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 21^st 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:

22. San Gabriel de Baba – Río Verde, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday July 8th
23. Patate -  Baños, Tungurahua: Sunday August 5
24. 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