Stage 6

Stage 6

Km: 22km

Time: 3:30

What a beautiful sleep I had last night. I wake up at 5:15 on this glorious last day of racing. I roll over and open my eye. Yes eye. Apparently that bee/wasp is having the last laugh. I open my tent door only to see the Italians who look me in the eye, nod their heads, and then start laughing profusely. Its contagious. I laugh. Its only an eye, its the last day, and yes its pretty funny. My eye is swollen shut. I make my first visit to the DOC. He gives me two shots in the arm, one in the ass, and a little yellow pill. I take it all not having any idea what he's just injected in me. The DOC warns me that I will have no depth perception for the last 22km of this 220km race. He'll only let me run if I take it cautious on the slippery rocks along the ocean. Sure. Whatever. Seriously if this is the worst thing to happen to me in a 6 day run through the jungles of Costa Rica-I'll take it! Takes awhile to get used to running with one eye, I'm tripping all over the place as I can't decipher a pothole from an anthill. Feel a little wobbly drunk, and blurry. Oceans up next, and the rock hopping is too fun to take it easy! My shoulders are blistering from heat and sun exposure. I'm running along the rocks when I see King Richard. "100 meters to the finish!" he yells. No way. Really? I don't believe it. I rock hop like a little rock hopper would, get back on the sand and I see the finish! I run over the messages in the sand: "Way to go", "you did it", "you're amazing." I cross the finish, Jude's running towards me, beer in hand, arms outstretched for a finish line hug. Shes about to say my name...when thump, stumble, oof. She trips on a coconut, rolls ass over tea kettle, beer stays upright, and shes back on her feet. "That's the first time I've fallen all race!" she says as I finally get my Jude hug. Awe....

Beer time, and the eye is trying to open. First beer is heaven on earth like everyone said it would be. We wait for Jen to come through the finish. She has blisters for feet. Jen comes through! You did it Jen. What a freaking trooper! Now the rough part: cervezas poolside for hours on end. Sharing stories with new lifelong friends. High-fiving, whoop-whooping, sharing war stories and injury's, replaying the heartaches, tears, and pain. What we talk about the most though? Next year. See ya then amigos!

Stage 5

Stage 5

11.5km+20.4km (split)

Time: 1.20+ ?(Can't remember)

Alarm goes off at 4:45am. That's considered a sleep in! The expedition category does the first 11.5km, then gets bussed to the 20.4km start where the Adventure category joins us. Four woman are left in the expedition category-and I'm one of them!!! Today's a hot one and the almost 2hr break between runs doesn't help me in any way. Five minutes into race number two and my legs are just not there. They feel so heavy. Plus its 35+C as we start up "death shit prickle Mtn." as Jen calls it. We're getting scratched up. That's not a problem. Its the climb in that heat. I'm getting dizzy, and trying hard not to puke, but this seemingly small Mtn. climb just isn't ending. Not sure I've ever been so hot, and just when I am about to puke we reach the top. Its breezy and in the shade. I take a minute to cool down, and drink. Then its time for the descent down "death shit prickle Mtn." I'm feeling good, trying not to touch any thorny branches (we were warned ahead of time not to touch anything), when I hear the buzz, and feel the hot electricity of a bee/wasp clinging to my eyelid. I pull it off and immediately realize I need to get off "death shit prickle Mtn." before I swell up! I rip through to the bottom, dying of thirst, and PC#1 is out of water. So I trudge on to PC #2. I take it easy as its hot and I'm waterless. See tons of Monkeys on the way to PC#2! I know the finish is on the beach today, so I keep running in hopes of seeing the beach! I'm pretty stoked to run along the sand to the finish. Absolutely beautiful! My eye doesn't swell! Perfect! I finally have a decent shower, and take the fly off my tent so I can stare at the star filled sky, and listen to the ocean waves. I'm so lucky!

Stage 4

Stage 4

46.5km

Ascent:1550m

Time: 7:18ish? (Forgot to turn watch off)

Alarm goes off at 3:30am. Seriously am I done this thing yet! Pack up tent, and put on my now disgusting running cloths. Great news: no time cut off today!!!!! Phew-pure relief. My body feels like new, I have a great day. Run it all, and feel fantastic! Alot of fun BCish running trails through forests, and along paved and dirt roads. It was a hot one. The heats showed up as we get closer to the coast. Last 2km: straight up narrow path lined with prickle bushes on the right, barb wire fencing on the left, so careful what you grab! White faced monkeys stalking me in the trees above. I head down the other side to the river! I literally swim,crawl, get pulled by ropes, and rock hop to get up the river. Four guys pass me here as river wading is not my specialty! I'm grumpy about that, but then I see the finish. Which is smack in the middle of a waterfall-no joke! Judes not feeling great, and Massimiliano(Max) is lost. I get bussed back to camp after chilling in the waterfall. I fall asleep for two hours, and only wake because I think I hear an ice cream truck? I do! I do!!!! Ice cream bike. Best ice cream ever. I go back to sleep. Go to dinner, Max arrives. He ran 70km today instead of 46! He's laughing and smiling about it amazingly enough! Max tells me Judes in the medical tent. I go over to see whats up. I'm emotionally and mentally not prepared for what I see. Judes lying on the cot, eyes closed. IV hanging from a branch, leads to her wrist where I see a heart rate thing on her fingers. Four different people working on her. I'm taken aback. I start crying, as I have no idea what to do. Shes a Mom! A wife! How do I get her home? Duggie the foot DOC can see I'm shocked, and sends me to dinner. This happens all the time, she'll be ok, he says. WTF is going on! I sit for dinner, when Duggie comes and gets me-Judes awake. As soon as I see her I tear up. I say something stupid, and she laughs-making her heart rate go up! Awe...We both laugh and watch it go up. Judes trying to eat and hydrate. She sleeps in my tent that night as decisions weigh heavily on her mind. Ego's telling her to keep running(shes won everyday thus far, and has it in the bag), sensible side is telling her to keep her health-she has a two year old who needs his Mommy when she gets back. A healthy 100% Mommy. Jude doesn't run the next day. She had a tough decision to make, but I know she will go far in this sport, and kick ass in all future events! Proud to know you Jude. Love and admire you!

Link to race pics from Route of Fire 2010:

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=517358812&k=55B63V6ZWTX1VGLEXJ4VPVWUQUDJWU&oid=308614658317

Pics from after the race relaxing!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=147517&id=517358812&l=3e436fd67a

Stage 3

Stage 3

33 km

Cumulative Ascent: 1550m

Time: 7hrs, 40 min.

Alarm goes off at 4:30 am. I feel like I should be spending the day in the ICU, not running all day-again. It hurts to move. The wind hurts. I can barely get through the early morning motions. Why did I even push to make that cut off? Now I'm stuck with all the good runners, doing all the long runs! LOL. Judes doing awesome. Jen has been moved to the Adventure category. Shes bumbed about that-but still positive. Every runner is going through their battles. I know its not just me. That helps. Today I pretty much walk the entire 33km in 7 hrs 40 min. Lose alot of time today. Uggggg... saw plenty of rainbows, and too many cows. I'm beat when I finish. Feet are up ASAP. I decide to get a massage today. Dudes telling me to relax, and I try my hardest. My heads down, my eyes are closed. Massage dude disappears. I finally look up and it turns out dude saw a type of coral snake under the table, he grabbed a shovel, whacked it, and ran it outside! Ok, so back to relaxing... The race staff gave out some funny awards tonight and Jen got an award for falling the most! 20 times in one day. Nice work lady, just means you were trying hard!

Stage 2

Stage 2
62.4k
4,280m cumulative ascent.
Time: 11hrs, 43mins.

Alarm goes off at 4am. I put my still soaked running cloths from yesterday on, and pack up my tent. Breakfasts were mostly rice,beans, and eggs. I learned to omit the rice beans combo. I am feeling stiff already, and am very nervous about making the PC#2 cutoff. If I don´t get to PC#2 by 6hrs,30mins I get get cut to the adventure category(shorter distance race). PC#2 was located at km 35. Seems reasonable right? Not when there is 1,376m elevation climb that is calve deep, thick mud mixed with cow dung. My shoe actually came off and was stuck in the slop! Two steps forwards, one step back. So frustrating-especially with a time deadline. Earlier that morning the run started with three river crossings. I almost missed one river-lucky Jen was calling my name and I quickly realized I´d missed a turn. Thanks Jen! We then proceeded through cow patty hell. I was basically getting my legs cut up by prickly grass, then running through muddy cow dung mash. Just when I think it can´t get any grosser, this route leads to a water/mush combo I sludged through. Then starts the pre-mentioned mud/dung climb to the top. I´m greeted at the top by Eric, who is huddled under a blanket shaking like a crack head. He says"5k to PC#1" I actually felt bad for him freezing his arse off! Then I gunned it out of there. I get in, and out of PC#1 quickly, and am now focused on the dreaded cut off PC#2. My timings looking good, but who knows what sort of terrain I have in store? If its anything like the last 15.5k I´ll never make it. If its run-able-I´ll make it. But looky here-downhill! I race down all stoked, then boom. Up, up, and more up. Wind, rain coming at me sideways, stinging my face. My visor and Sunny's seem quite ridiculous at this point. More climbs, and the time is ticking. One hill is so steep I feel my self sliding backwards. A local offered me a ride. Oh how I wish! Near the top I stop to talk to some cows who are curiously checking me out. So I entertained them with some hot topics of conversation. On I go, up and I see the ambulance!!!! Whats the news? He says 6k to PC#2. My watch is at 5hrs. That's 1.5hrs I have to do 6km. Which means nothing in this race. I know I´ll be crying at the PC either way. I gun it, I stop, I stumble, I gun it again, stop, flounder, complain to my ego a bit, keep going, no I can´t make it, I gun it, oh man another hill, I want to cry, just go forwards. Ugggg!!! My quads are killing me! This is stupid, why? Why?! Who cares about a cut off anyway? Blah, blah, blah--the PC!!!!!!!! I see it! Tim's just ahead of it, he says"You made it with a half hour to spare!" Yah I did!!!! YESSS!!!! I sit. Ditch my mud caked socks, eat and drink. Massimiliano (Italy), and Melida(Costa Rica) come through just in time as well. The three of us mission on. Massimiliano(Max) partner's not there. He thinks Filippo won´t make it. The three of us spend the next 5 something hours trying to communicate. Delirious giggles, communication break downs, and sheer elation. We´re cruising along, when who runs up behind us? Filippo! He made it! Yah! Hugs, and high fives all around. It was awesome. I eat 8 boiled potatoes at PC#3. Who knew those were so damned good? We take off to the wind turbine section, which means its windy. None of us had any muscle control, we were hurting, and tired. The wind had no problem moving us around. We looked like a bunch of drunks stumbling all over the place, and crashing into each other. I have video of it-pretty funny. Finally at hour 10 I take my first pee. This is after about 8 litres of water-at least. Now we have to maneuver between barb wired fences. Not easy when I can´t even lift my leg up-let alone balance my body between sharp, rusty barbwire! We get to the finish just as the sun is setting. LOL. Everyones already eating dinner. I´m a mess. Its really windy, cold, and wet. I have a cold shower in a dark cold room. I put my thermarest down on the concrete floor in the eating area (I can´t deal with putting up my tent right now), and I fall asleep.

Stage 1

Stage 1
24.3k
1550m cumulative ascent
Time 4hrs, 34min

Alarm goes off at 3:30am. We all get bused to the race start in La Fortuna, a 3hour drive on a very windy road. I throw up all over my only pair of pants. Nerves? Motion sickness? Probably a good combination of both. Our personal ambulance led the racers out of town towards the road that takes us running up to Arenal Lake. Dry, hot climb. Then it was more climbing in the jungle. Felt like it was raining in there, even though I could see blue skies through the canopy. Descent was muddy and slippery! Accomplished my first river crossing, and ran along a suspension bridge towards a waterfall. The last hill climb towards the finish had an additional challenge for me: Horses. My biggest fear. They were scattered all over the road in front of me! This would be the first time I cry this week. I had to get through. I plugged my ears, and ran through, yelling "La, la,la,la!" They could really care less. I got to the top and joked with the paparazzi. They said: "Well I hope you don´t mind bulls and cows then?" I thought they were joking. No. Bulls and cows were laying down everywhere in front of me. I slalomed around them towards the descent into Margot Ranch. Day one done! Rest, relax, recover. Set up tent, have a freezing cold shower, and eat!

Guest blog #2

Shannon is now done running!!! She is most likely drinking a cervesa and eating, laughing and sharing stories from the past 6 days. Here is an article on her experience and a picture! She's on the beach till the 13th, where she'll be sunbathing, snorkeling, and most likely, not running.
Dawno


http://running.competitor.com/2010/02/news/daycare-teacher-stars-in-day-five-of-the-coastal-challenge_8186

Guest blog post by Dawn

Shannon is through 3 stages so far.
Quick recap
Stage 1: 25km She finished in 4:34:34.
Stage 2: 62 km She finished in 11:37:15 This day was wet and windy at first so I think Shan felt comfortable with that at least!
Stage 3: 29.3km and she came in 5th place for females at 7:38:39. She's 8 minutes back from 4th!

Tomorrow they head up a steep long ascent before a nice rolling fast route, I think it's 30km. Hopefully her legs are getting some rest. She's half way done!!
I'll post more as I get updated- Dawn