Video: Running The Atacama (part of #RunningtheAmericas)

VIDEO: Running The Atacama (Duration 38mins) - LINK TO VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

As part of my 17,000km #RunningtheAmericas adventure I had to tackle some big challenges and one of the biggest was the Atacama Desert. This desert is located in the north of Chile and is the driest non polar place on the planet. My challenge was to run the 700km from Arica, on the border with Peru, to San Pedro de Atacama, where the ascent to Argentina begins (Map below). The total vertical ascent was 8928m, which is more than the height of Everest. (Profile below)

There are a number of challenges to consider when tackling an obstacle of this scale. Firstly is water. When entering one of the driest places on Earth, you need to take hydration seriously. On a daily basis I would need about 6 litres of water (drinking and cooking) so I had to work out all the places I could potentially refill with water. I was always cautious on water but for every litre you carry it is an extra kilo to push. It turned out that every time I was running across a desolate or challenging section of my run my stroller was at its heaviest!

Secondly is the weather. Running across a desert can be brutal . The sun sits high in the sky and beats down on you all day and there is nothing to provide any shelter. Once you are exposed there is no relief. The problems I really suffered from was blistering on my lower lip. By the time I got to the Andes I was having to pry my lips apart in the morning as they had become attached due to hardened pus.. The wind can also reek havoc. If it is coming from behind it helps, if from the front it is more difficult but bearable. It is when it comes from the side that the problems occur. Trying to keep the stroller straight is increasingly difficult and your feet are blown into each other.