Volcano, Elevation Unable To Slow Runners At The Coastal Challenge

The Coastal Challenge completes day one.

Written by: Greg Dawson

With the towering slopes of Volcano Arenal within striking distance, the racers had no idea what they were about to get themselves into on stage one of The Coastal Challenge, a six-day adventure race in Costa Rica. Elevation alone was their biggest challenge with a total of 4,100 feet of change.

But first, they had to leave the city of La Fortuna, the safety of the city, the comfort of the café and the cobble stones that have kept them from the adventure that called their name months ago when the thought crossed their mind, “What’s next.”

Pura Vida. This is what life is all about. Risk and reward.

The risk, blisters from wet shoes, sprains, strains or broken bones from rocks and roots sticking out in steep inclines and declines. The reward, finishing each day and waking with the ability to run another day. Day one highlights saw two-time champion Javier Montero of Costa Rica is in position to take an unprecedented third win after stage one of The Coastal Challenge, a six-day adventure race in Costa Rica.

While unmatched in the previous two races, Montero will have his toughest challenge yet with newcomer and local Costa Rican Ceasar Ortega. Ortega trailed Montero by less than three minutes by the end of the stage with a finishing time of 02:41:45.

Rounding out the top five finishers of stage one are Ty Stevens (USA), Victor Zuniga (CRC) and Mark Lattansi (USA) with finishing times of 03:02:00, 03:14:10 and 03:14:32, respectively. Margaret Phillips (USA) lead the women’s division with a finish time of 04:01:42.

For more information or to follow the race, visit tccadventures.com.