Beach Sand Prepares Runners for Chilean Challenge

February 15th, 2012

The Prendiville family and friends have been training on Perth's beaches in preparation for a gruelling run across the Atacama desert in Chile.

Once again they are pushing themselves to the limit to raise awareness of the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC) which is part of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).

Jamie Prendiville says the team is leaving on February the 25th for the seven day race at an altitude of 3,200 metres in Chile.

"It's going to be a real combination of altitude, cold, heat and rough terrain with lots of rocks and plenty of salt flats, so first of all we'll be trying to acclimatise by getting there early. Then, as we go through the race we'll be monitoring our fluid and electrolyte balance so we don't drop our blood pressure too much."

The team of 4 has been training for several hours daily on the toughest terrain they can find in Perth, including Melon Hill in Swanbourne and Reabold Hill at Perry Lakes. The soft sand of the beach has also been a good training ground for the team who run in shoes and carry backpacks weighing around 12 kilograms.

Blister management is a key part of succeeding in the challenge, according to team member Garry Prendiville. "Traditionally you'll get friction, heat and moisture in your shoes, you'll go through ravines and areas that will cause blisters to form and that can be a real issue and certainly was when I was up in Kimberley region."

As well as their seven-day, six-stage, 250-kilometre footrace across the Kimberley in 2010, the Prendivilles and friends have also raced across the Gobi Desert in the far east of China in a similar challenge in 2008.

The team are among 150 to 200 participants from around the world in the unique endurance series of events known as the 4 Deserts challenge.

Garry Prendiville says they're looking forward to the 250 kilometre Atacama crossing which starts at above 3000 meters in the Arcoiris Valley and gradually descends over the six stages to finish in the pretty town of San Pedro de Atacama at an elevation of 2,400 metres.

"People ask us why we do it and we tell them that our key objective is to raise awareness for the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC)," he says. "As well as that we really enjoy the journey, getting our team together, doing the training with all the camaraderie that goes with it and then the event itself is an adventure."

The team is raising funds to support the ground breaking medical research being conducted by the SKMRC to find new treatments and improved diagnosis for the deadly cancer Melanoma.

To support the Prendiville team with a donation towards their challenge visit the SKMRC's Atacama Crossing page.

For more information please contact:
Carolyn Monaghan
Communications Manager
Mobile: 0448 021 932 (media enquiries only)
Office: (08) 9224 0377
Email: carolyn.monaghan@waimr.uwa.edu.au