The Coastal Challenge 2024 – #TCC2024 – Stage 1

Celebrating 20-years, the 2024 The Coastal Challenge (TCC) got underway today with an early start, departing San Jose before sunrise and arriving on the Pacific Coast at Quepos. Ahead, 230km and 10,000m+ over 6-stages.

Stage 1 is the only day with a late run start due to the departure time from San Jose. From stage 2, the race day starts with sunrise, typically around 0530.

The late start on day 1 is always a challenge, the heat of the day is already roaring as the participants depart the beach and a flat 10km’s allows the opportunity to run at a pace that is higher than recommended. By Cp1 at approximately 10km’s, the impact can already be seen.

It’s a tough day and one that should be respected, the top men and women certainly gave the stage respect but even so, the heat took its toll.

Cristofer Clemente Mora and Katie Young both started aggressively and at no point did they relinquish the lead. On the contrary, despite the heat, the distance, the humidity and the challenging terrain, they almost made the stage look easy. Cristofer completed the stage in 4:20:04 which was probably 30-minutes inside the predicted time. Katie finished an incredible 7th overall and 1st lady in 5:10:14.

Jean-Francois Cauchon ran much of the race in 2nd place, pursued by 2020 champion, Cody Lind and Pierre Meslet. However, the experience of Cody came to fruition in the latter stages when he moved away from Pierre, caught Jean-Francois and then finished the stage 2nd in 4:22:41.

Jean-Francois placed 3rd ahead of Carlos Calvo López, the local Costa Rican hot favourite in 4:36:20 and 4:36:35 respectively.

Lina El Kott Hellander coming from winter in Sweden and with no acclimation, ran a superb stage for 2nd in 5:33:31 catching and passing Lindsey Ullrich who had ran much of the day in 2nd, her finish time 5:44:07.

As happens every year after stage 1 of TCC, the runner’s have a new appreciation of the challenge ahead. Despite the early 0530 start and cooler temperatures for stage 2, expect a more relaxed and controlled start.