The girls from Extreme Runners and Let’s Go! Personal Training experienced an adventure of a lifetime when Mary Bridges (Comox Valley Road Runners) and Cathy Livsey took part in the 100K ultramarathon Fuego y Agua, Feb. 18, on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua.
The journey began with four airplane rides to reach their first destination of Managua – an adventure in itself. After a week of climatizing in Las Pinitas they headed to the race. And what a race it was. Temperatures and humidity were both high. The course was a sort of figure eight ascending and descending the two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion.
Highlights included getting lost after the first 25km. Markers had been pulled down and they were left to navigate by the two great landmarks, the volcanoes. Miraculously with another runner’s help and some local input the trail was recovered. This set the tone for the remainder of the race. This was going to be an incredible journey.
The first volcano was extraordinary. After a run through a large lava rock section the climb begins and Howler monkeys are heard with their haunting cry. This was definitely going to be something neither had experienced before. The trail steepened and became inundated with tree roots forcing the runners to climb under, over, through this mystical, beautiful maze which was appropriately called the “jungle gym.” Sometimes a foot deep in gooey jungle mud, vegetation was thick, and blue flagging tape was the only thing that identified which direction to go. Descent was steep and they navigated over many, many, many roots to bring them back down to the roads that would take them to the next climb. The race began at 4a.m. and 50km was reached in about 10 hours. Cathy completed the 50km intense trail adventure being the third woman of the day to do so.
The temperature was increasing now and a lot of open road was to be covered to get to Concepcion. A mix of rough rock, cobblestone, and pavement were experienced at various locations along the way. Concepcion was travelled up in the dark and some wrong turns were made along the way just adding to that race feel that began so many hours ago.
The climb was intense. Although no jungle gym to navigate the steepness of the trail and the sheer amount of time that was spent awake and continuously running and moving forward made the climb challenging. There was a lot of happiness to see the two guides who manned the final aid station on the volcano. Although neither spoke English, they had to listen to the female Canadian ramble on because by this point she did not care what they understood.
Mary was getting closer to the finish and literally knew it was downhill from there. On the way into the finish in the small town of Moyogalpa where it all began, kind words were shared with another runner as the last few kilometres were covered with relative ease. The finish was an amazing memory of volunteers cheering their hearts out in the sleeping small town main street and an incredible wash of emotion that will last forever. Story begins as the story ends…..an amazing adventure!
Twenty-one participants started the 100k and 10 finished. Mary was the first woman and came in 9th out of the field of 10. Was it about placing? Not that day, it was about the journey.
Mary and Cathy would like to thank Extreme Runners (extremerunners.com) for all that they do for them in supporting their running addictions .They could not do this without the help and support of family and friends.
If you would like to hear more about this adventure or others that Mary and Cathy have done, contact them through their website letsgocomoxvalley.com. Look for their trail running clinic coming in April and other running-related educational opportunities. They want to help you achieve your running dreams and make them a reality.
– Extreme Runners-Let’s Go Personal Training
