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  13^th 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 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

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