Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
easy to match him but I didn't run from the other end of the earth to
get my ass kicked either. There were a number of big hills coming up
that dragged on for kilometres and these are my passion—the steeper
the better. I decided to hammer the hills from the base and see what
Elvis was made of. As we hit the top of the third hill, some 15 kilo-
metres on, he gasped and turned to ask me if I ran at this pace all the
time. Only if I am tired, I said. He stopped, covered in sweat, and called
up the support vehicle.
Thank God, I thought. I was about to collapse myself but I wasn't
going to be the first to break. This business really is all about the mind.
february 12
Tierra del Fuego is divided between Argentina and Chile so we have to
cross another border, but the customs officers are all aware that I am
coming and have streamlined the process for us.
The Río Gallegos Red Cross members were with me every step of
the way and they saw firsthand just what it takes to run two marathons
each day. By the time I reached the border they had tears in their eyes.
They saw me fall and get up many times today.
The border officials stopped work so that we could get a group
photo. No one seemed to mind, not even the truck drivers who were
waiting patiently to cross the border. My motivation takes a hammer-
ing as I leave Argentina. I have to keep telling myself that the next
border crossing will be the final one on this whole run. We will only be
in Chile for 100 kilometres or so.
february 14
It's raining today; no, it's snowing; no, it's sleeting: it seems the weather
can't make up its mind what it wants to do. It's so cold today that I
decide to run in my polar jacket and pants topped off with a balaclava.
The edge of the road is very muddy and it's playing havoc with my
shoes. I'm slipping all over the place, and the cuts I put in the toe box
area are allowing the grit and mud in and squeezing my toes out.
I put my head down, run hard and focus on tomorrow when I will
cross my last border.
