Patagonia adventure race looking for photographers

by Kraig Becker on

Aspiring photographers take note. The Wenger Patagonian Adventure Race have teamed up with the U.K. version of National Geographic Traveler to offer adventure travelers and photographers the opportunity of a life time. They’re giving away a trip to Chile to experience the race first hand, and cover it, as one of the race’s official photographers.

The next edition of the race will take place February 8-16 of 2011, and will feature coed teams of four trekking, navigating, mountain biking, and kayaking their way across hundreds of miles of Patagonian wilderness. You could be there to experience it for yourself, simply by going to the contest entry page, filling out the form, and uploading three sample photos that you’ve taken. From the entries, race organizers will select a winner, who will receive round trip airfare to Chile, as well as accommodations and ground transportation while in country. They’ll also receive full access to the race course, where they be tasked with capturing the excitement and drama of the race, set against the dramatic back drop of the Andes Mountains.

Patagonia is amongst the most beautiful and remote areas in the world. It has long been a popular destination for backpackers, climbers, and paddlers looking to experience one of the last untamed wildernesses on the planet. For the past seven years it has played host to the Patagonian Expedition Race, which is a competition like no other. This year, it will feature 15 coed teams racing through Chile’s wild expanses, as they battle each other, the environment, and some of the most unpredictable weather on the planet.

Even if you’re not on hand to experience Patagonia itself, be sure to go back to the race’s website in February to follow all the action as it unfolds.

Louisiana to host new endurance race ending at Mardis Gras

by Kraig Becker on

Some people will do anything to get to a party. Case in point, the endurance runners who will be taking part in the inaugural Rouge-Orleans Ultramarathon scheduled to take place in Louisiana on March 4-6, 2011. The race also happens to fall on the same weekend as Mardi Gras, which has prompted race organizers to adopt the slogan “come to run, stay to party.”

The race is a true test of endurance even for supremely conditioned athletes. The course begins at the Louisiana State University Veterinary School in the state’s capital of Baton Rouge and then runs for 126.2 miles along the Mississippi River levee, before ending at Audubon Park in New Orleans. The route winds its way passed sugarcane fields, southern plantations, and mysterious swamplands as it follows the course of the river south through the Louisiana countryside. The trail rarely crosses a road along the way either, which means that the runners won’t have to worry about traffic as they go.

Competitors can enter the race in several categories, including as an individual or on relay teams consisting of two, three or six runners. On the first day of the race, there will be several wave starts to get things going, with individuals hitting the trail with runners who share a similar pace. Once out on the course, they’ll have 40 hours to complete the entire 126.2 miles, which means they’ll need to average more than 3 miles an hour in order to finish ahead of the mandatory cutoff.

Once the runners reach the finish line in New Orleans however, they can join the party at Mardi Gras. After running for more than 126 miles, I’m sure they’ll want a few adult beverages to help ease the pain in their legs and feet. Completing an event like this takes a great deal of stamina and determination, so a celebration will definitely be in order for those who manage to complete the course.

[Photo credit: Robeter via WikiMedia]

The Marathon des Sables begins today

by Kraig Becker on

One of the longest running and most challenge endurance races on the planet gets underway today when the 24th annual Marathon des Sables, or Marathon of the Sands, begins in Morocco. Over the course of the next week, competitors from around the globe will challenge themselves, and each other, in a race through one of the harshest environments on the planet.

This year’s race is approximately 243 kilometers (151 miles) in length, with the competitors running the equivalent of a marathon each day for six days. As if that weren’t challenging enough, they’ll be doing so in the heart of the Sahara Desert, where temperatures routinely hit 120ºF and blowing sand can make a challenging run turn extremely brutal. The combination of long distances, heat, and sand is unforgiving on the racers’ feet as well.

To add to the challenge, the racers are required to carry all of their gear (minus tent) with them at all times, including food and water. They’ll receive resupply on the water when they hit checkpoints along the way, but otherwise they should be completely self sufficient when they head out on the course each morning.

This year’s field is the largest ever, with 1031 runners from 43 different countries taking part in the race. Most of those will be just happy to finish, but the elite runners amongst them will finish the entire course, spread out over the six days, in a combined time of roughly 20-25 hours. Pretty impressive considering the challenges the desert provides.