2010 COMPETITORS LIST Click here PHOTO REVIEW TRANSTICA 2009 Click here

31.08.10 : UTMB 2010 News

The UTMB has been disrupted this year by very bad weather condition.   Yannick and Brenda engaged on the UTMB managed to be on the second start given from Courmayeur for a 88,3 km course. Yannick joigned the arrival in Chamonix within 15h32 on ranking 162 on 1127 arrived, 13th female, followed by  Brenda who bravely finished in 19h50, 588 on 1127 !   The day before, Benoit Martin, Muriel Tschudowsky and Christophe Traina (registered on La Transtica 2010) were engaged on the  CCC, under a heavy rain storm. Christophe joigned Chamonix in 16h22, ranking 91 on 444 arrived, Benoit and Muriel being stopped at Valorcine due to the neutralization of the race   Congratulations for this great lesson of courage !!!

25.08.10 : La Transtica at the UTMB 2010.

La transtica will held a stand in the UTMB 2010 village, stand N° 24. We wil have the pleasure to be the first fans of Yannick Navarro and Brenda Williams, (Finisher on La Transtica 2009, Extreme course), and to encourage them on the starting line of the UTMB, on August 27th, 6:30 PM. Pura Vida !!!

21.12.09 : La Transtica 2009 Race Report The major part of the organization arrives at San Jose on November 15th and worked in San Jose to prepare and buy the school and medical donations for our aid action and on the field in order to finalize the last recognitions of the course.   November 19th, La Transtica 2009 begins officially with the press conference in Gran Hotel Costa Rica, in the presence of the Ambassador of France.   It is an occasion to reinforce the solidarity towards the Costa Rica by the means of the association “Passions sans Frontiéres”, represented by Georges Cauchois and Michel Ménage, who carries out the first donation of La Transtica 2009, while offering to the Foundation for the Development of the National Hospital of los Niños of San Jose, 23 hearing aids for deaf children. The exchange of flags and equipment between the French and the Costa Rican Firemen was a prelude to a fraternal and efficient collaboration, with this year, 16 Costa Rican reinforcing the organization.   The drawing lots of the numbers took place during the meal offered by the Ambassador of France in his residence, a mean of exchange between the French runners whom felt at home and the foreign runners, by introducing them the French hospitality through its fine gastronomy and its wines.   The following day, November 20th, on the beach of Manuel Antonio, at the beginning of the prologue, 31 runners were aligned representing 5 different nations, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, France and Italy.   The heterogeneous profiles of the participants promised a great human adventure. If for some, this prologue is a start up, for others, it is a manner of imposing themselves as a leader of the race.   November 20th, 2009, Prologue: Beach of Manuel Antonio, 6 km   15:30 the departure is given on the Beach of Manuel Antonio, for 3 loops of 2 km. On 31 runners, 16 are engaged on the Adventure course.   Upon the departure, Rémy Jegard (FRA), number 19, Adventure course, gives the tone and the rhythm finishing in 23' 44 before Michael Snell (AUS), number 1, in 26' 13, Extreme course, and Roberto Giordano (ITA), number 6 in 26' 20. Karol Barbosa (CR), number 24, Extreme course, Yannick Navarro, number 13, Extreme course and Sylvie Raoul, number 18, Adventure course, pointing respectively in the first 3 places of the women classification. After a swim in the waves of the Pacific Ocean, each one attended the race briefing announcing the next stage before going to lie down in a superb hotel being next to the national park of Manuel Antonio where the runners were able to see and photograph monkeys, sloths and reptiles.   November 21st, 2009, Stage 1: Playa del Rey - London - Rancho Tinamu.   9:30 the departure is given for the Extreme, on the Beach of Playa del Rey, for 40,6 km with difference of level of + 1.200m/- 400 m. The weather is hot, very hot, 30 to 35 °, 85% humidity, and the first 17 kilometres in the palm plantations which carry out the competitors to Londres, hurts a lot, Laurent Amiot prefers to give up, Jean Luc Gillet suffering of hyperthermia stops for long minutes In Londres, the runners of the Adventure attend a donation of medical devices to the dispensary of Londres before springing on the common portion with the Extreme, for  23.1 km, with difference of level of + 995m/- 305 m to reach Rancho Tinamu.   Rémy Jegard arrived first on PC3 marking the beginning of individual the track of 1,5 km in full jungle, closely followed by Roini Villegas (CR), number 4, and Roberto Giordano. The rest of the runners following few minutes after.   The race tipped over at this time …   Following an error of beaconing a few hundred meters before the PC4, the runners are badly directed and are inserted in full jungle far from the route envisaged. As soon as the direction of race received the information, it has been decided to neutralize the last runners at the PC3 and the organization started to research competitors by going up and down the path between PC3 and PC4. Roini and Roberto will find a passage through the jungle and will manage to find the initial route to join Tinamu. The others will use their emergency whistles and will be finally found not far from the PC4, before being repatriated by the vehicles of the organization or taken back on the good route. At the end of the afternoon torrential rains start to fall, the tracks become increasingly impracticable when the pick up containing the luggage of the competitors breaks down. Another incident to face and a noria with the remaining vehicles is organized, in order to be able as fast as possible to bring back the runners luggage to the bivouac. Some route exits will play with our nerves but before 10 p.m., all the competitors retrieved their luggage, had dinner and went to sleep in a dry place.   The times appointed for this stage are those pointed at the passage on PC3, on the Extreme course, on the stage classification as on the scratch, Roini Villegas finishes 1st before Yannick Navarro, and Christian Coudert (FRA), whereas on the Adventure classification, Rémy Jegard finishes 1st , before Roberto Giordano and Daniel Garita (CR), number 16.   November 22nd, 2009, Stage 2: Rancho Tinamu - Las Rejas, link stage   The following day, a beautiful sun bathes Rancho Tinamu. At the breakfast briefing, the organization confirms that the stage of the day will be, for safety reasons, neutralized and transformed into connection stage for everybody. In the following minutes, the 31 runners leave for a connection 20.6 km, with difference of level of + 1730m/- 630m, with including 19 km of individual track in the jungle, a succession of rivers and water falls. Local pick up (another adventure) will transfer the competitors for the 20 km separating Las Rejas de Santa Maria de Dota. The heat of the lodging of Rancho Guayabal, where we will be able to sleep with dryness once again and the beauty of the landscapes of the link stage will make everybody retrieve the smile. Before the race briefing of the evening, after Laurent Amiot, 4 other runners decide to rock on the course Adventure. One starts to take the measurement of the difficulty of the Extreme course, which is a true challenge.   November 23rd, 2009, Stage 3: School of Esperanza - Tapanti - El Humo.   After a donation carried out at the profit of the school of Esperanza, all the runners spring in the national park of Tapanti, for 24.1 km, difference of level +585m. /-1830m., for the 21 Adventure runners and for the 10 remaining runners on the Extreme course, a Marathon distance of 42.1 km, difference of level  of +985m. /- 2830m.   3 km of rise up to 2840 meters, culminating point of the race, before the entry of a single track of 3 km which goes down in the middle of the Tapanti, a course muddy and slipping with steep slopes which often require a de-escalation, everyone tries to cling to the branches in order to avoid the falls which are inevitable in this tangle of roots in a primary forest, followed with passage of rivers and finally the path cut by the machete of our local guide in order to create a deviation to avoid a swarm of nervous bees. Then the runners join a track in the middle of the plantations of coffee-trees which will bring them until the PC3, end of the Adventure stage.   Rémy Jegard carries it with a good advance in 2:19, before Josué Sandoval (CR) number (20) in 2:41 and Ronald Arce Coto (CR), number 23 in 2:46. In the general classification, Rémy Jegard remains 1st before a group of 4 Costa Rican firemen.   Runners of the extreme, have still 2 passes and 18 kilometres to cover to join El Humo under the rain and on a track smashed in the middle of a wet tropical forest. A paradisiacal stage for them. Roini Villegas arrives first, in 4:33, one minute before Jacques Rey (FR), number (2) followed by Steven Miller (CAN), number 5, in 4:51, 1 minute before Yannick Navarro, Karol finishing courageously in last position in 5:53 accompanied by a member of the security team on the last 18 kilometres.   A cordial and convivial reception organized by the habitants of El Humo during the dinner will be the prelude to a short night, (wake up 3:00 a.m.), since the departure of the stage of the following day will be given at 4:00 a.m.   November 24th, 2009, Stage 4: El Humo - El Silencio - San Pablo   4:00, the group of runners will walk together to cover  the 2 kilometres which separate them from the village of Pejivalle, surrounded by the flashing lights of the firemen but at 4:36, when the departure is given, the competitors are inserted in the fresh night, with the gleam of their frontal. 23km to join the village of El Silencio, a first effort on Cerro Atirro, then up and down in the middle of fincas of coffee-trees and of sugar cane before a heavy climb on the 4 last kilometres to reach PC3 (arrival Adventure course) in front of the School of El Silencio. From there, Extremes will have to cover an extra 19,1 kilometres which separate them from San Pablo. The landscapes are different and that looks like the Alps with cows and mountain lakes, in the area of the well named “La Suiza”.   Rémy Jegard consolidates its place of leader on the general classification; Roberto Giordano catches up with a part of its delay and behind him the fight is tight to integrate the top 10. On the Extreme Scratch , Steven Miller makes the good operation of the day finishing 1 minute behind Yannick Navarro, still 3rd in the general ranking behind Jacques Rey and Roini Villegas.   One afternoon of rest in the school where we stopped, is a prelude to another donation, with testimonies of friendship and a spectacle organized in our honour by the children of the school after the evening meal. The moments spent with the community of San Pablo, whose reception was particularly cordial, will remain in everyone memories.   November 25th, 2009, Rafting, Río Pacuare   9:30 we are leaving for one day of transfer in rafting on Rio Pacuare: sensations guaranteed on this marvellous classified category III-IV, moderate-difficult river. Declared like one of the best sites in Latin America for its white water, this salvage river is one of the last experiments of wild sport in the Tropics. Rio Pacuare is a fast river with brutal changes, known as one of the most vigorous excursions of rafting in Costa Rica.   Our competitors take places in rafts and start the 20 kilometres of descent on the Pacuare. Rio Pacuare did not fail to its reputation and the passages of rapids going up to level 4+, were tumultuous and agitated. The picnic break and the donation to the indigenous communities will offer a calmer interlude, before going back to face the rapids for the last part of the course in which a raft will be turned over causing some frights to its occupants. But, on arrival, all have “the banana”, better testimony of the exceptional and intense moments which they have just shared.   At night we will arrive under the rain on the Caribbean coast and will bivouac in Cacao Trail but the typical Caribbean meal causing a wave of “Turista” which will awake the majority in the middle of the night.   November 26th, 2009, Stage 5: Cacao Trail - Manzanillo   7:00 the departure for the last stage of Transtica 2009 is given on a small path behind the restaurant of Cacao Trail. 1,7 kilometres of path made muddy by the rains of the night, brings the competitors on the beach, to the Estuary of Rio Carbone. The water level is high, further to the combined effects of the rains of the night and the tide, and it is necessary to swim to cross.   Alain stops the competitors because the installation of a safety rope was not yet finished. Certain competitors do not listen and take the risk to cross. A first one is carried by the current, then another one is victim of cramp. In spite of a beginning of panic, the joint intervention of the organization, of the firemen and certain competitors helped all the runners to join safely the other side. A new departure can be given at 7:45.   It remains approximately 20 kilometres of beaches, roads and coastal paths before arriving at Manzanillo. The sand is soft, the road is smashed and  it is a final of suffering for some runners in a paradisiacal landscape but thanks to God under a veiled sky. By chance the sun will rise for the picnic on the beach in the presence of the Ambassador of France which had promised to visit us on the final stage.   Rémy Jegard finishes first in 1:32 and confirms its first place in the general classification, followed by Giordano Roberto in 1:38 and Roberto will  finish 3rd in the scratch at less than 4 mn of the second Josué Sandoval. Cécile Durand finishes first woman followed by Sylvie Raoul, Chantal Rousseau and Chantal Coudert finishing 3rd equal.   The Extremes have an additional loop of 4 kms approximately in the amazing beauty of surrounding coastal paths and through a national park where the red frogs find refuge.   Roini Villegas finishes first in 1:57, followed-up by Steven Miller in 2:04 and Michael Snell in 2:07.   Roini Villegas (CR) finishes 1st in the general classification before Jacques Rey (FR), and Steven Miller (CAN) and the first woman Yannick Navarro finishes 4th. Yannick Navarro (FR) lead the scratch before Karol Barbosa (CR) and Brenda Williams (CAN).   November 27th, 2009, return on San Jose, closing ceremony:   We are back in Gran Hotel Costa Rica in San José for the closing dinner and the awards ceremony. It is the moment to reward the first of each category and to give to the 31 runners their Finisher 2009 Tee-shirt largely deserved.   But, it is also the occasion to give other rewards:   The award of courage to Jean Jacques Père, who surpassed himself to finish this Transtica.   The award of the smile to Brenda Williams (CAN) who illuminated the race of her smiles in all circumstances.   The award of the most radiant couple to Cécile Durand and Michel Bernard whose good mood and smiles comforted all of us.   In this occasion were also thanked the representatives of the donors who allowed us to exceed our solidarity objectives on this Transtica 2009, Nicolas Antonelli for the company Technip, Georges Cauchois and Michel Ménage for “Passions sans Frontiéres” and the solidarity commission of Total, Cécile Durand representing Edialis, Gerard Verdenet representing the associations CTE Amathay Longeville and the “Club de l’Amitié”, Micheline Jouslin representing the association “Run et Sens”.   The firemen of Costa Rica, largely represented on the race and on the podium but also on the course as an efficient partner were largely applauded by the whole of the assistance. Exchanges of shirt and material between Europeans and Costa Ricans testified of the strong bonds which were established on this Transtica 2009.   The evening finishes in front of good “Cerveza”, each one enjoying the last night of La Transtica.   Conclusion   The 2nd edition of La Transtica did not failed to its reputation, it was a real adventure intense and rich of emotions for the runners as well as for the organisation.   The traversed landscapes, the contacts with the communities, the exchanges between all, the people met will remain for ever in our minds and our hearts. We will come back home, reinforced by an intense and unique sporting and human experiment, in the heart of a magic country.   Our objective “the discovery of a country and its lifestyle through a sporting event with humanitarian goals” was largely achieved, at the price of some imperfections that we will be able to correct for the edition 2010.   A great thanks to all the members of the organization, to the “bomberos”, who gave without counting, as well as the 31 runners whom made live this Transtica 2009.   Pura Vida

21.10.09 :  LA TRANSTICA on Breathe Magazine                                     Click here

01.10.09 : Cruce de los Andes : LA TRANSTICA's partner running race

The famous Argentine running(race) Cruce de los Andes ' associates to LA TRANSTICA. Our friends competidors of South America can henceforth join us ...It is enough that to contact silvina who will pass on. Columbia Cruce de los Andes The most important event in the World… 3 days in the middle of the “Cordillera de los Andes” Covering 30 km per day between the mountains… 2 campsites inmersed  in the majestic “Cordillera de los Andes” Soup kitchen… 20 countries… 1500 (one thousand and five hundred) competitors… The objective is to unit Argentina and Chile. More information: www.columbiacruce.com

 

28.08.09 : La Transtica on the UTMB 2009.

La transtica will held a stand in the UTMB 2009 village. An amazing edition 2009,  with the participation of the winners of the 6 latest editions, Kilian Jornet (SP) winner 2008, Marco Olmo (IT) winner 2007 and 2006, Christophe Jacquerod (SWI) winner 2005, Vincent Delebarre (FR) winner 2004 and Dawa Sherpa (NEP) winner 2003.

06.05.09 : The Gran Hotel Costa Rica new partner of La Transtica.

01.03.09 : The Info Transtica Trail n°3 is on line...       Info Transtica Trail n°3

29.11.08 : La Transtica News

Let’s forget the dullness of November and let’s take a plane to Costa Rica.   I invite you to start your run on a beach of the Pacific to cross the jungle of the Costa Rican central cordillera to finally reach the Caribbean coast.   What a change of life while participating to this human adventure, to discover a new culture and to run in deep heat meanwhile the friends are training in the cold European weather from. Pay attention because before reaching the Caribbean Coast you will have go through 5 superb stages of this Trail from 30 to 40 km long with a difference in altitude of 1000 m on average per day.   Costa Rica comes out of the wet period, but the country is facing a period of rain of the most violent, and many roads were cut.   Left in recognition a week before the race, we were unable to reach the first bivouac and to finish the second stage. We are at 2 days of the beginning of the race and we have to find two new stages and bivouacs. After two days of 4X4, the only solution is to make two stages in one with a night departure for the second.   November 19th, we are waiting this moment with impatience since one and a half year, a date in which we had decided to launch the Ultra Trail La Transtica.   It is our day, the d day, the final countdown has started, the runners are present, it is 17 h 00 and we start the press conference under encouragement of the national TV channel, of journalists, of the Ambassador, partners and trailers. The goals of this presentation are to introduce the race and the 5 stages, the runners and the humanitarian objectives of the organization of France.   From all around the world for this first edition   The competitors of the first edition of La Transtica constitute of a group of 23 runners, a number which gives the race a human and convivial dimension. For this first year we have 5 represented nations with France, Denmark, Quebec, Spain and Costa Rica with an indigenous from a tribe.   But as mentioned by Philippe Cordero, race manager and founder of this project, the first edition of Transtica will not be big in quantity but in quality..   Indeed, the hunters of first editions in the world of runners joined us so as  Didier Pommey with about 80 countries visited by running, 50 marathons, 60 adventure races, 800 races in 25 years, the partners Mark Perrier, Gerard Verdenet and Raymond Brandhonneur who went through the world again and again to compete in the biggest international races, world-famous, as MDS, UTMB, the Rock and Ice, Marathon Jungle, 100 miles Namibia, 66°33, La Diagonale des fous, Extreme Marathon Augrabies, Challenge of the Andes, Guadarun, Badwater, Annapurna Mandala Trail, Paris Gao Dakar, Spartathlon, Trans 333, Trans 555, 100 miles Southern Africa, Trans Gaule 2007.   Without forgetting experienced local runners qualified on the rise of the volcano CHIRIPO, the biggest foot race of Costa Rica.   Another feature, and not the slightest, is the presence of 7 women runners recording eloquent performances on this kind of adventure.   Besides this international diversity, the ambition of each covered a large range: From the famous newscaster of the national Costa Rican TV who has never run such a race in his life and who announced during the press conference that he is going go through La Transtica by walking, to Dominique Bourdet, winner of The Marathon of Nantes, of the raid Transhimalayenne, of the Road of the silk, of the Defi Austral or Mary Chantal Emonides three time winner of Le grand raid de la Martinique. On La Transtica, everybody finds his place through two different courses: Adventure Race with stages around 20 kms and the Extreme Race from 30 to 40 kms per stage.   It is a real proof of confidence towards our organization which is not setting its first event there. Indeed, we had organized, during several years, raids multi-sports abroad and since 2007 we turned to the Trail with the organization of two trails two in France, Le Trail des Balcons d’Azur and the Free Ride Classic Mandelieu in the south of France. But our trademark is the solidarity and the humanitarian goals associated to our races.   La Transtica coast to coast   250 km from the beach of Manuel Antonio up to Puerto Viejo de Limon, a true human and sports adventure. The change of scene is total; the runners are plunged into deep Costa Rica far from tourist standards.    The main objective of the Trail LA TRANSTICA in COSTA RICA is to introduce the country way of life, Pura Vida, through a sporting event with humanitarian goals.   We propose you to share an adventure where the surpassing of ourselves but also the aid and the solidarity will be the soul of this challenge, in the middle of a particularly exceptional natural frame, COSTA RICA. Between two oceans, the race defines itself by a unique crossing of a natural amazing paradise at the discovery of a new culture.   The Stages   Nov 21st – Prologue on Manuel Antonio beach   Afternoon dedicated to a short test on the public beach of the famous site of Manuel Antonio in the purpose of allocating race numbers. Three loops of 2 km and we could attrib our 22 race numbers. The good mood of everybody was obvious and it was fine to see an excellent sports behavior, strong minds for a running in a solidarity spirit.   But, already the first competitor’s gives the tone, and what we believed to be an adventure under the sign of discovery turned out to be a real competition of high level. Dominique got the number n°1, behind the candidates are: Spanish, Canadian and Costa Rican.   After the arrival a promise of donations of medical equipment was committed to Nely Quesada, responsible for the health centre of Londres.     Nov 22nd – Stage 1 = Quepos - Jungle camp – La Selvita.   A first superb stage on 20 km, departure, along the pacific coast, in the middle of a green palm grove to reach progressively  the tropical jungle, about 15 km of flat with bridge crossings and some rivers to ford then a progressive rise which will bring our runners in the middle of the jungle. Dominique Bordet (FR), Salvador Calvo (SP), Martin Ladouceur ((CAN) for the men and Danielle De Guire (CAN), Pascale FOUQUES (FR) and Yvonne Radondy (FR) for the women, some distanced rapidly but most competitors are close as shown by the ranking table.   The main difficulty of this stage is heat and humidity which reigns over this part of Costa Rica. Already, organisms are affected and we see tiredness on those who already drew on their reserves. The bivouac is reduced to its simplest expression; a shelter opened on the ambient jungle is a reward for this first day of Trail, it is quickly necessary to restore and to have a rest before the night which will be short   Once again, the organization had to change the next course because of the collapse of the main track. The solution is to set up a night stage to make more difficult the stage which was amputated by 20 km.   Nov 23rd – Stage 2 = La Selvita – Santa Maria de Dota = night stage   A night stage for our runners waked up at 3 o’ clock this morning, to leave for an intense stage, with a positive difference of level of 1300 m.   The apprehension is shown on faces, the group is less loudly than the day before on the starting line. It is raining, the night is black and the stressful noises from the jungle resound in immensity. Departure is given and the lights of the cars reassure the first strides of trailers on this track which will be only going up till the arrival..     The rising of the sun enjoyed everybody across the road of El Pito, located in full humid rainforest. The intense fog, which will not quit the runners, gives an unreal ambience to this stage which will remain in memories blended by apprehension, by fright, by stress and by discovery. Arrival at the bivouac of Santa Maria Dota at about 8 h where the runners will take benefit of the morning to rest.   Afterwards they manage to restore by enjoying a huge salmon trout, and the afternoon is dedicated to solidarity, in the small village of Esperanza where we were warmly welcomed by the major part of thee community (250 inhabitants). The children danced for our runners and we gave them our promise of donation made of medical equipments for the health centre of El Enpalme as well as school equipments to the school without forgetting of course the very expected wheelchair given to Yolanda who burst of joy, clothes and basic food for her family.     In the evening, some will fill their road book, others will wash their linen before sitting down together in front of a grilled pig.   If the runners lay down early to confront the following day, a stage of jungle, the organization, is not yet fixed on holding the next stage. We have been alerted by the Red Cross, which is part of our organization with two ambulances 4X4, 4 first-aid workers and a paramedic, that the country is under red alarm further to bad weather, on the sector of the next stage and over all the end of the race. A meeting of crisis is obvious with the direction of the race and the representative of security.   Tension is high and opinions diverge, Hervé have the responsibility of security and playing his moderator's role does not want to launch the runners of the adventure course in the national park of Tapanti (altitude rain forest) which is a part of stage right in the middle of the jungle constituted by a primary forest with difficult sloping progression on a muddy and slippery ground, taking account of the risk of landslide and of fall of trees further to an uninterrupted rain and violent winds. Philippe, responsible for a raid in altitude during 7 years and manager of the race, wants to allow both courses "extreme" and "adventure" bearing on experience, competences, physical capacities and aptitude of the group to progress in hostile environment, by knowing that it will be the only stage of this style on Transtica 2008.   After a debate more than shared, decision is made to allow only extreme runners on the initial course and to set up for adventure runners a less difficult course.     Nov 24th – Stage 3 = Santa Maria de Dota – El Humo = link stage   After this difficult night, the weather did not improve and the rain is still very strong. But, we stay on our positions despite of the storm which clamps down on Costa Rica! Roads were cut by landslides, ascending rains on the Atlantic coast which invade the inside of the land, but our runners catch up and their constant good mood, helps us tremendously to deal with these problems!.   We are about to leave and the Red Cross informs us that a river in flood took a bridge on the itinerary of this stage which means big changes again. It’s a disaster for the adventure course which was due to start from this bridge. The organization reacts: Extreme and Adventure runners will cross Tapanti within a link stage (timer off). A unique crossing in an unreal ambience where the rain, the mud, the trees shot down, drove the progression to a level of difficulty never reached before according to our Costa Rican guides who had to cut again passages with their machete before the passage of the runners.   The road is changed for questions of security but our runners will not be frustrated after the crossing of the national park of Tapanti to finish among the coffee fields. Dominique Bordet (FR) and Salvador Calvo Redondo (SP) finished with a good advance on the rest of the group.   Nov 25th – Stage 4 =  El Humo – San Pablo    Another day intense  in emotion on one hand by the more than warm welcome of communities of Pejibaje this morning and of San Pablo this evening, and on the other hand by an improvised stage at the last minute, due to other landslides on initial course. The two races will therefore be regrouped once again but it did not spoil the day before, as everybody keeps morale and smile. The runners are delighted and have fun.   Hey! The famous differences in altitudes of Costa Rica! Another huge stage for the runners with the ascent of the mountain, Cerros Attiro, to appreciate the view on the lake of Turialba, to enjoy its famous rivers by following them, running them, crossing them on hanging bridges and all that as usual, in the middle of splendid decors: "fincas" (big farms), fields of sugar cane, mountain landscapes in summits and more exotic landscape under Caribbean influence when going down, getting closer to the final arrival.   Thanks to the children of the 2 schools which welcomed us by their traditional songs and their speeches of gratitude which gave us so much emotion, as well as their drawings and small presents. This does really help us to quickly forget awful weather condition and troubles of these last days. Different medical donations and school materials will be given to them dices reception of our container still stuck in customs.   Nov 26th – Stage 5 = San Pablo-Limon : stage set up at the last minute    What’s going on in Costa Rica!   Torrential rains beat down on the country, the government declared the state of emergency on the area of Limon: landslides everywhere, rivers overflowing and the sea gaining on the land. Again we are forced our plans, on this transfer stage, as at the last minute descent in rafting on Río Pacuare is cancelled.   This stage was supposed to be a day off. A "small" fatty morning to relax in this exuberant and exceptional nature before leaving, easy, on board of rafts on the river Pacuare classified among the best worldwide rivers for the rafting. In reality, today is not the day since the agitation of his rapids, classified level III and IV cannot guarantee the security of the descent for neophytes.   So, again, we had to set up a new stage that we had recognized the day before in anticipation of the cancellation of the rafting. A new transfer in vehicle to by-pass another road collapsed, we "loaded" the runners at the back of a pick up under a tarpaulin which protected them from a torrential rain, change of scene obliges.   Departure is given in a local grocery at the angle of a street which looks like a torrent. On competitors faces appears tiredness and lassitude, the bad weather is going on, but our runners are Extreme runners who will not give up because of climatic conditions and they will keep on smiling nonetheless! They are brilliant!! In reward, we offer them a nice stage, going down the track with many passages of rivers overflowing and with the appearance of waterfalls and sometimes a torrent is replacing the track, direction the Atlantic coast, in the rain, certainly, but very appreciated by the sprinters. Dominique Bordet (FR) arrived comfortable followed by Salvador (SP), Martin (CAN) and Roiny (CR).   The beach of Bahia Estrella where had to make the camping being completely flooded, we all ended up to sleep in the rancho room of a restaurant in Limon, where we even had the sea view.   Nov 27th – Bahia Estrella-Puerto viejo de Limon: 30 km of beaches   It was due to be a dream finish!!   A straight course following the Caribbean Sea: a baby Rio to cross, by boat, in the middle of crocodiles and  sharks, with again kilometers off beaches, then a little refreshment on 9 km of track of the teeming forest of the national park of Cahuita following the ocean where some fans will not miss to support you (monkeys, sloths, reptiles, raccoons " Mapache " etc.) and the beach again, immaculate, the sand changing of color almost instantly black, white, beige, no one as far as the eye can see ,a pleasure to run on progressive grounds, tough at the beginning then soft later and an arrival in the small seaside city of Puerto Viejo de Limon in Creole colors, another facet of Costa Rica.   Unfortunately, this will not be for this year, we are disappointed to be unable to give this final to our runners who deserve it, but there is nothing we can do, the beach is gulped down by the sea which arrives directly on the forest, a sea charged with alluvium coming down from the mountain and spreading over the mouths of rivers.   We decide to visit the Cahuita national park which is partially closed and will leave from our hotel together to make an epilogue of a kilometer along the beach of Puerto Viejo de Limon to finish in cohesion, hand to hand, filmed by the national television sharing a collation with local natives, a final in apotheosis where the emotion due to a successful edition is shown on everybody eyes.    Nov 28th  – Closing ceremony, French Embassy, San José   We all meet to the hotel comfortably installed in the city center to make the last purchases of souvenirs.   At 18 o'clock the French ambassador gives a reception in favor of La Transtica for the awards ceremony. Classifications are issued and rewards are distributed. The ambassador thanks us for having brought back our competitors save despite of difficult climatic conditions.   By being able to stay humble while facing awful weather conditions, this first edition of LA Transtica had never behave as a conqueror in a country where needs are huge. Humility, sympathy and solidarity of all the athletes allowed this Trail risk to rise beyond purely sports mind.   We are expecting you from November 19th to November 29th, 2009 for the second edition. We will limit subscription to 70 runners, so do not hesitate any more and register for this tremendous adventure.     In Brief   Type: Ultra Trail in 5 stages. Date: November 19th - 29th, 2009. Closing registration date: October 31st. Place: Costa Rica. Region: Costa Rica crossing from east to west, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Distance: 150 km - 200 km. Positive difference in altitude: 700 - 1000 m per day. Rate: 1190 euro.     In Figures     · 1st edition. · 2 courses. · 12 days trip. · 5 stages. · An Extreme race from 30 to 40 km per day with a positive difference of level of 1000 m. · An Adventure race from 20 to 30 km per day with a positive difference of level of 700 m. · 07 h 27 min 43 s, time of the first competitor. · 16 h 40 min 54 s, time of the last  competitor · 23 runners. · 23 finishers. · 22 volunteers · 800 liters of water. · 280 liters of energy drink. · 3 points of supplies per stage. · 1 doctor. · 4 firemen. · 2 ambulances from the Costa Rican Red Cross. · 2 physical therapists. · 7 vehicles 4X4. · 1 Pick Up. · A bus, a minibus. · 20 partners. · 5 countries represented (France, Spain, Denmark, Quebec, Costa Rica and Martinique). · 600 kg of equipment donated during the humanitarian mission.  1190 euro: subscription fees.     La TRANSTICA and Solidarity     Expedition of a donation of 600 kg in a 5 M3 container including: 20 boxes of school equipment (80 school kits, school supplies for teacher, 3 computers and 1 printer) 27 boxes of medical equipment, wheelchairs, live pack, and small medical furniture. For total value of 22 000 Euros.      The race from the inside, by a trailer : Didier Pommey     La Transtica is over !   During a very humid week because of a tropical storm which paralyzed not only the Costa Rica but also other countries of Central America as Nicaragua or Panama. Twenty-threerunners from France, from Spain, from Denmark, from Canada and from Martinique measured some Ticos with very heterogeneous profiles.    This first edition will have marked minds, of the organizers and of the participants. By its humanitarian character well anchored, La Transtica is distinguishing itself from all the adventure races invented during this last decade in the amateur runner's world.    Philippe Cordero and his team can be proud of their first edition because even if the final race program was far from what was initially planned, the reactivity of the team of the French-Costa Rican organization was recognized by everyone.   Every day, a contradictory event came to upset the program imagined by Cédric, Vincent, Bernard or Hervé. Between many inundations, cut roads and bridges taken away by rivers, it has been necessary to be armed with patience and to show humility facing a not very conciliatory nature.   Certainly, even if we ran only hundred - ten kilometers instead of the double, it doesn't much matter; all children's smiles in schools or visited communities were widely enough to give us smile in the evening at the end of stage. And many donations performed in London, Tinamú, San Pablo or Esperanza who will be completed when the humanitarian container blocked in Limon harbor will be released by the Costa Rican administration, will be a nice reward for CG Sport Event, Authentic Tour and El Nino, three structures holders of this sports and humanitarian project.   La Transtica by the living conditions offered every day to the participants remains an adventure where difficulty, simplicity, humility and mutual assistance are of circumstance.   On sports plan, you should not eclipse the nice scrap engaged by the three better runners of this test, the French Dominique Bordet, the Spanish Salvador Calvado Redondo and the Costa Rican Roini Villegas Jimenez even if first named was  a level above his two direct adversaries.   Under the kind authority of the Embassy of France in Costa Rica, LaTranstica has received flattering and sincere encouragement of Mr. Fabrice Delloye, the new ambassador of France in this country of Central America known to be one of the rare worldwide pantheons of green tourism.   It is a very nice praise for this first edition which should logically find its place in the world of international adventures races.    Didier POMMEY

THANKS

To Céline and Ronald from Horizonte Verde to have helped us successfully to identify necessities of the populations on the route of the race and to have defined serious, urgent and lasting socio-environmental actions...  and to have been with to us on the field.   To all the volunteers who has taken on their vacation time to come to help us during the race : Marta, our doctor, Gimena and Roberto our physical therapists, Tony our cameraman, Jean-Mark our pickup driver, Antoine our quad driver, Isabel our chief of the catering, Alain for his good advices, Florence and nice Marcel.       To Nilsen who have generously brought us a wheelchair 2 days before the race, which was given to Yolanda, this handicapped girl  in the village of Esperanza.