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Position: 2nd
Time: 19:08
Last Saturday I took part in my third Edinburgh parkrun, and Neil also made his parkrun debut! I've been lucky with the conditions at these events so far as all three have been fairly sunny, calm days. There was a slight wind in our backs on the way out, so good to get in a couple of fast few kilometres at the start. My aim was just to go out as fast as possible and see how long I could keep it going. My aim is a sub 19 minute this year, so I wanted to get as close to that as I could. I realised in the last kilometre I wouldn't quite make it, but nonetheless was pleased with my PB taking off 14 seconds! Neil really enjoyed his first parkrun and is catching the running bug. A great time of 22min15! After a nice warm down, it was off to Costa for that well deserved coffee and piece of cake. Hope to run another parkrun in the next few weeks.

Next big adventure coming soon....cross country skiing in Norway...watch this space!!

Kitted out with a bike called "Scorpion" and some supermarket camping kit, Russ joined me on this fantastic cycling adventure. We shaked a bit in Santiago and then bussed to La Serena and set off to cross the Andes. You can see some of Russ' photos here.

The first stop was Vicuña. We'd cycled up a gentle slope all day and reached this pleasant little town. The campsite we found offered a pool, kitchen and ripe grapes for the princely sum of three pounds fifty. We chilled out.

The high mountains surrounding us grew closer the next day. Soon we found ourselves winding our way up a tight valley, almost a canyon. By the side of the road there were some stone shacks. We suspected these were used by goat hearders as there was a fair amount of goat excrement about. Russ got out his kite and I built a fire. We slept under the brightest set of stars I have ever seen.

The next day we continued on up the valley with dramatic scenery around us. In the afternoon we passed a "campamiento" and I enquired if we could buy bread. We were given a large roll free. Later, at another campamiento where some roadworkers stayed, I asked if we could camp. The man said no. There was a couple of beds we could have in an old shed. The room was plastered with posters of semi-clad women. Then, as I got out my stove on the front porch, the kind gent called us over and invited us for dinner too. Barbequed beef and empanadas. In the courtyard there was a fountain with a plastic barbie doll on the top. The water squirted out of her nipples. Quite a water feature. One suspects that these lads don't see too many girls up this way.

Passing the stunning, if not origionally named, La Laguna, we anticipated reaching the top of the pass. However, the tough gravel road, incline and fatigue got the better of us and we camped at around 4500m. We had just enough energy to wolf down some pasta and flake out. In the night I noted the temerature drop to -3C, not so cold really.

We woke. Both of us feeling well and with no signs of altitude sickness. After scoffing the remainder of our bread and jam and brewing tea with the last tea bags, we put in the last 10km to the summit.

We celebrated reaching the 4780m pass with some photos. Then we enjoyed 100km of free-wheeling downhill.


On our way down we stopped to make some rice for lunch. We were joined by a french cyclist, Christof, who looked as if he were a scubadiver. His cycling outfit consisted of a lot of black lycra. He sat down with us and told us the story of his life, his cycling and rather more about his recent sexual conquests than you would expect from a stranger.

Our freewheel ride continued on a tar road and we headed across a huge plain surrounded by mountian ranges. Then we arrived in Las Flores.

I asked Sergio if there was a campsite and he said we could camp in his garden for 2 pounds. Then he invited us to drink mate. After a bit of a chat he decided to show us how to make an asado, the classic argentinian barbeque. We bought a mountain of meat and local wine and he showed us the tradditional method to get the fire going. The wood is placed on top of the grill and as the embers fall through they are pushed under the meat and sausages. We ate, drank, chatted and it felt like a wonderful welcome back to Argentina.

It would be remiss of me, I think, not to mention something about the earthquake in Chile. I was asleep on the top bunk in a hostal in Santiago. At about 3:30am, so I am told, the earthquake hit. I woke up and the whole building was shaking. This lasted for a few minutes and was not unpleasant. When it stopped I rolled over and went back to sleep. A while later I was woken up by one of the hostal's staff and we were all asked to go outside, like a fire drill. After half an hour or so people went back to bed. It was apparent that the building wasn't falling down and there was little to be achieved by standing around outside. During the remainder of the night there were several aftershocks which felt like being in a gently vibrating bed.

In the morning more of the consequences became apparent. There was a power cut which lasted most of the day and most of the shops and resturants were shut. Russ and I wandered around the town in a search to buy him a bike. Several buildings were quite severely damaged. A few water mains had burst. Generally the damage didn't seem too bad.

On returning to the hostal the power was back on. 20 odd travellers were queueing to use the internet to let thier loved ones know they were ok. The BBC News website had the earthquake as the top news story and the photos were horrific.

The epicentre of the quake was off the coast of Curanipe, about 100km north of Concepción, a city where I had stayed in January. I was offered generous hospitality there by the owner of a bike shop. I am glad that he and his family are ok. Also, as I cycled along the coast from Conception, I met 3 lads from the area out on bikes and we cycled together for a few days. It was great fun, we crossed a river in a fishing boat, we sang songs by a fire and we went to see a chilean band perform in a small beach town, Cobquecura. These guys are also fine. Matias wrote to me and said:

"Nuestra ciudad se encuentra muy dañada y es una pena verla así... sin embargo ya comienza a mejorar todo por aquí... espero que pronto llegue la normalidad...Y todas las playas que recorrimos hoy ya no existen... es una pena pensar que esos lugares tan bonitos desaparecieron..."

"Our city finds itself very damaged and it is a shame to see it like this...however already everything has started to improve around here...I hope that things will be back to normal soon... and all the beaches we visited no longer exist...it is a shame to think that such beautifull places have disappeared"

Many of the small villages I passed along the coast were on gravel roads. These are easily damaged and make them hard to reach. To make matters worse many of the houses are made from adobe bricks that I imagine probably shake to peices fairly easily.

Perhaps worse even than the initial quakes, fires and tsunamis are the human chaos of prison breakouts, looting, riots, arson, vandalism, sexual assults, vigilantism. Intense grief, fear, confusion and panic drive people to extreme actions.

Chile is badly located when it comes to earthquakes. 6 of the 20 strongest recorded have been in Chile including the strongest ever (9.5 in 1960). This quake was 8.8 and the 7th strongest ever. Boffins think it has shortened the length of a day by a microsecond!

So far this year there have been earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Venezuela, Solomon Islands, California, Hawaii, Japan, Argentina, Taiwan, Sumatra and Turkey. 2010 seems to be a year with bite.

Run with Kerry. I ran from home to meet Kerry at RBS at Gyle Ind. Park. Did 5 mile loop then ran back home again.
Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	8.86 Mile
Time:	01:12:19
Elevation Gain:	508 Feet

Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	7.15 Mile
Time:	00:56:04
Elevation Gain:	839 Feet

Run round the Meadows with Neil :-). Felt good, legs recovered from previous few days training, felt fresh.
Owner:	jkirby13
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	4.00 Mile
Time:	00:34:45
Elevation Gain:	776 Feet

Run with Nick. Took it at an easy pace as Nick's calf still playing up. Intention was to do no more than 6 miles. Ended up doing nearer 10. Went out via cycle path and returned along the shore. Mild still day so good running conditions.
Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	9.58 Mile
Time:	01:24:30
Elevation Gain:	677 Feet

Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Transportation
Distance:	5.84 Mile
Time:	00:49:04
Elevation Gain:	724 Feet

Sunny but extremely cold day. Seemed to take ages before my legs were warmed up.
Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Transportation
Distance:	5.72 Mile
Time:	00:46:01
Elevation Gain:	1,263 Feet

Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Race
Distance:	3.81 Mile
Time:	00:32:04
Elevation Gain:	528 Feet

Went out for a long run in the pouring rain with Julia and Emma. Legs ok from yesterday. Had a slight dip at 7/8 miles but picked up again in the final few. Loads of London marathon people out training. Said hello to Jo Pavey in Bushy Park.
Owner:	jkirby13
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	11.52 Mile
Time:	01:41:29
Elevation Gain:	442 Feet

Easy warm down mile after track
Owner:	jkirby13
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Track Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	1.00 Mile
Time:	00:09:05
Elevation Gain:	30 Feet

Track session with Duncan. Ran with Faye. Dan and Stewart. Really pleased with the times, probably best set of 800s! 3:01/3:01/3:01/2:59/2:56/3:01/3:03/2:57
Owner:	jkirby13
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Track Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	4.58 Mile
Time:	00:35:32
Elevation Gain:	47 Feet

Warm up run with Faye to track training
Owner:	jkirby13
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	3.49 Mile
Time:	00:28:41
Elevation Gain:	221 Feet

Determined to get this over with now so out again for another tester, was pleased that after my fall on Wednesday my knee didnt stiffen up as badly as it has done previously and with more icing was again feeling better apart from at full flex. To today, used the same route as the other day and tried to stretch out and keep working through. Knee felt much better though still not 'comfortable', im satisfied that im going to run on it daily and see what happens. There seems to be a lot of scar tissue behind the point of impact still so going to try massage that out myself over the next week or so. Its not the Nationals but maybe i might get to do the Borders finale at Peebles yet! Going to run 10K+ tomorrow all going well. Aside from injury, felt very rusty definately lost my edge with the layoff.
Owner:	iamc0b
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Street Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	2.94 Mile
Time:	00:18:26
Elevation Gain:	30 Feet

The end of the XC season was marked with the grande finale, the Scottish Cross Country Champs in Callendar Park in Falkirk. This was my first running of the event, and what a great day it was. Great weather, great club atmosphere and a really good course. 2 laps (3 for the boys!) of ups and downs, mud and trail. It made for a varied route, but felt somewhat easier than the recent Borders race! I set off at what I felt was a comfortable pace and was up higher in the field than I expected. Ran some of the way with fellow CAACer Gillian, but she was too strong for me on the 2nd lap. Other CAAC ladies were Megan, Kerry and Jillian, and we managed 8th team which was a great effort! Really helped having the fellow club cheers along the route complete with cow bells! Felt like a Winter Olympics event!
Distance: 8km
Position: 52nd
Time: 32mins 31sec

Winner of the women's event was Freya Murray, clearly in a league of her own!

1. Reinhold Messner


Extraordinary Adventure: Considered the best young climbers in Europe, Reinhold and his brother Günther were drafted up to join a 1970 attempt to climb Nanga Parbat. Nanga Parbat is a 8126m peak, the ninth highest in the world, located in Pakistan. The climb was only the third successful ascent of the mountain and also the first ascent of the enormous Rupal Face. This cliff face is 4600m from its base and is the highest in the world. They found themselves unable to descent by the same route and, in an epic fight for their own survival, traversed the mountian and tried to go down the Diamir Face. Günther was killed in an avalanche and Reinhold lost 6 toes to frostbite.
Then what?
Disillusioned by the seige tactics used in climbing high mountains, he pioneered a fast and light alpine style. With this in mind he returned to climb Nanga Parbat again, in 1978, this time alone. This was the first solo of an 8000m peak. In the same year he made the first ascent of Everest without bottled oxygen (saying "by fair means or not at all") and then the first solo ascent in 1980. By 1986 he had climbed all the mountians in the world over 8000m, the first person ever to do so. In later life he has crossed the arctic, greenland and travelled 2000 miles in the Gobi Desert. His latest project is to establish a series of museums about mountains.

2. Oskar Speck

Extraordinary Adventure: Oskar canoed from Germany to Australia from 1932 to 1939. At the beginning of his journey Oskar was off to find work in Cyprus. He paddled down the Danube. Then he changed his mind and decided he wanted to travel and see the world. He arrived seven years later in Australia and, after taking one look at the swastika on his kayak, the Aussies threw him into an internment camp.
And then?
Whilst in the internment camp, Oskar developed a way to polish opals which would later make him a wealthy man.

3. Mike Horn

Extraordinary Adventure: Mike crossed the South American continent in 1997. Climbing from the Pacific Ocean to the source of the amazon, high in the Andes. He then decended the full length of the amazon (over 7000km) by hydrospeed. At one point an indian tribe saw him floating by and asumed he was the river devil that had been eating their children. Perhaps it was his sunburnt face? They had him in the pot ready to boil him alive but he was rescued at the last minute by Brazillian Army helicopters. They had been alerted by the emergency beacon that the natives had unwittingly set off.
And then?
He got interested in sailing, breaking all kinds of records, and then set off on a circumnavigation following the equator. He then became interested in polar travel and got to the North Pole in Winter.

4. Heinrich Harrer


Extraordinary Adventure: Already a champion skier Heinrich, aged 26, was a member of the 4 man team that successfully climbed the North Face of the Eiger for the first time. Perhaps even more impressive is his journey in Tibet. Following his escape from an internment camp in India he and his friend Peter Aufschnaiter crossed Tibet to reach Lhasa. In Lhasa he became the tutor of the Dalai Lama when he was 11 years old.
And then?
He wrote many books. The White Spider details the climbing history of the North Face of the Eiger and Seven Years In Tibet details his travels in that country. He also continued to climb mountains all around the world. In his later years he became a champion golfer.

5. Karl Bushby

Extraordinary Adventure: In 1998 Karl set out to walk around the world in one unbroken route. He began in Ushuaia and walked the entire length of the Americas. This included being disguised a tramp and floating down a river to get through the extremely dangerous jungle of the Darien Gap. From Alaska he crossed the frozen Bearing Straights with Dimitri Kieffer. The 90km crossing took them 15 days. They were arrested for not entering Russia at a border control.
Where is he now?
With the economic down turn Karl is short of funding. He is now languishing in Mexico trying to find sponsors to fund his crossing of Siberia and onwards journey across Asia back to the UK. He also hopes to be alowed to walk through the Channel Tunnel and return to the UK by 2014. His website explains more.

Run with Nick. Later Wednesday run than normal so did't get started until 4:30. Miserable weather - rain, wind and cold. Plan was to do the route we'd done before - along the cycle path then back via the water of Leith. However conditions ment it was probably too dark to return along the Water of Leith, and also Nick was getting a few twinges in his calf, so we decided to be sensible and return via the cycle path. Run was a bit stop start at the end, so Nick could stretch out, but eventually got back!
Owner:	susanj21
Location:	--
Activity Type:	Running
Event Type:	Training
Distance:	13.50 Mile
Time:	01:54:05
Elevation Gain:	1,492 Feet