A race that is sure to become ultramarathon legend: my Ultrafiord 70 km run, Chilean Patagonia

About time… here, finally, is my post on the Ultrafiord race I ran last month in Patagonia: at 70 km, my longest ultramarathon to date. I’ve already posted an Ultrafiord race report on RunningUltramarathons.com – but here is a more personal account of what happened.

Well, I have known the Race Director, Stjepan Pavicic, for around 15 years, and I know his style: his motivation is to create races that are big and wild and very very hard.

Scared: About to “run” (ahem) 70k in wildest Patagonia (Chile)

Wow, this’ll just be a quick note, because I am heading out to the race start very soon: for the inaugural Ultrafiord ultramarathon, here in southern Patagonia, Chile. There are 100 mile, 100k and 70k races going on. I’m running the shortest one… but it’s not that short!! Our time cut-off is 32 hours!!

I’m in the town of Puerto Natales right now. Here’s a pic from the computer this morning, here at the lovely Hotel Weskar (on the water) at first light, 8:15 am. Our race starts at 8:30 tomorrow morning. So I’ll have 11 or so hours of light, then it’ll be by headlamp after that.

I had originally thought I would do it in 12 hours or so, maybe a bit more. (I did the Angel’s Staircase 60k a year and a half ago in 11:40, and I was injured then). But now that I have seen the route info, I am thinking I could be 16 hours or more.

An iconic world-class hike: to the Mirador las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park and UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Chile

Las Torres. Photo by Matt Flaherty.

What a treat! Following the two running races, the Torres del Paine Ultra Trail (42k, 67k, and 109k ultramarathons) on Sept. 26th, 2014, and then the Patagonia International Marathon (10k, 21k, 42k and 63k) on Sept. 27th, 2014, NIGSA, the race organizers, invited runners on a hike up to the Mirador las Torres for the following day, Sept. 28th. The races took place in southern Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Because of the steep and technical nature of this narrow hiking trail, it could not form part of any of the race routes – so it was a real treat to have the time to hike it, and view the Torres (granite towers) for which this park is named.

I had run the 42k trail race two days before. I was really pleased that I felt great – beyond merely recovered from my race, I didn’t even need to recover! My recent dietary changes (no dairy, eating less carb) have really done me well. I headed up the “hill” (net elevation gain around 700 m, so total cumulative elevation gain was probably approaching 1000 m) with some world-class racers: Matt Flaherty of USA, who had won the 63k race the day before; Tegyn Angel of Australia, who was leading the 67k the day before that but ended up officially placing 3rd because of a race course “technicality;” Ryan Scott of South Africa, who

My 42k trail race in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile – got a medal!

I was really happy to be part of the invited press group to take part in the inaugural Torres del Paine Ultra Trail race in southern Patagonia, Chile. I’ve known race organizer Stjepan Pavicic for 15 years, and worked on several of his adventure races (Patagonia Expedition Race, both summer and winter editions). But I was on those races only as a journalist. It was a real pleasure to attend these running races – both the Ultra Trail marathon and ultramarathons, and the Patagonia International Marathon (which also includes an ultra!) as both a racer and as a runner!

In Patagonia: Benja and Jackie hike along Magellan Strait, to the southernmost lighthouse on the American continent!

What a great hike with my old buddy Benjamín! Benja and I met nearly 11 years ago, when he was just 14. I was photographing the week-long Patagonia Expedition race, which finished at the San Isidro lighthouse, and Benja’s family runs the hostería there. In spite of our huge age difference, he and I became great friends, and that friendship – both with him and his family – has endured and grown over the years. So, when I was returning to Punta Arenas (southern Patagonia, Chile) for this very short trip, I wrote to him to ask if he wanted to spend a day hiking into the lighthouse. He immediately responded YES!

How about a run along the shores of Magellan Strait – Patagonia, Chile?

And here I am, back in Punta Arenas, Chilean Patagonia. This is the southernmost city on the American continent (yes, Ushuaia is further south – but it’s on the island of Tierra del Fuego). I’ve spent a lot of time here in the past, but it’s been several years now since I was here. I arrived in Punta Arenas last night, after a 33 hr journey from home (car-float plane-four other flights-and car). I met my buddy Benjamín (who you will hear more about soon) for a quick bite to eat when I got in, then I slept in for 11 hrs! I was awoken by a phone call from another old friend Rodgrigo, and I met him and his new wife and hew babay for lunch (and told them about my new husband!). Then I went for a little jog along the shores of Magellan Strait