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Deep into the Jungle

Fredrik Olmquist / 21.09.2003

Communications from the Amazon jungle are a little slow, but half way into the Jungle Marathon we’ve heard from our intrepid running reporter Fredrik Olmquist. He made a fast start, then got lost, but is still going.

It’s proving a very tough race with racers suffering illness, major foot problems in the damp conditions and inevitably dehydration.

Here’s Frederik’s news:

Day 1 – 27 Km

For sure the jungle is an extreme environment for running. The rain forest is in a constant state of flux. Touch a tree and it falls, thick layers of leafs lay waiting to become soil, and there are an abundance of insects feeding.

The pre-race fears of snakes and other dangerous animals have declined somewhat after today’s first stage. I was first on the trail on most parts of the course so had the greatest chance of animal encounters – but the odd lizard was all I saw. Still adrenaline rose quickly when a big animal next to the trail moved the bushes.

The surprise today was that the favourite Brazilian Jungle guide Franscico or French ultrarunner Karim Mosta, were not the fastest. In fact, I was!

However tomorrow is a new stage, and is somewhat longer. Until then it’s all about rehydrating, carbo-loading and resting. Taking a cooling swim in near by Rio Preto da Eva and watching the tranquil sunset isn’t a bad way to spend the afternoon. Later we will be crawling into our hammocks.

Day 2 - 31 km

I'm resting in the hammock after a gruelling, long hot day in the jungle.

At 19:30 in the evening it's still too hot for clothes. Racers that started with long pants and long sleeves, have not adapted to jungle conditions at all: which means wearing as little clothing as possible.

Six racers had to pull out today, for reasons varying from dehydration, to fatigue, injury, cramps and even nausea from malaria medicine. At this point everyone in the camp knows the medical tent only too well.

It took Brazilian jungle guide, Francisco, almost 6 hours to complete the 31 Km course. Myself, I had a tough day - finishing in 8 hours and 40 minutes.

I started off fast and was 25 minutes ahead after 14 Km, but somehow the trail markers led me (and many other runners) onto the wrong trail. I can assure you, being lost alone in the jungle - without water - is a frightful experience. A few hours without water in the heat certainly makes your head boil!

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