Pushing the Limits: TSP Atacama 2024 – An Ultra-Endurance Test
Learn more on the ultra-endurance test on this documentary
In the heart of the most arid desert on the planet, where the sun scorches the horizon and the landscape stretches into an immensity of sand and rock, a select group of athletes will face one of the most demanding tests of human endurance: The Speed Project (TSP) Atacama 2024. This is not just a race, it is an odyssey through extreme conditions that will test the physical endurance, mental strength and unbreakable spirit of each runner. With every step on the unforgiving terrain of the Atacama, they will challenge their own limits, demonstrating that the human body—when guided by determination and purpose—is capable of the extraordinary. More than a competition, TSP Atacama is a celebration of perseverance, teamwork and the indomitable power of the human spirit.
Nullure at TSP Atacama 2024: A challenge successfully met
Nullure had the honour of sponsoring an exceptional group of vegan athletes who not only faced the 500 km of the world's most arid desert, but also demonstrated that strength and endurance can be in perfect harmony with a plant-based diet.
The Nadie Corre Solo team embarked on this epic journey, covering the challenging route Pica > Yuma > Ollagüe > Chiu Chiu > Calama > San Pedro in an estimated time of 50 hours of running.
After a monumental effort and an unwavering spirit, the Nadie Corre Solo team achieved an impressive 9th place out of 60 participating teams, consolidating their position among the best in the competition.
The team was made up of:
6 runners (3 women and 3 men)
2 drivers who supported them every kilometre of the way
1 record that documented every moment of this feat
From Nullure, we celebrate this incredible achievement and reaffirm our commitment to a healthy, sustainable and high-performance lifestyle. More than a competition, TSP Atacama 2024 was a test of determination, teamwork and the power of community. Because in this race, as in life, no one runs alone.
Question to the participants
What inspired you to take on The Speed Project Atacama?
Lisa Pearlman / CANADA
TSP role: Runner
Age: 43
Running time: I have been running for over 30 years. I started when I was 7.
I have wanted to participate in the Speed Project since I first heard about it, I think it was the third or fourth edition. I followed last year's edition of the TSP ATA closely and was immediately drawn to it. I knew I had to find a way to participate in the future.
For me, the appeal of TSP is in doing something a little crazy, just for the sake of doing it, with a group of like-minded people - both our team and the wider group of teams and runners who take part - and in the creativity, freedom and community that are at the heart of TSP. I was drawn to the TSP ATA because of the remoteness, the landscapes and the energy of Atacama, and because this race still has a popular spirit.
Paolo Pavéz / CHILE
TSP role: Runner
Age: 37
Running time: Since 2012
The TSP is always a great challenge wherever it takes place, the dynamic is unique and it is undoubtedly an experience that every runner wants to have. The preparation is basically a lot of running, looking for rhythms, elevation, slopes and time, a lot of time on the move.
Can you describe a moment in the race that tested you and how you overcame it?
Valentina Henríquez / CHILE - team leader
Role TSP: Runner
Age: 30
Time running: since May 2022
Travelling with strong-minded people can be a double-edged sword. The altitude was starting to affect us and we didn't implement a good strategy focused on rest. By Friday night, both our minds and our bodies were not functioning well, which was worrying. At that moment, I decided to stop everything. I knew that not everyone would accept it easily, as we were on a ‘speed project’ and stopping seemed contradictory. However, I thought: I'd rather the whole team rest and then continue at 100%, rather than keep moving at 20%. After 3 hours of rest, food and deep breathing, everything became clearer. We realised that one of our companions, Polo, had been unwell since Thursday night. Then came the second difficult decision: we split the group to take Polo to the emergency room, and the rest of us, now rested, continued running at 100%. Nobody expected that 3-hour break to be the best boost we needed to continue on our route.
What was the most impressive or memorable thing about crossing the Atacama Desert?
Carla Vásquez / CHILE
Role TSP: Runner
Age: 35
Running time: Since 2018
The immensity of the landscapes, the continuity of space, the lack of oxygen, the heat, the cold, the thunderstorm and how our bodies adapted to the conditions... just remembering it moves me.
How do you think you contributed to the team dynamic, and what role do individual strengths play in collective success?
Cristobal Marambio / Chile
Role TSP: Photographer
Age: 43
Time running: 0
Carrying the camera and being willing to record those small moments of each person in their stretches made you somehow feel how important what they were doing was. Having a good attitude and knowing how to adapt to the different situations that the runners face, giving them space to understand their tiredness and the way in which they are fulfilling their mental objectives.
What has this experience taught you about yourself, both as a runner and/or as a person?
Felipe Labraña / Chile
Role TSP: Runner
Age: 30
Time running: December 2021
TSP was a blast in my life, running for so many hours in such hostile conditions. It was a true meditation in motion. You have a lot of time to think, rethink, and explore aspects of your life that you might have overlooked before. The desert breaks you down inside and no one returns to normal so easily.
What challenges do you face as a vegan person when preparing for a race of this level?
Hector Arriagada / CHILE
Role TSP: Runner
Age: 36
Time running: Since 2018
None different from a non-vegan person. Training or preparing for physical challenges of this kind of demand requires paying close attention to your diet, getting enough protein, staying well hydrated and trying out all the food you will use on the road during training, but all this does not differentiate vegans from non-vegans. It only differentiates a runner who is responsible for their diet from one who is not.
Finishing ninth is a phenomenal achievement: how do you feel and what do you think contributed most to this success?
Martin Amigo / CHILE
Role TSP: Driver
Age: 27
Time running: Since March 2024
I think that in my case it was never about looking for a position in this race, but rather being able to live the experience of finishing it and that all together is the best. More than a race, it is an experience. Now the desire to want to reach the finish line with so much effort is the best thing of all.