The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 6

Posted on February 14, 2025 by talkultra

A good nights sleep, no rain, and stage 6 was underway at 0540. Today, 35.9km’s for all racers.

Stage 6 is arguably the Queen stage of the race, it manages to contain every aspect and highlight from all the previous stages and condense them into an incredible and beautiful route.

Early gravel road km’s give way to a stunning waterfall crossing section. A run through farmlands and eventually the coast and beach arrives. The route then weaves its way to Bahía Drake and the finish line.

For many, it’s a day to ease back and enjoy the trails and the views, the reward at the end, a medal.

For much of the day, Pierre Meslet and Sergio Turull ran together, that is, until the final 4km’s when Pierre pulled away to secure the final stage and become TCC 2025 champion.

Sergio was elated to have a good day. As the week has progresses he has acclimated and adapted to the heat, humidity and technical terrain, with victory on stage 5 and 2nd on stage 6, his week has been a huge success.

Katie Young had a steady day running with the other top men, a day to relax and enjoy, confident the overall victory was secure.

Race Results HERE

The finish line is one of emotion and joy, each runner a story to tell, and experience lived and importantly, memories made to last a lifetime. TCC is so much more than a race, it is an adventure into an environment that so few get to see. It may be challenging, tough and difficult, but this is the reward of the journey.

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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 Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 4

Posted on February 12, 2025 by talkultra

Stage 3 of the 2025, The Coastal Challenge was epic. The strength and commitment from Erick to attack and push paid off, he not only caught back his 16-minute deficit but now leads by 9-minutes.

Pierre was defiant though and clearly exclaimed that if he wants to win, he will race and race with the intention of victory.

Going in to stage 4 we knew a battle was coming, the day, on paper, played into the hands of Erick with a great deal of vertical terrain and at times, lots of technicality, particularly the final descent.

The discussion in camp was generally that one of them, more than likely would blow up today and potentially lose the race.

At 0530 the runner’s were released straight into a climb through dense rainforest, the expectation was Erick would appear first, but no, it was Pierre.

A long wait and then Erick arrived, he had lost 6-minutes 30-seconds on the first climb. Was he paying for the previous days effort?

At cp 2, the gap had extended to 7-minutes 30-seconds and several kilometers before cp3, the gap was 8-minutes 15-seconds.

Pierre was having a stunning day and Erick was just trying to minimise his losses.

Cp3 came and several kilometers later, Pierre appeared on the challenging high ground with the Talamancas as a backdrop. The gap was now 10-minutes 15-seconds, Pierre was the leader on the road.

It was expected the Pierre would continue to open the gap or at least maintain the gap, but nom this 2025 TCC is turning into a classic.

On the final descent Pierre suffered in the heat and humidity, he was a shell of his former self and when he arrived at the line he was exhausted and collapsed. Medics immediately submerged him in the river to cool down.

Just minutes later, Erick arrived, battered and bruised, he had pulled back many minutes but in the process had taken a bad fall, he was taken to hospital and gladly we can report there are no broken bones.

Photos © magdalena kalus / rodrigo carazo

So, Erick still leads the 2025 TCC, the gap has been reduced from just over 9-minutes to now, 6-minutes 20-seconds.

Epic!

Both are somewhat broken from stage 4 and with 2 stages to go, who knows what will happen. For now, they need to eat, rehydrate, rest, have a good sleep and let’s see what happens at the beginning of stage 5…!

The rest of the race, in comparison, ran smoothly, the women’s race followed the same process as the previous days with Katie once again taking another win.

The landscape, the views, the small villages, the people, they all come together to make stage 4 a brutal and beautiful day.

Roll on stage 5.

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The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 3

Posted on February 11, 2025 by talkultra

What a day! Stage 3 of the 2025 The Coastal Challenge will go down in history… Local legend, Erick Aguero pulled back a 16-minute deficit after stages 1 and 2 and now leads the race after an epic winning margin of 23-minutes.

This is Nauyaca with Pitufollow – Photo by Ian Corless

Stage 3 with more technical trail, played into the hands of Erick and at the Nauyaca Waterfall he already had a lead of 5-minutes. This lead increased from cp too cp, Erick was on a mission. By the final beach section, has lead was +/- 23-minutes. He held on to the line to take a stunning stage win and overall lead.

Pierre chasing hard – Photo by Ian Corless

Pierre Meslet was running strong all day and post-race he confirmed he felt good and was running strong. He gave kudos to Erick on a stunning stage and he also confirmed, “If Erick wants to win, he has a fight on his hands!”

For the women, Katie Young was once again untouchable. She was running strong and what looked like without effort all day. Post the finish line, she confirmed she was 30-minutes quicker than last year, she is unbeatable.

Lucia Jarquin was once again 2nd on the stage and now, after 3-stages is 6-hours and 24-minutes behind Katie.

Stage 4, tomorrow, moves away from the ocean and into the more mountainous and technical trail that Erick loves. It’s going to be an exciting day.

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The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 2

Posted on February 10, 2025 by talkultra

It’s a rainforest, and last night the rain came. As per usual, it was short lived, but it was a torrential downpour that had an impact on those who had not been careful with admin in camp. If careless, everything was wet…

Everyone was asleep as early as possible. Stage 2 would have a 0500 depart by bus for adventure and an 0530 start for Expedition. Breakfast started from 0300.

Out of camp, the Expedition runner’s went straight into a steep sharp climb, the ground now muddy and slippery from the rain. Humidity was high but temperatures were cool.

At the top, a rollercoaster of gravel roads lead to cp1, El Brujo, and then more gravel road and rainforest to cp2, Dos Bocas.

At cp2 Adventure started and the route drops all the way down to the ocean, but before, cp3 at Hatillo.

A water crossing leads to a long and hot beach section before finishing on the beach in Dominical.

Erick Aguero started the day hard, pushing and pushing to open up a gap on Pierre Meslet. This is Erick’s 7th TCC and he has been on the podium many times, 2nd the highest, this year he wants to win.

At the top of the climb, Pierre was a few minutes back but relaxed.

For the women, Katie Young once again is in a race on her own and actually, is more than likely to place 3rd overall if she continues this relentless charge. She is on fire.

40km is a long tough day for Expedition and with the charge from Erick, many wondered what would happen. The due arrived together for the water crossing just after cp3. With a long flat beach straight to the line, this would fall into the hands to Pierre’s fast running style. Erick could just look on as the gap opened, he had fought hard, took a chance and today, he gained no time, the gap is 16-minutes. Allan Barrielle is 3rd, 1-hour 25-minutes behind Pierre.

Katie dominated the day for the women, her lead now after 2 days is 3-hours 21-minutes over Lucia Jarquin and 4-hours 25-minutes over Maria Jose Corrales. TCC competition winner, Mirabela Ticu is 4th.

Tomorrow, stage 3, is 46km’s and includes the iconic Nauyaca waterfalls.

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The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 2025 – Stage 1

Posted on February 9, 2025 by talkultra

It was an 0330 departure from San Jose to arrive at Quepos at the start of stage 1 at 0800.

The heat and humidity was already high and a tough day, as always was expected. The iconic Del Rey beach a backdrop to the start and the Pacific Ocean splashing on to the beach.

The day, 33km’s with the opening km’s, all the way to cp1 and beyond, were flat and runnable. Always dangerous. Day 1 should be taken slow and steady, easing in to the week and the heat/ humidity. Boca Naranjito at 13.5km was the first cp, followed by Londres at 19.5km. Los Campenos at 30km was the 3rd cp to provide some refreshment before a tough final 3km. The finish at Rafiki Lodge.

Last years TCC champion Katie Young, started like a rocket running the opening 10km’s solo at the front.

Pierre Meslet and Erick Aguero finally caught her and took the lead two places, but Katie never stopped and ran all the way to the line with a convincing victory and 3rd overall.

Pierre and Erick were always expected to be the duo battling at the front but finally, around 16km’s the elastic snapped and Pierre broke away soloing to the line with a very strong lead ahead of the Costa Rican and local favourite.

Sergio had a tough day in the heat – Photo by Ian Corless

Full results will be available in due course HERE

With two races, Expedition and Adventure, the participants fought hard to tackle the terrain, which became increasingly difficult as the stage progressed. The final section the toughest with a challenging water crossing to conclude the day.

Both races were 33km, but the expedition had more vertical gain, 1115m in contrast to 894m.

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Episode 242 – El Kott Twins and The Coastal Challenge, Costa Rica.

Posted on February 29, 2024 by talkultra

Episode 242 of Talk Ultra is with Lina and Sanna El Kott, the El Kott twins and their participation in the 20th anniversary of The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica.

The 20th TCC concluded in Drake Bay on Feb 17th, 250km gruelling km’s and many 1000m’s of vertical gain over 6-days. Lina and Sanna finished on the podium and tell their stories here in an in-depth podcast.

Listen to the audio below:

Read the daily TCC reports

Day 1 Here

Day 2 Here

Day 3 Here

Day 4 Here

Day 5 Here

Day 6 Here

SPOTIFY HERE

Also available on ANCHOR

APPLE iTUNES HERE

Enter The Coastal Challenge for 2025 HERE

#TCC2025

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 5

Posted on February 15, 2024 by talkultra

The day starts by crossing the Sierpe River via ferry, ahead one of the most ‘runnable’ days with an abundance of gravel road interspersed with technical trails.

It’s an iconic stage where a boat crossing is required in the final 5km’s transporting runners from one land section to another before the run in towards the iconic Drake Bay.

A delayed start due to problems with the ferry meant the runner’s started 1-hour late. Sometimes, situations happen and there is nothing to do than say, Pura Vida and carry on.

Once underway, the race split at the front with Pierre Meslet deciding no matter how bad the ankle, let’s give it a go. Cristofer Clemente Mora followed and then Cody Lind and Jean Francois Cauchon.

It was only a matter of time before Cody and Jean-Francois took control of the race and the duo finished together in 4:28 (time tbc due to a delay at the boat crossing).

Cristofer finished 3rd.

For the women, Katie Young well and truly sealed the 2024 TCC with an outstanding performance in 5:55. All day, she smile, ran fast and smooth and dare I say, made it look easy! This TCC is a breakthrough performance for Katie, especially coming after a top-10 at MDS in 2023.

Lina El Kott Helander finished 2nd in 6:14. Lina could very easily have pulled out of the race early in the week after damaging her right arm. She has fought on and impressively so, chapeaux!

Marline Côté finished just ahead of Sanna El Kott Helander, 6:33 and 6:41 respectively. But it was Janina Beck from Germany who finished 3rd in 6:31.

The racing is now done! Stage 6 tomorrow and it would take an absolute disaster to change the ranking, so, expect a victory loop. And let’s face it, a fun loop is well deserved, despite the fact not many would call 35.9km an easy loop…

Pura Vida.

Jean-Francois Cauchon 4:28:17 (tbc)
Cody Lind 4:28:17 (tbc)
Cristofer Clemente Mora 4:30:28 (tbc)

Katie Young 5:55:07
Lina El Kott Helander 6:14:56
Janina Beck 6:31:24

Overall:

Cody Lind 22:41:18
Jean-Francois Cauchon 23:02:46
Cristofer Clementa Mora 23:45:14

Katie Young (7th overall) 30:46:07
Lina El Kott Helander 31:53:57
Sanna El Kott Helander 32:56:52

The Coastal Challenge 2024 – #TCC2024 – Stage 4

Posted on February 14, 2024 by talkultra

A relaxed and calm night, the impact of three tough stages now taking hold and stage 3 was tough! Stage 4 brings the most climbing which basically has three parts, a tough climb to start, a rollercoaster of gravel roads and trails and then a steep and technical descent to the finish. Once at the finish, runner’s are transported to the Sierpe River for stage 4 camp. There is no coast today, no ocean, no beaches, just an epic backdrop of the Talamanca mountains.

The heat today was intense despite a slight breeze that increased as the day passed. There is little shade and the combination of elements make the day a real tough one. The climbs are steep, the descents equally steep, especially the final one.

Cristofer Clemente Mora started the day strong pushing hard and building a 5-minute lead over the chasers, Cody Lind and Jean-Francois Cauchon. However, the lead was short lived. Stage 4 was the day Cody Lind confirmed his presence on the race. He caught Cristofer, pulled away and looked strong all the way to the line for a very convincing win in 4:49:29.

Jean-Francois also looked strong today, but he was no match for Cody. He enjoyed the landscape and route and did all he could to reduce the gap to Cody and extend the gap to Costa Rican, Carlos, who placed 3rd.

The women’s race was much more of a nail-biter with Katie Young and Lina El Kott Helander running close together early on followed by Sanna El Kott Helander.

As the race progressed, the twins switched, with Sanna leading at the front, it came as no surprise, the twins are mountain and skyrunner’s and the terrain would play to their adventure.

Once in the lead, Sanna opened a gap and finished in 7:21:52 with Katie following in 7:32:01; a great result for Katie.

Lina, nursing her right arm finished 3rd, a very impressive run using just one pole to try to address some of the weakness caused by her injury, 7:34:42 on the clock.

Stage Results: