Patagonian International Marathon
Ultramarathon at the End of the World
Anne-Marie Dunhill / 29.09.2013
The second edition of the Patagonian International Marathon is set to take place on September 28th. Organized by NIGSA who are also the organizers of the Patagonian Expedition Race, four distances are available for runners tempted by the opportunity to race at the end of the world in the pristine landscapes of Chilean Patagonia; 63km ultra-marathon, 42km marathon, 21km half-marathon and a 10km. The young race has attracted an international field with participants from twenty-three countries registered.
The race route will be in Torres del Paine National Park which has been a UNESCO Biosphere reserve since 1978. Conservation is an under lying theme of the race and as such there will be no water goblets at the feed station, each racer is expected to bring their own hydration system. As well, in association with CONAF (Corporation National Forest) for every race entry this year a tree will be planted in the national park. (There was a violent forest fire in 2011 that destroyed large areas of the ancient trees.)
Some top runners on the international ultra running circuit are signed up to race. Billy Barnett will be flying out from the Big Island of Hawaii. He was featured in the best seller “Born to Run” and he ran the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon with the Tarahumara Indians in 2006 and 2007. The Patagonia International Marathon will be the first time he has raced in South America, as well as being the first time he has raced in seven years.
Krissy Moel will be flying out from Boulder, Colorado in the United States. She has been competing throughout the world for the past thirteen years and the list of her wins on various continents are far too long to list, but they include winning the first edition of the UTMB in France. She recently completed a record setting run around Mt. Rainier. One of her sponsors is the brand Patagonia so it seems particularly appropriate that she will be racing.
Yassine Diboun will be flying out from Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. A strong distance runner with a fascinating personal story to tell, Yassine placed ninth in the 2013 edition of the Western States Endurance Run.
Adventure racers will undoubtedly recognize Veronica Bravo who has raced AR’s around the world, recently racing in the ARWS race, Ecomotion in Brazil. She will be racing the ultra-marathon in preparation of the ARWC in Costa Rica in December. No one who was present at the Bimbache Race in Spain in 2008 will have forgotten the mesmorzing dance from the Rapa Nui that she performed at the post-race party. Vero, who lives in Vina del Mar Chile, is deeply loved and admired in her country and they have nicknamed her the woman of steel in Spanish.
Finally, Ryan Sands will be flying out from South Africa. An instantly recognizable personality on the ultra running scene, he needs no introduction having consistently won races around the world. He is an inspirational figure in the sport, constantly pushing his limits in extreme conditions such as racing the Four Desert series, organized by Racing the Planet. The series saw him racing in the following deserts; Gobi, Antarctica, Sahara and Atacama.
The international line-up of the Patagonian International Marathon combined with the expertise of NIGSA in organizing their iconic expedition race and the sheer beauty of the unspoiled location make it a must-cover race.
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