Atacama Desert Run for United Way | Atacama

Captain Mehmet Danis Atacama Desert Run for United Way

Captain Mehmet Danis took the heat for United Way and won the 2009 Atacama Crossing

Breaking News from Chile:

4-APRIL-2009 16:00
Mehmet Danis of Canada has won the Atacama Crossing 2009, with his closest rival Peter Osterwalder of Switzerland winning second place.

Read about Captain Danis' victory:

Silent running, National Post, April 18, 2009
Salt flats, blisters and 250 kilometres of searing heat, Globe and Mail, April 10, 2009
Toronto man wins 250 km foot race, Toronto Star, April 5, 2009
Taking a run at Chilean desert, Toronto Star, April 2, 2009
read a thank you message from Captain Danis
see the see the race results
read more race updates

Watch videos of Captain Danis crossing the finish line in San Pedro...

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Captain Danis in the lead for Atacama desert crossing

See more photos from the Atacama and Gobi Desert runs.

You can still help him reach his goal and show you care.

Captain Mehmet Danis won the 2009 Atacama Crossing, a six day, 250-kilometer footrace across the Atacama Desert of Chile. Captain Danis, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Toronto "took the heat" to raise funds for United Way Toronto. He hoped that his run would inspire others to support United Way Toronto which assists individuals, families and communities by supporting services that improve peoples' lives.

In 2008 Captain Danis ran the Gobi Desert in support of United Way as part of a worldwide competition that pits participants against some of the harshest environments in the world. This year he faced the Atacama Desert with temperatures of 32 Celsius during the day and 16 Celsius or lower at night.

There is still time to help Captain Danis reach his goal and raise funds for United Way Toronto by sponsoring him. You can post a message of support and make a difference in the lives of people across Toronto.

Proud to support this initiative by Captain Danis.

Thank you for your support from Captain Danis

WE WON!!! I think this is the best way sum up what just happened in Chile. With the support of all of you, with your donations and your inspiring comments I was able to take the glory and the 1st place trophy at the Atacama Crossing.

The magnitude of the win has not yet settled in my heart. Some of the congratulatory emails I have received have helped this process. What has been called the most gruelling footrace on the planet is now behind us and it is difficult to explain how this feels.

Although the 1st place trophy is presented to one person, it would be most fitting if it were awarded to the team of supporters that willed the runner to train long enough, hard enough and fast enough during the many months of preparation. For this I thank you. Without all my United Way sponsors, I would not have had the determination and the purpose that I depended on for over 9 months of intense preparation. We have collected close to $6000 for our community, "our Toronto"!!

I owe all of you much, and I will never forget you. I hope this accomplishment motivates us and our loved ones to take on challenges that seem unreasonable. That are beyond our imagination and beyond the expectations of others. We may fail many times, but when we succeed, the glory will be that much sweeter. As parting words I THANK YOU and plead to all of you to "please be unreasonable".

Mehmet Danis
Proud Torontonian, Canadian, one Unreasonable man...

Race Updates

1600HRS 4-APRIL-2009 Mehmet Danis of Canada has won the Atacama Crossing 2009! Entering the square in San Pedro, Captain Danis joined hands with his closest rival for first place, Peter Osterwalder of Switzerland, and together crossed the finish line. Their moving gesture of unity and sportsmanship epitomising, in a single moment, everything the Atacama Crossing 2009 has been about - the sharing of a life changing experience.

1945 2-April-2009 Mehmet Danis of Canada has won Stage 5, though Marc Miller of the USA was first to cross the finish line, due to the staggered start. Fleur Grose of Australia pipped the USA's Tracy Simmons to a stage victory in the women's race. Aranda Aventura of Spain were first team home. Competitors will be out on the course all night.

2-Apr-2009 At the end of Day 4, Mehmet Danis moved into second behind Christian Schiester and the third spot going to Peter Osterwalder of Switzerland. Competitors endured the infamous salt flats in a section of the stage classified as "extremely difficult". Today, competitors face the long march of 73.6km.

0800hrs 2-April-2009 Stage 5, the long stage, has just started with competitors facing a journey of over 70kms. The top 18 will wait until 1000hrs before they get underway. This staggered start gives lower ranked competitors the opportunity to run alongside the fastest in the event. The first leg of the stage is a tough 15km salt flat crossing.

1830hrs 1-April-2009 Fifty seven competitors have now reached Camp 5 at the Tebiquincbe Lagoon and the end of a tough Stage 4. The stage was won by Christian Schiester of Austria, with Fleur Grose of Australia maintaining her position as top woman. Spain's Aranda Aventura was the first team home. There were a number of withdrawals due to the severity of the stage, though the UK's Jonathon Raymond said: "I thought yesterday was harder."

2120hrs 31-Mar-2009 The last competitor has reached Camp 4. A hard day that varied from good running on flat ground to punishing sand dunes, saw five more withdrawals from the event. Tomorrow competitors will tackle the infamous salt flats. This could prove to be their most demanding day so far.

1605hrs 31-Mar-2009 Over 30 competitors have now finished Stage 3 and arrived at Camp 4 Volcan Licancabur. Canada's Mehmet Danis sustained his blistering early pace and won the stage. Australia's Fleur Grose was the top placed woman, with Spain's Lleidaextrem the first team home. Scotsman Fergus Edwards said: "It was a lovely fast first two stages, hell on earth for the third and beautiful scenery for the last."

1430hrs 31-Mar-2009 The first competitors have reached the end of Stage 3. Over 40 have also passed through the last checkpoint before camp. In a shock development, top three competitor Marco Gazzola of Switzerland has withdrawn. Mike Stemple of the USA said: "This is the most alien landscape I've ever walked across and it was a blast."

0940hrs 31-Mar-2009 Competitors are passing through the first checkpoint of Stage 3. Mehmet Danis of Canada is setting a blistering pace out in front. "So far it's easy," he said. "It's flat, so I'm going to take advantage of that. The hills are my nemesis and the guy behind me just won't quit." Fleur Grose of Australia leads the women and Lleidaextrem of Spain are the team in front.

0800 hrs 31 March Stage 3 is now underway with 77 competitors tackling what promises to be an exceptionally hard course. Although much of the terrain is flat, conditions underfoot are very difficult.

2330hrs 30-Mar-2009 Competitors have settled in for the night at Camp 3 Salar de Atacama. The last person got in just after dark at 1930hrs. There have been four withdrawals, but everyone is fine. The remaining competitors are steeling themselves for what promises to be a difficult third stage.

1815 hrs 30-Mar-2009 Competitors are still arriving at Camp 3 Salar de Atacama after a gruelling second stage. The terrain traversed varied from rock canyons to sand dunes and open plains. Austrian competitor Christian Schiester added two hours to his time on course after heading the wrong way early in the race. "I'm here to run and not to cry about some mistakes I made," he said while reflecting on his error. Captain Mehmet Danis placed second in the men's competition on Day 2.

1130hrs 30-Mar-2009 Stage Two of the Atacama Crossing 2009 is now underway. Already the fastest competitors have passed checkpoint two, in the stunning Valle de la Muerte. An exciting tussle for the top three places in the men's race is developing between Damon Goerke of Australia, Marco Gazzola of Switzerland and Mehmet Danis of Canada.

2030hrs 29-Mar-09 Competitors have now completed Stage One after a challenging day battling altitude and high temperatures. It was a day in which the Atacama Crossing lived up to its reputation as one of the hardest endurance events there is. "The course was brutal," said the USA's Jim O'Brien, who placed in the middle of the pack. "But that's what we came here for." Utterly determined as ever, 76-year-old Laurence Brophy, from the UK, was last to finish. "That was pretty awful," he said on reaching Camp Two Inca to massive applause.

1345 hrs 29-Mar-09 The first of the competitors to complete the 35.2kms of Stage 1 are now arriving at Camp 2 Inca. Australian Damon Goerke has led throughout the day, with his girlfriend Fleur Grose the first woman home. First team across the line was Team Lleida Extrem from Spain. The severity of this first stage has surprised many.

0800hrs 29-Mar-09 The Atacama Crossing 2009 is now underway. After a cold night at Camp Rio Grande competitors were eager to get down to the business of running. Local musicians played before race director Zac Addorisio officially started the event, shouting: "Have a great day. Be careful!"

2015hrs 28-Mar-2009 Everyone is settling in for the first night at Camp 1, Rio Grande. The camp is nestled within a spectacular rose-coloured rocky valley under a carpet of stars. Canadian competitor Stan Lee said: "It's awesome, but it's very cold here."

Pre-race update from Captain Danis

Dear Friends,

I wanted to fill you in on my preparations for the ATACAMA DESERT RACE.

My campaign to raise awareness and financial support for our United Way has been moving along thanks to all of you who have pledged their support. read more...

In return I hope to provide some excitement, interesting images and inspiration to everyone.

Since my return form the Gobi Desert Race in June of 2008, I have been preparing to run another 250km in 7 days at the Atacama Desert. For the past 9 months, my weekly schedule has consisted of 6 days of running, 4 days of weight training and 1 full day of rest. During this time my weekly mileage has ranged from 100 km per week to 160 km per week. All my runs are on an incline to simulate uphill running. I always wear my 22lb back pack, the approximate weight it will be when it is loaded with all my food and sleeping bag for the weeks worth of racing.

My shortest speed workouts are a little over an hour long. My longest run is a 6 hour slow run (uninterrupted) that I do once a week. Mentally these are the toughest ones. I try to break them down into pieces in my head and not think of the entire 6 hours. I listen to music and audio books to pass the time and distract from the pain.

My toughest weeks were the last 6 (February and first 2 weeks of March) as I peaked the intensity to 160 km per week with two days of back to back 50 km runs. I got through it by thinking of the fundraising drive and all the people who have pledged their financial support for this run. It is challenging and motivating at the same time.

Every day I would check the web site, and get a boost of energy when I would see all the sponsors. With only days left before the race, I am now "tapering" my training, I rest every other day . I will do my last long 6 hour slow run this Saturday morning.

I have been very fortunate. I have suffered no major injuries but most of all I have the support of so many people pushing me. My wife who is my dietitian, manager, psychologist and best friend, my friends here in Toronto and Kingston and of course the many Canadian Forces Members and civilian staff that have given me their words of encouragement. They have not allowed me to loose focus and resolve.

Although I will be running the race on my own two feet, I see clearly now that this is truly a team sport. I hope my performance will to live up to all this once I get to Atacama.

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