Jungle Marathon
Through Hell to Paradise
Fredrik Olmqvist / 20.09.2004
Andrea Estevam (BR) was the first woman to finish in a time of 6 hours and 15 mins, and she’d had a tough day, feeling sick and nearly being attacked by a venomous snake during a swamp crossing. “When I stepped on a fallen tree the guy behind me shouted \"snake\" as it got ready to attack. They killed it with a stick, and it was a surucucu - very dangerous. After that I didn\'t feel totally comfortable to run alone, But I pushed on and even though I almost passed out in the end I managed to come first, so I’m very pleased.�
A few runners have been treated with saline drips both during and after the course. Most miserable was the Korean blind runner Yong Sul who according to the race doctors was unable to continue after CP1. The tension is his legs while trying not to fall took all his energy and
slowed him down, which stopped him from being able to finish the stage before the cut-off time. His companion Ki Hyungan will continue
unranked.
For Gerard Verdenet (Fr) and Richard Wiles (GB) completing the stage meant a lot as they had both had to abandon the race last year at this point. Now they are both back to prove they can complete the Jungle Marathon. Actually it has been on Gerrard’s mind since last year.
The dark settles at six and the night camp is at a creek in the jungle, a place called Paraisa – ‘Paradise’. And seeing the local kids play with the vines, jumping across the jungle creek, while soft rain is sparkling in the bright sunlight is indeed a picture I want to share and to keep in my memory.
As for me, today I felt somewhat stronger and finished 2nd, 5 mins behind the leader. Tomorrow, stage 3 is 31km long ... and its when the suffering really starts.
Stage Two Results
SleepMonsters
