I am officially a 4 Deserts runner. Today was the first day and it kicked my butt! No shame in saying that at all. With a total 22 miles covered across three checkpoints it was very terrible. Running or walking is one thing but going and down canyons, across salt flats in 80 degree bright sun, and doing this with 22 pounds on my back was for sure the hardest thing I have done. Amazing that tody was easy and just the first day. Starting time: 8am Finishing time: 5pm

Sleep: Soooo cold. Went to bed at 9pm last night and after 3am I just tossed and turned.

Dinner: descent: had lasagna and it was actually really good. For dessert we made smoretellos; marshmellows, hazelnut chocolate peanut butter, and placed them on tortillas.

I was so tired after the 3rd and hardest section that I fell asleep for a few minutes. Kinda freaked out the medical team. Kept asking if I needed water, if I was ok, and I was like

Hi everyone. Just got to camp 1 and it was a cool journey from San Pedra de Atacama to the middle of nowhere. The views going up the mountain makes you realize just how flat Chicago is. With towering mountains, deep valleys, roads to nowhere, and then you take random turn down one of the roads and then you tall green trees, creeks, and a variety of different landscapes.

On the way here I took nap and woke up to the buses pulling over for a bathroom break. Very funny scene to watch half the participants just walk out an form a line and let nature take its course. Our guide said she was shocked to see the large turnout. In the backdrop there were four alpacas running in the distant. To tell you the truth it was quite comforting to see wildlife in the distant. I felt like there must be water somewhere.

Base camp is pretty cool. There are 17 tents for runners in a semi-circle. In the middle they have huge kettles of water boiling and plenty of tables with oranges and fruit. I must admit, it has been hard to be without music even for a few hours, and I am sure I will be pretty bummed while walking with no music. That