Weighed in.....weighed in....

Weighed in...weighed in.... 05-Mar-2011 07:50:17
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2011
23 Lbs on the start line - roughly 10 kg I guess.

We´ve got 2 hours before we head out to base camp, settle down for the afternoon, evening and get ready to rumble for an 8am ko tomorrow - yikes! I´ve just read the race notes for the 1st stage. The first 10km stage is very tough apparently. The leader will do it in 1hr 30 mins with the back of the field more like 4 hrs 30 min............ for 6 miles - what´s that all about!?! A right laff!

I´m actually feeling pretty excited and in comparison to the last 2 to 3 days pretty darn fresh. I think I´ve finally shaken off my stinking cold (although eye infection seems to be making a reappearance), now adjusted to the current altitude and a little more rested after 36 hours of travel. My current overriding emotion is curiosity. I just don´t know what to expect. I don´t know how many body is going to react or cope and more importantly how the mind is going to hold up under extreme environmental pressure. As Tom and Chris keep reminding me (ramming my own words down my throat), ´it´s all in the mind´. I´m already hauted by my blog!! Well, live by the sword, die by the sword!

The last 2 days have consisted of packing, unpacking, packing.......repeat! Taking calories and gramms away only to add back in at the next repack. I´m fairly comfortable with my pack weight and it will only get lighter.

We have been for a 30 min run and a 45 min run - both hellish. Yesterday´s 45 minutes felt more like (in terms of exertion) running a marathon in London! No joke. It´s a very strange sensation and one I have never experienced before. This, dry and very dusty air is not my idea of fun but something I better get used to asap.

We´ve just had a race briefing, kit inspection, medical and race check in. There is an eclectic mix of colours, national flags, languages, shapes and sizes. It´s going to be a mind blowing experience. We´ve already met some great folk and the banter seems to be of a good nature and as it´s a collective and shared experience there seems to be mutual uderstanding, respect and admiration for eachother.

My tent consists of 3 Japanese athletes (who are being followed by a camera crew for a documentary on Japan´s TV´s main channel - this is my moment to make it big in The Land of the Rising Sun, step aside Sir Beckham), 1 Brit (other than Tom and Chris), an American, A Chinese and Tom and Chris (aka Sargeant Major Somerville - a tour gag!).

Well, as the Americans would say - we´re all set and good to go. I really can´t wait.

Weighed in, weighed in........under starters orders.......and they´re off........