Jungle Marathon 2008 will take place in Brazil in October 2008

Ryan Sandes wins Jungle Marathon 2009

Ryan Sandes, one of South Africas top ultra runners, won jungle marathon 2009 today in 26 hours and 33 minutes, taking the course record for the fastest time since the race began.

Second place went to Salvador Redondo from Spain and Mike Wolff from USA took 3rd place.

Joint first place in the female division went to Nikki Kimball- USA and Tracey Garneau - Canada, and third place to Lowri Morgan of Wales .

The Para category was won by Raimundo Fredson de Silva Sousa, with Elton Bastos de Santos in second place and Orlando de sousa Patricino in third.

James Binks won the veteran category and the team event was won by team The North Face with Team Salamon in second place.

Jacqueline Terto won the 100km category.

Longest stage part 2

The final runners crossed the finish line of the long stage this evening just before 7.30pm.

Many runners had chosen to sleep for several hours at checkpoints and then continue in the daylight, and others had slowed down to a snail pace due to blisters, chafing and other injuries.

Jon Shield, who has been a strong competitor form the start and a favourite for a high place, crossed the finish line last- on a stretcher carried by 8 of the corpo do bombeiros.
He knees had given way completely and he was no longer able to walk.

Tomorrows final stage, of around 30km,will take runners along some of the most beautiful beaches in the region, with 4 creek crossings, before they reach the finish line in Alter do Chao.

Stage 5 update

The longest stage started with another water crossing and the remaining 68 competitors were at the start at 0630 to give them as much daylight as possible to get out of the jungle before the compulsory dark zone.

This longest stage is a mixture of all the types of terrain runners have already been exposed to: elevation, water crossings and plenty of flatter trails to run on..
By 16.30, all but 11 runners have left the jungle campsite, and continued along the course throughout the night. Those still at CP4 slept the night there, and were able to leave at 0630 to continue the course.

Whilst 11 still remained in the jungle, Ryan Sandes, from South Africa, crossed the finish line at Aramanahi in 10.32 minutes taking the record for the fastest long stage in jungle marathon since its inception.

A further 3 people had withdrawn from the race by CP4 , reducing the number of runners to 66.

We are happy to report that Darren Baker and Danny Nightingale, both who were evacuated to hospital from the course after stage one, are now discharged and recovering in Santarem. . We also wish a speedy recovery to Monica Lewis, and the team from TV Globo, who are in hospital Santarem following a car accident yesterday.

Day 4

The fourth race day started with a crossing of the Tapajos river. The athletes had to swim across the river aided by a rope. There was also help available from the bombeiros (fire brigade) and other members of our medical team in boats and on each bank. To reach the other side of this 350 metre river crossing was quite a challenge to many. Water filled rucksacks added kilos of extra weight dragging the competitors down.

Todayís was a shorter course to give the athletes a ërest dayí before the 89km overnight stage tomorrow. It was also very flat in comparison to yesterday with just a small incline towards the finish line.

There were plenty of stiff legs, sore feet and toe nails about to fall off. Again the day passed without need for serious medical assistance. Several athletes dropped out of the race and those who had chosen the 100km version of the Jungle Marathon completed it today-Congratulations!

Those who have chosen the full version still have 122km to goÖ Good luck tomorrow!

ULTRA ELEVATIONS & JAGUARS ñ Stage 3

Today was the longest stage so far: almost 38 km. The course combined the concentrated elevations of stage one with the swamp crossings of stage two. Although overcast early in the morning the sun soon came out and the humidity was so high that there some light rain in the afternoon.

Before the competitors set off there was a reminder of the signs of dehydration and how to manage salt levels from the medical team. They then set off straight into the jungle towards the first and longest check point.

The athletes were met at the second check point by more than forty cheering children from the surrounding communities of Pini. On the way to the third checkpoint there were hundreds of iridescent butterflies decorating the jungle along the way. There was also one sighting of a jaguar and several others were heard nearby.

The steepest climb of the race so far followed checkpoint four. After which those who managed to complete this stage arrived in Pini to a unique campsite amongst the trees just up from the river.

For the first time this race an international competitor was leading. The final two athletes to finish today were accompanied to the finish line by some of the military and bombeiros as the light had gone and another jaguar had been heard a little too close for comfort.

It seemed that the warnings from the medical team were taken on board by the athletes as again there were no major medical emergencies, just a lot of sore feet were bandaged and a couple of drips were administered.

There was also good news from the hospital in Santarem where the evacuees from the first stage were taken: all are doing well.

Fifteen people chose not to continue past this third stage. How many will finish the 23km tomorrow?

DAY OF THE SWAPS: Stage 2

The sun was shining and it was another scorching day at the start of the second stage. Logistical issues meant that the start was delayed for 2 hours until 8.30 to ensure the safety of all the athletes. Now everyone had more of an idea on what to expect from the jungle we hoped they would proceed with caution.

However the first couple of competitors passed check point one incredibly fast in just half an hour with many more not long behind. Would they ignore our advice? Check point two was proceeded by a large swamp crossing followed by a long flat stretch where many chose to run.

The community of Paraiso (Paradise) was reached by the first athletes in less than three and a half hours. Despite the second stage being completed by most in record time, we are glad to say that there were no medical emergencies today. However three athletes did need drips for dehydration. A one hour penalty will be handed out to each competitor for this for failing to manage their fluids correctly.

We hope with 37km to go tomorrow that the competitors get a good rest tonight and continue to run well tomorrow.

THE RACE BEGINS - Race Day 1

The day began early with the competitors ready at the starting gate for 7.30am following medical & kit checks. Some raced off at full sprint whilst others began at a more measured pace down the beach towards the first check point.

This first stage of the Jungle Marathon was 15km consisting of swamp crossings and lots of very steep inclines and declines. All of which were sure to test the competitors endurance and stamina, even in the lesser early morning heat.

Gradually athletes began to arrive at base camp and recount their adventures on the day, often with photos accompanying them: a tarantula defeated by a single hornet, boa constrictors with the circumference of a grown manís thigh and even jaguars with large saucer eyes watching from a distance.

And so the race continued with only one competitor deciding not to go to the end and one unable reach the finish within the time allotted. No serious medical problems were experienced during the race, however after the first arrivals began to rest in their hammocks, the first medical emergency occurred. Three more followed shortly after, with three evacuations to the nearest hospital in Santarem two and a half hours away.

Although one of the emergencies was due to a previously existing medical condition, the others were due to dehydration and too much salt intake. These outcomes should have been prevented with better fluid control and a slower pace in the extreme heat and humidity. A lot of athletes were rightly frightened and concerned by these events.

The second stage tomorrow is longer and consists of further water crossings. All we can hope for is that everyone keeps properly hydrated and stays within their physical limits. Nothing would be better than to see all the remaining competitors continue to the third stage.

The first stage.

The waiting is nearly over and as expected, apprehension was rising in base camp the day before the Jungle Marathon begins. It was also obvious that some of the competitors from less tropical climates were suffering with the intense heat. It was just as well that everyone arrived a few days in advance to acclimatize.

After breakfast the competitors received their first briefing from the military about the potential dangers in the jungle: snakes, jaguars, spiders, piranhas and poisonous plants. They were warned how to avoid pain, paralysis and possible death. During this instruction we had our first medical emergency. One of the volunteers fainted and injured her face. The cause, most likely, was dehydration.

After lunch the Champion chips were handed out to each competitor. These small plastic chips will be laced onto the left shoe of each athlete so that their times can be recorded accurately. Not only do these chips provide timings at each check point for the daily results, they are an essential safely measure so that it is known what the last point they reached should they not arrive at the next.

Shirley and Penaforte ran the first stage of the course in the morning so that she could report back as to what to expect tomorrow. All the highs and lows were recounted in the evening briefing with any last questions from the competitors answered.

Now it is night time and the competitors are sleeping while the bugs party on my laptop screen. Tomorrow the adventure really begins. Will everybody finish the first stage....?

Jungle Marathon

After over 40 hours travelling, the final group of runners arrived in Alter do Ch„o to board the boats to take them to the base camp in Itapuama.
They arrived around noon and spend a leisurely afternoon doing kit and medical checks and last minute packing and repacking of their packs.

Today was the last chance to chill before the race begins. Tomorrow will be spent on jungle training, as once they have learnt about the hostilities the jungle has to offer, the adventure ahead will become very real.

Runners set to depart for the jungle

Around midnight tonight, a flotilla of six river boats will set off from Alter do Chao for our base camp in Itapuama and the start of Jungle Marathon 2009.

Runners, media and support staff from all over the world have already arrived in the tiny resort, and later this evening, a final group of 60 will land after a 36 hour journey and transfer directly to the boats. They will have the opportunity to put up their hammocks and sleep as they start on their adventure.

Once day breaks, the boats will drop anchor for a short while so that they can have the opportunity to swim in the warm, fresh waters of the Tapajos and then will arrive at Itapuama around midday ready to focus on the race ahead.