Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014

Front of the Race Tightens Amid The Infamous Salt Flats

News Release / 09.10.2014

Jose Manuel (Chema) Martinez Fernandez has won the fourth stage of the Atacama Crossing, coming over the finish line at 13:09:22 today.

He was followed very closely by second-placed Herbert Lehner of Austria—a first-time 4 Deserts racer—who finished just ten minutes behind Chema at 13:22:13, making the gap between the frontrunners much closer.

Jonty Cowan of the United Kingdom held steady in third place, finishing the 44.2-kilometer course at 13:35:04. “That was the hardest six kilometers of my life,” said Cowan as he came over the line.

The women’s field was equally compelling with Emily Woodland keeping her lead and completing the course at 14:07:17. She was followed just ten minutes later by Ireland's Ruthann Sheahan at 14:17:20.

The third-placed woman was Catherine Simpson at 14:26:36. As she came over the line, she commented on how one’s sense of time and distance seems to change in this landscape.

“If you were in the United Kingdom and looked over there,” she said, pointing. “It would be about one mile, but the Atacama seems to bend time.”

The day opened this morning following a pleasant night with temperatures around 10 to 14 Celsius with some wind. There was also the extraordinary opportunity to watch the lunar eclipse from the camp—in one of the most alien settings on our planet.

Then, a total of 138 competitors gathered for the 8am start. When asked if he was ready for this stage, South Africa’s Paul Gillot said, “As ready as one could be. Ready for Checkpoint one, then ready for Checkpoint two, and so on until the finish.”

Today’s course, named The Infamous Salt Flats, was a mostly flat route featuring exposed terrain all the way through. This stage is known as the “mental stage,” since the relatively easy and flat terrain makes the day challenging in terms of sustaining one’s motivation.

“Today I ran as if there was only me and the heat,” said Zachary Goldman of Spain.

As the course title suggested, the salt flats were the hardest part of the course; competitors were met with a 14-kilometer a hot stretch of crusty, barren land before arriving at Checkpoint 3. Race leader Chema of Spain commented that it was very hot and difficult—as evidenced in the gap closing behind him on this stage.

Claude Begin of Quebec meanwhile said, “I trained for this by running on the beach, intentionally going into the sea water and back onto sand again. I was still surprised at how hard the course was.”

The day’s total elevation loss was 2,453 to 2,315 meters—with a total of 131 finishers.  Temperatures had varied from 10-14 degrees Celsius in the morning and 31 Celsius in the shade in the afternoon and reaching 41 degrees Celsius in the sun.   

The final competitors into camp were Lourens Roets of South Africa, Paul Gillot of South Africa, Leo Fang of China, Samantha Harper of Canada, Frank Pearce of the United Kingdom and Kim Sellentin of Australia.

Australian competitor Michael Thomas said the highlight of the day for him was, “Taking my shoes off and realizing there was no sand in them!”

It was also the 40th birthday of New Zealand's Inia Raumati today—who managed to come in 40th place. A doctor from New Zealand, Raumati was sung to as he arrived at all the Checkpoints during the day, which was entertaining for all around him.

This evening, competitors were eagerly checking in with their families on their blogs and reading the latest results. There is a strong and concentrated field in this year’s race, with most competitors running well out on the course and everyone at camp looking strong and fresh considering the distance they have already covered.

As the evening progressed, the campsite became progressively quieter as people mentally prepared for The Long March tomorrow. Stage 5 is a 77.8-kilometer course that may see competitors continuing overnight.  It begins at 8am.

You can follow the live race coverage at http://www.4deserts.com/atacamacrossing/

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