Page 41 - Moonvalley Diaries

february in moonvalley
RACE: THE COASTAL CHALLENGE
The The coastal challenge is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a six-day race held in in in February in in in Costa Rica For me it was a a a a a a a a a a a a great introduction to stage
races The The race race runs along along the east coast of Costa Rica – through jungle and and along along beach- es streams rivers waterfalls and and and and dirt roads Every stage
is between 22 and and and and 48 km long and and and and varies greatly in terms of of landscape technical difficulty and and metres of of elevation There are two different classes: an an an an adventure class class class with shorter stages and an an an expedition class class class that is 235 km long with 8 000 m m of of elevation over a a a a a a a a a total of six days Each day day you you cross the the finish line fin in in a a a a a a a a new place where you you you camp for the the the night You can either bring your own tent tent or or or or borrow a a a a a a a a a tent tent from the the organisation and share it it it it with a a a a a a a fel- low competitor The luxurious thing is is that you don’t have to to to bring any gear – it’s moved to to the the next campsite by the the race organisation And a a a a a a a a a a a crew of cooks will prepare a a a a a a a a a a a wonderful breakfast lunch and dinner for you you every day so so you you you won’t go hungry The The fluid stations are also well-stocked The The only thing you you need to to focus on on is running and getting through each day’s stage
as best you can It gets very hot hot along the the coast and and it’s hot hot and and humid once you’re in the the jungle too “Each day you you cross the finish line fin in in a a a a a new place where you you camp for the night Although the the first few morning hours after the the the early start (5:30 a a a a a a a m m ) are a a a a a a a bit cooler you will sweat profusely In other words it’s super important to to drink enough fluids and and elec- trolytes and and to to protect yourself from the the sun I I can can tell you you you that I I definitely enjoyed all the the streams and watercourses where you you can can cool off along the way /ida
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