domingo, 29 de julio de 2012

ROUTE #22 SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS TSACHILAS, ACCOMPLISHED!






Only 42 more kilometers to go until we reach the finish line!

In order to raise the awareness of Ecuadorians about how wonderful, unique and valuable our Yasuni National Park is, and the danger that it is going through, we ran the route#22 which was one of our last challenges.

THE RESULTS OBTAINED UNTIL TODAY ARE THE FOLLOWING:
22 Routes ran
Athletes: 415
People helping: 140
Total: 555
Kilometers ran: 441
Publications about the Challenge: 101

Awakening the awareness of the people is a long process. We are a few, but we are strong. We are willing and decided to expand this challenge, fulfill the objectives and accomplish our goals. After running through the Yasuni National Park, we are still determined to keep fighting for the protection of this National Park.






FRANKLIN TENORIO was present during this route
In the talk prior to the start, Franklin Tenorio, with his usual simplicity towards the rest of the athletes said that he felt moved by this initiative from the beginning and has been following with transmitting messages of support the cause that moves the Challenge. This time, things were facilitated, and he could arrive to Santo Domingo to run. He ran with his  13th year old daughter who feels enthusiastic on following her father’s footsteps and example.
This athlete had never lived a path of adventure as this one was drawn, and despite the hard way, he managed to remain next to the leading group, except for the last 2 kilometers where he took the lead and arrived in the first place.







Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas GREENER THAN EVER
This beautiful route has been the most extreme one to run after Cotopaxi, since it had a 13k rise to 3800 meters high due to the rugged area of loose rocks, hills and a mud path of 3k through a forest with a river crossing and with no help or supplies in that part since it was not a car way.
This 21k race passed through: Rio Verde, San Gabriel de Baba, the ecolodges and reserves Primavera and Buena Tierra, and farms in the area of La Lorena and La Pampa.

Manuel Cobo, fotographer and volunteer ran 12k with the group. Carlos Pullas was accompanied by a cow for a few seconds which caused him a little bit of fear. During the awards ceremony, Eddy Venegas gave Lourdes Hernandez a jar with Yasuni pictures to show her that the Challenge 21x24 has been an inspiration in his life.  A few years ago, Eddy traveled from north to south in Ecuador, and went from Carchi to Macará in 22 days nonstop.










SANTO DOMINGO EXTREME- JULY 8 2012
We were 26 runners, “agents of change.” We seek to achieve that change in mentality for those who live in ignorance and indifference, and for them to expand their knowledge about this territory which is not being valued completely.
We want to show the Government, the local authorities, oil companies, loggers, miners, residents of the Amazon and other stakeholders related to the Yasuni, we are not ignorant or indifferent to their decisions about our homeland, but we are aware and vigilant.

Franklin Jara, one of the runners that has participated in several routes in this Challenge wrote:  “You have 2 more steps to complete your challenge, how admiring. You are leaving footprints for everyone to follow and imitate. With God’s help I hope to join you on the next route.”

There was the valuable support of two national police patrols led by Lieutenant Andres Grijalva. We also have the support of our sponsors: Banco Solidario, Vivant, Alamo, Podium and Amazon for Life Foundation.

The two routes that we are still missing are:
22. Patate- Baños, Tungurahua: Sunday August 5.
23. Yasuní, Orellana: Sunday September 9 (end of the challenge!)

WE RUN FOR A CAUSE:
PROTECT THE LIVE OF THE YASUNI
ONE OF THE LAST ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD, AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST BIODIVERSITY

CHIMBORAZO ROUTE #21 OF THE CHALLENGE 21X24
















CHIMBORAZO #21, ACCOMPLISHED!

There are 3 more routes to go to finish the Challenge 21x24 for the protection of the Yasuní.

Until June, the runners have had collected 21 medals, one for each of the provinces they’ve ran on, and still three are missing: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Tungurahua and finally Orellana where the National Park of Yasuní is located.

The 21st race was Chimborazo, where more than 50 athletes participated. The race began, and it was freezing since it took place at 3.600 mts above sea level. It began on Urbina, heading towards Licán which is located on the slopes of the highest mountain in Ecuador.

The runners had to overcome all types of paths, some were harder than others. They passed through paved roads as well as roads with asphalt because of the repairs being made as well as the new railroad and the expansion of the alternative road to the Panamerica. This area is characterized for the plantations of potatoes, lupina beans and corn, and it is surrounded by Chimborazo, Carihuairazo and Altar, all Ecuadorian mountains.

Among the runners, there were students from Colegio Maldonado from Riobamba and Colegio Dillon from Quito. There was a group of runners who took the lead but got lost, and ran about 30 kilometers until Licán, where they were picked up by a pickup and taken to the awards ceremony where they would receive their medals.

A few of the runners suffered injuries and blisters.  Running the race that took place one week before in the capital, and the lack of training was the cause for these disadvantages presented during the race.

A group of runners named the “Cachañanta Curipuna” all wore a shirt with the message: YASUNI VIVE which means Yasuni lives. Ecuador is finally being awaken and is willing to protect the Yasuní.

The next challenges are the following:
  1. San Gabriel de Baba – Río Verde, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday July 8th
  2. Patate -  Baños, Tungurahua: Sunday August 5
  3. Yasuní, Orellana: Sunday September 9th (End of the Challenge!)
PLACES FOR REGISTRATION:
1.       In the finish line of each race – for more information in the following blog: http://21kx24provincias.blogspot.com

2.       PODIUM Luxemburgo N34-340 y Portugal, Edf. Braganza. Tel: : 593 2 3331 509
Quito – Ecuador

Volunteer Cost: $25 (T-Shirt)
Contacto: mlhernandez@solidario.fin.ec    Tel.: 95669133

WE RUN FOR A CAUSE:
PROTECT THE LIVE OF THE YASUNI
ONE OF THE LAST ECOLOGICAL RESERVES IN THE WORLD, AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST BIODIVERSITY