 (www.racingtheplanet.com) This image shows competitors in last year's event, The Last Desert 2007.
Less Than 10 Days Until "The Last Desert" Race
RacingThePlanet Limited
NOVEMBER 13, 2008 Three individuals are vying to become the first in the world to complete the 4 Deserts in one calendar year
The annual 4 Deserts competition involves races in four extreme environments. The events are called the Gobi March (China), the Atacama Crossing (Chile), the Sarhara Race (Egypt), and The Last Desert (Antarctica). They are claimed to be the driest, hottest, windiest, and coldest places on earth.
In 2008, three competitors are attempting to be the first to complete the 4 Deserts in one calendar year: South African Paul H. Liebenberg, Dane Jimmi Olsen, and American Dean N. Karnazes.
The field of competitors also includes Kyoung Tae Son of Korea, who is blind, who will be competing with his 21-year-old son, Won, who is also the youngest competitor in the field. Kyung Tae is training for The Last Desert by running 20km a week and mountain climbing five days a week. When he runs in the event, he’ll be visually assisted by fellow compatriot Ji Sung Yoo. You can see the complete list of competitors here: www.4deserts.com/thelastdesert/rtpldtp
The first of the 2008 races, the Atacama Crossing in Chile, began on Sunday, 30 March 2008. Competitors representing 21 countries competed, including former Sahara Race 2006 champion Jimmi Olsen of Denmark. An official team from Chile was present, Team Brunton/Gerber/Andesgear represented by Pablo Lambert, Matias Anguita and Juan Encina.
The Atacama course began on the edge of San Bartolo at an altitude slightly more than 10,000 feet. Competitors were taken along an old road that features ancient rock carvings dating back 1000 years. Competitors passed ancient Inca ruins, narrow slot canyons, and the dreaded salt flats before ending up in the spectacular setting of Valle de la Muerte or Death Valley. The finish took place in the Town Square of San Pedro de Atacama and the mayor was present to hand out medals.
RacingThePlanet uses many cutting edge and innovative products from renowned companies including Brunton, Gerber and Intel. Brunton is supplying many of the outdoor lights, solar panels, flashlights and shovels, while Gerber has provided outdoor knives and multi-tools. Intel has again supplied special Classmate laptops for the cybertent which will be used by competitors to blog, email and view daily results. These Intel Classmate laptops have been used in the last two RacingThePlanet events and have become an integral part of the event's ability to connect to the outside world.
RacingThePlanet has once again made contributions to the various indigenous communities along the expected course. The monies will be used for preservation and other worthy causes in the communities.
Website coverage of The Last Desert 2008 can be found at www.4deserts.com/thelastdesert featuring hundreds of pictures, breaking news texts, daily journals, video clips, field updates and full results.
About RacingThePlanet Limited
RacingThePlanet Limited is an international outdoor lifestyle brand and global leader in organizing some of the world's most prestigious outdoor events including the 4 Deserts, a series of 7-day footraces across the world's largest and most forbidding deserts. These events include the Gobi March in China, the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica. These locations represent the driest, hottest, coldest and windiest places on Earth. In addition, a fifth annual event 'RacingThePlanet' roves to a new country each year. The 4 Deserts and RacingThePlanet events attract individuals from all backgrounds and from all walks of life, the majority being professionals including bankers, lawyers, airline pilots and medical doctors. For further information about RacingThePlanet, please visit the website at www.racingtheplanet.com or www.4deserts.com.
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