For the last 2 years everybody asks me “when are you going to race again?” I tell them it is more fun to train and film the races. I haven’t done a race since the Leadville Silver Rush, mountain bike 50 miles on Saturday and then run it on Sunday.

Last year I spent the year training and filming with my wife, Paulette Kirby, as she got ready to do Primal Quest Badlands. Two weeks before the race I was asked by Don Mann If I would film the race and produce the DVD. Now the DVD is done and I need to find another project.

Last week I was surfing the wed and found a new race, the 24 Hours of Leadville. That sounds interesting. Leadville has always been a destination for Paulette and me. We did the first 5 100 mile mountain bike races. Get this the first year there were 67 riders. Much more fun than the 1000 they get now. I have also done the marathon, and the 50 milers.

Then add in that 24-hour mountain bike races are my best distance. In 2003 in my 2nd 24 I went to Worlds and won the 45+ Championship, it seems time to try again.
It should make for an interesting summer. I have kept in good shape filming races but my mountain biking has suffered my technical skills are pretty bad right now. They do come back pretty fast once I start riding again so that shouldn’t be a problem.

Having enough time to get the fitness that I need may be a little harder. I hope to travel and film some more races this year and then there is all that everyday life stuff that comes along.

The plan is to get in shape and film and write about the process over the summer. I am also planning to film the race itself and show an 24 hour race from a different perspective.

More as it happens.
Randy

Teva House Looking for Tenants

Looking for the perfect summer getaway? Teva® is giving away the experience of a lifetime at the ninth annual Teva Mountain Games, June 3–6, in Vail, Colo. The Teva House sweepstakes, featuring roundtrip tickets to Vail and an invitation to be a guest at the Teva House, is now officially open to anyone looking to add a little adventure into their everyday experiences.

“The Teva House promises to be a one of a kind experience for those lucky enough to win one of the exclusive spots,” states Teva Global Branded Content Manager, Liz Ferrin. “In addition to all the amazing events at the Teva Mountain Games, Teva House guests will have the opportunity to wake up to morning yoga sessions by the pool, enjoy street concerts from the balcony and get to know our Teva Life Agents at evening happy hour events.”

Enter to be a guest at the Teva House by filling out a simple form at www.tevahouse.com. One individual will be chosen from the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each winner will be allowed to bring a guest. Tenants of the 2010 Teva House will be flown round trip to Denver, Colo. and shuttled to the renowned mountain resort town of Vail where the four day, three-night adventure begins.

In between enjoying events and competitions at the Teva Mountain Games, House Guests will have the opportunity to participate in an array of daily and nightly activities organized especially for them. A camera crew will be on-site to record house happenings for later release as webisodes.

Enter to win March 1-April 15, 2010 at www.tevahouse.com.

Photos courtesy Teva Mountain Games.

From press release

Adventurer Lei Wang departs in less than 2 weeks to make an attempt on Everest. Born in Beijing, she says that she grew up as a typical city girl. She graduated with a B.S degree in Computer Science from Tsinghua University in Beijing followed by an M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working in the IT field for several years, she decided to pursue her M.B.A. degree at Wharton. It was there that she was first introduced to ice climbing and mountaineering and climbed her first glacier mountain in Ecuador (Cotopaxi). Upon graduation, she traveled to Africa where she reached the summit of Kilimanjaro.

She begin pursuing her dream of the Seven Summits and Two Poles in 2004. She has successfully climbed six of the seven summits and has skied to both the North and South Poles. We caught up with Lei with just days before her departure and got the chance to interview her about her current and past expeditions along with her motivation and inspiration.

What made you decide to do this series of expeditions?

It’s funny how life drops a few curveballs into your lap. These coincidences are what make life interesting! If it wasn’t for me seeing the movies “Touching the Void”, or “Women of K2”, I would probably have never discovered my passion for adventures!!

Likewise, as part of a MBA school program at Wharton I was first introduced to ice climbing and mountaineering, and climbed my first glacier mountain, Cotopaxi in Ecuador. When I graduated, I decided to head out to Africa and climb Kilimanjaro.. It was during that climb, I realized how challenging it was for me and how my lack of fitness almost made me fail. I love challenges and overcoming them. Remembering what happened in the two movies, I realized that I wanted to be one of them. A spark was ignited, a passion to accomplish what had previously seemed invisible or impossible. Without knowing “how”, I decided I “would” and show the world that others can do it to.

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A brand new trail marathon is coming to Indiana in April. The Planet Adventure Heritage Trail Marathon will start and finish in historic Battleground Indiana. The (out and back) course will follow the Heritage Trail through and beyond Lafayette. The scenic route will take you through beautiful wooded and semi-urban areas as you run on all sorts of trail surfaces.

When: April 3rd, 2010
Location: Tippecanoe Battlefield, Battle Ground IN (near Lafayette IN)
Planet Adventure Heritage Trail Marathon  Full/Half/15K/5K
Distances: Full, Half, 15K and 5K
Contact: Matthew Jourdan, mjourdan@planetadventurerace.com
Website: http://www.planetadventurerace.com

With the start of the Iditarod today, we felt it a perfect time to post our story on Lance Mackey after his 3rd consecutive win last year (May 2009). AWM contributor, Amanda Jones interviewed Lance after his ‘three-peat’ performance in the more than 1100 mile race from Anchorage to Nome. Lance is just off of a second place finish at the Yukon Quest and could potentially set a record that will be hard to beat if he is successful with this year’s event. Good luck to all of the racers this year.

For more than 30 years, “13” has proved to be a rather lucky number for one Alaskan family. In 1978, Dick Mackey won the Iditarod on his 6th try wearing bib number 13. Then in 1983, son Rick takes the title back for the Mackey family on his 6th try wearing bib number 13. Flash forward 24 years, little brother Lance becomes the king of the Mackey family and the Iditarod, you guessed it on his 6th try wearing bib #13! That year, Lance won his first of three straight Iditarod titles. The road to the winner’s circle was not an easy one for Lance. Though it might sound like mushing is in his blood, he still overcame unbelievable odds to not only join the ranks of his father and brother, but to surpass them. The Iditarod has been called one of the ‘last great races on earth’. It is over 1150 miles of the most gorgeous and treacherous terrain one could imagine. It starts in Anchorage, AK and ends in Nome.

Native Alaskan, Lance Mackey, now calls Fairbanks, AK home. The 38-year-old father and athlete is now a fulltime musher and owns Comeback Kennels with his family.

His career in mushing got off to a slow start. In fact, he didn’t even realize mushing was a dream for him. “I grew up around dogs, but my dad always left me the bottom of the barrel racing dogs,” said Lance, “it was his way of teaching me and my brother Jason responsibility.”

As a teen, the highlight of Mackey’s racing career was a 4th place finish in the Jr. Iditarod. By the time he was 18, Mackey had gone from 140 dogs to none. He even became a commercial fisherman for a time. After marrying and becoming a father to his wife’s three small children, he ended up with 10 dogs before he knew it. Mackey just wasn’t sure the title of IDIT champ was in the cards for him. The 10 dogs he had accumulated were actually used to have fun with the kids. “The only racing they were doing was up and down our driveway,” said Mackey. Then the mushing bug bit again. “I think the fever had always been there. I was so proud of my dad and brother, they were legends, I was always bragging about them”

In 2001, he couldn’t resist the temptation of the ultimate race any longer. He ran the race with borrowed and “left over” dogs. “I just wanted a belt buckle for completing the race, only 600 people in the world have them,” he said. He finished 36 out of 58. But then, he realized if he had finished only 6 places higher, he would have also gotten a portion of the “race purse.” He also wanted to make his family proud.

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February was a busy month for the Adventure Racing World Series, so my posts previewing the full 2010 AR World Series circuit of races took a break.  Briefly, while we were away, three teams earned their tickets to the World Championships in Spain later this year:

• Team Ecuador Chevrolet won the race in Ecuador
• Craft Ukraine won the race in Poland
• The race in Argentina was won by Team Merida Laboratorios Abraham

The month of March will let us catch up and finish our look at all the races in the series.  We’ll also have more to share about these three winning teams later on this Spring.    This preview series started back in January in case you need to catch up or review; now my focus moves to Central America and the Costa Rican race in the World Series.

The Costa Rican Adventure Race is 4 days August 23rd – 27th.  This is the first year for this race, so I admit that I don’t have much background to go on in terms of “previewing” the event.  I know the organizers are working in concert with the Spanish organizers of Bimbache Extrem, the 2010 World Championships, to bring in some European teams and develop the race program to the fullest.  In fact, if you check out the photo galleries on the Costa Rican website you will see Anotinio de La Rosa — the guy behind this year’s World Championships in Spain — in nearly every photo.  In fact, the pics look like a travel journal from “Antonio goes to Costa Rica” or something!

All kidding aside, Costa Rica is known as a beautiful outdoor playground and by putting the race in late August the racers will escape the crowds of tourists who come during North America’s winter.  In truth, August is the heart of the Costa Rican rainy season but while conventional visitors might not like the sound of that, the jungles of Costa Rica typically just have light showers during the afternoons and it’s rarely a heavy rain.   This race does require a support crew, and the rainy season can make dirt roads tough to navigate — so get the extra insurance on the rental car if your team is making the trip!
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“PlanetExplore is an online community designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. Powered by partner organizations that share our passion, PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to develop the benefits gained through a connection to nature..” -www.planetexplore.com

On Saturday, February 13th, 2010, in New York City, The North Face (TNF) combined efforts with The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to host the first regional event for PlanetExplore. Through the collaborative work of several volunteers groups, as well as these two aforementioned companies, the youth of the area had the opportunity to experience the outdoors in their own backyard via an all-day outdoors program.

The launch event was called the “Winter Warm-Up” and set up in Swindler’s Cove on the Northern end of the island. Activities included hiking, fishing, photos in Himalayan suits with an Everest back-drop, a variety of games and gear stations, hot chocolate & soup & smores, fun with insects and reptiles, athlete poster signings, prizes & giveaways, and much more.

Arriving in NYC on Friday afternoon, I met up with fellow TNF athletes, Heidi Wirtz (climber) and Tim Twietmeyer (enduro runner), to assist the PlanetExplore team with both the activities and the area outreach. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of organizers that include Brook Shinsky (TNF), Akiima Price (NYRP), the Aloft Group, and many more on-site staff, our team met some amazing young people, along with great volunteers and other friendly faces. Continue Reading

Here is a sample of the images taken at The Coastal Challenge 2010.

All photos courtesy of Lead Adventure Media

Here’s one for everybody that didn’t get enough of the Black Hills during Primal Quest last year. The Dakota Rogaine Championships will be held May 8-9 in Custer State Park. There will be a 24 hour championship along with a 12 hour intermediate and 4 hour beginner events. USOF sanctions are applied for. The events will be staggered so they all will finish Sunday at noon.

The course is designed by Rick Emerson,course designer for Primal Quest Badlands.

The host club is the Black Hills Orienteering Club http://www.blackhillsorienteeringclub.com/

At 71,000 acres Custer State Park it is one of the largest state parks in the United States. With terrain varying from prairie to pinnacles and from canyons to mountains, orienteers will be hard-pressed to find a more fitting challenge with such diversity.This was an area of “interesting” navigation during Primal Quest last year.
Teams can consist of 2-5 members. Men,Women and mixed teams. Age groups are Junior,Open,Vet, and Super vet.

For more info and to register please go to http://www.peakassurance.net/Rogaine.html

We hope to see you in May.

Untamed New England is the mid-August race in the circuit of Adventure Racing World Series events.  One disclaimer before I continue: this race is near-and-dear to my heart as I’m closely involved with the organizing of Untamed New England.  I am biased.  The race is, however, next in line for my preview of the entire 2010 ARWS schedule of events and so I am skirting the line here between commentator and promoter.  On the bright side, I do know A LOT about this event!  Let me turn my focus, then, to August and what’s in store for the AR World series . . .

The Untamed New England adventure race takes place in a special corner of the United States, far from cities, highways, and the rush of normal life.  This race takes place along the border of the US and Canada, and thousands of acres of untouched wilderness form the backbone for this event.  Wildlife is also abundant; the largest species in the deer family, the moose, are found in large quantities here and teams at Untamed New England come across these large mammals every year — bear encounters are not unheard of, most notably when UK team EnduranceLife reported bushwhacking up a ridge and seeing a large bear about 75 meters away along the same ridge, to quote them, “it was the real trowser filler” for their 2009 race!
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Javier Montero and Margaret Phillips take first at The Coastal Challenge

Written by Greg Dawson

After six days of climbing volcanos, traversing rivers, fighting wind swept plateaus and scorching dry heat, Javier Montero (CRC) has secured his third consecutive overall win at The Coastal Challenge. Stage racing newcomer Margaret Phillips (Canada) took first place in the women’s division.

Cesar Ortega (CRC) finished second and first-time multi-day adventure racer Ty Stevens (USA) took third place overall. The six-day expedition race through Costa Rica’s must rugged and surreal mountainous range showed why you can’t expect what’s ahead on the trail.

“Honestly, with my first expedition run, I didn’t know I’d place this high,” said Stevens. “Taking second midway through, my focus shifted a little bit. I pushed on day four and five, but all in all, it was just an honor to run alongside such a talented group of runners.”

Team GENR8 Ty Stevens, Mark Matyazic, Alexa Dickerson, Milko Mejia, Peter (Pedro) Spiller and Peggy Dennis know being able to finish a race is one thing and completing an adventure race is another.

“The countless hours of intense terrain and varied weather conditions provided not only a challenge, but an opportunity to employ our communal discipline,” said Team GENR8 team captain Mark Matyazic.

Multiple days of endless elevation, hardcore and muddy climbing made for one of the best and worst races some had to experience.

“Tendentious and a bruised heel bone made for an excruciating run, but having already finished a Coastal Challenge and another TCC expedition race, I knew I was mentally prepared for the hurdles ahead,” said Matyazic. “Pain was my companion the entire journey.”

The mental fortitude and ability of the runners to finish The Coastal Challenge goes beyond training for a day of running.

“It’s one thing to run for one day, but when you have six days to run, you just have to mentally prepare yourself and that’s exactly what these runners did,” said volunteer Linda Andrus.

Top five overall men’s division finishing times: Javier Montero (CRC) 21:36:14, Cesar Ortega (CRC) 22:15:03, Ty Stevens (USA) 23:53:05, Mark Lattanzi (USA) 27:09:04 and Rolando Moreira (CRC) 30:03:29.

Top five overall women’s division finishing times: Margaret Phillips (Canada) 32:37:26, Stacey Shand (Canada) 35:23:13, Melida Barbee (CRC) 35:39:39 and Shannon MacLeod (Canada) 39:59:46.

For more information or to follow the race, visit www.tccadventures.com.

Photo Credit: J. Andrés Vargas – Lead Adventure Media

Seven-month training schedule paying off for daycare teacher on day five of The Coastal Challenge

By Greg Dawson

While race leaders continue to push forward in their quest for race champion on day five of The Coastal Challenge, Shannon MacLeod (Canada) has already won the race in her mind.

After seven months of training with running coach and professional endurance athlete Jen Segger, MacLeod reached her goal on day two.

With 12,000 feet of elevation change over a 55 kilometer course, day two features one of the hardest routes of the race. Runners had to climb the continental divide by a certain time or they were disqualified and moved down to the shorter, but still difficult adventure portion.

“I trained for seven months with countless back-to-back weekend long runs and raised money by selling coffee and muffins to my kids’ parents and collected cans to recycle,” said MacLeod. “There was absolutely no way I was going to miss that cutoff.”

MacLeod, with thoughts of well wishes from her students, made the cutoff and has been running strong everyday since.

“Physically, I knew Jen’s training had me ready,” said MacLeod. “And mentally, I had prepared myself to finish since day one so I was determined to make it and I did.”

Of course, it didn’t get any easier from there. MacLeod, who had given everything she had to make the cutoff the day before, found herself struggling on day three.

“I had gone out so strong the day before that I felt very weak the next day,” said Macleod. “But looking around I realized I was running somewhere wicked and awesome and I powered through.”

Top three men’s division finishing times: Javier Montero (CRC) 1:59:00, Cesar Ortega (CRC) 2:09:45 and Ty Stevens (USA) 2:15:56.

Top three women’s division finishing times: Melida Barbee
(CRC) 2:43:19, Margaret Phillips (Canada) 2:55:53 and Stacey Shand (Canada) 3:24:50.

For more information or to follow the race, visit www.tccadventures.com.

Photo Credit: J. Andrés Vargas – Lead Adventure Media

American Ty Stevens takes risk, second place on fourth day of The Coastal Challenge

American Ty Stevens came into his first multi-day stage adventure race looking to finish with a decent time. After taking second on day four of The Coastal Challenge, he now finds himself in competition for second place.

After four days of hills, wind, rain and more hills, Stevens has all but closed the gap between first and second place race leaders Javier Montero (CRC) and Cesar Ortega (CRC).

“I didn’t wake up and think I would take second,” said Ty Stevens. “Those guys are tough and this was the second hardest stage of the race, but I took a risk and ran alongside Javier the entire race and it paid off.”

Javier Montero (CRC) still continues to lead overall and finished the day with a time of 4:30:00.

“Running next to Javier, one of Costa Rica’s finest runners, was a huge highlight for me today,” remarked Stevens. “Knowing that I’m keeping pace with him is very humbling and really makes me realize how small I am on this course and in this world.”

Just before checkpoint two, the wind caught Montero off balance and Stevens gave him a hand to get back on track.

“Nobody knows what you’re going through except for the guy next to you,” said Stevens.

At checkpoint three, Stevens was struggling to get a cup out for water and Montero waited for him, returning the favor for the balancing act earlier.

Top three men’s division finishing times: Javier Montero (CRC) 4:30:00, Ty Stevens (USA) 4:38:47 and Cesar Ortega (CRC) 4:44:34.

Top five women’s division finishing times: Margaret Phillips (USA) 6:22:23, Judith Abbot (Canada) 6:52:34 and Stacey Shand (Canada) 6:52:41.

For more information or to follow the race, visit www.tccadventures.com.

By Greg Dawson
Photo at right by J. Andrés Vargas

Canadian Judith Abbot lengthens lead in women’s division, while overall battle for third heats up at The Coastal Challenge

By Greg Dawson

“It’s very exciting to watch Judith take on some of the most breathtaking, remote and challenging running routes in the world and come out with the will and ability to endure more,” said Race Director and Event Founder Tim Holmstrom. “Her mental strength is very tough for her first stage race and we’re very excited to see the outcome.”

The fight for third place proved to be the highlight of the day Mark Lattansi (USA) getting off to a quick start and securing a position ahead Ty Stevens (USA) battled with Mark Lattansi (USA) to hold onto third place going into stage four.

“Out of the fog and rain, I saw Ty just before he summited the and I knew I had enough room to pass him,” said Lattansi.

With 400 meters left and Lattansi locked in and determined to pass Stevens, Stevens made a calculated move to look back and check to see if he could glide in the last few meters.

“When I saw Mark, I dug deep into my last bit of energy and legged it out and was fortunate enough to have enough time to withstand his surge,” said Stevens.
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In and effort to raise $10,000, after months of planning, the 2nd Annual 2-Day Howler Mountain Bike Race presented by Bodhin Adventure Services is moving ahead for February 20 & 21st, 2010.

In addition to racing for victory each of the two days, riders will be aiming for the overall victory and part of a $1500 cash purse for the Howler Off-Road Adventure Series. Event organizers are using the race series as a vehicle to raise $10,000 for local non-profit community partners, Communidad connect and Fundacion Tierra.
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Following consultation with city and event officials, a committee of local business owners and cycling enthusiasts selected three courses that have optimal safety, minimal traffic impact, and challenging terrain. They include a Saturday Morning individual Time Trial, Saturday afternoon Circuit Race, and Sunday cross Country Road Race. For spectator entertainment, race promoters are also staging a soon famous Three-Wheel Bike Taxi race with $100 in prize money.

There will be 4 different race categories based on ability, gender with riders coming from Managua as well as neighboring Costa Rica and other Central American countries. San Juan is expecting to see guest as far as Vancouver, Canada.

Race promoter and adventure racer Larry Thraen is excited about adding another event to San Juan’s calendar. Thraen commented; “This race is a great opportunity to support local businesses and the cycling community while helping our non-profit partners, Communidad Connect and Fundacion Tierra. The Howler Bike Mountain Bike Race combined with events such as the Howler 5 &10k, and XTERRA Triathlon creates an annual race series to build sport tourism in San Juan del Sur.

We have two bike shops in town, several wonderful hotels, great restaurants, all of these companies are an important part of our economy and the town’s character. Events like the Howler Off-Road Race Series help bring in tourism dollars and help support some great causes such as micro-financing women-owned businesses, recycling, and help provide school uniforms for children”.

A number of businesses have already signed up to support the second year event including El Encanto del Sur, Groupo Max Construction, El Gato Negro, Villas de Palermo, Pau Hana, Chica Brava. Bodhin Adventure Services is still looking for a Title sponsor for the event and the race series.

With three months until race day, the event still needs additional sponsorship to cover operating expenses and volunteers including course marshals, certified EMTs and drivers for support vehicles. All proceeds from the race go towards the 2010 events, Communidad Connect and Fundacion Tierra

American Ty Stevens overtakes third place, increases lead on day two of The Coastal Challenge

Despite heavy overnight rains making for tough muddied trails and more than 12,000 feet of elevation change, Ty Stevens (USA) took a hefty lead over fourth place runner Victor Zuniga (CRC).

Stevens’ training in the Pigah Mountains outside of his hometown in North Carolina had him well positioned for the multiple hill climbs on day two of The Coastal Challenge. His trail training through six inches of snow this past winter was a major factor in keeping his balance on the trail as well.

“These trails have been some of the most difficult I’ve experienced and the 38 miles I traversed today were no exception,” remarked Stevens. “Sometimes you don’t know if you’re going to make it through to day six, but then you’re running through rivers one minute and jungles the next and to me it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Trailing leader and newcomer Cesar Ortega (CRC) by mere minutes through checkpoint one, Stevens’ continued his adventure trek over one of Costa Rica’s most rugged mountainous ranges along the continental divide.

New to this type of stage adventure race, Stevens’ competitive background consists of several marathons, a few triathlons and a 30-mile ultra marathon. Until stage two, he had yet to run more than 30 miles.

“Pushing myself beyond what I’ve explored to date was a huge accomplishment for me today, said Stevens. “Costa Rica has been the perfect setting for my first multi-day event.”

Leading the women’s division through stage two and breaking into the top five overall, Canadian Judith Abbot overtook day one leader Margaret Phillips (USA) prior to checkpoint one. Showing no signs of fatigue, Abbot is fast becoming favored to win the overall women’s division.

“This is the most challenging race I’ve competed in,” said Abbot. “Even though it’s a tough race, I look around at the volcanos, hills and lakes and realize I’m in Costa Rica having a wonderful time.”

The sense of camaraderie within the adventure racing community is very apparent at The Coastal Challenge.

“We had a moment,” said Stevens. “Halfway through the first river crossing I was going down and Cesar immediately grabbed my pack and kept me from the drink. It really spoke to me about the local Tico culture and the type of person running the Challenge.”

Two steps later, Stevens helped Ortega who took the misstep this time.

“It’s just that type of community and I would have done it for anyone of the racers,” finished Stevens.

Top five overall times for stage two of The Coastal Challenge: Cesar Ortega (CRC) 6:27:08, Javier Montero (CRC) 6:38:03, Ty Stevens (USA) 7:33:33, Mark Lattansi (USA) 8:45:40 and Judith Abbot (CANADA) 9:02:25.

For more information or to follow the race, visit www.tccadventures.com.

About The Coastal Challenge (Route of Fire) – January 31 – February 6, 2010

Runners from around the world cover approximately 200 kilometers of exotic and wild Costa Rican mountainous regions and rugged coastline. For six days, runners embrace the spirit of adventure, discovery and camaraderie within a long distance running competition while navigating wide river crossings, rainforests, jungles, windswept
highlands, beaches and rock outcroppings. It is an expedition run of epic proportions introducing competitors to the hospitality of the local Tico culture while pushing the limits of their will and endurance. Interested participants can register and find out more information at www.thecoastalchallenge.com.

By Greg Dawson
Photo at right by J. Andres Vargas

Javier Montero takes lead on day one of The Coastal Challenge

By Greg Dawson

Two-time champion Javier Montero of Costa Rica is in position to take an unprecedented third win after stage one of The Coastal Challenge, a six-day adventure race in Costa Rica.

While un-matched in the previous two races, Montero will have his toughest challenge yet with newcomer and local Costa Rican Ceasar Ortega. Ortega trailed Montero by less than three minutes by the end of the stage with a finishing time of 02:41:45.

Rounding out the top five finishers of stage one are Ty Stevens (USA), Victor Zuniga (CRC) and Mark Lattansi (USA) with finishing times of 03:02:00, 03:14:10 and 03:14:32, respectively.

Margaret Phillips (USA) lead the women’s division with a finish time of 04:01:42.

For more information or to follow the race, visit www.tccadventures.com.

Photo at right by J. Andres Vargas

Americans have been inundated with images and stories coming out of Haiti amidst the devastation. People are constantly wondering what they can do to help. One man has found his solution! On February 15, Abe Clark is attempting to run over 2800 miles solo and unsupported across the United States. If he is successful, he will join the ranks of only a small handful of individuals who have made this ocean to ocean run.

Abe is trying to raise $100,000 and spread awareness for Living Water International’s goal of repairing 500 incapacitated handpumps in Haiti during 2010. These handpumps are crucial to providing one of the basic neccesities of life and achieving their goal could provide drinking water for at least 250,000 people.

He plans to push a baby jogger in which to carry all of his supplies.

When we asked him how people could help out, this is what he had to say:

1. Donate to LWI to help him reach his goal of raising $100,000. There is a donate button on his site www.runningwater.cc

2. He is looking for places to speak along the way about the run, dreams, goals and LWI.

3. People can check out his route and if he happens to be coming your way…”they can house me, feed me and send me off again! People are also welcome to come out and run with me.”

We wish Abe the best in his quest to run across America and in raising money for a very wothwhile goal.

The Desert Winds Adventure Series has been providing quality adventure races for teams from all over the United States since 2007. This year, The Desert Winds will be producing its first expedition length race September 18th – 25th 2010 in the Mojave Desert just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. This 310 mile (or 500km) race will consist of trekking, mountain biking, rappelling, desert navigation, paddling, and surprises throughout the incredible terrain.

Registration for The Desert Winds Expedition Race is open now at www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com. Live tracking for this race will be provided on the SPOT Satellite Messenger. The Leaderboard will be provided by Checkpoint Tracker available at www.checkpointtracker.com. Live video updates will be available during the race at www.youtube.com and the race site. The Desert Winds Expedition Race will be a part of the Checkpoint Tracker Series for 2010.

Because we are expecting over 40 teams to participate in the only expedition length race in the west, we are offering discounted registration for the teams that register early. The registration price structure is as follows:

Teams 1 – 20 $2400
Teams 21 – 40 $3000
Teams 41 – 50 $3600
Teams 51 and over $4000
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On January 8, 2010, Jacob Thompson, Sean Monterastelli and Goat (Riding The Spine) arrived in Ushuaia, El Fin del Mundo (the tip of South America). What began in July of 2006 and covered more than 34,000Km and passed through 14 countries has come to an end for the team.

The route the group embarked on 3.5 years ago consisted of dirt roads (some of them washed out and barely navigable) and ran the spine of the Americas from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Along the way they also took the opportunity to engage in multiple adventures. When they reached Panama, they bought kayaks, disassembled their bikes and strapped them to their boats and paddled to Columbia where they sold their kayaks and set off again on their bikes. Some other adventures that they participated in include competing in an expedition adventure race in Ecuador and rafting the Cotahuasi River in Peru.

They are currently catching a little R&R in Ushuaia and trying to catch a government boat to Antarctica.

More pictures to come from the end.

Congratulations Jacob, Sean and Goat.

Thanks to The Adventure Blog for the heads up on this expedition.

In early December, self proclaimed ‘kayak bum’ and adventurer, Jake Stachovak, set out on his “Portage to Portage Paddling Project‘ to circumnavigate the entire eastern United States via kayak. He began the journey in the small town of Portage, Wisconsin and plans to complete his 5,000 mile expedition there as well.

Stachovak plan has him paddling the length of the Mississippi River to New Orleans then along the Gulf Coast to Key Largo (side trip to Key West). From there, he will turn north paddling up the Atlantic Coast to New York City (another side trip to Maine). Then, utilizing the New York state canals, he will make his way to the Great Lakes (Lake Ontario) before turning west towards Green Bay, Wisconsin. His final leg will have him navigating down the Fox River back to Portage.

I really like his take on this expedition:

I’m not out to prove anything about myself with this trip. By many people’s standards it doesn’t even fit the description of an expedition. Paddling 5000 miles through everyone’s backyard isn’t “hard core” enough to compare to trips that probe remote arctic islands or cross entire oceans. What I hope sharing this trip does do is show people how paddle sports can open up a world of adventure right near home. I also hope that the route itself (starting and ending in the same small town in Wisconsin, linked by a continuous loop of water around a third of our country) shows how we all are linked by water. Perhaps with an appreciation for watersports and the realization that we all share the same water we may be motivated to take care of it for the future.

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Uniquely Authentic Races set within the Backdrop of an Adventure and Purpose-Driven Travel Allow Competitors to Explore New Worlds

In an official move to streamline operations of their experiential and immersive running expeditions, the creators of The Coastal Challenge (TCC) announced a new name and sponsorship platform for 2010. The now-titled TCC Adventures provides a unique community-driven platform for more targeted sponsorship opportunities throughout its array of international off-road running races.

With some of the most breathtaking, remote and challenging running routes in the world, TCC Adventures presents potential sponsors a chance to connect with runners, trekkers and expeditioners in a unique and direct way.

“With a focus on exploring new worlds while helping them, we quickly recognized the uniqueness of our sponsorship platform,” said Race Director and Event Founder Tim Holmstrom. “The new identity offers endless potential for sponsors to reach its target audience on a global scale, not to mention in the thick of things where and when it matters.”

PURPOSE-DRIVEN TRAVEL
Providing more than a foot race, TCC Adventures has implemented successful community service projects into several races as a way to give back to the communities that partner with each event. Continue Reading