New Ultramarathon Announced For 2011 In Louisiana

A new ultramarathon, dubbed the Rouge-Orleans, is scheduled to take place in March of 2011, with ultrarunners and relay teams running a 126.2 mile course from Baton Rouge to Audubon Park in New Orleans. Best of all, the event takes place during the Mardi Gras weekend, earning it the slogan of "Come to run, stay to party!"

The entire route of the race, which takes place from March 4-6, 2011, will be run along the Mississippi River levee, which means it will meander along side the waterway, passing by sugarcane plantations, old farms, and swamps in the process. During the 100+ mile run, the course barely touches any roads at all, which means the runners won't have to deal with traffic on their epic footrace down the river.

Registration information can be found by clicking here with options to run the ultra as a single athlete or as part of a relay team of 2 or 3 people. The race will begin in a wave start format, with the faster runners to the front. There will also be a mandatory 40 hour cut-off time for the finish of the race. That cut-off will be strictly enforced, after all, you wouldn't want to miss out.

It looks like this is going to be a great event for next year, mixing a challenging ultra with a fun weekend in the Big Easy. The weather in March is expected to be comfortable and in the 70's temperature wise, and with the schedule of the race, it should make for a great tune up for the Western States or the Badwater. If you ever needed motivation to keep training during the winter months, here it is!

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Pole to Pole: Ultra-athlete Running From North to South Pole

Australian ultrarunner Pat Farmer revealed an expedition of absolutely epic proportions yesterday when he announced that he'll be running from the North Pole to the South Pole in 2011. The journey will get underway in March at the North Pole and will end 11-months later when he reaches the South Pole, 13,000 miles away.

According to this article, Farmer will begin at 90ºN and head south into Canada, then proceed down the West Coast of the U.S. and into Mexico, before continuing through Central and South America. Eventually, he'll end up in Ushuaia, Argentina, where he'll be airlifted to Patriot Hills on the Antarctic continent, where he'll then complete the last leg of the journey, ending at 90ºS. When he's finished, the Aussie will have run through 14 countries and three continents. He estimates he'll wear through 40 pairs of shoes and 300 pairs of socks in the process.

As if the goal of running from one pole to another wasn't grand enough, Farmer has even loftier designs for his run. He hopes to raise $100 million for the Red Cross along the way to aid efforts for clean water and sanitation programs around the world. He also intends to address the United Nations after he has completed his mission as well.

You can read more about the journey and follow along with Pat on his website, which as of this writing is down for maintenance and updates. I'm sure it'll have all kinds of info once it is up and running properly however.

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Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Canceled Due To Bad Weather!

One of the toughest endurance events in the world got underway earlier today, and then was promptly canceled part way in. The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc was stopped 31 miles in due to severe weather on the trail, particularly at higher altitude. Detail are still a bit sketchy at this time, but a press conference is expected to take place shortly with the race director explaining the situation. As of this writing, the athletes are all being shuttled back to Chamonix.

The UTMB is an ultramarathon that takes place annually crossing through the Alps and covering more than 100 miles, and passing through France, Italy, and Switzerland. It routine attracts some of the best long distance endurance athletes in the world, and is considered one of the crown jewels in the ultramaraton schedule each year. The trail is a loop around Mont Blanc that typically requires about 20 hours to complete, with the bulk of the racers finishing in the 30-40 hour range

From reports from the race, it seems that many of the racers are quite upset with this turn of events. I'm sure that the race management team only has their best interest in mind, but after training for months to prepare for the run, it can be quite disappointing to have it end like this.

I'm sure we'll know more on this story soon.

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Leadville 100 Ultramarathon is Tomorrow

The fun and games continue in Leadville tomorrow, as the dust has barely settled on the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, which was run last weekend, and tomorrow top endurance athletes taking the line for the Leadville Trail 100-mile Run, an ultramarathon that uses a similar route, and shares the 50-miles out and back format.

Much like its mountain biking counterpart, this trail run features all kinds of challenges, including plenty of climbs and thin air. The foot race begins at 9200 feet and climbs as high as 12,600 feet at Hope Pass, with most of the route taking place over forest trails and along mountain roads.

The ultra-run will get underway tomorrow morning at 4AM local time. Those that finish within 25-hours will be awarded a massive belt buckle that proudly proclaims their feat. There is a 30-hour overall cut-off that all runners must meet, which ends at 10AM Sunday morning. If they haven't reached the finish line by then, they'll be picked-up from the course.

Good luck to all the runners. Have an amazing time, and don't forget to enjoy the view!

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The 2010 Badwater Ultra is Underway!

The first competitors in this year's Badwater Ultramarathon have hit the trail this morning and are already running through the early morning heat of Death Valley. Ahead of them is one of the toughest, most challenging courses in all of endurance sports, and most will spend the next two days completing the event.

The Badwater is one of the biggest races in all of the ultra endurance events. It is 135 miles of suffering, beginning in Badwater, California, located in the heart of Death Valley. Competitors begin at 280 feet below sea level, and will run mostly non-stop until they reach the Mt. Whitney Portals, located at 8300 feet up that mountain. Along the way, they'll pass over three different mountain ranges, and gain more than 13,000 feet of elevation.

As if all of that wasn't bad enough, they'll also have to endure the blast furnace temperatures that Death Valley is famous for. Over the next few days, temperatures are expected to hover around the 100ºF mark, although it is not uncommon in July for the temps to climb above 120ºF.

For most of the racers, it will take around 40 hours or so to complete, although the fastest runners will complete the entire 135 mile course in just 24 hours. That's more than 5.6 miles per hour, over a full day, in extreme heat and conditions. Very impressive stuff!

The Badwater is once again doing a webcast of the race, but it sometimes offers spotty coverage of what is going on. For instance, at the moment, it appears to be someone's empty hotel room. Hopefully we'll get better coverage as the race continues.

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75-Year Old Running For A Cause At The Badwater Ultra

Next Monday marks the start of the 2010 Badwater Ultramarathon, and iconic race amongst the endurance crowd. The 135 mile route runs from the heart of Death Valley, one of the hottest places on the planet, up to the Portals on Mt. Whitney, gaining 8580 feet in the process.

This is one of the toughest footraces on the planet, and the athletes will run for hours on end to cover the distances. It is a grueling test of endurance to be sure, and even the best ultra runners, at the top of their game, struggle through the event. But a 75-year old British man will attempt to make the run, while raising funds for Cerebral Palsy Care in his home town of Kent. 

Jack Denness, lovingly nicknamed Death Valley Jack, is no stranger to the Badwater. He has run the race on 11 other occasions, but at 75 he would become the oldest athlete to ever compete in the event. He is expecting to take roughly 50 hours to finish the course, while dealing with temperatures that could hit as high as 130ºF (54ºC) along the way. 

As I mentioned, Jack is raising money for the CPC in Kent, and his sponsor, Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil, has committed itself to donating money to that cause based on the number of fans that Jack gets on his Facebook page. If we can get Jack to 5000 fans, the company will donate £3000 to the cause. As of this writing, he is sitting at 1859 people, so we've still got some work to do. You can also donate directly to the cause on his Just Giving page, found here. 

The Badwater won't be Jack's only endurance event of the year. He's also committed to running in Racing The Planet's Sahara Race, taking place in October as well. That's a week long, six stage event that is quite the challenge in it's own right.

I hope when I'm 75 I can still walk to the mailbox and back without getting out of breath. Good luck to Jack at the Badwater next week!

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The 2010 Gobi March Begins This Weekend!

The 2010 edition of the Gobi March is set to get underway this weekend, with more than 150 ultra-runners from around the globe descending on Urumqi, China to begin a week long stage race through the grueling environment of the Gobi Desert. 


The Gobi March is part of Racing The Planet's 4 Deserts series of ultramarathons. This one takes place in far western China in the city-oasis of Turpan, in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Each day will mark a stage of the race, with runners setting out in the morning carrying the supplies they will need for the day. The weather is traditionally quite warm, and dry, as you might expect from a desert race, and back in 2005, it actually reached 122ºF on one of the stages. 


At the end of each stage, the competitors will rest for the night in a tent city that is constructed for them by the race organizers. They'll have food, water and shelter while there, but once they hit the trail, it is up to them to make their way between checkpoints carrying their own gear and navigating through the open desert. The top competitors will finish the all six stages in a combined time of roughly 25 hours, but the bulk of the pack will be much further back than that. Day in and day out, this can be quite a difficult event, as the participants are essentially running nearly a marathon each day, in some of the most extreme conditions on the planet.

Maybe while their out there, they'll bump into Ripley Davenport. (And yes, I do know he's in Mongolia!)

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Enter the Vibram Grip Your World Sweepstakes

Yesterday we had Teva giving away some great gear, today it's Vibram with a sweepstakes to send someone on a trip to Chamonix, France.

To enter the Grip Your World Sweepstakes, you simply have to go to GripYourWorld.com, Vibram's new website for outdoor enthusiasts, and upload a photo of yourself taking part in some outdoor activity. You can share a story about your adventure if you'd like to give it some context too, but that isn't required to enter the contest. The sweepstakes will run through June 18th, at which time a grand prize winner will be selected at random.

That lucky winner will be sent off on a trip for two to Chamonix, France, one of the great adventure location in the Alps, to attend the North Face's Tour du Mont Blanc, an annual ultra-marathon that covers 166km (103 miles) around Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. The travel package includes roundtrip airfare to Switzerland, ground transportation via train to Chamonix, three nights accommodations, and VIP passes to the event.

Twenty second place winners will receive a pair of Vibram FiveFingers footwear.

The contest is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Good luck!

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Marathon des Sables Begins Sunday

Competitors from around the globe are descending on Morocco where they are preparing to compete in what some call the most challenging footrace on the planet, the Marathon des Sables.

The race is a six day, 243km (151 mile) race that takes place annually in the Sahara Desert. Over those six days, the competitors will run the equivalent of five-and-a-half marathons, usually in very trying conditions. Temperatures often exceed 120ºF and the brutal sun only gives way to blowing sands that can make for extremely challenging conditions for the racers. As you can imagine, that heat and sand can play havoc with your feet as well, turing them into a blistered mess after just one day.

As if running a marathon under those conditions wasn't challenging enough, the competitors will also have to carry all of their gear (save their tent!) and water with them as they go. Each checkpoint will ration out more water for them, but other than that, they must be completely self sufficient while in the desert. This is especially important on the 4th day, which is usually the longest, and often stretches well into the night.

Now in its 24th year, the Marathon des Sables, or Marathon of the Sands, is considered one of the grand jewels of endurance sports. It is challenging on many levels, and attracts some of the top ultramarathon athletes from around the globe each year. 2010 will be no different, as dozens of runners are now assembling, and preparing to get underway in a few days time.

Good luck to all the racers. Enjoy the challenge and the scenery.

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Runner Attempts Solo, Unsupported Crossing of the U.S.

Long distance endurance runner Abe Clark is attempting to make a solo and unsupported run across the United States, covering 2860 miles in 136 days without a support vehicle following along. Like a number of other adventures we've seen in recent months, he's making this epic run in an effort to raise awareness for the growing global need for clean drinking water. Abe is also concentrating his fund raising efforts for the Living Water International organization.

Abe has already been out on the road for more than month, having started in Oceanside, California. He is now on his 33rd day, and has run all the way to Bloomfield, New Mexico. He's been keeping a running tally of his daily destinations on his blog, recording his mileage and keeping us informed of what his experiences were like out on the road that day. On his "light" days, Abe is running 10-15 miles, but most days it is more like 25-40, depending on location and conditions.

If successful in his run, Abe will become the 12th person to run coast-to-coast across the U.S. His route is meant to take him through the American Southwest, and then eventually into the Heartland before proceeding on to the East Coast. At the moment, he has the entire schedule mapped out, just in case you want to see if he's coming through your neighborhood. But the website also notes that he is 2+ days ahead of schedule at the moment. If the original schedule holds up, Abe plans to be in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and touch the Atlantic Ocean, by June 30th of this year.

Good luck on the rest of your journey Abe, and thank to Josh for sending this my way!

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Siberian Express: Kevin and Ray Are Done Too!

Another epic adventure came to a close yesterday, as Kevin Vallely and Ray Zahab completed their Siberian Express Expedition, running the length of Lake Baikal, and setting a new speed record in the process.

The pair set out on their ultrarun two weeks ago, dragging their gear laden sleds behind them, and traveling south to north across the largest freshwater lake in the world. As has been a trend in recent adventure activities, they were running to raise awareness of growing concerns of the global clean water crisis, and specifically they were hoping to raise funds for the Ryan's Well and Giving Water organizations. Over the past 13 days, they have battled extreme cold, high winds, and widely varying conditions, while covering amazing distances each day, despite their weary bodies and heavy loads. In the end, it seems to have paid off in a big way.

According to the team's blog, the team not only beat the old record for a speed crossing of the 400+ mile journey, they down right smashed it! While no official time has been posted yet, it appears that Kevin and Ray have beaten the old time by more than a week. Very impressive stuff from two very impressive guys.

The blog also says that we can expect more information, including videos and photos, in the days ahead. As you can imagine, the guys are probably exhausted at the moment, and are hopefully resting some place warm and cozy. Congrats to Kevin, Ray, and the entire impossible2Possible team for another job well done.

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World Run II Update: The End of Africa

A few weeks back I posted a story about the World Run II, a long distance endurance run like nothing I've ever seen before. The event is the brainchild of Danish ultrarunner Jesper Olsen, who is about to become the first person to ever run the length of Africa, north to south, as he finishes the first half of an amazing long distance odyssey on foot.

On Saturday, March 13, Jesper will be running into Cape Point, South Africa, which will mark the end of the first stage of World Run II, which began back on July 1st of 2008, when he set off from the northernmost tip of Norway, and started running south. Now, 20 months, and nearly 21,250 kilometers later, he's about to set some very impressive firsts. In addition to becoming the first person to run across Africa, north to south, he'll also become the first person to run from the most northerly point in Europe, to the southernmost tip of Africa, and he'll be the first to complete two documented runs of more than 20,000km, having finished his first during World Run I back in 2005, which went for more than 26,000km.

Upon reaching Cape Point, Jesper will then take a few months off to rest and recover before beginning the second stage of World Run II. That stage will begin in Punta Arenas, Chile, and will see him running north this time, covering the length of South America, up through Central America, into Mexico, and the U.S. before ending in Mt. Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada. When he's done, Jesper will have covered more than 40,000km, through all kinds of terrain and weather conditions.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to salute Jesper and what he's accomplished so far. While he still has a long way to go before he finishes World Run II, it is very impressive what he has accomplished so far. What an amazing expedition this has been through Africa, and what a great way to see the world – on your own two feet!

Update: It seems my original information was off just a bit. Jesper will now be arriving in Cape Point on Monday, not Saturday. We can afford him a little extra time to take in the sights though considering how far he has just run, right?

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Siberian Express: Kevin and Ray Push Forward

The Siberian Express expedition keeps moving forward, with polar explorers Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely struggling against the elements as they continue to go for a new speed record for crossing Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world, located in the southern part of Russia's Siberia region.

Over the past couple of days, the boys have continued to face unrelenting winds that have made it a challenge every step of the way, but despite those conditions, they've also continued to rack up the mileage as well. Most days they're knocking off in excess of 40+ kilometers a day (roughly 21.5 miles), and as of right now, they're on pace to break the record for crossing the massive body of water by more than five days!

Both Kevin and Ray are missing their friends and families at the moment, and they know that the sooner they are done with their little run, the sooner they can get back home. The challenging terrain and weather conditions aren't going to make it easy on them though, and due to the unusually high humidity, all of their gear remains wet at all times, including their sleeping bags. Despite all of that though, on their tenth day into the expedition, they're getting more acclimated to the conditions, and finding themselves enjoying the challenge.

One of the major goals for the expedition was to connect with students in classrooms around the world, and share the adventure with them. This program, which is done in conjunction with the impossible2Possible organization, has been a great success so far, and it seems that both men look forward to their interactions with the classrooms each day.

Below is a video that helps to bring home exactly what Kevin and Ray are dealing with while out on the ice. It's hard not to have massive respect for the guys when you watch this.

goi2p on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

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Endurance Runner Set To Run 50 Miles In 50 States

I've written about endurance athlete Lisa Smith-Batchen in the past, most notably when she was taking on Death Valley both on foot and bike a few years back. That was an 810 mile odyssey that involved the Badwater Ultra and the Furnace Creek 508. Now, she's about to embark on another long distance event that will wrack up even more mileage.

On April 19th, Lisa will kick off the Running Hope Through America event, which will see her covering 50 miles in all 50 states over a period of 62 days. She'll get things started in Trenton, New Jersey and proceed from there, finishing up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on June 19th.

As usual, Lisa isn't just running because she loves to run, although she obviously does love it. She'll be running to raise awareness and funds for a variety of charities, such as the Orphan Foundation of America, the Caring House Project, Aids Orphans Rising. Lisa is also part of the Dream Chasers Foundation, a group of dedicated endurance athletes who work together to channel their considerable energies towards helping charitable organizations.

While two athletes have completed 50 marathons in 50 states (Dean Karnazes being one of them), no one has ever gone for 50 miles in all 50 states. Lisa is hoping to become the first, and judging by her past performance, i wouldn't bet against. her. Good luck Lisa!

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22nd Annual Rhodes Trail Run Accepting Applications

The 2010 Rhodes Trail Run may still be several months off, but those interested in running the iconic long distance off road race in South Africa may want to get their entries in soon. Personal invitations for the event went out last week, and slots are already being filled for this amazing race that should be on the radar of any endurance runner.

The race is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 3rd, beginning and ending in the hamlet of Rhodes, South Africa. Covering a distance of 52km (28 miles), the course will wind its way through remote and challenging terrain that would put any trail runner to the test in the best of conditions. But the Rhodes Trail Run is rarely held under the "best of conditions". Weather is a frequent threat during the event, with high winds, icy trails, and snow a possibility throughout.

If the weather wasn't enough of a challenge however, runners will have to consider the altitude as well. The race begins at 1800m (5905 feet) and goes as high as 2680m (8793 feet), with the average altitude sitting at about 2560m (8399 ft). That's some serious altitude gain over the course of the run, and athletes should be prepared to deal with that as they go. To help ensure that runners are ready, the organizers of the event have put together some training tips that may come in handy.

So? Who wants to go to South Africa this summer to compete in a really tough, but amazing race? And I say "summer" because I live in the Northern Hemisphere. From the looks of the conditions on the course during the event, it would be anything but "summer" while we're running. Seems like a very cool race if any of you endurance athletes are looking for a new challenge.

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Siberian Express Expedition Set To Begin Monday!

Speaking of icy adventures, the Siberian Express team of Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely set off from Vancouver yesterday on their way to Siberia, where they hope to begin their expedition on Monday, March 1st.

You may recall, I wrote about this expedition a month back when Ray and Kevin were deep into their training. They will be making an attempt at a speed record for crossing Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is frozen this time of the year, making it a perfect opportunity to try to make the 400+ mile journey along its entire length. Despite the fact that they'll be going in unsupported fashion, pulling their gear behind them on sleds, they still intended to cover roughly 40 miles per day.

The expedition has some larger goals beyond the speed record as well. They hope to raise funds for the Ryan's Well Foundation and givingwater.org to help complete clean water projects in Africa. They'll also be connecting with thousands of students across the globe, as part of the impossible2Possible educational outreach programs.

While they're not heading to the North Pole, this is still a tremendous undertaking in a very harsh climate. The Siberian winters are brutal, and they'll be completely exposed out on the ice of the lake, which is gigantic in size. Not only does it cover more than 12,200 square miles of area, it actually reaches 5390 feet in depth as well. Those are staggering numbers for any body of water, let alone a freshwater lake.

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World Run II: A New Definition Of Endurance Runs!

Occasionally I get great articles, reports, and links sent my way from readers who are aware of some great adventures that I haven't come across before. At any given time, there are always some amazing things going on, and it's difficult to keep track of them all, although I do my best. :) One such reader is Darrell Raubenheimer, who drops me a note from time to time about one amazing endurance event or another that is taking place in and around South Africa, which he calls home. Earlier today, I received just such a note telling me about endurance athlete Jesper Olsen and his World Run II.

Back in 2005, Jesper completed the first ever fully documented run around the world. Dubbed the World Run, the event saw him begin and end in London, crossing Europe, and Asia, before ending up in Tokyo, Japan From there, the Danish runner hopped a flight to Sydney, ran across Australia to Perth, then grabbed another flight to Los Angeles, where he proceed to run north to Vancouver, then across Canada and the U.S., before taking a flight back to the U.K., returning to where he started. When he was done, Jesper had run more than 16,000 miles.

But like any good adventurer, the ultrarunner couldn't stay home for long, and thus the plan was hatched for World Run II, which like all good sequels, is bigger, and more impressive than the first. This time, Jesper is running a course that is roughly 25,000 miles in length and going from north-to-south, and back again. In the process, he'll cross four continents, numerous countries, and through nearly every time of environment imaginable.

The run got underway from Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost point in Europe, and will continue south to Cape Town in South Africa. From there, Jesper will hop a flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, in South America, and turn is way north, heading up through that continent, and into North America, through Mexico, the U.S., and into Canada, eventually ending at Mt. Pearl, a small town in Newfoundland.

Jesper's latest blog report, which can be found on the World Run II website, indicates that he is now closing in on Cape Town, which is a major milestone for his expedition. As of two days ago, he had completed nearly 12,800 miles, so he's roughly halfway done. As of that posting, he was still about 500 miles away from Cape Town, but mentioned that he was looking forward to a break, some time to heal, and recover, before moving on to South America. Considering he's just about finished up a complete run across the African continent, north to south, I'd say he's earned some rest.

Personally, I'm in awe of this undertaking. I've taken the last two days off from running to try to heal a bit of a nagging injury, and now I feel just completely lazy after reading about some of the things that Jesper has been dealing with along the way. I may have missed the first half of this very cool adventure, but you can bet I'll be following along with the second half. Thanks for the tip Darrell, it is highly appreciated as always! :)

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2010 Coastal Challenge Wraps Up In Costa Rica

It was six very long, grueling, and challenging days for the athletes taking part in the 2010 Coastal Challenge, an annual test of endurance that takes place in Costa Rica. This year's race took place along the northwest coast, which is dryer than other parts of the country, but offers rugged volcanic highlands, plenty of jungles and forests, and an array of scenic lakes for the competitors to run past.

The course was more than 200km in length, stretched out over six legs of varying length, that pushed the racers to the limit. Trail conditions varied from paved road to dirt trails, with just about everything in between. In the end though, this year's race ended like the last few, with two-time defending champ Javier Montero of Costa Rica claiming his third consecutive win. Newcomer to the race Cesar Ortega, also of Costa Rica, took second, while Ty Stevens of the U.S. finished third in his first ever multi-day adventure race. Margaret Phillips of Canada finished first amongst the women in her first stage race as well.

For TCC Adventures, the organizers of the event, the Coastal Challenge is just the latest race in what is expected to be a very busy year. Next up, in April, they'll host the Island Run in Panama, which will be another multi-stage race that will be run over three days. Then in September, it's off to Bolivia for the Inca Run, a 160km, five-stage race, that takes place in the Cordillera Real mountain range of the Andes.

Congrats to all the competitors in the Coastal Challenge. It seems like it was an amazing race in a beautiful setting.
(Photo by J. Andres Vargas)

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Aconcagua Speed Run Expedition Begins

A few weeks back I posted a story about North Face athlete Diane Van Deren as she was preparing to head off to South America to take on Argentina's Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the continent. But unlike most climbers making a bid on the mountain, Diane's goal was to complete the initial climb as a warm-up, then make a speed attempt on the mountain, running to the summit for a second time.

The latest update on the expedition, posted to the Never Stop Exploring Blog, indicates that as of two days ago, the team was finished with their acclimatization process and would begin their actual assault on the summit yesterday, with an eye on reaching the top on Friday, provided the weather holds. They don't expect to make any more dispatches until after they've returned to BC, which could be late on Friday night or Saturday morning.

After that, the second phase of the expedition will get underway, in which Diane, along with guide Willie Benegas, will move 20 miles down the road from base camp, and begin a long run back to BC, and all the way back up the mountain. They expect the journey to take roughly 95 hours to complete, and they're doing it as part of a medical study, conducted by the Mayo Clinic, on how altitude effects performance. The Clinic is also posting updates on the expedition on their blog as well.

Most people would come off of Aconcagua, which stands 22,841 feet in height, and be exhausted. These ultra-fit athletes are using it as a warm-up for a bigger test. Crazy.

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2010 Coastal Challenge Underway in Costa Rica

The 2010 Coastal Challenge got underway over the weekend with runners from all over the planet descending on Costa Rica to compete in a 200 kilometer adventure race through the mountains, jungles, and rugged coastlines of that country. The six-day event sends endurance runners off on a different route each day, while they challenge each other and the environment around them.

After one day out on the course, two-time champion Javier Montero has already taken the lead, as he attempts to become the first person to win the race three times. Right behind him is rookie Ceasar Ortega, just two minutes back. Both Javier and Ceasar are from Costa Rica, and are currently enjoying the home turf advantage over the rest of the field. Ty Stevens (USA), Victor Zuniga (CRC) and Mark Lattansi (USA) round out the top five at the moment, while Margaret Phillips (USA) is the top female runner.

Of course, the race is just getting started, and there are still five grueling legs to go. The course will wind through the northwest coast, over volcanic highlands, past scenic lakes, and through jungle and dry forests. In fact, the runners will be tested in one of the driest areas of Costa Rica, with routes ranging from rough asphalt, to dirt roads, to twisty mountain trails, and everything in between.

The race runs through Saturday, with plenty of tough, terrain ahead. This is a great event for endurance trail runners, and in one of the best settings in the world. Wish I were there to take it all in.

Photo by J. Andres Vargas

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