Start Training Now for La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, November 6-8, 2014

(Courtesy of La Ruta de Los Conquistadores )

By Inside Costa Rica Community for Perez Zeledon,
Carol Vaughn

October 10th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) Let’s get ready for “The Toughest Mountain Race on the Planet”, a three-day multi-stage bicycle race which involves cycling from the Pacific to the Atlantic Coasts, through some of the most beautiful terrain in the world.  This race kicks the behinds of even the best mountain bikers in the world.  This is an individual race covering 250 miles of terrain from Jaco to Playa Bonita, encompassing some of the most gorgeous and varied terrain that Costa Rica offers.  “La Ruta” originated as an effort to call the attention of international media to the importance of the fauna and flora of Costa Rica.

“La Ruta” began in 1993, the brainchild of Roman Urbina, a legendary adventurer and athlete.  It is designed as an ecological expedition following the paths of three Spanish Conquerors, Juan de Cavallon, Perafan de Ribera, and Juan Vasquez de Coronado, who crossed Costa Rica in a futile attempt to find  gold in the mid-1600s.  Urbina and some friends decided to follow in the footsteps of these Conquerors, but on mountain bikes.  The event which began as a fun lark, has turned into an international test for athletes which challenges them with extreme fluctuations in altitude and radical climate changes.  To quote Juan de Cavallon about the race route, “It will break your legs and blur your vision”.

In 1998, one top American competitor collapsed at the end of Day 1, and was in a coma for four days. An American has won once:  Todd Wells.  There are, however, some memorable American competitors who have raced throughout the years, including 62-year old Nat Grew, an expat who competes with his son Nat, Jr; 52-year old Heart Ackerson, an ex-hippie with a beard and long hair who competes in sandals and cut-offs, and lives naked with his family on a large Pacific estate.  He is a genius inventor of medical products here in Costa Rica.  Todd Wells had interesting competition!

Better start training hard now, because 50% of the racers of La Ruta de Los Conquistadores do not finish…..

Check out the race route, maps, guidelines, and fees at adventurerace.com or call for more information at 506.2280.5067.

Carol Vaughn

Carol Vaughn is an Inside Costa Rica Community Reporter covering Perez Zeledon.

Carol Vaughn holds a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts and is retired from a career as a tap dancer and teacher. She moved to Costa Rica two years ago from Washington, DC, and settled into a cabin on the banks of the Quebradas River in Perez Zeledon.

She also blogs for AngloINFO and is a volunteer Warden for the US Embassy for Perez Zeledon, helping out fellow Americans in emergencies.

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