Hi Everyone!! This article will share Atacama Desert Runner Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Take Time, The Power of Determination and The Eyes Have It so, you can check these posts as well.
Atacama Desert Runner Questions & Answers
Question 1: Read and answer the questions:
‘This marathon is organised by the ‘Racing the planet’ a sporting event management company headquartered in Hong Kong and is widely recognized as the most prestigious outdoor series in the world.’
(a) Which Marathon is being talked about here? Where is it held?
Answer: The Atacama Crossing Race is being talked about here. It is held in the Atacama Desert in Chile, South America, every year.
(b) What is the total distance covered in this marathon?
Answer: The total distance covered in this marathon is 250 km.
(c) What is the ultimate objective of this marathon?
Answer: The ultimate objective of this marathon is not just sport but to foster greater understanding between diverse cultures and nationalities.
Question 2: Read and answer the questions:
‘The feeling of elation and pride I felt is indescribable’
(a) Who is ‘I’ here?
Answer: ‘I’ here is Sumanth Cidambi.
(b) What do you understand by the word ‘elation’.
Answer: The word ‘elation’ means a state of great happiness and excitement.
(c) Why did ‘I’ have the feeling of elation and pride?
Answer: Sumanth Cidambi had a feeling of elation and pride because he was the first Indian to complete The Atacama Crossing Race.
Question 3: Mark the statements as true or false:
1. Mawsynram is the driest place on earth – False
2. The Atacama Crossing Race is organized by ‘Racing the Earth – False
3. Cidambi took up running after being diagnosed with diabetes – True
4. Cidambi and Kakade were the first Indians to compete in the Atacama ultra-marathon – True
5. The competitors safely crossed through the minefield with the help of glowsticks – True
Question 4: What makes the Atacama crossing Marathon a very challenging one?
Answer: The Atacama Crossing Marathon is an extremely challenging one as the entire race covers a total of 250 kms, at altitudes between 1600 and 3000 metres on the course. Daytime temperatures can reach 45 degree celsius while night-time temperatures may drop to 5 degree celsius.
Question 5: What motivated Cidambi to join the race?
Answer: Cidambi, who started running in 2005 after being diagnosed with diabetes, quickly developed a passion for it. From struggling to finish even a kilometre in 2005, he was jostling with other competitors at the starting line of the Mumbai half-marathon in 2006, followed by a full marathon in 2007. Therefore, racing through almost the entire country of Chile on the driest, most brutal desert on the planet was a challenge he couldn’t ignore.
Atacama Desert Runner Questions & Answers
Question 6: What kind of terrain did the marathoners have to face?
Answer: The marathoners faced several terrains at different stages of the race. The first stage had a stunning landscape of sand dunes, rocky climbs, bare mountains, canyons and volcanoes. In the second stage, they had to run through a deep river canyon. In stage four, the racers had to run through the Salt Flats – a 43 km stretch with 20 km of rough, crusty salt which pierced through the tough soles of the runners’ footwear. In stage six, they had to cross a mine, but the runners took a longer and safer route to avoid the minefield.
Question 7: The participants were from different races, religious and nationalities. How do you know this?
Answer: There were 109 participants from more than 30 countries around the world. This race is organized to foster greater understanding between diverse cultures and nationalities.
Question 8: Why did Cidambi feel like giving up? What helped him to stay focused?
Answer: Cidambi’s feet were blistered and sore and he felt like giving up. The rigours of the race were beginning to show as he had gone without a whole meal for two days, surviving on soup, carb-powder, water and antacids because the untested freeze-dried food he was carrying did not agree with him. However, he stayed positive and never gave in to despair out of loneliness or exhaustion.
Question 9: Why was a safe route market out by glowsticks?
Answer: A safe route market out by glowsticks because they had to pass along a 6 kilometre stretch of a fenced-off minefield, the result of a border dispute between Chile and Argentina. This safe route would ensure the safety of the racers in the minefield.
Question 10: Was is it a kind thing to suggest to the runners that the glow sticks might have been moved?
Answer: No, it was not a kind thing to suggest to the runners that the glow sticks might have been moved because they, out of concern for their safety, took the longer route instead and completely avoided the minefield.
Question 11: Why does Cidambi say ‘being first was nearly and optional extra’?
Answer: Cidambi says this because the main cause of elation was having completed the face and the entire experience of it. In the race, they had several first-timers, sharing mutual hopes and fears. They helped each other and were helped by those who were running in such events for the second or third time. It was like being part of a large family. That was the main reason for his pride and elation.
So, these were Atacama Desert Runner Questions & Answers.