Day 6 (Atacama Crossing)

Finished! 13-Mar-2011
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2011
Hi All

A huge thank you to all of you who have taken time to follow my progress over the last week or so and all the amazing messages of support and wishes. It was a huge lift to read the comments and to know that my progress was being closely monitored - you know how I like pressure to perform!

Yesterday was a very tough and painful hour but made special by the opportunity to run with Tom for the first time this week and cross the line together to an amazing reception in San Pedro. The rest of the day involved soaking feet, washing filthy bodies (my own - not anybody elses), drinking lager (first time in 10 weeks - I held it together pretty well!), eating proper food, celebrating long into the night (2.30 am bed followed by 5.30 taxi to airport) and reflecting on what has been a wonderful experience, an amazing few days of my life and an emotional rollercoaster. It may take me time to recover!

I´m currently in a hotel in Santiago with T & C. We flew from Calama today and don´t get connection to UK till tomorrow. Unfort our feet have once again doubled in size, throbbing and weeping. So Tom and I spent an hour with feet in the bath tub soaking in disinfectant (chewing the fat - quite a funny moment really) whilst Chris hunted downtown Santiago for some antibiotics.

I hope to take the time, when back in UK, to write a further blog report just trying to put into words what the last week has meant to me and to give you a little more insight into Ultra Desert racing life.......and to also add a little colour to the final stage and the afternoon/evening/night of celebration with some fantastic people.

Once again, a huge thank you. This week and all the support has meant an awful lot to me and will live long in the memory.

I x