Well, I have been home for a few days now, I have just about stopped eating and drinking everything in sight and my feet have returned to normal.  I currently weigh about 14stone (I lost 1/2 stone during the race), so am now looking forward to getting back on the beef and putting back on the 2 1/2 stone I have now lost training and completing this race.

All in all the race went very well, I started very slowly (3rd from last after day one - 87th place) and moved up through the pack, through a combination of me getting faster, other runners gettng slower and people dropping out.  I was extremely proud to finish the 90km stage in 24th and my overall standing rise to 32nd.

During the week I got stung about 20times by wasps, bitten innumerate times by ants and saw one snake (unfortunately I was having a wee at the time so did feel a little exposed).  It was an amazing week (if a little frightening at times, the runners that dropped out after the second day were in quite a state!) but I don't think I will be rushing to return the rainforest is a pretty inhospitable place and there are certainly nicer places to spend a week.

If anyone is interested there is a documentary on ITV3/4 on the 3rd of December and an article on the Sunday Times on the first sunday in November.

Thank you to everyone for your donations and emails of support they were much appreciated.

regards
Kes

 

I have been very lax about updating this blog but hopefully you have all been keeping abrest of news on the JM website.  K rang briefly to reassure me that he wasn't one of those who had to leave the race through dehydration; he sounded very sane and I was much assured!  Anyway, here's the news to date as posted on the website - Zin

 

Stage 4 Report Stage 2 took its toll on most of the field but even more so two of the faster runners both of whom were evacuated from the race with a heat stroke. Jungle Marathon takes place in an extreme location which offers dangers unique to the environment. Every measure is taken to minimise risk and provide safety, as two of our medics and our ambulance boat were away from race location, it was unthinkable to to continue without full support so stage 3 became a rest day.

Rather than miss the chance to see both stages, todays stage was a combination of the best (& worst) of stage 3 and stage 4
The stage began in Paraiso on a community trail taking runners into the jungle after 7km - then a further 25km of big climbs and descents the largest swamp crossing and a 200m swim across a creek. Runners arrived 100km refresh and animated, looking forward to the challenge of the 90km stage ahead.

Tonight will be spent in the community of Tauari, where runners get the chance to swim in a beautiful creek& relax before the taxing stage ahead.


Posted by: JM 2008 on Oct 14, 08 | 5:13 pm

Internet Outage by Inmarsat / Xantic We faced an 12 hour internet outage which was caused by our satellite provider Inmarsat/Xantic.
So we were not able to Send/receive messages on Monday 13th. All updates / messages will be done tomorrow. Sorry for the delay,

As of now Tuesday 14th of october 1am everything is working fine again.

Andreas


Posted by: JM 2008 on Oct 14, 08 | 2:59 am

Stage 3 Report Due to logistical reasons stage 3 didn't take place, today.
The race will continue tomorrow.


Posted by: JM 2008 on Oct 13, 08 | 1:15 am

Stage 2 Report Stage 2 was not without its casualties. 25km of mud, swamp & hills took its toll & by the end of stage two the total drop out total of runners has risen to 10.
The weather yesterday may have leaded runners into a false sense of security as it was unusually cool, but with the baking heat today & a lot of humidity, runners began to suffer from heat exhaustion & dehydration.
As the Brazilian runner Marcie Vielar reached Checkpoint 2 today he met a jaguar& reported that. He never ran faster in his life!
Runner are now eating attending to blister& cuts & relaxing at the campsite in Paraiso, apprensive about the 43km stage tomorrow.


Posted by: JM 2008 on Oct 12, 08 | 4:02 am

Stage 1 Report Heavy rain these last two days meant that todays stage was very muddy & slippery underfoot. Few runners managed to complete the stage without at least one fall.

By C.P. 1 the first runner had withdrawn, closely followed by two more at CP 2. Their withdraws were attributed to nausea and dehydration.
Todays stage was a short and difficult introduction to the race. 18 km of steep ascents & descents, a water crossing at the start and rope crossing across a deep creek.
The stage winner, Paulo Robson Almeda Sousa from Brazil finished the stage in a fast 2 hours 40 minutes and first first female was Jaqueline Terto
Runners are now challenging at a campsite and relaxing before 25km tomorrow which promises lots of mud & water.


 

 

 

Hello there, Zinnia here... reporting on behalf of Action Man!  I have had an ecstatic email from Brazil where pre-race activities have included visiting the Statue of Christ in Rio and swimming in the Amazon..... all good fun befor the potential horror of the next few days!  I will keep this blog updated as I hear but there are photos - one of K's back so far - and recent news of the race on the Jungle Marathon Website.  Thank you for your interest, Zin x

 

One day left to the flight and I have pretty much got everything I need.  The very shiny pyjamas have arrived and I have managed to get hold of the mandatory needles without (I hope) convincing Boots and the Dr's I am a drug addict. 

The final list of items are:  bike gloves, silk sleeping bag liner, lanacane, cash for rio and books to read on the flight.

I picked up the kit from D3 this week and Annie had done an amazing job in getting it branded, this included my new aarn rucksack which is absurdly complicated but seems comfy.  I am concerned I haven't had the chance to give it a full test but have jogged to the kitchen and back which will have to do.

I have a final deep tissue massage with Mark tommorrow on the hamstring which seems to have recovered pretty well so am feeling very positive just now.


    Jungle Marathon 2008

    On October the 7th I will be taking part in the 2008 Jungle Marathon which is a 130 mile race through the Amazon Jungle.  It is a self sufficient race which means I will have to race with all of my food and bedding for the week.  Being a bit greedy this means my rucksack is currently weighing in at about 13kg. In preparation I have run about 1000 miles round herefordshire, mostly very slowly and in a bad mood, had 140 cold baths, 60 saunas and bought an unfeasible amount of kit.

    I am running the race for three reasons -
    1) it will be good fun
    2) zinnia agreed I could do this instead of selling the house
    3) to raise money for Breast Cancer Haven.  I know so many friends and family who have been affected by this odious disease that I am keen to raise funds to support this charity.

    I have included some more details about the race below and my slow bad tempered progress can be tracked on
    www.junglemarathon.com or on this blog which Zinnia will keep updated during the race

    If you make a donation please leave your email address so I can send my thanks and some photos after the race.

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