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| Early start |
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| Nearly half way! |
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| More people arrived for the last 10km... |
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| Daniel with the T-14 birthday boy |
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| The home stretch |
Sunday, July 15, 2012
40 marathons in 40 days
One of Daniel's running buddies is celebrating his 40th birthday this year, and he has decided to reach this milestone in style. He is running 40 marathons in 40 days ending with the 40th marathon on his 40th birthday! Everyday at 06:00 he sets off on the same route around Santiago, joined by friends and fellow runners. Today Daniel joined him for marathon #26.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Pomaire
Last Sunday afternoon we drove down to a small village called Pomaire with our friends Fede and Yoyo. Pomaire lies about 65km south west of Santiago and is a famous destination for its clay wares and its 1kg empanadas. We didn't eat the big empanadas, but we enjoyed a very Chilean lunch of regular-sized empanadas, stuffed pork rolls and chicha (wine).
Due to the abundant natural clay in the hills surrounding the town there is a thriving pottery industry in Pomaire. The town's streets are lined with stalls selling pots and goblets, charcoal holders and candle holders, decorations and pigs, urns and platters, you name it. It really is quite a charming village!
In Pomaire there is a tradition of giving "chanchitos"- little clay pigs - to friends and family to bring good luck.
Due to the abundant natural clay in the hills surrounding the town there is a thriving pottery industry in Pomaire. The town's streets are lined with stalls selling pots and goblets, charcoal holders and candle holders, decorations and pigs, urns and platters, you name it. It really is quite a charming village!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Merrell Climbing Tour
Whew, what a climb! Daniel and I entered the June Merrell Climbing Tour race which took place at Cerro El Roble (Oak Hill). There were two distances: 6.5km straight uphill or 8.3km straight uphill. We opted for the shorter distance, but I reckon we would have taken a 5km option if it had been presented to us!
The trail was absolutely beautiful through a forest carpeted with fallen leaves, and incredible views of the lightly snow-dusted Andes across the valley. However, it was also fearsomely steep! I managed to run the first 200m before slowing to a 'power hike'. It wasn't long before that turned to walking... and then to plodding. Nevertheless we made it to our meta near the top of the hill and enjoyed a lovely stroll back downhill to the start.
The trail was absolutely beautiful through a forest carpeted with fallen leaves, and incredible views of the lightly snow-dusted Andes across the valley. However, it was also fearsomely steep! I managed to run the first 200m before slowing to a 'power hike'. It wasn't long before that turned to walking... and then to plodding. Nevertheless we made it to our meta near the top of the hill and enjoyed a lovely stroll back downhill to the start.
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| Before the Great Uphill Trek |
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| On the way up - still smiling! |
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| Joining the line of tired 'runners' - not so much smiling now! |
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| At our meta - 6.5km up Cerro El Roble |
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Salomon Xtrail 7km and 21km
Wow, today I ran my first trail race! There were some serious nerves at the start, as I set off for the 7km race, while Daniel was running the 21km. The pressure was on for me to finish before Daniel...
The race took place at Hacienda Los Aromos, on the way to the coast from Santiago. The 7km runners turned around pretty early on, leaving the more intrepid 21km athletes to face the bigger hills and river crossings. For us, there were a couple of hills, a bit of forest, some dry river bed-crossings, and lots of meandering trails through the acacia trees. Beautiful!
The good news is that I finished in 00:58 minutes, nearly an hour before Daniel! He came in just 14 minutes after the leader in 01:52.
We both had great races, and I think I'll be out there again soon, sticking to the shorter distances while Daniel tackles the ultras!
Results and race photos: http://www.salomonxtrail.cl
Race photos: http://www.fotografiaad.cl/index.php?option=com_wgpicasa&view=album&album=5742813842492536177&page=1&Itemid=546,
Race video: http://vimeo.com/42149624
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| BEFORE... |
The race took place at Hacienda Los Aromos, on the way to the coast from Santiago. The 7km runners turned around pretty early on, leaving the more intrepid 21km athletes to face the bigger hills and river crossings. For us, there were a couple of hills, a bit of forest, some dry river bed-crossings, and lots of meandering trails through the acacia trees. Beautiful!
The good news is that I finished in 00:58 minutes, nearly an hour before Daniel! He came in just 14 minutes after the leader in 01:52.
We both had great races, and I think I'll be out there again soon, sticking to the shorter distances while Daniel tackles the ultras!
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| AFTER! |
Results and race photos: http://www.salomonxtrail.cl
Race photos: http://www.fotografiaad.cl/index.php?option=com_wgpicasa&view=album&album=5742813842492536177&page=1&Itemid=546,
Race video: http://vimeo.com/42149624
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Picnic on Cerro Carbon
On our day off this week, we hiked up Cerro Carbon with Daniel's parents. On the way up we were treated to beautiful views of the city, one giant hairy spider and three snakes. We were definitely ready for our picnic at the end!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Isla Negra
Pablo Neruda is arguably Chile's most well-known poet. He was a diplomat and a politician, and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. We visited his favourite house (of three), Casa de Isla Negra, situated in a small coastal town about 100km west of Santiago.
Neruda is known for his quirky collections of ships' beakheads, shells, coloured glasses, globes and compasses, ships in bottles, butterflies, you name it! Neruda loved all things to do with the sea and he built his house to resemble a ship, with low ceilings, creaking wooden floors and narrow passageways. He received ships' bells as gifts, and even bought his own boat - which never saw the sea! Instead, Neruda would enjoy a drink in his boat in his garden while looking out over the ocean.
The house overlooks the sea and we went for a stroll along the beach in front of the house. From here we could see the house and the graves of Neruda and his third (and favourite) wife Matilde, built to resemble ... a ship!
Neruda is known for his quirky collections of ships' beakheads, shells, coloured glasses, globes and compasses, ships in bottles, butterflies, you name it! Neruda loved all things to do with the sea and he built his house to resemble a ship, with low ceilings, creaking wooden floors and narrow passageways. He received ships' bells as gifts, and even bought his own boat - which never saw the sea! Instead, Neruda would enjoy a drink in his boat in his garden while looking out over the ocean.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Senderos de Santiago
We had a trail-filled weekend as we joined some friends and the Santiago Hiking Club for a hike up Cerro Pochoco on Saturday, and then a trail run along Cerro Carbon's contour path on Sunday.
We've hiked up Pochoco before so this time it was a little easier and just as beautiful. Thanks to some rain the previous night, the surrounding mountains were lightly dusted with snow and the views were washed clean.
The trail run along the side of Cerro Carbon was very peaceful and we both got in some training before our races in May.
We've hiked up Pochoco before so this time it was a little easier and just as beautiful. Thanks to some rain the previous night, the surrounding mountains were lightly dusted with snow and the views were washed clean.
The trail run along the side of Cerro Carbon was very peaceful and we both got in some training before our races in May.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
La Campana
La Campana National Park is located about 2 hours northwest of Santiago and is home to one of the last palm forests of the Chilean wine palm. We drove up to the park for a weekend of camping with our friends Federico and Joselin. We stayed in a cute little campsite with winding trails along a dry stream bed and campsites hidden between the trees.
The forests were filled with birds and lizards, and we even saw some cute and hairy wildlife near our campsite.
On Saturday we went for a lovely hike through a beautiful forest with soft leaf-lined paths. Along the way we passed a 15th-century settlement of the Inca Maray people, marked by walls and large grinding stones.
We made it up the 7km trail to Portezuelo Ocoa, a little further down the ridge from Cerro Campana. Here we had a lovely picnic under the trees whilst enjoying the spectacular views down the valley of the famous palm trees.
The forests were filled with birds and lizards, and we even saw some cute and hairy wildlife near our campsite.
On Saturday we went for a lovely hike through a beautiful forest with soft leaf-lined paths. Along the way we passed a 15th-century settlement of the Inca Maray people, marked by walls and large grinding stones.
We made it up the 7km trail to Portezuelo Ocoa, a little further down the ridge from Cerro Campana. Here we had a lovely picnic under the trees whilst enjoying the spectacular views down the valley of the famous palm trees.
Yet again, we had a superb weekend exploring a new part of Chile. ¡Que bacán esta vida!
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