Costa Rica Expedition Run Wraps Up
The inaugural Coastal Challenge, the world’s first “Expedition Run”™ set in Costa Rica, has officially wrapped with the distribution of $20,000 USD in prize money to winners from three countries.

More than 80 competitors in all made up the international co-ed field that traveled 250 kilometers down Costa Rica’s rugged western shore over seven days.

Top honors went to runners from the United States, Canada and Costa Rica.

The Coastal Challenge awarded Costa Rica’s largest ever monetary prize to the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories. The winners, Charles Bedley (31) of Toronto, Canada, and Beverly Anderson-Abbs (40) of Red Bluff, Calif., each took home the lion’s share of the prize money and have officially made their mark on the distance running community.

The two out paced all other participants in their classes with runners coming from the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Great Britain, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Ecuador and more.

“Charles and Beverly showed spectacular stamina and perseverance out on the course for seven long days,” said race director Tim Holmstrom.

“They made a statement out there winning the first ever Coastal Challenge by beating more than 80 other runners from all over the world. They’ve both indicated they plan to defend their respective titles in 2006, and we’ll be excited to see who’s gunning for them on the new course.”

Filling out the top three women finishers were Stefanie Jackenthal (38), of New York City, and Ann Hall (37), of Solana Beach, Calif. The 2nd and 3rd place finishers in the men’s division were Juan Carlos of Costa Rica, and Charlie Engle (42) of Greensboro, North Carolina, respectively.

“It was by far the most difficult thing I have ever done and the hardest competition I have ever taken part in,” Bedley, the men’s winner said. “Coming from Toronto in the middle of Winter I thought it might be a good idea to try to get used to the humidity somewhere first. So I went to Miami for 5 days before the race to acclimate.”

That strategic decision, as well as his speed and stamina, allowed Charles to outrace the field of competitors and walk away with $5,000 in prize money.

While The Coastal Challenge proved to be the most grueling race for some of the world’s top distance runners, the experience proved to be an exciting adventure of a different kind for many other comers.

“We really created this race to be two things – a competitive event that attracts top athletes and runners, and an enjoyable experience for active people who want a unique vacationing experience,” Holmstrom added.

Dot Helling, a runner from Montpelier, Vermont, commented about the event and the environment saying: “I have never experienced a country of so much beauty, resources and people of wonderful spirit. I learned more about staying in the moment and enabling myself to take in every morsel of the experience around me. Even when my ankle hurt, or I felt hot, hungry, thirsty or tired, I could look around and see, smell and marvel at what was around me.”

The 2005 Coastal Challenge has wrapped, but plans for an equally unique and exciting race in January 2006 are already underway, and competitor entries will be available at www.thecoastalchallenge.com very soon.

The Coastal Challenge (www.thecoastalchallenge.com) is the world’s only “Expedition Run,”™ releasing runners over 250 kilometers of exotic and wild Costa Rican coastline.

For seven days, runners embrace the spirit of adventure, discovery and camaraderie within a long distance running competition while navigating beaches, rock outcroppings, wide river crossings, pristine coastal rainforests and highland mountain ranges.

It is an expedition run of epic proportions, equally defined by introducing competitors to the hospitality of the local Tico culture with several evenings of music and fiesta at encampments on or near the beach.

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