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- Hirofumi Shinya, Sasaki Yosuke Kurosawa, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Keijiro Hamada – blind runner with guides, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Rebecca Pattinson – women’s leader, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Zimbabwean, Daniel Rowland – Men’s leader, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Ashkan Mokhtari from Iran, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Amanda, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
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- Jesse Yoo, Atacama Crossing, Photo: Shayne Boyte, Image courtesy Racing the Planet
Riitta Hanninen at 4 Deserts sent us this race report from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile:
The Atacama Crossing 2013 concluded with 132 competitors crossing the finish line, including a cancer survivor, two blind men, and two women living with diabetes. Daniel Rowland of Zimbabwe vied with Australia’s Vlad Ixel to snag first place. The two men sprinted to the finish line within seconds of each other in multiple stages. In the end, Daniel edged Vlad out with a total time of 25 hours, 38 minutes and 4 seconds.
Daniel Rowland commented:
“It’s been amazing. Tough but beautiful. I came to improve on my time from last year, so to beat my time from last year and to win was great.”
Vlad finished in 26:16:41. Following him were Craig Willment of South Africa, Andrea Girardi of Italy, Kyle McCoy of the United States, Adam Woolliscroft of Wales, Rick Braff of the United States, Hye Chang Rhim of South Korea, Nelson Sepulveda of Chile on his home turf, and Richard Bray of the United Kingdom.
Rebecca Pattinson of the United Kingdom won first place among the women with a total time of 34:50:43. “The whole environment just lifts you up”, said Rebecca, who is the women’s champion. “I have never felt emotions like that and I don’t think I ever will again. Everyone keeps asking me what next, well I think quit while you are ahead!”
Luisa Balsamo of Italy followed in second place with 35:24:14. Rounding out the top ten among the women were Annabel Hepworth of Australia, Beatriz Camiade of Mexico, Sabina Bacinelli of Italy, Amanda de Kock of South Africa, Yvonne Abson of Scotland, Vikki Bester of Australia, Andrea Lopez of Chile on her home turf, and Lisa Cox of the United States. Yosuke Kurosawa, Shinya Sasaki and Hirofumi Ono of Japan won the team championship as Team Kizuna. “We came here to win”, they said. “We always help each other. Sometimes we fight, but we think of each other and accept each other. This is why we came.”
In addition to these champions, the Atacama Crossing 2013 hosted many other notable competitors. Jisung (Jesse) Yoo of South Korea has now completed 19 RacingThePlanet/4 Deserts events, more than anyone in the world. Iranian competitor Ashkan Mokhtari is coming back to the Atacama for the fifth time in as many years. He has completed 12 RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts events overall.
Keijiro Hamada of Japan and Vladmi do Santos of Brazil are both blind, but made it across 250 kilometres of mud, salt flats, and sand dunes with the help of guides. “My heart is strong”, said Vladmi dos Santos from Brazil, who is blind. He described seeing the race not with his eyes, but with his heart. “I am very happy. I have made friends with all the competitors. The people see me as a normal person, not blind.”
Jim Willett of Canada battled colon cancer in 2010, and has now completed two 4 Deserts events. “The highs, the lows, the connection I have with RacingThePlanet [after] all I have been through, words can not explain”, Jim said.
The next 4 Deserts event is the Gobi March 2013, beginning 2 June and going through 8 June.
About the Atacama Crossing 2013 (3 – 9 March)
The Atacama Crossing is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer rough-country footraces. The race takes place in the archeological jewel of Chile – the Atacama Desert. This desiccated environment is the perfect preserver of ancient relics, with geoglyphic paintings that adorn the hillsides alongside ruins of Indian fortresses and sacred Inca sites.
About the 4 Deserts
The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts on the planet. Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing self-supported in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each night to rest. The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance competitions, comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.
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