LOJA: WE WENT SOUTH… AND HEAVEN

With this route, we have accomplished 17 tours all over the country, one each month.
Our objective is to spread the 21x24 Challenge’s Cause: to protect life in the 980 000 hectares of nature, pure water and species, called Yasuní. It is a national park which belongs to all Ecuadorians.

Elite athletes as Franklin Tenorio, Silvio Guerra, Diana Landi, the climber Ivan Vallejo and the TV star Maria Teresa Guerrero have supported this challenge for the cause it promotes.

Rather than going south, we went to heaven. Vilcabamba in Loja province is a spot to visit, remain and live. For 50 years visitors passing by, have made Vilcabamba their home.

A group of 17 participants from Quito, Esmeraldas, El Oro and Loja had the privilege of running through this land. They got up early at 6am to make some warmups, before the masses of ‘carnival players’ would gather in the town’s central park to literally wash down people passing by with water and foam.

The runners left at 7am towards Cucanama by the Chamba river. Then went to San Joaquin Farm, a beautiful 6k neighborhood surrounded by trees, gardens, country houses and a spectacular scenery of the valley and the mountains of Podocarpus. Back on the road to Vilcabamba, they could enjoy a blurred vision of mount Mandango. Then they took the water channel road to complete the 21k of the challenge, right into the main park of the town.

This edition of the 21x24 Challenge was accomplished thanks to the support of Banco Solidario, sponsor of the Cause. Other sponsors are: Vivant, Podium and Amazonia por la vida. The National Police provided excellent support in this 17th route.

The next routes are:
• 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

The Challenge 21x24 arrives to LOJA

LOJA #17 Sunday, February 19, 2012 - 7:00am

Meeting (6:30am) and departure point: Parque Central, Vilcabamba, Loja - 7:00am
Arrival : Parque Central, Vilcabamba
Supply points: every 5k

Characteristics of the route.

1. From Central Park to Madre Tierra hotel (1k and a half), take the road to El Chaupi for 10k and return with a short detour to Central Park (9k and a half).
2. The route is almost flat, green and beautiful. It goes around Vilcabamba.
3. We will have the support of the National Police.
4. Altitude: 1500 msmn
5. Temperature: 12 - 17°C in the morning.
6. We will be supplied by Vivant (water) and other beverages plus bananas and bread.

Bring: sun hat and sunscreen, light shirt and shorts or lycra. Extra and warm clothing will be kept for you in the supply pick up.
Other: energy bars, blocks, gels, Gatorade, Vaseline ... the usual. You won’t need the hydration belt.

About the area:
In Vilcabamba you will feel ‘disconnected’. It is called the Valley of Longevity, the timeless valley, valley of eternal youth. It is extremely quiet. Its name comes from the Indian word "huilco", which is a tree Anadenanthera colubrina (almost extinct) with hallucinogenic properties considered magical and sacred by the Incas, and bamba which means valley or flat surface.

This paradise is also full of energy and has plenty of attractions:
Hiking on Cerro Mandango. Horseback riding. Podocarpus National Park. Bird watching. Spas and relaxation. To meet very old people who live there in healthy and peaceful ways.

Getting to Vilcabamba:
From Quito by bus takes approximately 14 to 16 hours. There are good roads. In private car: 12 hours.By plane: There are three daily flights in Tame, 180dls at a cost of taxes. From the airport in Catamayo, to Vilcabamba is an hour. You have to go through the city of Loja. Cost: $ 30.

SOME HOTELS (there are lots and nice ones)
Madre Tierra. Phone: 07 264 0087
El Descanso de Ramsés. Phone: 07 264 0039
Izhcayluma http://www.izhcayluma.com/

NEXT ROUTES:PASTAZA #18: Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Puyo
CARCHI #19: Sunday, April 8, 2012
El Angel

For those who will not run the Challenge 21x24 and want to support the Cause of the protection of Yasuni, can do the following:
.Write your opinion about oil operations in Yasuni to mlhernandez@solidario.fin.ec or publish it in your FB or Twitter.
.Inform about the presence of oil companies in Yasuni.
.Get information and visit this unique reserve.
.And/or buy the Challenge 21x24 t-shirt

REGISTRATION SPOTS:
1. At the beginning of every route.
2. PODIUM Triathlon Store
Luxemburgo N34-340 y Portugal, Edf. Braganza Phone.: 593 2 3331 509
Quito – Ecuador
Fee: $25 (includes t-shirt, 24 routes, water and fruit stations)

Further information:
http://21kx24provincias.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lourdeshernande
http://www.banco-solidario.com/
Contact: mlhernandez@solidario.fin.ec
Phone.: 95669133

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

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

¡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

Running in Ecuador

Some of the running clubs in Quito and Cumbaya are:

Ruta 42: www.ruta42.org
Zerolimites: Coordinator phone: 099 490 598 Hipatia Puente
Both are located in La Carolina Park, Quito
Ecuador Runners: www.ecuadorrunners.com located in La Esquina Mall, Cumbaya. Trainer Guido Bustillos.

The Challenge or “Reto 21x24” started a year ago with a small group of members and local athletes. It invites runners to a Cross country halfmarathon every month in each of the 24 Ecuadorian provinces for a Cause: to protect the Yasuni National Park from oil explotation and deforestation.

Everyone is welcome to be a part of our running club Ecuadorunners (or the other ones whose members are friends of us and train mostly in Quito) and also to come to the Challenge 21x24 to participate in any of the next editions.

Coming this week: Santa Elena, Salinas 10 Dec!