Day 617 – South America – Chile [Traiguen to Los Sauces]


29/12/21

41km

  From Traiguen (Chile) to Los Sauces (Chile)

South America


Running in the valley, near the Nahuelbuta Cordillera, on a cloudy day

Along Ruta 86

There was no gravel road today as I was again on Ruta 86. A very undulating road, swerving through fields of eucalyptus and pine trees. The traffic was again mostly trucks carrying lumber. The shoulder is quite narrow on this road, I am glad I don’t have to push my stroller anymore.

Meeting Martina, a journey-cyclist from Italy

The only town I ran by today is Traiguen, early in the run. A small town of 20,000 people made of very similar little wooden bungalows. A strange sight from the road. On the road I met Martina, a very young Italian who is crossing Chile by bike, north to south, to go and visit Patagonia. She’s on a one-month journey, she’s gonna have to ride a lot of miles every day! She is the first journey-traveller I have met since starting the South American crossing.

A few words about running without the stroller. I still miss it! I know it represents 30kgs that I was pushing ahead, day in day out, for 21,000km. But I got used to it. And my whole body had adjusted to it. Over 2 years. Posture, muscles, a certain way to incline my body yet stand quite upright, my hands always having a place to rest on the handlebar. Physically, running with the stroller was no doubt tougher than it is to run without.

All sort of traffic!

I am currently going through a phase of adaptation. My body is learning to run and keep things that work with a different set-up. I can already feel my arms becoming a bit less strong. The triceps muscles are not working anymore and I feel the absence of load. I need to pay attention to my posture, especially in the second half of the run. And my speed is somehow not affected. I don’t run any faster. Bear in mind I go through a lot more elevation here in South America than Europe and North America & also a lot more gravel roads. Let’s see how it would translate on flatter and more even terrain.

Enjoy the video of today’s run: https://www.relive.cc/view/v4OGEkRyE5q



Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: