2025 Patagonman Race Report

Karel and I had a fun time reflecting on his Patagonman extreme triathlon experience. If you'd like to hear about his race experience (the highs, lows and everything between), you can check out his race recap video (HERE)

As I was editing the video (adding pictures and videos from the race), I couldn't help but think about the journey that Karel went through to get to the start line.

For athletes, it’s easy to believe that everything comes down to one day.....the race. The months (or years) of training can feel like a means to an end - an unfulfilling road that hinges on a race day outcome. But here's the truth: it's not about the race result. The fulfillment happens in the preparation. 

The Trap of the Finish Line Mentality
Goals are essential. They give direction, motivation, and structure to training. They help you get out of your cozy bed and power through a workout when there are distractions all around you. However, when your self-worth is centered around a result, that finish-line-only mindset can drain joy from the process of preparation. A missed workout, an injury or a small setback can feel catastrophic because it threatens the outcome you’ve attached all your happiness to. 

Preparation Is Where You’re Built
The event reveals what you’ve built, but preparation is where the building happens.

Every early morning alarm, every physical therapy session, every mile when motivation is low—these moments shape you as an athlete and as a human. Discipline, patience, optimism and mental toughness are not developed on race day. They are earned quietly, over time, when no one is watching.
When you begin to value these moments, training stops being something you have to do and becomes something you want to do. 

Redefining Success on a Daily Basis
If you ever struggle to enjoy the preparation for an event, it's important to redefine what success looks like. Instead of judging your success by an outcome (one that you can’t fully control), focus on process-based: the execution, the focus, listening to your body, nailing your nutrition, recovery. These daily successes are always available to you, regardless of available time, fitness level or circumstances. 

Setbacks Are Speed Bumps, Not Detours
Injuries, low motivation and performance plateaus are not signs that you are failing. They are important chapters in your journey. Athletes who enjoy the process understand that setbacks are often part of the process. Each challenge forces adaptation—physically, mentally, or strategically. When you view obstacles as teachers rather than threats, you stay engaged instead of discouraged. 

Identity Beyond the Event
When athletes tie their identity solely to the result of an event (qualifying for a world championship, placing in the top percent, setting a personal best, finishing in a certain time), preparation becomes psychologically risky. Your happiness on race day is decided by a result. Race day becomes pass or fail.
You’re not just “preparing for a race.” You’re becoming a better human - more resilient, more self-aware. Those qualities don’t disappear after the event—they carry into your next goal and beyond sport altogether.

The Event Is a Celebration
When you truly enjoy the journey, the event becomes something bigger. The event becomes a celebration of the work you’ve done and all you have achieved to get to the start line.
Win or struggle, the sense of accomplishment that comes from the process is available regardless of the final result. 

Final Thoughts
Preparing for an event is all about the experience. It’s where you learn who you are when motivation dips, when distractions are around you, when a setback occurs and when goals feel out of reach.
Enjoying the journey doesn’t mean lowering your standards or caring less about outcomes. It means expanding your definition of success to include the daily struggles, the lessons learned, and the person you become along the way.

We often tell our athletes that race day goes by quickly. When you stand on the start line, the race will be over before you know it. The journey, however, stays with you long after the horn blows to start the race.

Lessons Learned From Patagonia

Lessons Learned From Traveling to the End of The World

Traveling to a remote corner of Chilean Patagonia felt a bit like stepping outside of time. The roads stretched endlessly without traffic lights, the wind roared intensely at its own rhythm, and the towering mountains put everything into perspective. Patagonia was a place where nature was raw, vast, untouched and beautifully wild.

After 10 days in Patagonia, we returned home and went right back to our normal routine - a lifestyle that often feels rushed, stressful and structured around tight schedules and convenience. Patagonia offered us something very different: a slower rhythm, a deeper quiet, and a refreshing recalibration of what life can be like.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have traveled to five continents and immerse myself in such a wide range of cultures. Each journey has challenged me, expanded my views, and has reminded me how much there is to learn from the ways other people live. From rushed city life to remote living to enjoying a delicious cappuccino from a gas station to eating with my hands, every place has offered its own lessons in resilience, community, food, and what it means to live a meaningful life. The more I travel, the more I realize that the greatest privilege isn’t just seeing the world, it’s allowing those experiences to change me.

Here are some of the lessons I brought home from our trip to Patagonia......

1. Simplicity Isn’t A Choice

In much of Patagonia, life is simple - not out of trend - but necessity. Connectivity is limited, amenities are basic, and people rely heavily on nature, family and community. Instead of feeling deprived, I found myself feeling less stressed. Tasks take the time they take. Patience is needed. Conversations are meaningful. Meals are unhurried and appreciated.
Every person we met was nice and helpful. Despite not having a lot, there was a lot of happiness around us. Simplicity stripped away the complexities of life, revealing how much of daily stress comes from a self-imposed pace that we feel obligated to maintain and the anxieties we feel from the constant distractions around us.

2. Nature Restores

The landscapes of Patagonia don’t just impress, they ground you. Glaciers that have existed for thousands of years. Winds that reshape trees. Lakes so blue you can see the reflection of mountains towering above them. Animals roaming freely over the mountains and farm lands.
Being surrounded by such immensity has a way of shrinking everyday worries. In a world increasingly consumed by screen time, nature has a way of restoring balance, perspective, and a sense of calm. A gentle reminder that spending time outside, in nature, is a critical component of mental heath.

3. Detachment From Digital Life

For over 12 hours, I supported Karel without any distractions - no radio signal in the car, poor cell service and no company. With limited cell service, I didn’t have the option to compulsively read emails, check texts or go on social media. There was no TV, radio or political noise. During our time in Chile, we stayed in three different Airbnbs to truly get the Patagonia expeirence. Every day I noticed details: birds chirping, chickens clucking, dogs barking. A series of strong wind guests. The crackling of the fire. The sound of a match lighting our stove. Moments became something to experience, not document. The absence of constant digital noise gave me the ability to be present and to focus deeply on what was around me.

4. Resourcefulness Is a Way of Life

In remote areas, people fix what breaks, repurpose what’s available, and make do without fuss. At our Airbnb in Coyhaique, Karel joked that there was no way the beat-up truck in our driveway was moving from under our unit. Sure enough, the truck made its way out of the driveway and a day later, it returned with a bed full of chopped wood for the wood-burning furnace. There's no Amazon Prime to make a quick delivery. The closest gas station (outside of town) was often more than an hour away. If you live in a town, you shop for groceries on a daily basis. If you live on the farm, you stock up with what you need and live off what you have. There’s a refreshing humility to this approach. It stood in stark contrast to the throwaway, materialistic, impulsive culture we often see in the U.S. Patagonia reminded me that resourcefulness isn’t just practical, it cultivates gratitude, respect for what we have and using creativity for what we need.

5. A Slower Pace Isn’t Laziness

In Patagonia, slowing down is not seen as inefficiency, it’s simply the rhythm of life. Roads are long, supplies take time to reach small towns, and nature dictates the schedule more than schedules do. The road conditions in Patagonia are not great. A mix of asphalt, concrete, pavers, and gravel. It takes time to get places, especially when you are driving for miles on a bumpy, twisty, gravel road. The slower pace taught me patience. It also reminded me that rushing rarely improves the quality of an experience, if anything, it tends to diminish it.

7. Travel Is All About Perspective.

Going somewhere remote forces you to confront your habits, assumptions, and expectations. Patagonia didn’t just show me a different place, it reminded me of different way of being. One of my most memorable trips was in 2004. For May term of my senior year, I travel to the Philippines for a work service trip. I spent over two weeks sleeping on a bamboo bed, pumping my water, taking bucket showers, creating our own tools to fix schools and riding around in Jeepneys. This trip forever changed me. When you return home from traveling abroad, you are left with an internal reminder that life can be lived in more than one way, and that often the most meaningful moments are the ones where you step outside of your comfort zone.

Final Thoughts

Traveling to remote Patagonia was a lesson in resourcefulness, presence, and intentional living. It taught me that many of the things we consider essential are, in fact, optional.

If we let it, travel has the power to reshape how we live long after the trip ends.

Thank you for letting me share our travels with you.

Karel's Patagonman race report is coming soon.

2025 Patagonman Finisher!

Patagonman Finisher  An extreme triathlon at the end of the world

I find it serendipitous that our 50th newsletter of the year is occurring a few weeks before the beginning of Karel's 50th birth year of life and I am writing about an event that Karel has dreamed of finishing for the past few years.  On December 7th, Karel took on Patagonman Extreme Triathlon. We did everything possible to get him to this start line — but what lied ahead were 140 miles of uncontrollables. We woke up at 2am after a night of no sleep. At 4am, he boarded a ferry in the dark and at 5:30am, he jumped into the fjord (55 degrees - much warmer than usual), and swam 2.4 miles back to shore (1:08). From there, a 110-mile point-to-point ride with over 8,000 ft of climbing, gravel, cobbles, wind and whatever Patagonia decides to throw at him. He finished the bike in 5:50. And then, a 27-mile run with 3250 feet of gain, all off-road, through technical forest trails and long, lonely stretches of gravel (4:08).  In any extreme triathlon, simply arriving at the start line is the easy part. Karel has handled his share of challenges this year but on race day, he was facing a new set of obstacles: weather, mechanicals, my job as support crew, and the unknowns of how an extreme race tests the body and mind. Karel had one mission: ring the bell in Puerto Ibáñez and become a Patagonman finisher. And he did it. He finished an extreme triathlon at the end of the world! 🌎  Patagonia gave us the most perfect day. Comfortable weather, no rain, favorable wind and incredible views. This race has the most breathtaking (and unforgiving) landscapes on Earth. And the volunteers, police, event staff and community support was beyond impressive.  Karel stayed focused, optimistic and relentless. And in the end… he finally got to ring the bell. This wasn’t just a race. This was a showcase of grit, overcoming countless challenges, and a dream two years in the making. I loved supporting Karel all day long but my favorite part was sharing the final 9 miles together on the run.  Here’s to chasing the impossible, embracing the journey, and chasing finish lines with gratitude.  🏁 11:32 🏅 11th overall (10th male)  🔔 Patagonman finisher

This was Karel's 3rd extreme triathlon. We have now completed six extreme triathlons (between both of us). We have been to Canada, Italy, Norway and now South America to test our mental and physical limits on harsh terrain, in severe weather, and on major elevation gain. An extreme triathlon requires far more than standard endurance training. These events require physical, mental and logistical (lots of planning) strengths. If you are considering an extreme triathlon, here are some qualities that will help you succeed. 1. Exceptional Aerobic Endurance After a decade plus of participating in Ironman events, we have accumulated a significant amount of endurance over the year. In an extreme triathlon, the time to complete the event can be several hours more than a standard full distance Ironman. An efficient aerobic engine built through years of training and racing will help you feel prepared for an extreme triathlon.  2. Strength & Muscular Endurance An extreme triathlon requires durability. Strength is especially critical for climbing steep terrain on the bike and the run.  3. Robust Resiliency Extreme triathlon places massive load on muscles, joints, and the immune system. To prepare for the event, you need to be able to recover quickly during long training blocks to help with preparation.  4. Environmental Resilience Cold-water swimming, altitude, extreme terrain changes and challenging weather demand a body accustomed to environmental stressors. 5. Grit and Mental Toughness You’ll hit points where your body wants to stop, you want to end the discomfort and you think there is no way you can keep going. The ability to push through discomfort—safely and intelligently—is vital.  6. Adaptability Conditions in extreme races can change suddenly (fog, wind, altitude, cold, heat, mechanical failure). Being able to quickly improvise and be proactive is critical. 7. Patience & Discipline Extreme triathlon rewards pacing, restraint, and consistent execution—not hero moments fueled by a greedy ego.  8. Emotional Regulation An extreme triathlon can bring on frustration, fear, and sometimes loneliness. You need tools to stay calm and positive under pressure. 9. Strong Technical Skills Confident open-water swimming in cold, dark or rough water conditions Technical cycling on steep climbs, fast descents, gravel, and unfamiliar roads Trail and/or hill running  10. Nutrition Mastery Dialed-in fueling and hydration is critical. You must: Know what your gut tolerates and how much Have a support crew that knows what you need (and when) Be able to fuel and hydrate in extreme cold/heat Be able to be proactive and reactive 11. Gear Knowledge Knowing how to: Fix mechanical issues Dress for cold weather Be self sufficient (ex. nutrition) 12. Strong Logistics Planning An extreme triathlon is self-supported which means you must have at least one support crew person. Your crew must be able to assist with:  Route planning Nutrition  Athlete emotional regulation  Weather contingencies 13. Purpose & Internal Drive Extreme triathlons are not about placements or times. There are no "age division" awards. Everyone (except the first 1-3 overall finishers in each gender) are treated the same at the finish line and at the post race celebration event. Athletes succeed when motivated by: Personal meaning Curiosity Challenge for its own sake Feeling like a beginner again Do you have what it takes?  To finish an extreme triathlon, you need to think of it as an adventure, not a standard triathlon. Are you ready to conquer an extreme triathlon?

Patagonman - Race week

I have a lot of pictures to upload but the internet is a bit slow in our Airbnb(s) so I will upload pictures later on. If you'd like to see more pics from our trip, you can check out my Instagram page. 

Monday 
After a delicious dinner at D-Lizia (I got a huge pizza and Karel got a burger), we went back to our cabin and had a relaxing evening. Sadly, Karel woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating pain in his right leg. He thought it was a blood clot but we later put some pieces together that it was likely coming from his disc and SI joint. He couldn't bear weight on his leg and he said it felt like his leg was broken. It was really scary as it came out of no where when he got up to pee in the middle of the night. Even when we got up in the morning, Karel was still unable to walk normally. He decided to try a spin to see if that would help loosen it out. I drove him 15 min up the road (up the last descend of the bike course) and he went out for an 1+ hour ride. He said it felt a little better but it was still worrying him. However, over the next few hours, it started to calm down. As Karel was biking, I did a 40 min ECFIT session in our cabin. The weather was lovely in the upper 60's. My legs weren't too beat up from my 16 mile gravel run on Sunday but I enjoyed the day off from cardio.

We packed up our stuff from Airbnb #1 and I drove us to Airbnb #2 (home base) in Coyhaique. The drive took ~80 minutes and it was very beautiful. We back tracked the Patagonman bike course so it was good for Karel to see more of the bike course. We checked into our next Airbnb and walked down the street to get some groceries at the "super" market. We found that the produce was better at the mini market on the corner versus in the bigger store. After our shop, we walked back to our place, had a nice dinner of soup and rice (and a veggie burger for me, deli meat for Karel). We did a load of laundry and let it air dry. We went to bed around 9pm (it is hard to fall asleep because it stays bright until 10pm!). 

Tuesday
We woke up to the sound of dogs barking as there are so many loose dogs around Coyhaique. However, they seem well taken care of by the locals. It's incredible how the dogs work with the traffic as they cross the street carefully, just like humans. The neat thing about renting Airbnbs in different parts of the world is feeling like a local. In our first Airbnb, we didn't have a microwave. In our 2nd Airbnb, we have a microwave and it feels like a luxury. The hot water wasn't great in our first Airbnb so we were careful to not take long showers in our 2nd Airbnb. I brought a voltage converter and a plug adapter (C and L are used in Chile) so that we could easily charge all of our gadgets, computers and phones. 

Our plan was to swim on Tuesday morning but after I figured out how to login in to the Parque Austral pool, I realized I needed to reserve a lane. Since we didn't have enough time to swim, I bought two passes (~$11 each) and reserved a lane for us on Wednesday from 9:45-10:45am. 

Karel decided to take the day easy and just focus on mobility and resting so we both walked into town and discovered the town square and market. Karel walked around the town for an hour (his leg was feeling better) and I went for a run. I ended up running ~11 miles (10 miles + 1 mile back to our place) on a walking/biking path by the river. The path was only ~1.5 miles but it was undulating and very scenic. The town isn't very conducive to running as the sidewalks are often uneven and there are a lot of people and cars. 

Later in the afternoon, Karel and I walked around the town again and then we had dinner at Kuruf Patagonia. This region is very heavy in meat and fish but I found a nice selection of vegetarian options (falafel and seitan) at Kuruf. Karel and I both got a bowl and picked our ingredients. The menu was in Spanish so we have been using a translator app which we can scan words to translate from Spanish to English. Although I will say that my Spanish is coming back to me from High School (well, words - not complete sentences). 

After dinner we went back to our place and got some of our stuff together to relocate to Airbnb #3. 

Wednesday 
We weren't sure how the process would work for us to swim (we had QR code passes via email) so we arrived around 9am to the pool (we drove the 1.5 miles to the pool just on the outside of town). Once the lady at the gym counter checked us in, we had ~20 min to wait until we could access our reserved lanes. We met another couple from Australia who was here for the Patagonman so we chatted outside before it was time to swim. 

Karel and I did a workout for an hour (~2800 meters). This was our first swim since Friday (when we left) so the swim was all about getting a feel back for the water. Karel brought his paddles and pull buoy and I used a buoy from the pool. 

WU: 600 easy
MS: 2 rounds
8x 25 (scull/swim)
4 x 50 (fist/swim)
4 x 75 (5-6 strokes strong off each wall)
4 x 100 steady
CD: As needed

There was a water aerobics class going on during our swim so the pool felt like open water. The water temperature was great (I'm guessing it was around 80 degrees). 

Everyone is very nice in this area. We feel very safe and we love the culture. 

After we had lunch, I walked to town and picked up some fresh fruit from two fruit stands. I got blueberries, cherries and strawberries (soooo good!). We finally got some cash from an ATM so I've been using my Spanish to count money :) I then made a stop at the supermarket to get a few more things before our next trip. As I was packing up, Karel went for a run on the walking path. He said he felt really good and his leg didn't bother him (Whew). 

We packed up our car with a few things to last us the next 48 hours in Puerto Aysén (3 miles from Puerto Chacabuco - the race start). 

I drove the 1:15 to our next Airbnb. Again, we continued on the reverse of the bike course. This ride was a bit more eventful as it was lightly raining, it was very windy (a theme here with gusts over 30 mph) and the road surface was constantly changing. We were warned about gravel but the gravel patches on Karel's bike course are super sketchy (long and super rocky!). There is also a long climb on cobblestones. You never know what you are going to get with extreme triathlons. 

We arrived to Airbnb #3 (which is where we will sleep the night before the race). The Airbnb is super cute but there was a mix up with our host in that she had listed Wifi and the reviews said Wifi but she told us that this "new location" does not have Wifi. Certainly, we need Wifi to work so this was a big deal for us to not have it. Communication was challenging as she didn't speak English but with some back and forth on the app, she came up with a solution and the next morning she brought a router for us to use. When traveling internationally, you have to pack a lot of patience and the acceptance that things will not always go as planned. 

After we made dinner, we watched a short Netflix movie that I had saved on my phone before our flight and then we went to bed around 9pm. We were woken up by some barking dogs and chickens in the backyard a few times and Karel had another episode with his leg acting up and causing pain. 

Thursday

Today was the day. Karel's first swim in the cold water of Puerto Aysén. After we got some work done (thanks to the router), we made the 30 min, 12 mile drive to Bahia Acantilada (which translates to Cliftop Bay). This is the location of the social practice swim on Friday (athletes are not allowed to swim at the actually race swim start because it's a working port in Puerto Chacabuco. 

Karel has been practicing in different gear at a local lake (upper 50s) by our house and doing some cold water plunges but now it was time to put it all to the test. The water was ~52 degrees and a little choppy due to the wind. The air temperature was in the mid 40s. After Karel put on his booties, gloves, a base layer, hoodie w/ vest, wetsuit, warming oil, goggles, and two caps - he was ready for his swim. 

He swam out and gave me two thumbs up and swam for ~30 minutes (which is a good baseline for testing gear and to fully acclimate to the cold water). The initial plunge on his face was very cold but he said the water wasn't as cold as he had been imagining - which was a good thing for him mentally. He's still a bit nervous for the actually swim as it may be a little colder (48 degrees) but Karel felt satisfied with his gear choices. And thankfully, he wasn't shivering after his swim. 

While Karel was changing, I got myself ready for a run. I brought my run stuff just in case I felt like running when we got back to our place but after a 5-mile drive on gravel to get to the water, I decided to run back to the town (while Karel drove) and to meet him at the Unimarc grocery store in Puerto Aysén. I loved my run on the winding gravel road and I saw cows, horses, dogs, a big pig and incredible scenery around me. I met Karel at the grocery store and this was the biggest store we have seen yet since we arrived. We got a few things and made our way back to our place. We went a different route over the bridge (which was closed into town) so the drive home was only 15 minutes. 

We had a nice lunch and after getting work done in the afternoon, we drove to local "host" hotel (Loberias del Sur) to check out the port and the hotel. The hotel was very nice but we are enjoying our "local" experience at our Airbnbs. 

Yesterday and today were rainy days with a lot of on and off rain (and a lot of wind). 

Friday

Today was the social swim. Although it was an unorganized, non-official swim, it started at 9am. Because of the local traffic in Puerto Aysén, we left our place around 7:30am and arrived around 8:30am. Parking was free today (yesterday we paid 2000 pesos, around $2). There were a lot of people at the swim and the overall consensus was that everyone was really happy that they felt the water (and no one seemed too cold). Karel said it felt cooler than yesterday but much less choppy. He swam for ~22 minutes and wore the same gear as yesterday and felt comfortable in the water (minus the initial cold shock on the face). 

Since arriving to Aysen (3 miles from Puerto Chacabuco) on Wednesday afternoon, we have had on and off rain and very strong winds. Because of the location in Chilean Patagonia, Puerto Aysén is influenced by strong westerly winds bringing moist air from the Pacific so there is always a chance of rain. It's also been cold (in the 40s) which is a big change from when it was 70 degrees when we arrived. I guess it's true what they say about Patagonman - you can get all four seasons in one day. 

After the swim, we made another quick stop at the grocery store and then went back to our Airbnb. We have been enjoying our friendly visitor (the boy kitten next door) who is giving us lots of love (and making us miss our furry crew of 5). 

We packed up some of our things and around 2pm, we drove back to Coyhaique. Karel was dressed in his cycling gear and a few miles down the road, he got out and got on his bike for a 20-ish mile ride on the course. It was lightly raining and in the 50's so he dressed warm. While he was riding, I got gas at the local Shell (someone pumps your gas for you and it's encouraged to tip 300-1000 pesos if they clean your windows) and then leap frogged Karel as he was riding. Around 25 miles into the race course, Karel finished his ride and got in the car. Although the drivers are alert while driving, there are a lot of semi trucks, busses and vehicles going to and from the ports so this isn't a place that I would recommend for cycling training or casual riding (although there are a lot of bike-packers but mostly near the gravel roads down south near Villa Cerro Castillo). 

We hit some traffic from road construction so our 1:15 hr drive took around 2 hours (including the stops while Karel was riding). When we arrived back to our 2nd Airbnb (home base), we unpacked and then we walked to Hotel Dreams for Karel to pick up his stuff at registration. He also purchased a beanie and a coffee cup. 

After registration, we walked to a local pizzeria (SO good) called La Tranquera. Karel got the 4 seasons pizza with ham, salami and mushrooms and I got the caprese pizza (no olives). We also bought a brownie. We got our pizza to go and then walked .7 miles back to our Airbnb. 

The pizza hit the spot. Plus, we like to keep with the pre-race tradition of pizza two nights before a race. 

After pizza, Karel went through all of his gear so that I could get everything organized as I will be supporting him throughout the race and it's my responsibility to make sure he has everything he needs throughout the race. 

Two more sleeps before race day! 

Patagonman - Day 1

 

We landed in Balmaceda (very small airport) around 3pm local time (2 hour ahead from EST). It was a quick 2-hour flight from Santiago (a total of 11 hours of flying and 26 hours of traveling). While Karel was waiting for our suitcases and his bike, I went to the Varona rental car counter (outside of the baggage area) to get our SUV. It was a very quick process and by 3:30pm we were in the car to make our way 1-hour to Villa Cerro Castillo (the location of Patagonman T2 - bike to run). It was a very beautiful drive and we couldn't believe how warm it was (in the 70's)! We arrived to our Airbnb (1.5K from the town center) and it was a little confusing to get in (the lady who met us did not speak English) but it all worked out. The cabin was super cute and so peaceful and quiet. The best part is that the cabin is on a farm and there are two dogs, lots of chickens and baby chicks! 

After we unloaded the car, we drove to the town to get a few items from the grocery store. There are a few stores in town but they are very small and limited with items. However, we were able to get the necessities - eggs, butter, cheese, deli meat (for Karel), a veggie burger for me (I was surprised with the frozen vegetarian options!) and a few other things for breakfast like oats, frozen berries and granola. We also got milk and yogurt. We then went across the street to the only gas station in town to get some bottled water (although it's safe to drink the tap water here). Every place we went to takes credit cards so we haven't had to exchange our money yet. When we arrived back to our Airbnb, we made a light dinner - eggs w/ frozen peppers/onions and bread w/ butter. Shortly after, Karel put together his bike and then we went for a short run. I ran for 26 min (3 miles) and Karel ran for 32 min (4 miles). We both felt awful running but it was good to shake out the travel funk. And the views were incredible along our road. 

View from our Airbnb

The sun didn't set until after 9:30pm but we seeing that we started our run around 8pm, we were ok with that. We were both exhausted from not having a full night of sleep in a day so we both slept amazingly well for 10 hours. 

In the morning, we had oatmeal for breakfast and after catching up on emails and getting some work done, around 9:30am, Karel loaded up the car with his bike and gear and I drove him ~15 min up the road for him to do a ride. He ended up riding for almost 3 hours (54 miles, ~4300 feet elevation gain) and reversed the course to start and then road the last stretch of the Patagonman course into town (T2 area). While Karel was biking, I drove to the start of the gravel road outside of town (first left after the hairpin climb/descend leaving town) and went out of an adventure. My plan was at least 7 miles on the Patagonman course but I ended up with 8.2 miles as I really wanted to make it to the lake. The course started off with gravel for a mile, then 3 miles of rocky, grassy, sandy single track trail and then 4 miles on a windy, hilly, gorgeous gravel road. I stopped a lot for pictures. We don't have any service outside of Wifi areas so I downloaded a podcast on my phone to listen to (although I really didn't need it as I was so focused on the nature around me). I also had the Patagonman run route on my phone (loaded on the Ride with GPS app, offline w/ a 7-day free membership) which helped a lot as the trail section of the course was very difficult to navigate. 

During my run I covered 2400 feet elevation gain, 16.4 miles and completed the run in around 3 hours and 10 minutes. Sadly, I somehow accidentally deleted my run around 13 miles into the run. I was taking pictures of cows and I don't know how I pushed the wrong buttons but it happened. Ugh. So I am guestimating my time. 

The run was absolutely beautiful. I saw so many animals and the nature around me was incredible. I wish I could have kept running but since I was reversing my route (out and back) I couldn't run too far. There were some steep sections that I walked. The gravel was loose in some places and there were also rumble strips. 

I carried 2 x 16 ounce flasks in my Compress Sport vest (it's actually Karel's vest as he is going to wear my USWE vest for the race) with Never Second 30 in each of them. I also had a 16 ounce bottle w/ Skratch and a 12 ounce bottle with water. I also carried a Never Second gel as well as a few pieces of candy (Starburst). I had my passport and money/credit cards in the vest, as well as my phone. It was very warm during the run and the air is somewhat dry. 

I returned to the car around 3:30pm and made a stop at the gas station and grocery store for a few more items and then made it back to our Airbnb around 4pm. 

Here are some pics from my 3ish hour adventure on two feet. 

After I had some food, Karel wanted to check out some of the run course that I ran on (he's deciding which shoes to wear for the race) so I drove him to the gravel road (~1.4 miles into the race course) and dropped him off. I drove to the town to check out the transition area and start of his run and then drove on some of the main road for 10 minutes to check out more of the sights. I picked up Karel around 30 minutes later. Karel ran 33 min (34 min) with some added stops for pictures. 

I showed Karel the transition area and start of the run and then we went for dinner at one of the few restaurants in town - and it was delicious. I had a huge vegetarian pizza (Karel shared it with me) and Karel had a burger. We ate at Pizzería y hamburguesería D-LIZIA.

Tomorrow afternoon we will pack up and head to Coyhaique, which will be our "home base" for the rest of our trip. 

Patagonman travel

This trip was originally planned in 2024. 

We were supposed to travel to Chile in December for 2024 Patagonman but in September, Karel learned he had a tear in his left meniscus (the flap was stuck and needed trimming), which required surgery in January. We cancelled everything with no idea how 2025 would work out. Thankfully, we purchased race insurance to get a full refund and almost everything else was refundable (flight/Airbnb/hotel). Karel ended up needing another surgery on his left knee and since he met his insurance deductible, he also had the hardware removed from his wrist (which has been causing him issues for the past few years after he had surgery to fix his broken wrist from a MTB crash). When the lottery for the 2025 Patagonman opened in February, Karel entered and got accepted. Whereas I became interested in extreme triathlons by watching Norseman, Karel was intrigued by Patagonman. Karel was unable to participate in IM 70.3 CDA and IM Lake Placid as his knees were giving him a lot of complications post surgery. I waited until October to book our flights as we were still unsure if Karel would be able to participate in an extreme triathlon (considering he was struggling with biking due to his spine issues and running due to his knee issues). I booked our lodging (Airbnb) in the spring and reserved our rental car soon after Karel registered. 

Because of the point to point layout of the event and remote locations, for anyone who is interested in participating in Patagonman, here is what I planned: 

Flying into Santiago

-Flights: Fly international into Santiago, Chile. Take a domestic flight into Balmaceda, Chile. 

We flew Greenville to Atlanta to Santiago on Delta. Originally we were going to leave on Mon December 1st but during the government shutdown, I worried about all the cancelled flights so I changed our flight to leave on Friday Nov 28th. We will return home on Wednesday December 10th. After our 9 hour flight from ATL to Santiago, we arrived early (first flight = no wait) and went through customs, collected our luggage and because we were not continuing on with Delta, we left the airport with our luggage and then walked to the domestic terminal across the street behind the Holiday Inn (10 min walk) to check in for our flight with LATAM. We had 5 hours between landing and departure but LATAM allowed us to check in (many times with domestic flights, when traveling internationally, you can't check until 2 hours before the flight). We used our Amex Platinum Business credit card for Centurion Lounge access in GSP and ATL and used our Priority Pass for lounge access in Santiago (we went to two different lounges - the domestic terminal was extremely quiet and hardly anyone in the lounges). 

Our first Airbnb by Villa Cerro Castillo

-Lodging: I suggest to book two locations. One in Coyhaique and one near Puerto Chacabuco or Puerto Aysén. There is one hotel in Puerto Chacabuco (where the race starts) but it will fill up quickly so if you want to stay at the race start, book in advance. There is a practice swim outside of Puerto Aysén on the Friday morning before the event that is highly recommended. There are more lodging options (hotels and Airbnb) in Puerto Aysén, which is ~15-20 min drive from the race start. Packet pick up (Friday or Saturday), the mandatory pre-race meeting (Saturday) and awards celebration (Monday afternoon) is in Coyhaique. T2 (Villa Cerro Castillo) and the finish line (Puerto Ingeniero Ibañez) are located ~1.5 hours and 1:45 hrs, respectively from Coyhaique. 

I booked three Airbnbs (total for all three was less than $1000 for our ten day stay). The first Airbnb in Villa Cerro Castillo (Nov 29th until December 2nd) so we could check out the T2 area. Plus, there is a beautiful (strenuous 8-mile) hike to Laguna Cerro Castillo that I want to do. The 2nd Airbnb is our "home base" in Coyhaique from December 1st until December 10th (this way we can check in anytime on the 1st or 2nd). The third Airbnb (December 3rd-7th) is a few miles from the race start. This way we have two options to go back and forth to (~1 hour drive) without having to pack and unpack. We plan to spend the night near the race venue (Airbnb #3) on Wed and Thursday evening and then again on Saturday until race morning on Sunday). 

Rental Car: Patagonman connected me with Ricardo from Varona Rental Car (email: supervisor@rentacarvarona.cl). He helped me rent a SUV for our trip (pick up and drop off at Balmaceda). 

So far, everything has gone smoothly. We are two hours ahead of EST. We arrived to Balmaceda airport around 3pm and arrived to our Airbnb at 4:50pm. We unloaded our SUV and made a trip to the town (one grocery store and one gas station) to get a few things for our short stay in Villa Cerro Castillo. 

At the end of the trip, I'll share my thoughts if I would have done anything differently with my travel planning. 

Outside our Airbnb. 

Inside our Airbnb.

View from our Airbnb

In the town. 

It's finally time - Patagonman Extreme Triathlon

After Two Years of Setbacks, It’s Finally Time.

This year has been one of the toughest chapters in Karel’s athletic journey—one marked not by finish-line celebrations, but by waiting, healing, and standing on the sidelines far more often than he ever imagined. Two knee surgeries, hardware removal from his wrist, and worsening spine issues have created a string of challenges that have tested Karel is so many ways. For someone who thrives on movement, adventure, and suffering, being forced to pause again and again has been heartbreaking. 

And yet, he never stopped.
He adapted.
He learned.
He stayed hopeful.

With creative training, countless adjustments, and a willingness to rebuild, Karel kept moving forward—even when “forward” looked nothing like it used to. Every step, no matter how small, was a step forward. 

And now, after two long years of setbacks, waiting, and wondering if this moment would ever come… it’s finally time.

We are on our way to the end of the world—literally—to the beauty of Chile’s Puerto Aysén region, where Karel will race Patagonman. 

Just getting to this start line is victory. It was not easy to get here. In truth, sometimes it felt impossible.

But he made it. 

We made it. 

Whether the race unfolds as he hopes or takes its own unexpected turns, one thing is certain: Karel is looking forward to this start line. 

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A post shared by Marni Sumbal, MS, RD, CSSD (@trimarni)