, I'd love to see the Atacama desert. Ahh well, I'm going paragliding in the Indian Himalayas in 2 weeks time where the only running I'll have to do is on take off, before nestling my feet inside a warm and cosy pod harness and thermalling up to the clouds, so I'll get over it. Apparently you are not allowed to fly over the Dalai Lama's house though. I was going to wave at him for you. I'm looking forward to your stories. Don't forget to drink or eat or walk etc. :-P Dunc aka 'GDC'.

Richard Malcolm

Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 09:31 pm

I would only get worried if they swap underwear. Maybe that would be something that normal guys would not do. I'll wait until stage 3 to talk about ice cream and Popsicles Hahahaha! Seriously, keep drinking water and using your electrolytes and try to see the Milky Way one night from outside the tent. It's one of the best views of it in the world.

Vanessa Corby

Posted On: 06 Oct 2014 06:04 am

Bahahahaha. Hilarious as usual. Be careful, friend, and stay hydrated. XO

01 October 2014 06:26 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

"Good things come in 3s" That's what people say - right??

Well, here I go again!  Not sure how I ended up here.  Jordan was in February, Gobi was in June.  And since I had nothing else planned for October, I thought, why not?

People always ask how I do it. I don't have any answers.  I'm reluctant to share my training schedule because, well, one person's training is another person's taper.

I'm looking forward to the laughs.  I find that these races reach a level of absurdity that regular life never will.  I don't mean the distance, the heat and the struggles. Those are givens. I'm referring to the fact that we will have nightly slumber parties with a dozen people crammed into a giant tent, or that we'll most likely share intimate details about our chafing / blistering, or that we will probably be stripping down to our undies in front of these strangers and don't even get me started about the toilet-talk.  For a week, we are allowed to be filthy, to be uninhibited, to be fierce and mainly to be open to anything.

And to get through it, all I can do is laugh. And maybe sing a little tune.