GALAPAGOS WAS ROUTE #20 IN THE 21X24 CHALLENGE YASUNI

The Challenge for Yasuní National Park completed its route # 20 in Galapagos, in the San Cristobal International Marathon www.cometogalapagosmarathon.com ,  this last May 13.

 The route was difficult for the 200 local and international runners. It started in the San Cristóbal highlands, at the Eolic Energy Park and went all the way through the town and to Playa Mann on the seashore. The temperature ranged from 14 to 30 Celsius degrees (57 to 83 Fahrenheit).

The Marathon runners departed at 6:00 am. The Halfmarathon started after 30 minutes with approximately 60 runners.  They jogged close to the giant windmills which generate more than 50% of the island energy.  The 10K runners started and finished in Playa Mann.

The Expo was held at the Universidad San Francisco - GAIA where the visitors were informed about the protection of Yasuní and its rich biodiversity. Meanwhile, the organizers of the Marathon strengthened environmental practices: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

It was Mother's Day, and women had fun! Agnes Ann Haggen from Holand finished the 42K in 3:04:54 beating Galapagos favorite Patricio Armijos for more than 4 minutes.

Lenin Altuna from Ambato and Lourdes Hernandez from Quito, which are Challenge 21x24 runners, were placed third in the Marathon and Halfmarathon, respectively.
Christian Norris, TV entertainer, talked from the stage about Yasuni National Park and its unique biodiversity.

A representation of the inhabitants of the island handed a symbolic trophy to the Challenge 21x24 coordinators for their fight for one of the last reserves of biosphere.

Everyone crossed the finish line, which was an arc made from recycled bottles, with a big smile. John Pilataxi "the Marathon-man" ran his 23th marathon for Yasuní. The last runner arrived 7 hours later.

On Monday, trees were planted in honor of nature and with the intention that all come back from time to time to take care of them. Berenice Norris, the Marathon general coordinator commented that the entire town was mobilized to help in one of the most exotic races in the world.

Thanks to our sponsors: Banco Solidario, Vivant, Alamo and Fundación Amazonía por la Vida.

The next and final routes are:

21. Riobamba , Urbina, Chimborazo: Sunday, June 10

22. Valle Hermoso, La Abundancia, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday, July 8

23. Manteles, Patate, Tungurahua: Sunday, August 12

24. 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

MARATHON RESULTS OF GALAPAGOS

CATEGORIA 10K

MASCULINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	55	Leo Burri	25	Ecuador	33:56.4
2	121	Pedro Nuques	29	Ecuador	33:21.0
3	106	Carlos Pineda	18	Ecuador	36:16.9
4	76	Hugo Ivan Lucin	45	Ecuador	38:10.0
5	69	Edison Patricio Moya	30	Ecuador	38:29.3
6	107	Diego Rodriguez	18	Ecuador	38:34.3
7	56	Victor Bernis	32	Ecuador	38:34.9

FEMENINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	93	Nuria Isabel Estrella	33	Ecuador	44:13.5
2	85	Lucia Morales	28	Ecuador	46:31.6
3	68	Natividad Quinatoa	25	Ecuador	46:58.8
4	62	Maria Colina Chaquinga	25	Ecuador	47:18.7
5	65	Silvia del Rocio Ocana	46	Ecuador	47:43.8
6	100	Maria Dolores Espinoza	38	Ecuador	50:24.2
7	101	Martha Cecilia Erazo	35	Ecuador	50:26.9

CATEGORÍA 21K

MASCULINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	144	Carlos Enriquez	34	Ecuador	1:18:42.8
2	132	Daniel Caamaño	22	Quito	1:27:05.9
3	154	Marcos Ivan Vega	24	Ecuador	1:30:04.6
4	147	Luis Homero Chango	50	Ecuador	1:31:09.4
5	173	Gabriel Moran	19	Ecuador	1:34:53.4
6	171	José Alava Pesantes	20	Ecuador	1:35:45.3
7	148	Hector Astudillo	53	Ecuador	1:38:14.2

FEMENINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	136	Angela Brito Bravo	27	Ecuador	1:28:03.4
2	162	Olivia Linn Eskew	19	USA	1:40:57.4
3	149	María L Hernández	49	Ecuador	1:44:37.4
4	133	María Masaquiza	27	Ecuador	1:50:22.9
5	143	María Isabel Navarrete	39	Ecuador	1:51:46.4
6	159	Jessica Leanne Kaat	20	USA	1:55:41.1
7	167	Grace Ivon Borja	40	Ecuador	1:57:41.1

MARATÓN 42k

MASCULINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	15	Patricio Armijos	30	Ecuador	3:08:03.4
2	27	David Criollo	25	Ecuador	3:41:47.8
3	28	Luis Lenin Altuna	39	Ecuador	3:48:58.4
4	25	Jose Simbana	42	Ecuador	3:53:00.0
5	20	Gerhardus Vroom	43	Holanda	4:01:15.3
6	23	Danny Vallejo	28	Ecuador	4:13:44.5
7	22	Medardo Jimenes	52	Ecuador	4:16:03.0

FEMENINO

lugar	Bib	nombre	edad	país	chiptime
1	19	Inez Anne Haagen	49	Holanda	3:04:54.6
2	29	Juliana Slocum	23	USA	3:25:43.9
3	3	Ayumi Ishikura	45	Japón	3:31:13.0
4	30	Nora Carrillo	42	Ecuador	4:32:58.5
5	31	Patricia Velastegui	35	Ecuador	4:41:10.3
6	21	Caren Ware	48	USA	5:07:49.9
7	21	Tamami Kanayama	36	Japón	5:26:25.4

IT BEGAN WITH A TORTOISE

GEORGE’S STORY

It began with a tortoise. After living in Ecuador for 10 + years and visiting the Galapagos Islands on several occasions we came across Lonesome George. Its most famous resident and a worldwide conservation icon. As the last surviving Pinta Tortoise, Lonesome George’s cautionary tale of extinction unfolded as a result of human actions and mismanagement of scarce resources. Inspired by his story, we began Lonesome George & Co. to educate tomorrow’s youth and to prevent other Lonesome George situations from happening at a time of frightening and increasing extinction rates. Our triple-bottom-line business model ensures that 10% of every purchase directly funds youth educational programs that teach and empower future generations—to make better choices in our interdependent world. Lonesome George’s spirit and legacy lives on through the clothes we wear and the choices we make. 

CIRCULAR THINKING

Our world is in a rapid state of change. Over the last 50 years, human activities have altered ecosystems more extensively than at any comparable period of time in history. Responding to challenges and opportunities requires new thinking, fresh alliances, and a newly empowered generation that sees itself within the system rather than outside it. This requires a mind shift to acknowledge that we live in a dynamic system and our everyday choices have an impact on our surroundings. Lonesome George & Co. empower's a movement of “change agents” that make choices that protect and preserve our precious resources. 

OUTFITTING LEADERS

In almost every community in the world where our resources are in peril, local organizations are working together to preserve species, cultures, and heritage spots. This network needs a new generation of leaders who will generate awareness and ensure that such treasures are never at risk again. In partnership with Outward Bound, we are funding youth leadership and experiential learning programs to empower communities in the Galapagos Islands and globally to address these challenges. 

INFLUENCING GENERATIONS

Impact apparel that makes a statement  – and create action. Our goal is to empower a new generation of leaders and contribute to a new social business model that reconciles company, community and government—creating a virtuous cycle of prosperity for all. Globally, we are empowering youth and community leaders in a shared effort to conserve local resources in partnership with Outward Bound. We have also partnered with Ashoka, the leading global organization that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs. Proceeds from Lonesome George & Co. apparel fund our work beyond outdoor classrooms to a growing network of change agents—inspiring students, supporters, advocates, and leaders alike

The Come To Galapagos Marathon, half marathon and 10K events!

The annual Come To Galapagos Marathon (half marathon and 10K) event is dedicated to the development of environmentally sustainable economies in the Galapagos. It is a community sponsored event involving to a greater or lesser degree everyone living on the island. Population 6,000.

The 3rd annual Come To Galapagos marathon
will be held on May 13, 2012.

The 21x24 Challenge will join the Half Marathon of this international event to accomplish its 20^th route.

CLICK http://www.cometogalapagos.com/Marathon_Packages.asp for 2012 packages, registration/release forms, 2010 & 2011 results/reviews/photos.

“The Galapagos Islands are considered a natural laboratory in which we can come to understand the evolutionary and ecological processes that sustain life on our planet. The extraordinary natural beauty, biological richness and the ability to observe endemic species of unique terrestrial and marine animals here make this place one of the natural wonders of the world.

Preserving the unique richness of this fragile ecosystem through education and conservation is a very important task. In coordination with the Galapagos National Park, the third edition of The Come To Galapagos Marathon is being dedicated to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We must join forces to run on a clean planet.

The morning after the race, all runners are invited to plant a tree provided by the Galapagos National Park, dedicated to and in thanks for the runner’s participation in this event, a tree they can return to visit in the years and races to come. “ (translated by Rick Schleicher) 

Results of the 2011 edition are available at: CometoGalapagosMarathon.com. We had an unexpected amount of publicity last year; live national TV and radio coverage, the Ecuadorean equivalents of Oprah and Regis showed up, the marathon was featured on an internationally syndicated program “Asi Somos” (this is us, “Oprah’s” show), there was a full spread two page write up in El Comercio, the largest Ecuadorean news paper.

This year we expect the ESPN crew to visit us during the 3^rd Come To Galapagos marathon, among important local media coverage.

RUN FOR YASUNÍ IN CARCHI

We got the Route 19^th of the 21x24 Challenge in Carchi, Ecuador.

27 athletes ran for LIFE on Easter Sunday, from Mira to Juan Montalvo in Carchi, Ecuador’s northern province.
The 21 kilometers were accomplished in less than 5 minutes by km cause the route was flat and downhilled. The weather helped: a little fog and drizzle with a 12 Celsius degrees temperature in the early morning. Then, at 10am the clouds opened a clear view and we could admire the beauty of the Salinas Valley in that natural terrace that is Mira.

Lourdes Hernandez, the Challenge coordinator, said: "we disagree with the development that builds bridges on polluted rivers, or roads that destroy the forest, great neighborhoods with garbage dumps or acres of vegetables and fruit crops with chemical taste. That's not progress, nor life. It is Development of the End of the World ... In the other hand, running is pure and sustainable life."

Eddy Venegas, ultramarathoner who ran north to south of Ecuador in 22 days got to the finish line in the first place. Second place, Alvaro Barrera, -a new friend-. Third, Andres Castillo: legendary 21x24Challenge router; Pato Chavez who has record in attendance, and Lida Chamorro, Banco Solidario elite female runner. They completed the leader group.

The Challenge is supported by Banco Solidario, Vivant, Alamo and Fundacion Amazonia por la Vida.
This initiative is transmitted by El Comercio, www.ecuadorenvivo.com, Radio Comunitaria, Radio Quito, Solidario Magazine, www.ruta42.com and local media.

Next routes are:
20. San Cristobal, Galapagos: Sunday May 13 for more information: http://www.cometogalapagosmarathon.com/
21. Riobamba, Urbina, Chimborazo: Sunday June 10
22. Valle Hermoso, La Abundancia, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Sunday July 8
23. Patate - Baños, Tungurahua: Sunday August 12
24. Yasuní, Orellana: Sunday 9 September (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

ROUTE #19 IS NEXT! SUNDAY APRIL 8TH

CARCHI IS COMING SOON!!

Meeting point from 7am: Mira (there is an obelisk)
Race Starts at 7:30 am: road Mira - El Hato
Arrival: Juan Montalvo village
Supply points every 5 kilometers.

Characteristics of the route:
1. Asphalt, gravel and dirt road.
2. This route is almost flat with some slopes.
3. Height: from 2450mts to 1800mts.
4. Temperature: 12°C in the morning aprox.
5. No dogs.
6. There will be support of the National Police.
7. It's not a race, everyone is a winner!
We ran to support the Cause: the protection of Yasuni National Park.

SOME HOTELS CONSULTED:
The Kibbutz
Telfs.: (+593) 62 637 140/62 637 141
hosteriaelkibutz@hotmail.com

Tunas and Goats
Telfs.: (06) 2631819 or 095227472 094031467 movistar and Fernando Acosta Katherine

OASIS hostel
Tel 06 2637200
oasis.hosteria @ yahoo.com

Arco Iris INN
Tel: 06 2941135

COMING NEXT:
GALAPAGOS # 20: Sunday 13 May, 2012. San Cristobal International Marathon http://www.cometogalapagosmarathon.com/
CHIMBORAZO # 21: Sunday June 10, 2012.
Urbina

REGISTRATION:
1. At the start of each route - references in the blog http://21kx241provincias.blogspot.com
Contact: mlhernandez@solidario.fin.ec
Tel: 95669133

2. N34-340 PODIUM Luxembourg and Portugal, Braganza Edf Tel: 3331 509 593 2
Quito - Ecuador
Voluntary Cost: $ 25 (T-shirt)

SPONSORS:
Banco Solidario-solidario.com www.banco
Vivant www.azende.com
Podium www.podium.com.ec
Amazonia por la Vida info@amazoniaporlavida.org

CHALLENGE AT PASTAZA WITH RAIN AND FOG

Pastaza Route #18 of the 21x24 Challenge was completed inside the rainforest. Part of the Yasuni National Park is in this province, which goes through Orellana as well. Next time athletes travel to the Amazon jungle, will run within the park, 6 hours from Coca, in September 2012.

20 runners gathered in Puyo on march 11 and from there, they went to the small town El Triunfo, where at 7:00 am, the race started. They arrived in less than two hours through a new road to Arajuno.

In addition to an accident suffered by a police patrol, which felt into a pond, we could see the uncontrolled movement of trees, packed of wood. The beauty of the landscape is harmed by deforested areas in a supposedly virgin and protected forest.

It requires the participation of residents, visitors and authorities to protect the Amazon, a treasure of Ecuadorian people and the world.

Elizabeth Bosquez, Carolina Rodriguez, Alexandra Cevallos and Sisa Calapucha, 15 years old girls, were selected for the Panamerican Games. They run in the 21x24Challenge as members of the Pastaza Sports Federation. They arrived first in the race with Banco Solidario´s collaborator, Patricio Chavez. Aiko Hiromatsu and Genki Nakae, from Japan, both volunteer school teachers in Puyo and Riobamba respectively, run with the rest of athletes.

Banco Solidario sponsors the 21x24 Challenge which is in its final editions. The following route is Carchi, Sunday April 8.


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

"We can not let go away the last trace of life to start looking for it." Ethnobotanical Garden, Puyo.