I spent three summer days spinning and sipping through Palisade, Colorado’s wine country. It was a great opportunity to ride through some of America’s most beautiful landscape, sandwiched between the Book Cliff Mountains and Grand Mesa, and taste terrific wine while chatting with winemakers. My article appeared in The New York Times Travel section (October 5, 2008). http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/travel/05biking.html
On March 20, 2008, I flew to Uganda on assignment for NPR “Weekend Edition Saturday.” Much of my two week visit was spent with Dr. Jessie Stone, volunteers, and local educators visiting villages in rural eastern Uganda to teach residents about malaria prevention. The clinic and malaria outreach program are run by Jessie Stone, a medical doctor from Westchester, NY and professional whitewater kayaker for Jackson Kayaks.
Soft Power Health clinic, a solar-poweredfunded by Soft Power, in Bugajali opened in January 2008, but four years earlier Jessie started an anti-Malaria program. She and her colleagues offer Malaria treatment, research, education and teach prevention; while selling subsidized nets. They have educuated over 100,000 people and sold more than 25,000 nets since April 2007. www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=soft+power+uganda
Jessie also runs a kayaking outreach program in America that is part of “Right to Play,” an organization focusing on health education, prevention, and child development through sports and game playing throughout the world. Splitting her time between Uganda and America, for the past six summers Jessie has run a kayaking program for inner city kids from Harlem, NY. Last fall, some of the U.S. kids visited Uganda. Jessie said, “It was really incredible to have the kids in Uganda in the villages helping with the education and follow ups - and of cours, we took them rafting on the Nile.”
My trip will wrap up by driving 15 hours on rutted roads to the Bwindi area to trek to view the Mountain Gorillas. On our way back to the clinic, we will visit Pigmy villages that Jessie treats.
You can hear my profile of Jessie and all the cool things she does on NPR "Weekend Edition Saturday." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92705089. Mweraba!
In fall 2004, I was part of Erik Weihenmayer's Climbing Blind team. Our goal was to lead six blind Tibetan teenagers to the summit of Lhakpa Ri (23,000ft), a glaciered mountain on the north side of Mt. Everest. Weihenmayer, the first and only blind person to summit Mt. Everest, invited me on the expedition to lead Kyla, then an 18-year young woman who has been blind since birth, and to cover the adventure in the media. In addition to writing about our experience for magazines, I produced and narrated a first-person story for NPR “Weekend Edition Saturday,” www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4652231. Our journey was also made into a film called Blindsight www.blindsightthemovie.com/ that is being release nationally after scooping up awards last year’s film festivals worldwide.
Blindsight opens in NYC in March 7, 2008 at the IFC Center (325 Sixth Ave) in New York City. Tickets available:www.ifccenter.com/film?filmid=55443. The movie will be opening in other cities across America throughout the March. Check local listings.
Would love for you to see it and hear your thoughts! Enjoy the show! Stefani
At the end of the month, I’ll be in Costa Rica covering the fourth annual The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run www.thecoastalchallenge.com, dubbed “The Route of Fire.” It’s a six day, 120-mile running stage race hosting nearly 70 international racers who will run across the arid northwestern coast and volcanic region; completing a set distance (between six and 28 miles) each day through canopied jungles, inland lakes, windswept highlands, and along the Pacific coastline.
Race Overview: The race begins on January 27, 2008 in the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the Arenal Volcano, an active volcano with frequent eruptions. It ends on February 2nd in the cliffside resort town of Bahia Salinas.
The route is peppered with staffed checkpoints flushed with water, energy drink and snacks – so racers needed only to carry minimal supplies. There are two categories: “Expedition Run,” requiring competitors to complete the entire 120-mile course, and an “Adventure Run” category with shorter daily distances. This encourages competitors of all abilities to participate.
Luggage is transported to the stage finish and each night competitors enjoy a sprawling buffet dinner prepared by local caters. It’s a great time to catch up with family and other racers to swap stories about the day’s adventure before falling into tents for a short sleep under starry skies.
At 9:30 on Sunday morning, October 14th, I will line up with nearly 60 paddle-clutching kayakers at the North Cove Marina, in Battery Park City on the Hudson River, to compete in the second annual Mayor’s Cup Kayak Championship, 26.7 mile, circumnavigation of Manhattan. Pro’s like Greg Barton, who scorched the course last year in 3:21:28 hours – setting a world record – and local favorite Joe Glickman, 2nd place finisher, will return to claim their titles and share of the $15,000 prize purse. While enthusiasts like me, who is more of a long distance runner with a passion for kayaking, hope to finish within the seven hour time limit and not be too exhausted to enjoy the fisheye view of the Manhattan sites.
Paddling north on the Hudson, we will splash past Chelsea Piers, the 79th Street Boat Basin, under the George Washington Bridge, and eventually head east on the Harlem River where the Columbia Crew team trains. Exiting the Harlem onto the East River at Hell’s Gate will be perhaps, the scariest section. Accruing energy from the Long Island Sound, Harlem River, and East River, water often becomes swirly with forceful whirlpools and unpredictable standing waves. I anticipated a lot of breath holding and hopefully, little swimming.
Continuing south on the East River under the guise of the Silver Cup Studio sign in Long Island City, past Randall’s Island, the route continues clockwise around the southern tip. Dodging the Staten Island Ferry, we will stream alongside the South Street Seaport, until sighting the Statue of Liberty and dumping into the chaotic choppy Battery for the much anticipated final sprint to the finish line at North Cove – and celebration. www.nymayorscup.com.
My first-person story appeared in The New York Times Sports section, October 31, 2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/sports/othersports/31outdoors.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
It’s been a while since I raced, as I was rehabbing a torn calf muscle and now it’s finally race time. TransRockies is next up on the schedule.
The inaugural GORE TransRockies five-day stage running race www.transrockies.com, September 16th to 20th, 2007, challenges two-person teams to run 118-miles (18,000 feet total elevation gain – maxing out at 12,500 feet) through the Colorado Rockies – from Beaver Creek to Leadville to Aspen. The rugged, mountainous course crosses the Continental Divide, White River, and San Isabel National Forests via a grab-bag of single and double-track trails, forest and gravel roads, and pavement. Each daily stage ranges from 15 to 28 arduous miles, with food-stocked check points peppering the way. At night, racers re-fuel with dinner and an award ceremony in the rolling Tent City - equipped with hot showers, baños, and well, tents.
My teammate Mark Matyazic from Irvine, California and I are Team PowerBar – NYC & Cali! Being urban weenies, we hope to capitalize on the non-technical terrain and calm our nerves at night (from the twisty, slippery rocks) with Pappy’s ’23 – our secret weapon. I’ll be writing a first person feature for Runner’s World Magazine (January 2008 issue) and another for Her Sports Magazine (April 2008 issue).
Team categories: Open, Women, Mixed, Men 80+ (combined age).
The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run
By Stefani Jackenthal
In January, I was in the northern region of Costa Rica covering the six day The Coastal Challenge running race for a number of publications; including Oxygen Magazine (June 2007 issue) and www.divinecaroline.com. Due to a calf injury, I was unable to compete as I had done in 2005. Instead, I tracked the racers on a mt. bike, interviewing them along the way. Here is part of my report …
Day 1:
“I was crawling in the mud and grabbing branches to pull myself up the thick slippery steps,” said Beverly Anderson-Abbs, examining her bruised thumb from a fall in on the eroded, muddy steps in the Costa Rican jungle. “But then came the pay off on the fabulous stump-hopping downhill.”
Anderson-Abbs, 42, an environmental specialist from Red Bluff, Calif., who won this event in its first year in 2005, was among the 68 international competitors from 12 countries participating in the six-day, 200 kilometer (120 miles) Coastal Challenge. The staged expedition run, scheduled February 4-9, 2007, in the northern mountainous and Pacific coastline of Cost Rica – from La Fortuna to Bahia Salinas – promises crossing parts of jagged volcanoes, mountains, lush jungle, steep gravel roads, and uninhabited beaches.
Along the way, staffed-manned check points peppering the course supply water, energy drinks, and snacks, allowing racers to carry minimal supplies. Gear is transported by bighearted volunteers to camp, where racers refuel with sprawling buffet dinners that are followed by communal camping in tents under starry skies.
The 21-km first stage started in La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano, one of the world’s most active. Within a half-hour the leaders crossed PC 1. Fifteen minutes later, they were in “hip-high” mud, slugging through the jungle upward to the shoulder of Cerro Chato, an extinct volcano. Later they would cross over a part of Arenal.
“I didn’t expect so much mud, but I love jumping and grabbing trees on steep, technical down hills,” said Ligia Madrigal, a Costa Rican adventure racer, who place second here last year. “When I was a little girl, I remember going up hills just so I could run down them.” Despite her speedy descending, Madrigal was trailing Anderson-Abbs by nearly 20 minutes approaching PC 2. “It’s a long race and I don’t want to hurt myself like I did last year, so I’m going at my own pace.”
You can read the entire six day race report on www.divinecaroline.com. Click on the PLAY "Extreme" section.
BIG SUR TRAIL MARATHON, Big Sur, CA - October 7, 2006
At 9:00 AM on a crisp, sunny Saturday, nearly 300 runners hoofed off the start line for the 17th Annual Big Sur Trail Marathon, half-marathon, and 5-miler in Andrew Molera State Park in southern California. www.envirosports.com. I was one of the forty-three marathoners taking on the seven hamstring-hounding climbs and quad-pounding descents, packed into the 5,700 feet of elevation along the out and back course. Known for its beastly climbs; some over two-miles long, I was excited for the beautiful panoramic views of the Big Sur coastline, twisty switchbacks, and leg-turning flatter sections weaving though fragrant Oak Forests and Redwood Groves – and to run my guts out for the prized rubber chicken awarded to the first woman and man finisher.
Race director Dave Honig, puts on some of the hardest running races around the country, yet as hard as we may train and race, he wants his events to be fun. A rubber chicken is a brilliant reward.
With chicken on the brain, the morning air warmed quickly as our snappy pace off the starting line slowed to a breath-pulsing trot up the first of several steep ascents. Steve Bremner, 51, a seasoned distance runner from Manitou Springs, CO, led the foot-stomping pack. He has run 79 marathons, in 41 states over the past 16 years and “was feeling really good and figured I’d push hard to see what kind of a lead I could open.” He said.
I lost site of Steve early-on and battled for third place with Eric Edelson, 27, from Stanford, CA, most of the time. He outran me on the sun-beating climbs, but I could hustle past him on the steep, sweeping downhills shaded by giant Redwood trees. It was a beautiful course and every so often we were treated to stunning views of the sun-kissed craggy coastline.
The demanding terrain took its toll. By mile 22, my legs felt as rubbery as Gummy Bears left in the sun and I lost climbing steam. Eric extended his lead on each hill and eventually ran away from me. I was relieved to reach the final peak and chug the final two-mile plunge to finish. Steve Bremner, the early leader, could not hold on, and Mark Matayzic, 43, from Irvine, CA won the overall race in 3:36:12. I crossed about 15 minutes back in 3:51:31, to take fourth overall and win the women’s division - and a coveted rubber chicken. The full story will appear in the March issue of Trail Runner Magazine.
The next day, I headed off to Paso Robles to taste my way through their terrific wine country. But that is a story for another time.
In the fall of 2004, I was part of Erik Weihenmayer's Climbing Blind team. Our goal was to lead six blind Tibeatan teenagers to the summit of Lhakpa Ri, a glaciered mountain on the northeast side of Mt. Everest. Weihenmayer, the first and only blind person to summit Mt. Everest, invited me on the expedition to lead Kyla, then an 18-year young woman who has blind since birth, and to cover the adventure in the media. In addition to writing about our experience in several print publications, I produced and narrated a first-person story for NPR Weekend Edition Saturday http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4652231. Our journey was also made into a documentary called Blind Sight http://www.blindsightthemovie.com/. It is currently showing at film festivals worldwide and has won the AFI Audience Favorite Award.
At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2006 under bright sunshine and a cooling breeze, over 200 backpack clad runners (from 15 countries) sprinted off the starting line in the quaint ski town of Obesrstdorf, Germany nestled in the foothills of the Alps. Many competitors carried trekking poles to assist with the arduous rocky ascents and quad-pounding, steep descents that awaited them over the next 233 kilometers in the second annual TransAlpine Run. An eight-day stage race, requiring teams of two to stay together for a magnificent running journey across the Alps from north to south, the visually stunning course gains 14 meters as it traverses through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, before ending in Latsch, Italy. I ran three days.
Hoofing out of town, to begin the first stage, 28 km (1496 meters vertical gain) the clump of racers thinned as the asphalt became dirt and the trail turned up. My teammate Fredrik Ölmqvist, a mountain runner from Sweden, and I got of to a spunky start, leading mixed division through the first feed zone. We were team Salomon Trail Runners. Staff-supported aid stations peppered the course, so racers needed only to carry limited fluid and snacks. For safety reasons teammates needed to stay within 100-feet of each other teams were required to carry a rain jacket, long-sleeved top and first aid supplies.
Leaving the feed station, the fast-moving forest trail turned into treacherous rocky ridgelines. My New York City training could not compare to the mountain-savvy local racers Team Salomon, Barbara and Stephan Tassani-Prell, husband and wife from Bavaria, Germany. The huffed and puffed passed us like Billy Goats on caffeine. We followed the yellow, plastic tape and yellow spray-painted dots course markings to the jutted snowy peak, where the footing got as slippery as olive oil. We kept moving at a quick clip, taking inspiration from the pastel-colored mountainside and peaceful river valley below that were eye candy for the soul … you can read more about this adventure in my article for Go Outside magazine (October, 2006 issue – to be posted soon!)
