The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 5

Posted on February 13, 2025 by talkultra

Nobody really expected more drama for stage 4 after the epic battle between Erick and Pierre. However, as darkness arrived, the heavens opened for a relentless downpour that lasted hours and hours. Camp was wiped out with flooded tents and countless runner’s seeking refuge in any shelter possible.

It made for a night of wet clothes, broken sleep and very tired bodies come the 0300 wake up call.

With a tough day ahead, many, looked less than happy at the prospect of 23 or 41km’s. Pierre Meslet summed it just with his look, he was exhausted and somewhat resigned to ‘getting through the day’ and saving it all for the last day.

An early crossing of the Sierpe river and the race was soon underway, gladly, Erick Aguero was running, albeit with his arm in a sling.

An incredible golden sunrise gave optimism to the day.

However, this optimism soon disappeared with the withdrawal of Erick. The pain was all too much and he emotionally took of his number and said goodbye to TCC2025.

Pierre was leading the race but the sight of Erick waiting at cp1 was all too much for him. The duo had an emotional exchange and with the lack of pressure from a great competitor, a very tired mind and body, Pierre took his foot of the gas and ran easy all the way to the finish.

Allan Barrielle and Sergio Turull took advantage of the situation and they ran hard to the line for a well deserved victory on the stage.

For the women, Katie Young once again dominated the day, but she was feeling the fatigue from a sleepless and exhaustive night.

Lucia Jarquin and Maria Jose Corrales once agin ran strong days to secure their respective 2nd and 3rd places.

The stage, for many, is a ‘real’ Costa Rica experience. Gravel roads interconnect rainforest, farms, the locals, wildlife and in the latter stages, the beach and ocean lead you to Drake Bay.

Tomorrow, the 6th and final stage is a victory loop that manages to compress the best of the previous 6-stages in one incredible course of rivers, waterfalls, farmland, beach, ocean and coasteering.

Race Results HERE

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The Coastal Challenge 2024 – #TCC2024 – Stage 6

Posted on February 16, 2024 by talkultra

The victory loop. This stage personifies all that has gone before and arguably, is the most beautiful stage. The whole of TCC is compressed in to the 37km’s with gravel roads, river running, waterfall crossing, rainforest, coasteering and long pristine beaches.

It’s a day for celebration and one to soak up all that has been gone before. At the end, a hard earned medal. However, racing did not stop and Cody Lind and Katie Young sealed TCC 2024 with final stage wins, 3:14:42 and 4:44:32 respectively.

Cody Lind was on fire today, 2020 and 2024 champion.

There are outright winners, of course, and congratulations go to Katie Young and Cody Lind the 2024 TCC champions. But as race director, Rodrogo Carazo says, today, everyone is a winner.

Rodrigo Carazo awards the finisher medal

Emotions are released, tears are shed and finally, it’s time to kick-off run shoes and fully relax and appreciate the magnitude of the journey and the experiences that have gone before.

It’s no mistake or act of chance that has allowed TCC to last 20-years. Costa Rica, the route, the people, the wildlife, the Pura Vida approach makes this race special and unique.

Tomorrow, competitors leave Drake Bay via speedboat, a final magical experience to confirm that TCC is one of the ‘must do’ races in the world.

Final Result:

Cody Lind 25:57:00
Jean-Francois Cauchon 26:32:58
Cristofer Clemente Mora 27:38:18

Katie Young 35:30:40 (8th overall)
Lina El Kott Hekander 36:41:42
Sanna El Kott Helander 38:11:15

Pura Vida!

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The Coastal Challenge 2024 – #TCC2024 – Stage 3

Posted on February 13, 2024 by talkultra

The surf beach of Dominical really provided a real Costa Rican feel for TCC yesterday, particularly the magical sunset that concluded the day.

Stage 3, from experience, is considered the hardest stage. The opening km’s through rocky riverbeds bring a technical and slow start to the day.

The crossing of the iconic Nauyaca waterfall and steep climb out soon make the runner’s aware that as beautiful as this day may be, it is also brutal.

Finally climbing to the high point of the day, slowly but surely the race descends back to the coast with relentless long beach sections, no shade and the heat of the day to punish each and every runner.

The day started slower than previous years with the top male runners lead by Calvo López and closely followed by Jean-Francois Cauchon and Cody Lind taking 30-minutes slower than anticipated. Apparently, the opening riverbed was very slippery. Cristofer Clemente Mora arrived and then gaps really opened.

For the women, this opening stretch was ideal for Lina El Kott Helander to take back time, however, a fall on stage 2 has left the Swedish runner with either a badly sprained right arm or fracture. In true fighting spirit she ran the stage, however, using the right arm to scramble greatly inhibited her pace early on. Katie Young however, was first to arrive and looked to be in her element. Sanna El Kott Helander followed.

At 46km’s, the day was being respected and it was in the final stretches of beach that Jean-Francois pulled away from Cody. The gap wasn’t huge, but it was certainly a day for Jean-Francois to take some glory. In 3rd, the ever-present Carlos running a consistently strong race but Cristofer closed hard and snatched the 3rd place away from the Costa Rican.

Katie Young was in her element on the beach and her smile and pace reflected that. She was unstoppable. Coming to TCC after a very successful top-10 at MDS in 2023, Katie was a favourite for the podium. However, this run, so far, is beyond her wildest expectations.

In 2nd, Marline Côté got a chance to shine with Sanna following. However, Lina, once allowed to run with the right arm not causing too much of a hinderance, started to close considerably in the closing stages. It was an exciting end to a tough day and she caught her twin sister to take 3rd.

Stage results:

Jean-Francois Cauchon 4:57:48
Cody Lind 5:02:37
Cristofer Clemente 5:19:14

Katie Young 7:00:44
Marline Côté 7:20:35
Sanna El Kott Helander 7.24:38

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The Coastal Challenge 2024 – #TCC2024 – Stage 1

Posted on February 11, 2024 by talkultra

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.