martes, 24 de enero de 2012

THE YASUNI CHALLENGE: 8 ROUTES LEFT






Pics of the 4 regions of Ecuador: coast, highlands, jungle and islands

You’re invited to the 8 editions yet to be run, of the 21x24 Challenge. Come and participate in one or more of the running trails of Ecuador. It's wonderful to visit a so accessible, diverse and beautiful country. Each route is an adventure. Take advantage of jogging with friends, supplies, security… unique!

Register early so we can give you transportation and lodging: mlhernandez@solidario.fin.ec
The next routes are:

. Vilcabamba, Loja: Sunday, February 19 (Carnival holidays) We will be at hotel Mar de Tierra. It’s cool. In this town there are lots of good and cosy hostels. www.mardetierra.com.ec
• Puyopungo – Puyo, Pastaza: Sunday, March 11 – there will be transportation from Quito
• El Angel / Mira / Uyamá, Carchi: Sunday, April 8 – there will be transportation from Quito
• San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands: Saturday, May 12. Follow this link to get more info:
http://www.cometogalapagosmarathon.com/ It’s expensive but the Islands are the Islands… like no other!
. Riobamba , Urbina, Chimborazo: Sunday, June 10 - there will be transportation from Quito
• Valle Hermoso, La Abundancia, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday, July 8 - there will be transportation from Quito
• Manteles, Patate, Tungurahua: Sunday, August 12 - there will be transportation from Quito
• Yasuní, Orellana: Sunday, September 9 (¡¡¡end of the Challenge!!!) Sign up early and book from Friday 7 to Monday 10. There is only one way to enter the Yasuní to run the Challenge.

WE RUN FOR A CAUSE:
TO PROTECT LIFE IN THE YASUNI NATIONAL PARK
ONE OF THE LAST ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD AND THE MOST BIODIVERSE

sábado, 21 de enero de 2012

¡WE GOT SUCUMBIOS!






The January route was accomplished this last Sunday in Nueva Loja, Sucumbios. With this 16th edition, two thirds of the 21x24 Challenge are overcome.

It rained very hard last night and left with runners dodging some rain puddles. Denis Cazar came from Riobamba and offered to run again in the Galapagos route. Franklin Jara appeared after missing a few months. In his words:"It was a pleasure to run back to those beautiful places”. He said he would start in January and there he was.

Andrés Castillo, member of the team lived in Sucumbíos 32 years ago during the military draft and the whole journey he was narrating his experiences in the jungle. Another founder of the Challenge, Patricio Chavez, had to hold back and go with the group due to the hazardous area.

They run part in asphalt and jogged the rest in a dirt and stoned trail, while very few people in the roads looked at them kind of surprised. A reporter yesterday said “in Lago Agrio runners have never run 21 kilometers ... can you run just 10k?

Sorrounding La Perla (short for Ecological and Recreational Lago Agrio Park) they were accompanied by the croaking of giants frogs, singing birds, rain and fresh air. The arrival was spectacular as Gladys Granda, head of the Park, had prepared a canoe ride across the lagoon Psasa Pari Jaira. The riders were transported to a sanctuary of silence, peace and wildlife.

That is why the physical effort to run 21 km every month, and mental sacrifice that involves coordinating the project. It's worth fighting in favor of the rainforest and its thousands of species.

MORE... IN THE NEXT BLOG

SUCUMBIOS is ready






This edition of the 21x24 Challenge was accomplished thanks to the support of Banco Solidario, sponsor convinced of the Cause. Other sponsors are: Vivant, Podium and Destino Tierra. The National Police provided excellent support in this 16th route.

The next routes are:
· Vilcabamba, Loja: Sunday, February 19 (Carnival holidays)
· Puyopungo – Puyo, Pastaza: Sunday, March 11
· El Angel / Mira / Uyamá, Carchi: Sunday, April 8
· San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands: Saturday, May 12. Follow this link to get more info:
http://www.cometogalapagosmarathon.com/
· Riobamba , Urbina, Chimborazo: Sunday, June 10
· Valle Hermoso, La Abundancia, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday, July 8
· Manteles, Patate, Tungurahua: Sunday, August 12
· Yasuní, Orellana: Sunday, September 9 (¡¡¡end of the Challenge!!!)

WE RUN FOR A CAUSE:
TO PROTECT LIFE IN THE YASUNI NATIONAL PARK
ONE OF THE LAST ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD AND THE MOST BIODIVERSE

SANTA ELENA route is already done














We ran Santa Elena province on December 11. It was the 15th route of the 21x24 Challenge for the protection of Yasuni National Park.

The meeting point was in the Salinas Marine Base (Base Naval). The sun and the moon where present at dawn. We talked about Yasuni while some marines at the entrance gate watched us with curiosity.

We departed in a pickup truck to the small town of Ancon, and 22 runners started the race at 6:45am guided by a police patrol unit. Heat was our companion all the way, and we didn’t collapsed thanks to the water (Vivant) and the orange juice (Storm) supplies.

In Km 10, the Mar Bravo view was like a balm in this dry and wonderful flat route.
“I am just training” said a relaxed Juan Fernando Fernández who helped us to coordinate this edition of the 21x24 Challenge. Julie, Whitni, Jordan and Kelsea, four Peace Corps volunteers, got to the finish line with stamina and a smile. The toe-shoes worn by one of them, attracted everyone’s interest.

Christmas spirit arrived to the Santa Elena coast after this Jingle Bell trout among friends. We got a sea bath in Miramar and afterwards had breakfast in our hostess Paula Roman’s terrace.


This was the last route of 2011, a nice year with 12 running unforgettable trails through Cotopaxi, Manabí, Los Ríos, Morona Santiago, Guayas, Esmeraldas, Manabí, El Oro, Cañar, Bolívar, Zamora, Santa Elena… Ecuador at its best!!


OUR INSPIRATION:
We are inspired and motivated by Ivan Vallejo, Ecuadorian mountaineer who finished his "Desafio 14" – a personal quest for reaching the summit of all 14 mountains above 8,000 m (eight-thousanders), without the use of supplemental oxygen. @ivallejo14x8000 http://pic.twitter.com/UTuSYqeY


We finished the #15 edition of the 21x24 Challenge with the sponsorship of Banco Solidario. We also say thanks to Vivant, Podium and Destino Tierra. Diario El Comercio, http://www.ecuadorenvivo.com/ Fundación Amazonía por la Vida, Radio Quito, Radio La Poderosa, Revista Solidario, http://www.ruta42.com/ and the local press that helps us to spread the Cause.


The next route is Sucumbíos, on January 15, 2012. There are 9 provinces left and more and more excitement is what we feel...

WE RUN FOR A CAUSE:
TO PROTECT LIFE IN THE YASUNI NATIONAL PARK
ONE OF THE LAST ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD AND THE MOST BIODIVERSE